The May long weekend is the unofficial start of grilling season, and nobody’s pretending otherwise.

Yes, it might still be a little cold. Yes, someone will probably be wearing a fleece while standing over the grill. That is fine. That is correct. That is part of the tradition. The point is the grill is on, the beers are cold, and you’ve got a long weekend to fill with food that actually feels like an occasion.

Whether you’re at the cottage, in the backyard, or somewhere in between — here’s what to make.

Make This: The Burger Situation

May long weekend is peak burger weekend. The only real question is which one.

For a crowd, the Big Batch Sheet Pan Burgers are the play. Make this when you’re feeding more people than the grill can comfortably handle at once, or when you want everyone to eat at the same time without any choreography. Same result, way less stress, and nobody’s standing around waiting for their turn.

The Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Turkey Burgers are for when you want to make something that sounds impressive and is actually stupidly simple. Roasted red pepper and salty feta packed right into the patty means the flavour is already built in before the burger ever hits the grill. Make this and watch them disappear faster than you expected.

And if you want something completely different that still belongs on the grill: Chili Shrimp Burgers with Grilled Onion and Avocado Mayo. Make this for the person at the table who always says “I don’t want a burger” and watch them ask for seconds. Spicy, fresh, and genuinely unexpected for a long weekend cookout.

Make This When You Want to Go Beyond the Burger

There’s more to a long weekend grill than ground beef, and if you’ve got the time, here’s exactly where to go.

BBQ Stout and Ginger Salmon is the one that earns a reaction. Deep and slightly malty from the stout, punchy from the ginger, and done on the grill in under fifteen minutes. Make this when you want to serve something that sounds like you planned it weeks in advance and actually came together in the time it takes to finish one beer.

Campfire Thai Curry Mussels are what happen when cottage cooking gets ambitious in the best way. Make this over an open flame or directly on the grill — the coconut curry broth builds right in the pot, the mussels steam open in minutes, and you’ve got something that feels like a restaurant meal in the middle of the woods. This is the recipe that convinces people cottage cooking can be as good as staying home.

For something fresh and genuinely impressive: Grilled Turkey Caprese. Turkey breast marinated in oregano and canola, grilled until perfect, sliced over a bed of arugula with Campari tomatoes, fiore de latte, and fresh basil. It’s light, seasonal, and looks like you put in way more effort than you did. Make this when you want to feel like you’re eating on a patio in Italy, even if you’re actually on a dock in Muskoka.

Make This the One That Makes Everyone Sit Down and Pay Attention

Every long weekend needs one recipe that’s actually a moment. One thing that makes the whole weekend feel intentional.

Perfect BBQ Bone-in Prime Rib with Horseradish Aioli is exactly that. It looks dramatic, it tastes extraordinary, and once you’ve made it once, you’ll never go back to a plain roast. The grill gives it a crust that an oven simply can’t replicate. Make this for the long weekend when you want to do something that people will still be talking about next year.

Grilled Harissa Turkey Flatbread with Red Pepper Jelly is the move when you want something impressive but inherently low-pressure. Flatbread on the grill, harissa-spiced turkey, a hit of sweet red pepper jelly — it comes together fast and looks like dinner at a very good restaurant. Make this as a starter while the main is resting and you’ll have everyone hovering around the grill before it’s even done.

And for something genuinely unexpected: BBQ Mediterranean Calzones. You’ve never made calzones on the grill and that’s honestly the only thing wrong with your long weekend so far. Make this once and it becomes a tradition.

Let’s Wrap This Up

The long weekend is long for a reason. There’s time to stand over a grill, try something new, and eat well for two nights in a row. Pick one hero recipe, build the rest of the weekend around it, and enjoy the fact that grilling season is finally here.