There’s no better time to fire up the grill with friends and family than summertime. But if you’ve ever been to a backyard barbecue or cookout, you know just how disappointing it can be to bite into a dry burger or bland steak. But luckily, that’s where marinades come in, turning boring dishes into fancy, exotic meals.

You don’t have to be a meat eater to try marinades. If you find one you like, you can use it on veggies, tofu, tempeh, or even as a vinaigrette on salads. With marinades, the possibilities are endless. You can add or remove certain ingredients to create a vinaigrette for quinoa or couscous.

But enough talking about it—if you want to inject more flavor into your foods, take a look at these five summer marinades that are perfect for grilling:

Soy Sauce + Citrus Marinade

This savory marinade is perfect for summer. It gives you that bright, zesty kick from a mix of freshly squeezed orange, grapefruit, and lime juices, plus lemongrass. When combined with hot Fresno chiles, you have this spicy, salty, citrusy marinade that goes really well with chicken and pork.

This marinade can be used for baking, grilling, and even slow-cooking meat. Pour a bit over your pork, serve with a side of rice and a crunchy salad, and have a nice lunch for yourself. There will be cooked chicken and enough leftover marinade to use for later.

Best Steak Marinade in Existence

No summer is complete without firing up the grill. And this really delicious steak marinade is just what you need for the job.

For having a name like ‘best steak marinade in existence,’ the recipe is surprisingly simple. It even calls for a lot of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Things like olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce make an appearance. Then, you just throw in a mix of spices, and there you have it—a super umami, herbal sauce  a.k.a the best steak marinade in existence.

Herbal Rosé-Based Marinade

If you like wine, you’ll love this herbal marinade, which uses rosé to create a deeply complex yet incredibly delicious flavor for your grilled leg of lamb, steak, or shrimp.

The wine’s acidity helps make the meat tender and juicy. When you add fresh rosemary and garlic, the result is simply a masterpiece of flavor that’ll make your next upscale dinner party one for the books.

Side note: Keep in mind that this recipe calls for anchovies. So, if you or someone you love is allergic to seafood, it may be best to leave the anchovies out.

Old Bay Marinated and Grilled Shrimp

If you don’t have time to let your meat marinate overnight, this quick and easy recipe is a great alternative. Not only that, it uses just a handful of ingredients: lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and the star of the show, Old Bay seasoning.

Dump all the ingredients into a bowl and add a pound of shrimp to make it easy. Let it marinate for about 30 minutes, then grill it up for a simple, light entreé you can pair with nearly anything.

Pickle-Fried Chicken

For the people who love a good dill pickle, this recipe isn’t going to disappoint. If you have a leftover jar of pickles, that’s pretty much all you need to pull off this recipe.

To make it, place a pack of chicken thighs and about two cups of pickle juice in a resealable bag or container. Let it marinate for three hours, then batter and fry the chicken as you normally would.

You should notice that your chicken is a lot more moist and tender than usual. That’s because pickle juice is a natural brine, keeping the chicken from drying out while adding a unique tangy flavor.