Home » round up » 25 Healthy Barbecue Recipes
by Katie Webster
August 29, 2013 (updated 6/14/22) Jump To Recipe
5 from 5 reviews
If you are planning an outdoor party this summer, then you will be excited for 25 Tips and Recipes to make your Barbecue a little bit healthier. I have included some ways to get more nutrients into your meals, while still enjoying your favorite cookout fare like burgers, coleslaw and potato salad!
I worked with Jill Hussels, RDN of the New England Dairy to put together some ways you can make your barbecue better and healthier this cookout season. You can watch Jill and me share some of these tips on our television appearance.
Lean Proteins For a Healthier Barbecue
- Choose less fatty cuts of beef, 95% lean is best.
- Mix vegetables or fruit into your beef to bulk it up and cut down on fat and calories.
- Make your own turkey burgers with breast meat.
- Add Dijon mustard to your turkey meat to spice it up.
- Try Salmon burger to get your Omega 3s.
- When choosing a veggie burger look for ones with beans for protein and fiber.
- Bulk up your burger with loads of nutrient-rich veggies and low fat cheese for extra calcium.
- Check out our line-up of healthy burger recipes too!
- There are many other lean meats to add to the grill besides burgers!
These grilled meats, veggies, kebabs and burgers are all some of your favorite barbecue fare with less saturated fat and calories than traditional cookout recipes.
Grilled Sirloin Steak with Chimichurri
I’m going to let you in on a secret. One of the leanest beef steaks also happens to be one of the most delicious steaks and it’s about half the price of tenderloin or rib eye steak! I know that sounds too good to be true, so I don’t blame you if you’re skeptical when I say that it happens to be great on the grill. Serve it with Chimichurri for more great flavor!
lemon rosemary pork chops with arugula salad
Try these grilled pork chops with garlic, lemon and rosemary paste with simple arugula salad dressed with lemon and olive oil, topped with shaved Pecorino Toscano cheese.
the best chicken marinade
This is my verybest chicken marinadeof all time! You simplyhaveto make it! This recipe, originally called Isabel’s Island Chicken Marinade, is one I have made so many times over the years I could do it in my sleep. And many readers and friends have told me how much they love it.
shrimp kabobs
Nothing says summer like these Shrimp Kabobs! Fire up the grill and enjoy these savory, low carb skewers with rosemary, garlic and cherry tomatoes. And the clean up is quick and easy! Great for weeknights with your family.
grilled lemon garlic pork tenderloin
This Grilled Lemon Garlic Pork Tenderloin recipe with rosemary is super simple, but full of flavor. It is easy to make and the pork takes on so much great taste from the marinade in only 1 hour!
garlic lemon chicken marinade
It is so worth the10 minutes of prepit takes to whip thisGarlic Lemon Chicken Marinadetogether! It is so easy and it simply transforms boneless skinlesschicken breast from boring into juicy flavorful grilled perfection!
grilled za'atar chicken burgers with cucumber mint tzatziki
Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss.
grilled lamb kofta kebabs
Here’s a recipe for simple Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs made with onion and spices and then shaped and skewered. They are a grain-free and paleo entree for the spring grilling season.
More Veggies and Healthier Side Dishes for Cookout Menu
Here are some tips for adding more veggies (and nutrients to your plate for your picnic or barbecue.)
- Fill half your plate with vegetables , like a big beautiful garden salad.
- Add as many colors as you can with your favorite seasonal vegetables. Like I tell my kids, eat a rainbow!
- Make homemade dressing to save calories.
- Add fresh herbs to dressing for flavor without extra calories.
- Substitute low-fat plain Greek-style yogurt for some of the mayonnaise in creamy dressing.
- Make veggie kebabs to add more vegetables to your plate.
- Add flavor to veggie kebabs without calories with herb seasonings.
Here are some tips for making your barbecue side dishes more healthy.
- Leave the skins on your potato salad for fiber and minerals.
