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Grilling season is almost here again, and that means it’s time to whip out that dusty grill and get to cooking.
One of the things we love about the summer, apart from the nice outdoors, are the fun and delicious BBQs we get to have with friends and family.
There’s something about perfectly smoked and roasted meals made on a grill that just gets people’s saliva running (mine too).
And while BBQs sure are fun and delicious, you might be wondering how to make them a bit healthier, in order to preserve that rockin summer bod you’ve been working on.
Well not to worry. Here, you’ll discover some useful grilling tips, as well as 30 incredibly delicious, and healthy BBQ recipes to enjoy this summer, or even any time of the year.
They’re just that good. And your friends, family and guests will no doubt drool over these as well.
Enjoy.
Some Useful Healthy Grilling Tips
Here are some useful tips you might want to put in mind during your next BBQ sesh.
1) Start With A Clean Grill
Eating healthy isn’t just restricted to the carbs, calories and fats. It’s also involves proper cooking hygiene.
You always want to make sure that you’re starting out your BBQ sesh with a clean and neat grill.
Just like any other method of cooking, there are bound to be some sort of residues from the previous session. It is important to get them cleaned out, before your next session.
Sure, it may not be exactly fun, but it does help prevent or reduce the amount of unhygienic substances coming in contact with your food. The last thing you want is to get sick.
2) Don’t Forget To Marinate
Sure we all know marinating that steak will make it even more delicious, but did you know it can also be healthier too?
There seems to be some concern over certain not so good chemicals being released when the food comes in direct contact with fire.
However, marinating can help to reduce the amount of these unhealthy chemicals being released, making your delicious meal healthier, and way more enjoyable.
3) Avoid Charred Parts
No one likes burnt food, that’s one thing for sure (or at least most people don’t).
And while we can try out best to make sure the food is properly cooked, sometimes, stuff happens and some part gets burnt a little too much.
In cases like this, there’s no reason to force yourself to eat those charred parts of the food, especially if you don’t like it.
Not only is it less enjoyable than the rest of that juicy meal, but it is often the highest in those unhealthy chemicals you don’t want to be getting much off.
A good way around this is to simply cut out or remove the charred part, and simply enjoy the rest of your juicy meal.
4) Opt In For Leaner Meats
If you’re looking to shave off some calories, opting in for leaner cuts of meat might be a great place to start.
Plus, since leaner meats tend to be lower in fats, they may end up releasing less harmful compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) when exposed to heat.
Another method used for reducing fat content when grilling is to peel off some of the visible fat, like the skin for example.
While this is completely personal and certainly not mandatory, it may help in reducing the amount of fats that drip into the flame, thereby causing less harmful chemical to be released.
These tips will help you create delicious and healthier meals on the grill in no time.
Ok now, enough talk. Let’s start salivating. Here are 30 incredible BBQ recipes you’re going to love.
30 Healthy Grilling Recipes To Enjoy
1) Best Healthy Grilled Chicken
I mean, who could honestly resist this kind of juicy and perfectly tender chicken?
This easy and tasty delight features chicken breasts (which is lower in fats), covered in a nice ginger-soy marinade and grilled to perfection.
It’s so easy to make and goes well with just about anything. Once it’s ready, serve with your favorite veggie sides and enjoy.
Get the recipe at – Le Crème De La Crumb
2) Healthy Grilled Pineapple Chicken
Dig into the tropical goodness of the summer with this delicious and healthy pineapple chicken.
The chicken and pineapple grill so well together, and are covered in the best pineapple tomato marinade you can think of. You’ll definitely be going back for seconds.
Get the recipe at – Real Simple Good
3) Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Breasts
Trust me when I say the flavor on these is phenomenal. And yet it’s so simple to make.
Get the recipe at – Gimme Delicious
4) Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Kebabs
There’s something about juicy little chunks of meat on skewers that just gets that saliva running.
These chicken kabobs flavored with a nice homemade teriyaki sauce, and grilled alongside veggies like bell peppers and onions, and even pineapple, is sure to get anyone drooling.
