When school gets out and the sun starts to shine, theres nothing better than a backyard barbecue. Grilled food offers the perfect flavors of the summer season. Whether youre grilling up fresh fish, hearty sausages or tangy fruit, there are many ways to celebrate the summer through grilling.
If youre looking to whip up something delicious and nutritious this summer, try making one of these healthy grill recipes.
Contrary to popular belief, grilling isnt just about cheeseburgers and hot dogs (though we do love those from time to time).
From zucchini to grilled shrimp skewers, weve made sure theres something in this list for the barbecue master in all of us. Read on for tasty and healthy summer barbecue recipes.
Lemon-Glazed Corn on the Cob
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Corn on the cob is one of the classic healthy recipes for BBQ season. If youre used to eating your corn with just a hefty dollop of butter, try switching things up with this delicious Lemon-Glazed Corn on the Cob recipe from Eating Well. Cook the corn in butter, olive oil, lemon and garlic for an added boost of flavor. The fresh lemon juice on the sweet corn will create a unique and fresh flavor thats perfect for any summertime BBQ.
Grilled Potato Salad with Scallion Vinaigrette
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Nothing is quite as comforting during the summer season as a big bowl of potato salad. If youre looking for something a bit more nutritious and not as heavy as traditional potato salad, give this Grilled Potato Salad with Scallion Vinaigrette recipe a try. Grilled potatoes, grilled scallops and the secret ingredient of grilled blueberries combine in Love & Lemonss flavorful and fresh summer side dish. From casual eaters to the more gourmet among the group, this is one of our healthy summer barbecue recipes that are sure to be enjoyed by all.
Grilled Halloumi and Peaches with Dukkah
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Peaches and barbecue are two things that scream summertime. Thats why this Grilled Halloumi and Peaches with Dukkah takes the cake for one of our all-time favorite creative ideas for healthy BBQ recipes. Sweet ripe peaches, cheese and a garnish of mint, lemon, olive oil and honey combine to create a dish that will make your tastebuds sing. Whether youre throwing a pool party or a summer soiree, this dish is sure to be a hit among all your guests.
Perfectly Grilled Zucchini
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When youre looking to get out of the hot kitchen and away from the oven, try throwing your veggies right on the grill. One of our favorite dishes that incorporates summer veggies is this Perfectly Grilled Zucchini from Skinnytaste. Its quick, easy and goes along with just about anything else you might be grilling! Gina seasons her zucchini with extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar or balsamic, parsley, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper for a simple yet elegant summertime plate.
Chipotle Lime Shrimp Skewers
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Shrimp is always a good idea when looking to make healthy grill recipes. These Chipotle Lime Shrimp Skewers from Closet Cooking are marinated in a yummy chipotle lime sauce and are perfect for serving to a group. You can enjoy them over brown rice mixed with lots of fresh cilantro or as an appetizer before the main course arrives.
Grilled Watermelon Salad
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photo by liveeatlearn.com[/caption]
Watermelon in the summer season is divineeven more so when its thrown on the BBQ! Elevate your next summer evening spent outdoors with this Grilled Watermelon Salad recipe from Live, Eat, Learn. Author Sarah combines watermelon with crumbled feta cheese, arugula, red onion, chopped fresh mint, fresh basil, olive oil, and salt and vinegar.
Feta Chicken Burgers
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Every plan for a summer barbecue needs a good burger recipe, and luckily, there are endless options for healthy burger recipes to test out! These Feta Chicken Burgers from Taste of Home are made with roasted sweet red peppers, chopped cucumber, garlic powder and Greek seasoning. Theyre simple yet delicious and are a great recipe to add to your healthy grill recipes handbook. Chicken is versatile, which means you can experiment with variations for chicken burgers all summer long.