- Steam potatoes to preserve nutrients.
- Boost flavor of potato salad with vinegar.
- Add flavor without extra calories with herbs.
- Make popsicles with pureed fruit to boost nutrition and keep calories in check.
- Add berries for Antioxidants.
- Fruit is lighter in calories than traditional desserts.
- Homemade popsicles are kid-friendly and easy to make.
Grilled Zucchini
Adding fresh veggies to the grill is a great way of adding more plant based nutrition to the cookout menu. Easy Grilled Zucchini with balsamic glaze is such a simple but delicious summer side dish and great way to use up garden fresh zucchini! I love to make it as a side dish for company during the summer because it is vegan, gluten-free, low carb and healthy, so everyone at the table can enjoy it. This technique is super simple, and the balsamic vinegar glaze makes it seem special but is so easy to do!
Asian Coleslaw
I promise thisAsian Coleslawwill be your go-to side dish salad this summer. You canwhip it up in minutesand the super yummy sesame flavored dressing turns the crunchy cabbage and carrots into a mouth-watering bite.
Vegan Potato Salad with Herbs
No mayo was used in the making of this Vegan Potato Salad with Herbs. Just a simple oil and vinegar dressing and a ton of herbs turn this make-ahead summer side dish into a recipe greater than the sum of its parts.
Healthy Coleslaw
This ultra creamy, healthy coleslaw is super easy to stir together. It’s the perfect skinny coleslaw recipe for your summer cookouts, barbecues and picnics. Just chop, stir and serve! Only 70 calories per serving!
Grilled Stuffed Summer Squash
Grilled Summer Squash Boats are an awesome vegetarian main course or side dish grilling recipe! Just in time to help you use up some of those yellow summer squash that are bursting out of the garden right now.
Cucumber and Napa Cabbage Coleslaw
Looking for a go-to slaw recipe for this summer? Then check out this Cucumber and Napa Cabbage Coleslaw. It is a yummy, refreshing, vegan and low carb recipe that will be the star of all your summer cook outs. And it’s ready in just 20 minutes!
Italian Pasta Salad
This easy Italian Pasta Salad is so good! It’s loaded with artichoke hearts, basil, tomatoes, black olives and a big bright and zesty garlic and red wine vinegar dressing to make it pop! There is no cheese or meats, so it is vegan and vegetarian friendly too.
Grilled Carrots
If you’re wondering if you can grill carrots, I am here to say, most emphatically, you certainly can! Actually, I highly encourage it! Today I have a short video showing how to make grilled carrots plus I have some tips so they are tender all the way through, but not overly charred. Grilled carrots, are great just plain with oil, salt and pepper, but I’ve elevated this recipe today with a few extra flavors- harissa, lemon and mint!
Mexican Corn Salad
Get ready to fall in love with this vegan Corn Salad with Jalapeño and Cilantro Dressing with cherry tomatoes, red onion and bell pepper. It will totally put you in the mood for easy summer evenings.
Creamy Blue Cheese and Walnut Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw recipe with blue cheese and walnuts added in. It has a little dill and peppery radishes. It is a delicious low carb and gluten free side dish to serve with beef or pork.
Garden Salad
If there is such a thing as a comfort food salad then this Garden Salad would be it. It’s the old school classic salad of my childhood (and maybe yours too) that goes with pretty much every meal, and never gets old! Today I have the perfect formula of veggies (including iceberg lettuce, cukes and tomato wedges), cheese, croutons and a delicious homemade Italian vinaigrette to pour over it.
Mexican Four Bean Salad
This vegan Mexican Four Bean Salad is going to be your new favorite picnic or potluck side dish- because it is so flavorful and delicious, but totally easy to make! The creamy avocado and cumin dressing has a kick of smoky chipotle chili that really peps up the canned beans and edamame.
