20 foods you didn't know you can make on the grill

You might not think to grill shellfish other than shrimp, but clams (and even oysters and mussels!) take very well to high heat. In terms of preparing clams, grilling is a very quick and no-fuss way to cook them, taking just under ten minutes. The full recipe is here, via Bon Appetit.

You've probably had a caprese salad before –  that delicious and refreshing mix of basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. You may even have had a grilled caprese panini. But have you had a grilled caprese salad that wasn't a sandwich? Whole Foods has a recipe here for a grilled caprese salad that adds a welcome charred taste to the classic Italian salad. Step-by-step instructions can be found here.

If you're from the southeast, you're going to have to bear with me. I know you know all about grilled peaches. That said, the further you get from Georgia, less people are aware that peaches are infinitely better when you throw them on the grill and top them with ice cream (or if you want to get fancy, with a balsamic dressing). A simple recipe for sweet grilled peaches can be found here.

Say it with me -- you don't need a pizza stone or a superhot oven to make delicious thin crust pizza. If you have a grill, you can simply spread out some pizza dough directly on the grate then top the pizza while the crust is cooking. The Kitchn has step-by-step instructions for you right here.

Okay, bear with me. If you get a decent and, well, hearty heart of romaine lettuce, you can throw it on the grill for a few minutes to instantly make any salad better. Simply Recipes has a delicious preparation right here that matches the charred lettuce hearts with a light vinaigrette and herbs, and you can follow along with the steps at this link.

Though most of us are used to eating avocados at room temperature or cooler, they actually char up very well on a grill, and end up delicious on their own, made into a grilled guacamole, or incorporated into a grilled salad. This recipe, via the Food Network, is the latter – inviting red onions and tomatoes to the party to bring some acidity. The step by step instructions are here.

This one is a bit trickier. You wouldn't think to grill bacon because the fat would drip onto the coals and cause your porch to burn down, right?

While that's definitely a possibility, if you get it right, and cook the bacon over indirect heat, you'll be rewarded with some of the best, crispiest bacon you'll ever have. Bon Appetit has some bacon grilling tips right here.

Okay, yes, we know. Grilled cheese is a thing already. But we're willing to bet you've never considered plopping a big wheel of brie on the grill. That changes today. This recipe via People is a quick and easy crowd pleaser guaranteed to make your friends think you're much fancier than you actually are. Step by step instructions can be found here.

No, we're not recommending that you try and cook dry rice on the grill, that would be insane. What we are recommending is you cook rice yourself, shape it into a triangle with some delicious filling inside, and throw it on the grill – it's a traditional Japanese food called Yaki Onigiri, and it's super easy to make. Just One Cookbook has step by step instructions here.

You may have been one step ahead of us when it came to grilling peaches, but I'm willing to bet you've never grilled a pie before. Well, that changes today. This recipe, via Crazy for Crust is quick, simple, and endlessly customizable. The best part? You only have to wait 45 minutes for your pie. The full recipe can be found here.

You've probably thrown some baguette slices on the grill before to get them nice and toasty – why not try the same thing with French toast? This recipe, via Epicurious, leans heavily on vanilla flavors to pair with the delicious charred taste of the brioche. The full recipe is here.

Don't be a sucker. Get adventurous this summer and grill up an octopus. Arguably, grilling is the best way to bring out the octopus's natural flavors without it getting over-tough. This recipe, via Food and Wine pairs the charred octopus with a spicy chile sauce, and it's one of the more visually appealing plates you're likely to make yourself. The full recipe is here.

Sure, it may look... unsavory... but stuffing a beer can up the business end of a chicken actually results in some of the most tender and juicy meat you're bound to have. You can follow along with The Food Network's step-by-step beer can chicken instructions here.

Sure, you'll have to make the cake in the oven, but finishing a slice of cake on the grill and then topping it with ice cream (or grilled fruits!) really takes everything to the next level. Food and Wine has a great recipe for grilled lemon pound cake, and you can follow the instructions right here.

I'll admit it, when I saw this recipe for the first time on Serious Eats, I was confused as well. Grilled sushi? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? 

I'm here to tell you that no, it doesn't. This delicious, smoky, charred sushi is the real deal, and you can make it yourself with the instructions right here.

Yes, really. 

An intrepid user over at Instructables created this recipe for grilled ice cream that protects the ice cream from the hot coals with a toothsome layer of meringue. She's an engineer, so she was able to figure out that the foamy, air-filled meringue would act as an efficient and delicious insulator for the ice cream inside. You can follow along with her steps right here. 

You'll need a grill basket for this one so that the pasta doesn't fall through the grates, but finishing pasta on the grill adds a delicious smokiness to your normal spaghetti and meatball dinner. Follow along with Epicurious's instructions here, and you'll never want to eat pasta a different way.

If you're tired of getting your beef jerky from the convenience store, you can make your own at home with your grill. It's a bit of a process, but AmazingRibs.com has step by step instructions here that should make the process easy even if you've never done it before.

Mmm, bananas foster. This classic dessert can be prepared on the grill as easily as it is on the stove, and if your bananas are medium ripe, they'll hold up to your grill without sticking. The Food Network has step by step instructions right here.

Why pay exorbitant supermarket prices for granola when you can make your own at home – on the grill, no less? The Big Man's World has an easy recipe for granola that takes about 15 minutes to cook, and can be augmented with the mix-ins of your choice. The full recipe can be found here.