14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (2024)

Fire up the grill and get out of the kitchen with these delicious, warm-weather main-dish recipes! Here you'll find a variety of healthy grilling ideas featuring chicken, fish, steak, and veggies perfect for a quick and easy summer meal. All of these healthy grill recipes are under 400 calories, so you can feel good about making them all summer long.

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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Lemon-Cucumber Relish

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (1)

Grilled chicken is a quick, easy way to make a healthy dinner for the family. In this Mediterranean-inspired recipe, chicken breasts are drizzled with a refreshing lemon and cucumber sauce before topping with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. Make a quick salad or whole-grain side to serve with your healthy grilled meal.

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Grilled Flank Steak Salad

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (2)

Eat the rainbow with this easy healthy grilled dinner idea. Flank steak is marinated in a homemade cilantro dressing before getting a quick run on the grill to get nice and tender. Served on a bed of arugula with grilled veggies, it's a low-carb meal you'll crave on hot summer days.

No thermometer nearby? Use our grilling temperature guide.

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Grilled Salmon & Leeks with Rosemary-Mustard Butter

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (3)

Cooking this delicious grilled salmon recipe will make you feel like a pro chef. The healthy 8-ingredient dinner packs tons of flavor into the salmon with our quick herb- and mustard-infused butter. Quickly grilling the rosemary is an easy way to incorporate smoked flavor into every bite.

Warm Salad with Lamb Chops and Mediterranean Dressing

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (4)

Here's a healthy grilled dinner idea for summer that's impressive, yet easy to tackle. Lamb rib chops get a simple marinade (allow it to sit a couple of hours for the best flavor) of herbs and green onion. Grilled radicchio and tomatoes take this healthy grill meal to the next level.

How to Direct-Grill Any Meat for Your Juiciest BBQ Fare

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Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (5)

The more colors on your plate, the more nutrients. Toss a variety of oil-brushed veggies on the grill for a crisp, healthy addition to summer-favorite pasta salad. Swap in whole-grain noodles (or gluten-free noodles for those with allergies) for a bigger fix of fiber.

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Southwestern Stuffed Roasted Peppers

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Pick your protein (shrimp, chicken breast, or pork) for these colorful stuffed peppers. The secret to their amazing savory flavor in this healthy grilled recipe? Corn bread mix and a bottle of Alfredo sauce! Swap in light Alfredo to cut calories and fat further.

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Zucchini Steaks with Herb Garden Chimichurri

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Going plant-based? Give this healthy grilled dinner idea a try. Summer-favorite zucchini gets wonderful barbecued flavor after a go on the grill. The herb garden chimichurri is customizable to whatever fresh herbs are overflowing in your yard, keeping this healthy grilled dish exciting every time you make it. To bulk up the protein and make this a vegetarian main dish, try adding some grilled Halloumi or fresh mozzarella cheese.

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Grilled Shrimp Panzanella

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This healthy grilled shrimp recipe is going to have you allowing your bread go stale all summer. To freshen up this traditional Italian salad, we added bell peppers and zucchini to its usual mix of bread and fresh tomatoes. Grilled shrimp adds protein while keeping this dish low-calorie.

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Citrus-Marinated Fish Tacos

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Take taco night outside this summer. This grilled fish recipe boasts bold flavor when seasoned with orange juice, honey, chopped jalapeño, and garlic. Use your favorite white fish here (we love cod, halibut, or sea bass). Serve on tortillas or simply enjoy it on lettuce to keep the calorie count even lower.

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Chops and Pineapple with Chili Slaw

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (10)

If you haven't grilled your fruit before, this is the time to start. Pork chops and pineapple both get a bit of heat from the addition of chili powder for the seasoning. Oh, and did we mention this stunning healthy grilled meal comes together in 20 minutes flat?

Juicy Pork Chop Recipes You'll Want to Bookmark

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Sesame-Ginger Barbecued Chicken

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (11)

Try our step-by-step instructions for this finger-licking-good healthy grilled chicken recipe. Even when smothered in a homemade barbecue sauce, these delicious chicken breasts (or thighs) have less than 200 calories per serving. Complete your quick grilled meal with a healthy summer side dish.

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Summer Squash Souvlaki

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14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (12)

In Greece, souvlaki (which means skewer) is often served as a sandwich. Here, we've taken out the skewer and served grilled summer squash, zucchini, and mushrooms in a warm toasted pita. With the Greek yogurt tzatziki, the plant-based meal has 12 grams of protein. Serve with a summery salad or veggie chips to round out this healthy grilled meal.

Each of These Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes Can Be Yours in 30 Minutes (or Less!)

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Ribeye Steaks & Peaches

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Just look at the colors of this healthy grilled meal! Ribeyes or T-bone steaks achieve a lovely flavor from a homemade rub of paprika, garlic, lemon-pepper, and cumin. The grilled peaches are tossed in a quick balsamic vinaigrette that will have your taste buds begging for more.

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Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers

Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers

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Grilled shrimp is fast, filling and can be added to a number of inventive dishes, like this sweet-and-savory combo. In under 30 minutes (and under 330 calories), you can have a delicious dinner that feels, and looks, very gourmet.

