It’s that lovely time of year again, when the weather is warm and the days are long enough to fire up the grill each night. From backyard barbecues to picnics at the park to campsites on the beach, cooking and enjoying a meal outside is half the fun. These healthy cookout recipes make it easy to entertain a crowd, while still serving a nutritious meal. Check out the 10 BBQ recipes below for salads, sandwiches, skewers and pizzas that take advantage of summer’s fresh herbs, fruits and veggies. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the season’s best flavors.
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10 Healthy BBQ Recipes to Enjoy Outdoors
1. Open-Faced Steak Sandwich with Avocado Horseradish
Unlike other steak sandwiches that might leave you feeling bloated, this open-faced recipe uses strip steak — one of the leanest cuts of beef. The night before your cookout, marinate thin slices of steak in Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, olive oil and garlic. The next day, the meat will be extra tender and moist so it won’t dry out under fire. Top the sandwiches with a creamy avocado horseradish prepared with apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard. Photo and recipe: Jessica Merchant / How Sweet Eats
2. Watermelon Pineapple Lemonade
A colorful twist to your average lemonade, this refreshing drink includes the sweet and super hydrating juices of watermelon and pineapple, so you could even skip the simple syrup. Muddle some fresh mint leaves at the bottom of each glass to bring out their flavor. Cheers! Photo and recipe: Chungah Rhee / Damn Delicious
3. Tropical Mango Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing and Grilled Shrimp
When it’s hot and sticky outside, the last thing you want is to slave over a stove, sweating. So fire up the grill and cook the shrimp skewers over medium-high heat. To perk up the green salad, this recipe includes a cilantro lime dressing that’s made with Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and honey. Plus, it’s topped with refreshing mango slices. Photo and recipe: Alex and Sonja Overhiser / A Couple Cooks
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4. Mediterranean Zucchini Pasta Salad
If you love a good picnic pasta salad, this recipe is for you. The best part is you don’t have to boil pasta! Prepare the zoodles using a spiralizer and toss them with artichokes, olives, chickpeas, feta cheese and diced tomatoes. For the dressing, Inspiralized creator Ali Maffucci combines olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, garlic powder and Dijon mustard for some Mediterranean flair. Photo and recipe: Ali Maffucci / Inspiralized
5. Rainbow Watermelon Pizza
It’s safe to say that we crave any type of pizza — whether it’s on pita bread, a cauliflower crust or tortilla. So we know you and your party guests will totally obsess over this watermelon pizza. In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt, mascarpone cheese and honey. This will be the “sauce” in your pizza dish. Spread a little on each slice of watermelon and top with your favorite fruits, like strawberries, blueberries, kiwi slices and grapes. Photo and recipe: Brandon Matzek / Kitchen Konfidence
6. Chile Lime Grilled Corn On the Cob
A summer cookout wouldn’t be complete without corn on the cob! This creamy and spicy grilled version puts a vegan-friendly twist on the traditional Mexican recipe. The recipe subs in avocado oil-based mayonnaise for regular mayo and seasons it with cilantro, fresh lime juice, serrano chile, garlic powder and onion powder. Once the corn is fresh off the grill, brush on some sauce and top with the remaining cilantro and pinches of chile powder. Photo and recipe: Jeanine Donofrio / Love and Lemons
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7. Easy Grilled Sweet Potato Pizzas
Sweet potatoes make a hearty, fiber-rich crust for these easy grilled pizzas. Simply slice the sweet potatoes length-wise and lightly spray each side with olive oil. Grill the slices for about 10 minutes, and then add some marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and any other toppings you desire. Photo and recipe: Lee Hersh / Fit Foodie Finds
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8. Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork Tenderloin Skewers
Lemongrass infuses a refreshing flavor to these grilled pork kebabs. When coupled with garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce and soy sauce, it turns into a mouthwatering marinade. Marinating the pork overnight keeps the meat moist and tender, too. Pro tip: Soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent excessive burning. Photo and recipe: Natasha / Salt and Lavender
9. Grilled Chicken Thighs with Coconut Almond Kaffir Lime Cream
This recipe alone covers a side dish and entrée for your cookout. Protein-rich quinoa and sautéed bell peppers, kale and onions make the perfect pairing for grilled chicken. The kaffir coconut sauce — made with coconut milk, honey and whole kaffir lime leaves, a citrus fruit native to Asia — ties all the ingredients together. Photo and recipe: Christal Sczebel / Nutrition in the Kitch
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10. Bruschetta Grilled Salmon
The garden-fresh flavors in bruschetta complement the light, subtle taste in grilled salmon. Wrapping the salmon in tin foil helps the fish cook up fast on the grill. In the meantime, put together the bruschetta by mixing diced tomatoes, red onions, garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl — no crostini included — for an easy summer meal. Photo and recipe: Dana Sandonato / Killing Thyme