20 Must-Try Desserts for Your Next Summer BBQ

Aunt Betty’s Signature Banana Pudding

For those who believe no BBQ is complete without banana pudding: "I've made this recipe at least 25 times because people beg me to bring it to every gathering! It’s hands down the best banana pudding recipe out there," says IVYCHAOS.

Reviewer jilly bean recommends tossing the banana slices in a bit of lemon juice to prevent them from browning after cutting.

Judy’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad

"I've made this three times and shared the recipe twice. Everyone loves it! Just be sure to follow these three 'golden rules': 1. Don't bake the crust for more than 10 minutes. 2. Spread the cream cheese mixture all the way to the edges to 'seal' out the jello. 3. Chill the cream cheese layer thoroughly and the jello layer just slightly before pouring the jello on top to avoid marbling." —Allyson Brown Howard

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

This isn’t your typical blueberry ice cream. A homemade graham cracker crust is blended into creamy homemade ice cream with a rich blueberry sauce. "This was absolutely delicious," says reviewer Barbara Goebel Field. "I entered it in an ice cream contest at our church and won 1st place out of 6 entries! Since it’s a cheesecake ice cream, I swapped vanilla for Cheesecake Pudding. I made it in three batches and layered it as instructed in the recipe."

Jackie’s Fresh Peach Cobbler

David Boland shares this recipe and says, "An old-fashioned favorite from my mother’s collection. The hint of nutmeg fills the air and instantly transports you back to grandma’s kitchen."

Lemon Lush

"This is my absolute go-to summer dessert," says divine1. "I make a few tweaks—like adding a cup of finely chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds, depending on what I have on hand) to the flour mixture. I also swap powdered sugar for the white sugar in the cream cheese layer, and use half a container of Cool Whip. Everything else I follow as written. It's an easy, light, and delicious layered dessert."

Brookies (Brownie Cookies)

When you can't choose between brownies or cookies for the BBQ, why not bring both in one dessert? Tip: You can save time by using store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough instead of making it from scratch.

Blueberry Crumble Bars

"These bars are always a crowd favorite and a fantastic way to use up fresh summer berries — though frozen blueberries work just as well. They're especially delicious with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top." —magicallydelicious

Mom’s Peach Crisp

This super-easy recipe is a crowd-pleaser, earning a 5-star rating from reviewers. Fresh (or canned) peaches are baked under a crispy oat topping, creating a summer dessert that lets the fruit shine. You can swap out the peaches for any fruit you like, and with this one recipe, you can enjoy a variety of fruit crisps all summer long.

Lemon Pie Bars

"This is a simple recipe my mom made long before lemon bars became a trend," says recipe contributor RCFoodie. "Thick-skinned lemons work best. I highly recommend using real butter and eggs—I've tried Egg Beaters, and it's just not the same!"

World's Best Rice Krispies Treats

Bring a classic dessert to the BBQ and watch everyone’s face light up. "These are literally the best Rice Krispies® treats you’ll ever have, thanks to a secret ingredient — sweetened condensed milk. You’re welcome. And if by some miracle there are leftovers (which there won’t be), store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days." —Jessie Sheehan

Cheesecake in a Jar

The easiest way to serve cheesecake at a BBQ picnic—just pack everything into jars and keep them chilled until it’s time to serve these cute, single-serve treats.

S'more Brownies

Here's how to enjoy all the fun and flavor of s'mores without having to gather around a campfire. "These are amazing," says MadLib04. "I read through all the reviews and followed the tips. I bumped up the marshmallows to 2 cups, used 6 Hershey bars, chopped the graham crackers into smaller pieces, and added the toppings in the last five minutes of baking. Everyone loved them and asked for the recipe!"

Freezer Caramel Drizzle Pie

"I made this in a 12" springform pan (sprayed with Pam) with a graham cracker crust made from 1½ cups of graham crackers, ⅓ cup of sugar, and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, then let it cool completely. After that, layer the cream cheese mixture, caramel, coconut, and pecans as the recipe suggests. It fits perfectly in the pan." —GAYLEREYNOLDS

Chef John’s Peach Pie

"Not only is this lattice design gorgeous, but it’s also very functional. When baking with juicy fruits like peaches, the open lattice top allows moisture to evaporate, which helps avoid the dreaded 'watery pie' problem. That’s also why we boil down any excess juices into a syrup." —Chef John

Blueberry Pie

"I absolutely loved this pie recipe! It was incredibly easy to make and so tasty! After reading other reviews, I used 4 tablespoons of cornstarch instead of 3, and it set perfectly. I also added a splash of lemon juice to the blueberry filling for extra flavor, and covered the edges of the crust with aluminum foil for the first 45 minutes (to prevent over-browning). Such a great recipe!" —BabkaGal

MySweetCreations Peanut Butter Cookie Pie

"Sinfully rich, decadently delicious, intensely chocolaty, delightfully peanut buttery, and simply fabulous! It's impossible to capture this in one word, just as it’s impossible to eat only one slice — yes, it's that good. And what’s even better? For all its beauty, this is surprisingly simple to make!" —Jillian

Banana Split Cake II

This no-bake "cake" uses crushed vanilla wafers, so you can avoid turning on the oven when it's too hot to bake. "One crucial step that people often miss is saving the pineapple juice and cutting your bananas into the juice, letting them sit for a few minutes. This helps keep the bananas from browning and looking fresher for longer. Also, be sure to squeeze out all the juice from the pineapple, not just let it drain by gravity," says Buzz Buzzard JR.

Watermelon-Mint Paletas

Fresh watermelon, lime, and mint come together in a smooth blend, then freeze into refreshing Mexican fruit pops. They’re the perfect light dessert to enjoy after a hearty BBQ.

Cherry Pie III

Use tart cherries to make this timeless summer pie. "This recipe won first place in the 1999 American Pie Council's National Pie Championship in the Fruit and Berry category," says Beth Campbell.

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

"This recipe comes together quickly, and while you can definitely use store-bought ingredients, I like to make the cake layer from scratch. You could also use a loaf of angel food cake or your preferred pound cake." —thedailygourmet

More Summer Sweets

• 15 Easy Summer Desserts Ready to Wow in Under 30 Minutes
• 15 No-Bake Summer Desserts to Help You Keep Your Cool
• Find More Summer Dessert Recipes