When you fire up the grill in Munster, Highland, Schererville or anywhere across Northwest Indiana, you want ideas that go beyond burgers and hot dogs. You want inspiration across proteins, vegetables, fruits and unexpected picks — plus fast-cooking options you can grab at your nearest Strack & Van Til Meat & Seafood, Produce, Deli or Bakery Department.

This guide is built for the moment you’re standing at the grill on a warm Midwest night thinking, “What should I make tonight?” It covers crowd-pleasers, beginner-friendly picks, quick weeknight options, seasonal produce from local farms across Lake and Porter Counties and store-ready shortcuts available at Strack & Van Til locations throughout the Region.

Find your nearest Strack & Van Til Food Market to pick up everything on this list and make grilling easy, wherever you are in Northwest Indiana.

We’ll start with the most common grilling questions, then move into full category breakdowns.

Common grilling questions (Northwest Indiana Edition)

What are the best things to grill near me?

Steaks, burgers, chicken, pork chops, salmon, shrimp, corn and summer vegetables. These cook reliably, take on grill flavor well and work for any skill level. You can pick up all of them at your local Strack & Van Til in Crown Point, Valparaiso or any nearby store.

What is easy to grill for beginners?

Pub burgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, shrimp skewers, asparagus and zucchini. Pre-marinated chicken from your nearest Strack & Van Til Meat Department is especially beginner-friendly because the seasoning is done for you.

What vegetables grill best in Midwest summer?

Corn, asparagus, zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers, onions, eggplant and portobello mushrooms — sturdy textures that hold up well on the grates during warm Region evenings.

What fruits can you grill?

Peaches, pineapple, watermelon and bananas caramelize beautifully and pair well with grilled meats or desserts.

What grills fastest for a weeknight dinner in the Region?

Thin-cut chicken breasts, chicken cutlets, shrimp skewers, salmon fillets, asparagus, zucchini and flatbreads. Pre-seasoned options from the meat counter save prep time when you’re grilling after work in Merrillville or Hobart.

The ultimate grilling list

Below is your full list of what to grill on a Lake or Porter County summer weekend or any day of the week, organized by category and where to find it at your nearest Strack & Van Til Food Market. Each item includes what to look for and how it behaves on the grill.

Beef and burgers

Certified Angus Beef (CAB) meets 10 strict quality standards around marbling, maturity and consistency. CAB cuts must already qualify as upper-tier Choice or Prime. Strack & Van Til carries Choice CAB and Prime CAB in service counter stores — described by Meat & Seafood Department Director Gary Teachman as “the top of the Angus line.”

Pick these up fresh at your local Strack & Van Til in Northwest Indiana:

• T-bone and porterhouse — Two steaks in one: strip steak and tenderloin. Porterhouse has the larger tenderloin and is a summer favorite across Northwest Indiana.
• Ribeye steaks — Rich marbling that melts on the grill. Ask your butcher for your preferred thickness.
• Beef tenderloin (filet mignon) — The most tender cut, with less marbling.
• New York strip steaks — Firm texture and great beef flavor. Ideal for high-heat grilling. Available in Choice CAB and Prime CAB.
• Sirloin steaks — Lean, versatile and budget-friendly.
• Skirt or flank steak — Perfect for fajitas. Quick-cooking and marinade-friendly. Pre-marinated options are often available.
• Pub burgers — Thick, juicy half-pound patties in varieties including classic, cheddar, Pepper Jack, blue cheese, Swiss and mushroom, mozzarella Italian, bacon-cheddar, black pepper and more.

Chicken

Available fresh at Strack & Van Til stores across Lake and Porter Counties:

• Chicken tenders — Great for dipping sauces, wraps or salads.
• Chicken breasts — Lean and versatile. Pre-marinated lemon-herb or teriyaki options available.
• Marinated chicken thighs — Tender and flavorful. Options include Southwest style, Parmesan garlic, Nashville hot and mango habanero.
• Marinated styles (jerk, teriyaki, lemon-herb) — Pre-seasoned shortcuts that save time.

Pork

Strack & Van Til features tender Smithfield Prime Pork, available in Munster, Schererville, Crown Point and Valparaiso.

• Pork chops — Bone-in or boneless. Thicker cuts stay juicier.
• Pork tenderloin — Lean, quick-cooking and great with dry rubs or glazes.
• Baby back ribs — Slow-grill or finish on the grill after oven cooking.
• Bratwurst and beer brats — Flavors include Zombie Dust, pineapple, ialapeño and beer bratwurst. Pair with bakery buns.
• Sausage (35 varieties) — Made fresh with Prime pork and signature seasonings. Options include mild/hot Italian, chorizo, Cajun, Holiday Italian, apple, garlic Polish, andouille and more. Seasonal specialties include Italian beef sausages and Reuben sausage (corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss).

Skewers and kabobs

Perfect for backyard gatherings in St. John, Cedar Lake or East Chicago.

Marinated shish kabobs come in flavors including chicken tomato basil, chicken mesquite and chicken butter garlic. Unmarinated beef and chicken are available for custom seasoning.