Get the recipe at – Hello Spoonful
5) Chicken Fajitas in Foil
Foil packet dinners are the absolute bomb. Not only do they help your food come out moist and juicy, but you also don’t have to worry about cleanup.
These chicken fajitas paired with your favorite veggies of choice and seasoned to perfection, will become your new summertime favorite. Did I already mention zero cleanup?
Get the recipe at – Well Plated
Also See: 25 Healthy Chicken Dinners That’ll Make Your Mouth Water
6) Mixed Grill with Balsamic-Mustard Vegetables
Why have only one type of meat when you can have more?
This yummy recipe features a mix of beef and sausage, paired with tasty veggies like zucchinis, eggplant, mushrooms, corn and more. And the marinade is nothing short of amazing as well.
Get the recipe at – Eating Well
7) Grilled Vegetables
Meats aren’t the only thing that deserve special time on the grill.
This recipe uses a mix of tasty and colorful veggies like yellow squash, carrots, mushrooms and more. Plus, the nice garlic-herb marinade used here makes these impossible to resist.
Get the recipe at – Dinner At The Zoo
8) Healthy Grilled Turkey Burgers
Raise your hand if burgers are one of the first things that come to mind when you hear the word “BBQ”.
For all my burger lovers out these, these healthy turkey burgers are sure to satisfy those cravings of yours. They come out perfectly juicy, tender and delicious.
Throw in your favorite burger toppings and enjoy. For this version, lettuce wraps are used in place of regular burger buns, and the whole delight is served with a side of potato fries.
Get the recipe at – Meals With Maggie
9) Lemon Garlic Herb Grilled Salmon
No better way to enjoy tender and juicy salmon this summer. This lemon garlic herb salmon is flavor-packed, healthy and so delicious. You’ll want to have this on repeat for sure.
Get the recipe at – Cooking Classy
10) Lemon Garlic Chicken Breasts
This is as simple and easy as simple and easy can get. Requiring just 5 simple ingredients, this BBQ chicken with zucchini is the perfect healthy summer dinner to enjoy with the family.
You can serve this with your favorite roasted vegetables, or with some rice or cauliflower rice if you want to keep things low carb.
Get the recipe at – Healthy Fitness Meals
Also See: 30 Amazing Dinners To Make With 5 Ingredients Or Less
11) Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Who’s up for some tasty and juicy chicken wings? Seasoned and baked to perfection, these make for a perfect summertime appetizer to enjoy with friends and family. And they come together in under 30 minutes from scratch too.
For the final finishing, these tasty wings are graced with a nice lemon pepper sauce, post-grill, which makes them even more irresistible.
Get the recipe at – Mad About Food
12) Grilled Vegetables
Thinking of going meat free? Not to worry. There are still lots of healthy BBQ recipes you can whip up without stress.
This one combines a good number of tasty and colorful vegetables like mushrooms, yellow squash, corn, peppers and zucchini on skewers and grilled to perfection.
You can also experiment with your favorite veggies and serve alongside a tasty sauce of your choice.
Get the recipe at – Love And Lemons
13) Cajun-Spiced Grilled Tofu
Speaking of easy and delicious meatless BBQ recipes to try, this Cajun-Spiced Tofu is definitely a must try.
It’s so easy to make, you only need 5 ingredients to get the job done. Serve alongside your veggies of choice and enjoy.
Get the recipe at – Healthy Nibbles And Bits
14) Healthy Grilled Burger Bowls
Forget the patties. These delicious burger bowls pack all the good flavor minus the extra calories.
The juicy cheese-topped burger is served alongside some potato fries, avocados, tomatoes, pickles and of course lettuce. And it all comes out under 500 calories. What more could you ask for?
Get the recipe at – Lively Table
15) Grilled Chicken Salad
Thinking of what to enjoy with your perfectly grilled chicken? This combo will leave you running back for more.
It combines delicious chicken, berries, nuts and enough cheesy goodness, alongside healthy veggies. It’s then topped with a nice yoghurt poppyseed dressing for the big finish. Nothing short of magnificent.
Also See: 16 Keto Grilling Recipes That’ll Make You Drool
16) Grilled Shrimp Tacos
These shrimp tacos are nothing short of amazing. With juicy and perfectly cooked shrimp, served over some Mexican coleslaw and then graced with a nice and spicy mayo sauce, you’ll be falling in love with these in no time.
