36 Healthy BBQ Recipes for Summer

By Healthy Helper
Updated on July 17, 2026
Posted on May 25, 2020
Comments 66 Comments

A delicious Healthy Summer BBQ roundup of all your favorite seasonal foods made light and healthier with a just a few simple ingredient swaps! Perfect for planning your next BBQ or family potluck. 

With the warm weather finally here to stay, it’s time to start planning your menus for a summer full of grilling, family fun, and festive picnics! Summer is BBQ season after all and there is nothing better than getting together with family and friends over food, good conversation, and outdoor activities. It’s all made even better when the dishes served are not only delectably delicious, but GOOD FOR YOU too! Burgers, pasta and potato salads, breads, sweet frozen treats, and and creamy appetizers are all staples of summer. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be lightened up and healthified a bit! In fact, healthy foods are so delicious they often improve a classic recipe when you substitute them for the traditional ingredients. Today, I am taking care of your summer menu planning for you. I’ve rounded up the best of the best Healthy BBQ Recipes that you and your family will love chowing down on this season. Every type of salad, side, main dish, and dessert you could ever want is covered here! So dig and let’s get cookin’… Hawaiian Tuna Burgers | Fruity, fresh, and flavorful! These Hawaiian Tuna Burgers are full of clean, lean protein and bursting with tropical flavor. Gluten-free, paleo, and low in fat, these patties will become your new go-to whenever a burger craving strikes.

Main Dishes

Hawaiian Tuna Burgers Quinoa Stuffed Peppers on the BBQ | The BBQ Bastard Awesome Vegan Burgers with Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, Greens and Gouda Cheese Sausage, Pepper, and Pineapple Skewers Cheesy Italian Bean Burgers Soy-Free Homemade Vegan Veggie Burgers | Cotter Crunch Greek Spiced Turkey Burgers Grilled Mediterranean Zucchini Boats Grilled Portabella Burgers | Garlic and Zest Forbidden Black Rice and Mango Salad | You'll experience a taste and flavor explosion upon first bite of this incredible Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad. Sweet, savory, crunchy, and chewy...this vegan and gluten-free side dish has everything you crave. Filling, nutrient dense, and so tasty!

Sides

Forbidden Black Rice & Mango Salad Quick n’ Easy Southwestern Chicken Cobb Spicy Summer Bean and Chickpea Salad | Blossom to Stem Watermelon and Feta with Mint | Tori Avey Light n’ Easy Chili Mac n’ Cheese Grilled Cabbage with Asian Lime Dressing | Tasting Page Sweet n’ Spicy Baked Beans | Say Grace Blog Homemade Guac with Hidden Veggies Easy Vegan Mac n’ Cheese Grilled Green Vegetable Salad | Tasting Page Rainbow Vegetable Slaw | Nourish Everyday Grilled Sriracha Broccoli | Mary Ellen’s Cooking Creations Southwest Black Bean Pasta Salad | Veggie Inspired BBQ Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes | Emilie Eats Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake | Rich chocolate and cinnamon flavor in the softest, most moist coffee cake you'll ever have! Vegan, gluten-free, and sweetened with caramel-like dates. Perfect for pairing with your morning cuppa joe or tea!

Desserts

Vegan Vanilla Almond Ice Cream Cake Rhubarb Crumble | Blossom to Stem Red White and Blueberry Muffins Superfood Greek Yogurt Bark Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dessert Hummus Raw Lemon Coconut Bites Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Chocolate Banana Fudge Bars Healthier Chocolate Covered Pretzels Grain-Free Chocolate Brownie Loaf Low-Fat Chocolate Pudding Pie 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies 36 Healthy BBQ Recipes for Summer | A delicious Healthy Summer BBQ roundup of all your favorite seasonal foods made light and healthier with a just a few simple ingredient swaps! Perfect for planning your next BBQ or family potluck.

Any fun summer plans?

What’s your favorite food to grill?

What’s dish do you ALWAYS bring to a family BBQ?

Talk soon,

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66 Comments

  4. I love summer BBQ’s. So casual and relaxing – lots of good food and beverages. What a great roundup! Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean deprivation…so many mouthwatering choices here. Thanks for including my pasta salad and cinnamon blondies! Sharing!

    Reply

  6. Making me hungry! No big plans for the weekend. I often take a salad or a “healthified” dessert so I have something that I feel good about eating!

    Reply

  13. I love this post! Everything is stunning and perfect timing for the Memorial Day weekend.
    I have pinned and enjoyed my time here!
    Thank you so much for joining us at TOHOT!
    Jemma

    Reply

  15. There are so many scrumptious cooking recipes in this round up. I love summer, and we love the flavor of grilled food. The grilled cabbage with the Asian lime slaw looks incredible. I think that the next time we barbecue that will be our side dish. Thanks for putting this all together I’m sure I’ll come back to it again and again.

    Reply

  19. No… I’m almost regretting that I looked at this when I hadn’t had dinner yet, BUT, I’m not regretting it. Bookmarking for trying some when I get home. <3

    Reply

  22. Hi Kaila,
    Wow sure looks like some good eating here. I really like the stuffed sweet potatoes . Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted. Have a healthy, happy & blessed Memorial Day weekend!

    Reply

  23. What a great collection of BBQ Recipes, I am so glad that summer is almost here! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  28. I can’t decide which looks better, the vegan burger or the portabello burger – it all looks so good!! Thanks for sharing on the what’s for dinner link up!!

    Reply

  32. I’m always looking for new recipes and these will be great! I love salmon and tuna (only buy US wild caught). A tuna or salmon patty is a filling meal but those tuna tacos look amazing!

    Reply

  33. I miss my BBQ. We have it at the float cabin and use it for dinner about every night in all seasons. Here in the city doing things like steak and salmon just aren’t the same. – Margy

    Reply