Choose from:

• Center-cut top butt steak
• Hand-trimmed fresh natural chicken
• Smithfield Prime pork tenderloin
• Natural turkey tenders
• Farm-raised Atlantic salmon or tuna
• Regular or seasoned skewered shrimp

Many Strack & Van Til Seafood Departments will even grill kabobs for you.

Fish and seafood

Available fresh at Strack & Van Til Seafood counters across Northwest Indiana:

• Salmon burgers — Zesty dill, Cajun, spinach Feta and garlic parmesan, all offering omega‑3s.

Pre-marinated and pre-seasoned shortcuts

Strack & Van Til’s Meat Department offers pre-marinated chicken, seasoned steaks, ready-to-grill kabobs and butcher-cut options that save time. Marinades, seasonings and sauces are also available.

Pair grilled meats with pasta salads, coleslaw or potato salads from the Deli Department in the Strack & Van Til near you.

Vegetables

Strack & Van Til’s Produce Department features locally sourced fruits and vegetables from farms across Lake and Porter Counties, plus surrounding Midwest growing regions.

Seasonal produce to grill

(Region peak summer)

• Indiana sweet corn
• Local zucchini and summer squash
• Fresh peaches
• Pineapple
• Bell peppers
• Asparagus

Seasonal produce cooks quickly and pairs well with any protein.

Vegetables that shine on the grill

• Corn on the cob — Grill in the husk or directly on the grates.
• Zucchini and summer squash — Slice lengthwise for easy grilling.
• Eggplant — Softens nicely; great for Mediterranean-style meals.
• Portobello mushrooms — Meaty texture; ideal for vegetarian grilling.
• Cauliflower steaks — Thick slices that char well.
• Bell peppers and onions — Sweet and smoky; perfect for fajitas or skewers.
• Asparagus — Thin spears cook fast with olive oil and salt.

Fruit

Perfect for summer cookouts across Northwest Indiana:

• Peaches — Caramelize beautifully; great with pork or chicken.
• Pineapple — Sweet and tangy; perfect for skewers or dessert.
• Watermelon — Develops smoky sweetness.
• Bananas — Soft and sweet; ideal for dessert.
• Grilled avocado — Soft and smoky; great for topping burgers or salads.

Breads and pizza

Available fresh at Strack & Van Til Bakery Departments from Chesterton to Whiting, Griffith to Portage and beyond:

• Grilled pizza — Use bakery pizza dough; grill one side, flip and add toppings.
• Flatbreads — Warm and crisp; great for dips.
• Naan and pita — Heat quickly and pair well with grilled meats.
• Bruschetta bread — Bakery loaves toast nicely; top with tomatoes or spreads.

Unexpected picks

• Bacon-wrapped asparagus — Fresh asparagus wrapped in bacon with Strack & Van Til seasoning; cooks on the grill’s top shelf in about 20 minutes.
• Grilling tins — Twice baked potatoes, potato skins, campfire potatoes or firecracker corn — all Northwest Indiana favorites.

Grilling for a crowd

 (Region cookout edition)

Grilling is a summer tradition across the Region — from backyard patios to lakefront evenings and family cookouts across Northwest Indiana.

Choose items that cook evenly and hold well on a platter: Pub burgers, brats, chicken thighs, skewers and grilled vegetables. Add party trays from the Deli Department — pasta salads, fruit trays or vegetable trays — so guests can build their plates.

Perfect for gatherings in St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Hobart or anywhere in Northwest Indiana or Chicagoland.

Sides

Strack & Van Til’s Deli Department offers:

• Traditional potato salads — Homestyle or mustard potato.
• Specialty potato salads — Steakhouse or Premium Potato with extra egg and dressing.
• Pasta salads — Spinach and pasta with pine nuts and Parmesan, sweet bowtie pasta with bacon, or Caprese pasta salad with fresh mozzarella.

“Create your own charcuterie board to add a touch of flair to your barbecue,” says Deli Department Director Kristin Snow. “You’ll find specialty cheeses, salamis, olives, nuts, fruit spreads, honey and the perfect cracker or bruschetta toast.”

Desserts

The Bakery Department makes all cakes from scratch, including buttercream frosting.

Customer favorites include:

• Carrot cake with cream cheese icing
• Oreo Cookies and cream
• Red velvet
• German chocolate

Signature Atomic Cake — Banana, chocolate and yellow cake with strawberry and Bavarian crème filling, topped with whipped crème icing. Customers from Merrillville to Hobart and many towns throughout Northwest Indiana say this cake is their No. 1 choice. Find it at your nearest Strack & Van Til.

Strawberry Triple Layer Cake — Three layers of yellow cake with strawberry filling and whipped crème topping.

Internal links for more grilling inspiration

• Best Cuts of Steak for Grilling
• What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

Final thoughts

Grilling is one of the easiest ways to cook during warm weather in Northwest Indiana. Whether you’re grilling for family in Munster, hosting a backyard cookout in Schererville, firing up the barbecue in Cedar Lake or cooking for friends in East Chicago, you’ll find classic steaks, easy weeknight chicken, fresh vegetables and fun fruit options at your local Strack & Van Til Food Market.