Get the recipe at – A Couple Cooks
17) Grilled Lobster Tail
Speaking of delicious seafood we love, these lobster tails are definitely worth the shot. They’re super tasty, and the garlic herb butter topping used here makes them even more irresistible.
Once they’re ready, pair with your side dish of choice and enjoy.
Get the recipe at – Dinner At The Zoo
18) Barbecue Tofu Skewers
Meats aren’t the only thing that belong on skewers. These tofu skewers have what it takes to make even the meat lovers jealous.
It comes together very easily, requiring just 2 simple ingredients (tofu and a special BBQ sauce). And it is as yummy as you can imagine.
Get the recipe at – Sweet Simple Vegan
19) Smoky Salmon with Avocado Salad
Need a quick, easy and healthy summertime dinner you can whip up in no time? This perfectly smoked salmon, paired with a tasty corn avocado salad is the right thing for the job.
It’s super delicious, healthy, and comes together in under 30 minutes easy from scratch.
Get the recipe at – The Modern Proper
20) Stuffed Avocados With Shrimp And Mango Salsa
Trust me when I say you can grill just about anything.
For this tasty delight, the avocados are perfectly grilled, and stuffed with shrimp (also grilled to perfection), and a nice mango salsa that adds even more flavor to the dish.
Get the recipe at – The Roasted Root
Also See: 25 Healthy Shrimp Recipes That Are Too Good To Resist
21) Shrimp Kabobs
Shrimp also goes well on skewers. Combined with your favorite veggies and roasted to perfection, you’ll have a satisfying dinner ready in no time.
Get the recipe at – African Bites
22) Loaded Grilled Eggplant with Creamy Herb Sauce
Forget the beef. This loaded eggplant goes meatless by swapping it out for a nice and tasty nut crumble, and then tops it all off with a creamy mayo sauce.
It’s a nutritious and tasty vegetarian dinner to make in just under 20 minutes from scratch.
Get the recipe at – Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
23) 5-Ingredient Flank Steak
More proof that you don’t need a thousand ingredients to create something this epic.
This delicious and juicy flank steak uses a simple 5-ingredient marinade and yet packs a ton of flavor. Paired with other yummy roasted veggies like zucchini, peppers and potatoes, it’s sure to leave everyone satisfied.
Get the recipe at – Spices In My DNA
24) Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Why? Because we all know that everything tastes better when wrapped in bacon.
These tasty bacon-wrapped jalapenos make for a great summertime appetizer to enjoy with friends and fam. Serve with your favorite dips and enjoy.
Get the recipe at – Spend With Pennies
25) Grilled Basil Lemon Pork Chops
The best darn pork chops you’ve ever had. Simple, easy and incredibly delicious too. You’ll want to have this for dinner every night.
Get the recipe at – Tastes Of Lizzy T
Also See: 20 Easy And Healthy Salads That Taste Incredibly Good
26) Grilled Chicken With Strawberry Black Bean Salsa
Get the recipe at – The Roasted Root
27) Easy Vegan BBQ Salad
This tasty vegan BBQ salad deserves a spot on your must-try list. With juicy tomatoes, toasted nuts, chickpeas and a couple of healthy veggies as well, it’s sure to leave you satisfied.
Get the recipe at – Lazy Cat Kitchen
28) Japanese Farm Style Teriyaki Bowl
To make it vegan, swap out the chicken for some mushrooms.
Get the recipe at – Feasting At Home
29) Easy Grilled Pizza
Trust me when I say there’s almost no limit to what you can throw on that outdoor cooker of yours. And this simple and easy grilled pizza is a very good example.
You can make this easily in just a couple of minutes, and it takes way less time than it would’ve taken in the oven, while coming out just as yummy. Throw in your favorite toppings and enjoy.
Get the recipe at – Tastes Better From Scratch
30) Garlic Butter Steak and Potato Foil Packets
Say hello to your new favorite summer dinner. They can easily be made in the oven or on the grill, and are packed with good flavor. Stressful cleanup? Never heard of it.