14 Healthy Grilled Recipes to Keep Your Summer Menu Exciting (2024)

FAQs

What are 4 foods that can be grilled? ›

Grill-Worthy Veggies
  • Sweet peppers (6-8 minutes each side)
  • Onions (5-7 minutes each side)
  • Zucchini and other summer squash (5 minutes each side)
  • Corn (25 minutes)
  • Portabella mushrooms (7-10 minutes per side)
  • Romaine lettuce hearts (3 minutes per side)
Jun 26, 2022

What is the healthiest form of grilling? ›

And that is a big plus, because research has shown that grilling with gas is thought to be safer than grilling over charcoal, according to Healthline. There is less smoke and heat with gas grilling – two things that can spur the creation of those cancer-causing compounds.

How to grill food healthy? ›

10 Tips for Healthy Grilling
  1. Choose a healthy protein. Chicken. ...
  2. Right size your portions. ...
  3. Season with no-sodium marinades or rubs. ...
  4. Add color — lots of color. ...
  5. Trim fat and moderate grill temperature. ...
  6. Watch for hidden added sugars and sodium. ...
  7. Choose healthier sides. ...
  8. Pair with whole grains.
Oct 26, 2023

What to grill instead of meat? ›

16 Summer Grilling Recipes Without Meat Or Dairy
  • Grilled Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts. jessicainthekitchen.com. ...
  • Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks. thekitchn.com. ...
  • Grilled Broccoli With Charred Lemon Parsley Sauce. withfoodandlove.com. ...
  • Grilled Cabbage Wedges With Spicy Lime Dressing. ...
  • Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes.
Jul 1, 2019

What is the most common grilled food? ›

Steak was the favorite grilled food of roughly one third of Americans in 2020.

What is the best meat to grill for weight loss? ›

First off, here are the lean cuts of meat to look for:
  • Poultry: Skinless, white meat chicken or turkey; ground turkey breast (at least 90% lean)
  • Beef: Boneless strip steak, top sirloin steak, flank steak, tenderloin steak (filet mignon) and tri tip roast; 90% lean ground beef.
  • Veal: Any trimmed cut.
Jun 17, 2022

What is the best protein for grilling? ›

Proteins
  • Brisket. The king of BBQ. ...
  • Chicken. When we need a quick dinner that's sure to impress even the pickiest eaters, a lot of us turn to chicken. ...
  • Smoked Salmon. Salmon is a mildly flavored fish that's perfect for smoking. ...
  • Ribs. ...
  • Chicken Wings. ...
  • Prime Rib. ...
  • Pork Tenderloin. ...
  • Ribeye Steak.

What makes grilling unhealthy? ›

Grilling can create cancer-causing chemicals

When cooking over high heat, especially an open flame, you are exposed to two main carcinogens: heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies show HCAs and PAHs cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer.

What is the least toxic way to grill? ›

8 Tips To Avoid Hidden Health Hazards While You Grill
  1. #1 Stop Using Aluminum Foil. ...
  2. #2 Don't Overcook Your Meat. ...
  3. #3 Choose The Right Marinade. ...
  4. #4 Clean Your Grill Before and After Cooking. ...
  5. #5 Pre-Cook Your Meat. ...
  6. #6 Choose High-Quality Meat.

Is grilling healthy or unhealthy? ›

Studies have linked the consumption of grilled meat to an increased risk for colon, prostate, pancreatic, stomach, and breast cancers, especially if the meat is cooked to well done. One study found that eating charred meat on a regular basis increases the risk for pancreatic cancer by up to 60%.

What are 5 foods good for grilling? ›

  • Corn is one of the easiest things to grill. ...
  • New York strip steak is a good grilling meat for beginners. ...
  • Grilled beef short ribs are easy to prepare. ...
  • Heartier fishes that are firm and flavorful are perfect for charring. ...
  • Tofu soaks up a lot of flavor, making it perfect for grilling.
May 25, 2023

What not to cook on a grill? ›

Be sure to steer clear of these 7 grilling mistakes you didn't know you were making as well.
  • Pork chops. Raw pork chops on a cutting board (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Delicate fish. Flaky fish (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Bacon. ...
  • Peeled shrimp. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Tomatoes. ...
  • Foods that you can cook on a grill.
Apr 23, 2023

What is the easiest meat to grill? ›

Chicken is the go-to option and holy grail of any grill experience. If you are looking for the best and easiest meat to grill—chicken thighs are just the meat cuts you need. Talk to experienced grillers and they will tell you that this part of the chicken, especially with the skin left on, is superior to any other cut.

What is considered grilled food? ›

Whereas barbecuing is low and slow, grilling is hot and fast, and gives food a quick sear. If you're cooking seafood, steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, pork chops, or boneless chicken breasts, chances are, you're grilling.

What are 3 ways of grilling food? ›

Virtually all cooking on gas and/or charcoal grills can be divided into three cooking methods: direct, indirect or combo. As the names imply, the difference between the methods is determined by where the food is placed in relation to the fire. The DIRECT method cooks foods with the direct heat of the flame.

What foods Cannot be grilled? ›

7 foods you should never cook on a grill
  • Pork chops. Raw pork chops on a cutting board (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Delicate fish. Flaky fish (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Bacon. Bacon rashers (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Peeled shrimp. Peeled shrimp (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Tomatoes.
Apr 23, 2023

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