I first had mussels grilled over an open flame at a beach cookout — just mussels, garlic, butter, and a few slices of crusty bread. It felt so rustic and so right. Now, I grill them on my back porch anytime I want something simple that still feels like a treat. These are my go-to when I want a fun seafood dish that’s ready in minutes and looks impressive with almost no effort.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs fresh mussels, scrubbed and debearded

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• Crusty bread, for serving

• Optional: red pepper flakes or white wine splash for extra flavor

Instructions:

1. Prep the mussels
   Rinse mussels under cold water and scrub well. Discard any that are cracked or stay open after a gentle tap.

2. Preheat the grill
   Heat grill to medium-high. Place a large cast iron skillet or grill-safe pan directly on the grates.

3. Cook the garlic
   Add olive oil and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

4. Add the mussels
   Toss in the mussels, then add butter and lemon juice. Cover the grill and cook for 6–8 minutes, or until mussels have opened. Discard any that don’t open.

5. Finish and serve
   Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with toasted or grilled bread to soak up the garlicky broth.

Nutrition (per serving):

Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 8 mins | Total Time: 18 minutes
Calories: 240 | Protein: 22g | Carbs: 4g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g