Grilled Beet Burgers
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You dont need meat on a burger to make it delicious, thats for sure! This recipe for Grilled Beet Burgers from Green Kitchen Stories beautifully illustrates that idea by using beets in place of meat. Raw beetroots combine with rolled oats, feta cheese, garlic, olive oil, eggs and fresh basil to form your burger base. From there, top with ingredients like lettuce, mango, tomatoes and avocado. The end result will be refreshing, healthy and wildly colorful!
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Breasts
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Grilled chicken is a great go-to for healthy recipes for BBQ season. You can have it in the form of thighs, breasts, drumsticks, wings or even barbecue the whole entire bird. We love this recipe for Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Breasts from Gimme Delicious, as it incorporates the flavors of lemon juice, fresh parsley, paprika, dried oregano and garlic. Whether youre throwing this on the grill for a big gathering or making a mellow weeknight meal solo, this is wonderful BBQ staple that you can customize time and time again.
Grilled Avocado & Romaine Caesar Salad
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Take the salad outdoors with this recipe for Grilled Avocado and Romaine Caesar Salad from Blissful Basil. Its vegan, gluten free and packed with a whole bunch of greens. If youre a fan of traditional Caesar salad, youll love this unique and healthy twist on the classic. Pair this salad with some grilled lemon chicken for a bit of extra protein or enjoy it all on its own.
Grilled Fruit Kabob
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Whether youre serving fruit for dessert or alongside your dinner, throwing it on the grill is always a great idea. These Grilled Fruit Kabobs from Feel Good Foodie are made with strawberries, pineapple, bananas and cantaloupe. Not only do they taste sweet and wonderful, but theyre gorgeous when set out on the table! Sprinkle them with a bit of shredded coconut for some added texture and youll be good to go!
Grilled Caprese Skewers
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When it comes to healthy summer barbecue recipes, caprese salad is always a show-stopping favorite. Once you put your caprese on skewers and throw it on the grill, it takes this summer salad to a whole new level. These Grilled Caprese Skewers from Foodie Crush are a brilliant combination of French bread, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves and halloumi cheese. Drizzle this dish with some good balsamic vinegar, and youll instantly be the hit of your next BBQ. If you love the flavor and texture of the halloumi cheese when its thrown on the grill, try this Halloumi & Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad from Daily Waffle. It mixes some of those same flavors of tomatoes and cheese, but kicks it up a notch to a more well-rounded entree with the addition of bell peppers and zucchini. However you decide to enjoy your grilled halloumi, we know youll have fun experimenting with this delicious cheese!
Paleo BBQ Sauce
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You cant have healthy BBQ recipes without a bbq sauce to match! This Paleo BBQ Sauce from Fed + Fit is made with grass-fed butter, strained tomatoes and tomato paste. Once combined with blackstrap molasses, coconut aminos and some spices like garlic powder and ancho chili powder, this homemade barbecue sauce will have you reaching for more. You might find yourself putting this sauce on everything from chicken drumsticks to chicken burgers. We love that author Cassy Joy offers a few different variations to the basic sauce recipe, like a tangy version, a sweet version and a spicy version, to test out all summer long.
Sweet & Spicy Salmon Rub
This Sweet & Spicy Salmon Rub from Bobs Red Mill is paleo friendly, aromatic and perfect for barbecued salmon. Its made with a mix of coconut sugar, salt, whole mustard seeds, whole fennel seeds, ground ginger and cayenne pepper, offering just the right amount of sweetness and spice. If you love this rub, make a larger batch and use it on pork tenderloin!
Whether youre throwing a big salmon steak on the barbecue or taking your time and arranging shrimp and vegetables on skewers, we hope these healthy grill recipes have you feeling inspired!
At the end of a warm summer day, theres nothing like lighting the barbecue and spending some quality time cooking outdoors with those you love.
Have any favorite healthy BBQ recipes youd like to share with the Bobs Red Mill community? Feel free to write them in the comments below!
From family traditions to new grilling recipes, we cant wait to hear what you create!
I purchased Bob's Textured Vegetable Protein with the idea of adding it to ground beef for burgers, meat loaf, etc. I can't find a recipe anywhere. Does such a thing exist?