As the temperature steadily rises, we’re starting to crave summer favourites like ice cream cones, juicy peaches, and anything with grill marks.

We’re throwing everything on the grill – seasonal veggies, pizza, london broil – you name it. We can’t seem to get enough of that charred, fresh-off-the-grill flavor.

While a simple rub of salt and pepper might suffice for some, the Test Kitchen developed three simple marinades that pack a punch to use all summer long.

We whipped up these easy marinades in our Hamilton Beach® single-serve blender and each was developed with a particular protein in mind.

Grilled chicken is a summer staple. Instead of covering it with your favorite BBQ sauce before tossing it on the grill, let it take a quick dip in this citrusy marinade. Fresh thyme and zesty lemon juice perfectly complement the chicken, ensuring this goes with just about any summer side dish.

In the mood for pork? This apple dijon marinade is both sweet and tangy, thanks to a little bit of apple juice and dijon mustard. The addition of brown sugar leaves you with a beautifully caramelized pork chop when you pull it off the grill.

Grilled steak is hard to resist on its own, but when it’s covered in this ginger lime marinade it’s nearly impossible. This Asian influenced marinade adds a nice bite to juicy steaks – thanks to fresh, spicy ginger and red pepper flakes. It’s got a little bit of sugar, a little bit of salt, and a lot of flavour.

Whether sweltering temps are keeping you inside with your Hamilton Beach® Searing Grill or you’re spending a beautiful 75-degree evening next to your outdoor grill, you’re sure to be in the running for the neighbourhood grill master title this summer thanks to these three marinades.