German Potato Salad
This German Potato Salad recipe is so easy ( I used a few tricks to make the process so much faster) and it’s also healthier with zero refined sugar and less saturated fat. But it is 100 percent high in delicious smoky, sweet and sour flavor!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a healthy and tasty side dish for summer parties. It is popping with flavor and loaded with cucumbers, feta and olives with the addition of parsley and mint. It’s like a cross between Greek salad and quinoa tabbouleh all brought together with a garlic lemon dressing!
Mexican Pasta Salad
Try this Mexican Pasta Salad with corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeño which is a delicious side dish salad to make for summer cookouts. The creamy Greek yogurt dressing with spices and lime add so much unique flavor!
Paleo Ginger Cilantro Sweet Potato Salad
ThisPaleo Ginger Cilantro Sweet Potato Saladmay just rock your backyard barbecue’s world. It’s alsovegan friendly and naturally gluten-free.
Tomato and Anchovy Salad
Here is an easy-going recipe for a simple tomato salad with anchovies, basil, olives and avocado. It’s a healthy and simple side-dish to share with friends and family or to bring to a picnic or barbecue. It is paleo and dairy-free and ready in only 10 minutes!
Panzanella Salad
This colorful Panzanella Salad has tomatoes, peppers, onion and cucumbers to give it loads of flavor, crunch and color. The bread is toasted then soaks up the garlic dressing and tomato juices which make it better and better as it sits. Perfect for summer potlucks and events!
Israeli Couscous Salad
This Israeli Couscous Salad recipe with chickpeas brings together flavors of lemon, garlic and cumin with fresh parsley. It’s a fast and healthy side dish salad and naturally vegan so it compliments so many meals!
Grilled Asparagus
This season, make sure to plan on trying my recipe for Grilled Asparagus. Once you make it, and see just how easy it is to get the perfect crisp-tender texture, you will make it over and over again! There are only 5 minutes of prep, and it takes only a few minutes to grill!
Pay Attention to Portions
- Burgers should be about the size of a hockey puck
- Watch out for big buns, choose those that are about the size of a deck of cards or 3oz.
- A little goes a long way so limit the amount of dressing in your salads and sides. About 2 Tablespoon per serving is plenty!
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
25 Healthy Barbecue Recipes {and Watermelon Popsicles Recipe}
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
5 from 5 reviews
- Author: Katie Webster
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 mins
- Yield: 8 pops 1x
Description
Here are healthy and easy barbecue recipes and our favorite watermelon popsicles made with fresh watermelon
Ingredients
UnitsScale
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup chopped mint
- 6 cups cubed seedless watermelon
Instructions
- Combine honey, water and mint in a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring often. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes.
- Strain mint honey mixture into a blender. Discard mint. Add watermelon to the blender. Pulse then puree, stopping to scrape sides and press down on the fruit to get mixture moving as necessary.
- Divide watermelon mixture among 8 TK popsicle molds. Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: na
- Category: Dessert
- Method: freezer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pop
- Calories: 49
- Sugar: 2 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
About the Author
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
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5 comments on “25 Healthy Barbecue Recipes”
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Jill — November 1, 2022 @ 11:47 pm Reply
Fall is my favorite season, but now you’ve made me long for summer and BBQ season with this post. Pinning this for future reference!
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Anjali — November 1, 2022 @ 9:41 pm Reply
I love bbq recipes and I appreciate all of the vegetarian friendly ideas you have in this roundup! I’m definitely going to be making those watermelon popsicles soon – they are so simple and easy!
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Renee B — November 1, 2022 @ 7:55 pm Reply
This is such a great roundup of recipes. (I can’t wait to make those za’atar chicken burgers!) The watermelon popsicles look so refreshing, too! Thank you!
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Andrea — November 1, 2022 @ 6:57 pm Reply
What a great list of healthy BBQ ideas. Looking at starting with the shrimp and zucchini then going from there.
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Tara — November 1, 2022 @ 6:22 pm Reply
Such a wonderful collection of recipes! I especially love the Grilled Asparagus and Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs.
