SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Playing with fire has never been hotter when it comes to flavor and summer grilling. A new grilling trend report, released by the McCormick brand, spotlights three red-hot trends centering on new ways grillers are layering flavors, expanding the sizzle beyond steak, and taking advantage of the transformation of appliances.
“Above all, flavor complexity will become the new standard in grilling with global flavor layering, and grillers are continuing to delve beyond meat, poultry and fish with barbecued vegetables and sweet ingredients,” says Jordan Carfagno, Executive Chef at McCormick, which distributes herbs, spices, seasonings and condiments globally. “New technology is also powering our prediction that smart, modular grills will redefine when and where consumers grill.”
Here are the top findings from Fire & Flavor 2026 Grilling Trends issued by McCormick, along with their recipe for Double Stacked Smashed Cheeseburgers.
The Art of Layering
This trend celebrates the intentional build of flavor, where rubs, marinades, glazes and finishing sauces work in concert to create depth, contrast and complexity. This comes at a time when there’s been a 78% increase in social media mentions for “umami” compared with just two years ago, according to Datassentials, and a 53% increase in U.S. consumers interested in “swicy” – sweet and spicy combinations, according to research from the Food Institute.
Layering flavor is part of a gourmet trend emphasizing intentional, creative and personalized grilling experiences. Flavor transformation happens within three different stages – Base, Build and Finish. Flavor layering techniques draw inspiration from global cuisines like Indian tandoori, Korean bulgogi and Moroccan tagines.
More than Steak
From jackfruit to peaches, unexpected ingredients are expanding the boundaries of BBQ. The experts at McCormick predict that grillers will continue to embrace global flavors, vegetables, and sweet ingredients, noting that millennials grill fruit two times more than the average griller.
Favorite flavors beyond steak include juicy bone-in cuts of chicken grilled to the perfect tenderness level, smoky and caramelized veggies enhanced with warm spices and honey for bold, irresistible flavor, and fresh salad made with crisp, ripe tomatoes charred to perfection.
Appliance Transformation
Grilling is being redefined by smart technology and modular design, turning grills into adaptive, multifunctional hubs that cater to modern lifestyles.
Developments, such as loT-enabled grills with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allow remote temperature control and monitoring via mobile apps for perfect cooking. Modular grills provide customizability with interchangeable surfaces offering versatile cooking options catering to diverse styles and preferences.
The experts at McCormick note that appliance-enabled flavors include the use of smokers beyond the classic cuts, enhancing deep, complex flavors of various proteins and elevating everyday staples. Flat tops also unlock new extra crispy textures and allow for new techniques. They also note that the global portable grills market is projected to continue to grow, driven by the rise of home entertaining and tailgating.
New Smashed Burger Recipe
To accompany the release of the trends report, McCormick is spotlighting a new recipe for grillers: the Double Stacked Smashed Cheeseburgers Recipe. These juicy burgers are smashed onto a hot flat top grill or cast-iron skillet to create an epic crust. Seasoned with the new Grill Mates Signature Blend Seasoning and layered with homemade burger sauce, this is bound to be a favorite on the grill this season.
More recipes made for the grill, along with information on McCormick’s top-performing grill spice blends, can be found at https://www.mccormick.com/pages/fireandflavor.
This season, grill masters should consider innovative ways to level-up summer cooking with global flavors and new techniques.
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