Grilling season is here, and Panera's lineup of grocery products makes it easy to pull together a casual meal for the family or a backyard barbecue for the whole neighborhood. Give these meal ideas a try and you’ll surely be the talk of the summer.
Start fresh.
Balance the grilled fare with a salad made with summer’s fresh produce. This sweet Cucumber & Strawberry Salad, and this Crunchy Broccoli Salad are both easy to make with Panera Poppyseed Dressing and will hold their own alongside grilled meats and hearty sides.
Make it a memorable main dish with flavorful marinades.
Grilling up some fresh chicken? Marinades add great flavor and Panera Dressings make the easiest kind of marinade. One of our favorites is light, lemony Chicken Skewers, marinated in our Lemon Vinaigrette, and delightfully paired with Lemon Orzo Salad. Or try Caesar-marinated grilled shrimp atop Summer Vegetable Caesar Pasta Salad made with Panera's delicious Caesar Dressing.
For more grilled chicken inspiration, make a unique sauce or rub with a special ingredient – coffee. Try Coffee & Molasses Barbecue Sauce made with Panera Light Roast ground coffee for a smoky, rich coffee flavor. Or add amazing flavor with a bold coffee rub your guests will love – just combine 1½ tablespoons of chili powder, 1 tablespoon each of brown sugar and salt, a teaspoon each of coriander and black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of Panera Dark Roast ground coffee.
Serve up great sides.
No barbecue would be complete without creamy, cheesy mac and cheese. Panera Mac & Cheese is great on its own, but bacon lovers will adore this Tomato Bacon twist. Or, sneak in some veggies with this recipe for Caprese Mac & Cheese.
For some outside the box ideas, look no further than our Mediterranean Grilled Cauliflower "steak" for a zesty and satisfying vegetarian option. Our Creamy Buttermilk Ranch adds an interesting twist to grilling corn on the cob with this Mexican-Style Street Corn recipe. And why stop at meats and veggies for grilling - our Grilled Caesar Salad reinvents a classic and adds hearty, roasty flavors.
Poppable treats are great served alongside the main fare, or as an appetizer before you sit down. Try these Tex Mex Spoonbread Bites made with Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup in place of traditional cornbread, or these Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Bites made with the fan-favorite Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
You can even grill up a delectable dessert.
Grill the pound cake slices in this Balsamic Roasted Strawberry Shortcake for a sweet and memorable finale. Or, if you prefer your desserts chilled, here are some of our newest coffee-inspired favorites: Affogato, Granita and No-Bake Cheesecake Bites.