Laura’s Summer Grilling Essentials

This post is sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Thank you for supporting the companies that encourage my creativity and work.

Nothing says summertime like firing up the grill and cooking some delicious food for my family in our outdoor kitchen.

Whether it’s for entertaining or just a simple family meal, grilling is one of our favorite ways to enjoy some of our favorite foods, while kicking back and enjoying outdoor time together. I mean, who doesn’t love some good barbecue chicken and kabobs sizzling away at the grill?

If you are wondering, I’ll show you how to grill kabobs perfectly right here. In that post, I cover the best ways to do meat and every veggie I can think of and give you the recipe for my favorite BBQ rub too!

When it comes to buying our outdoor grilling supplies I have purchased them from Academy Sports + Outdoors for the last few years – since fully outfitting our outdoor kitchen. The same place I purchase our workout gear, fishing gear, and more; has everything I need to keep my outdoor kitchen fully stocked. Academy makes it easier for everyone to enjoy more sports and outdoors.

It’s my one-stop shop for stocking up on outdoor entertainment because they offer every day low prices on all things outdoors and sports! I find the best deals on items to use for grilling and hosting summer get-togethers like games, activities, grilling accessories, even marinades and sauces! Let me tell you that my husband has serious feelings for barbecue sauce and they have a great selection he loves.

Some of my favorite tools to get grilling are:

• Kingsford Professional Stainless-Steel Grill Topper
• Outdoor Gourmet 7-piece marinade set
• Outdoor Gourmet 3-in-1 Grill Brush
• Outdoor Gourmet Meat Thermometers
• Bar-B-Q BBQ Skewers
• Mr. Bar-B-Que Stainless-Steel Grilling Wok
• Louisiana Fish Fry Products
• Gordon’s Grub Rub Seasoning

Since I like to grill a variety of meat AND veggies, I love using the grilling wok. It’s perfect for cooking vegetables of any kind via grill without having to worry about them falling through the grates and burning to a crisp! Sometimes, I even throw frozen broccoli directly on there and the heat steams it perfectly!

Since discovering the grill topper, our DIY Pizzas are a new Friday favorite because who can resist a grilled pizza? Not my family.

One of my favorite tools is the marinade set. It comes with everything you need to marinade, baste, grill etc. However, my favorite part is the marinade box. Yes! It’s an actual, airtight container specifically designed for storing marinated meat and veggies. I use this all the time, even on days I don’t plan on grilling. It fits perfectly in my fridge and it doesn’t take up a lot of vertical room, making meal prep a breeze.

I love grilling over the weekend because I can plan my weekly meal plan for the week around grilled chicken, steaks, and burgers, vegetables, and more.  Burgers are always a winner with the kids, no matter the meal –I swear, they’d eat burgers for breakfast if I let them.

When it comes to grilling, we’re serious enthusiasts. I built an entire outdoor kitchen centered around our grill and the experience. And yet, we still have the “is it done yet?” debate from time to time, especially when you’re grilling so many different things at once.

But, with a set of grilling thermometers, we know exactly when the food is done. Easy peasy.

Grilling not only makes cleanup a breeze, but it doesn’t heat up my kitchen like the oven does –and I live in the south where our AC unit works constantly eight months out of the year.

Grilled chicken or steak can be used in salads, tacos, or paired with an easy side like Corn & Tomato Salad or Spiralized Zucchini Tomatoes for a healthy meal. This means I knocked out dinners for the rest of the week all at once while having a good time with my family, I call that a win-win!

To find an Academy Sports + Outdoors near you, check out their store locator. Make sure to share your summer activities with @Academy by tagging them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and using #Academy. I’m curious to see how you guys kick back and take on summer!