21 healthy BBQ recipes

How to make your BBQ healthier

• Fish and vegetables make great BBQ foods to show off your grilling skills and are lower in fat than more traditional options like sausages and burgers.
• Making your own marinades and seasonings will allow you to get the full flavour from your BBQ without the high sugar and salt levels of shop-bought sauces.
• Adding herbs and spices to your barbecue dishes will also help bump up the flavour levels, whilst adding a range of health benefits. They also provide a healthier grill than sauces made with sugars that are more likely to burn and therefore become carcinogenic.

21 healthy BBQ recipes

Charred tomatoes with sourdough

The combination of hot, charred tomatoes with cooling garlicky mint yogurt and pomegranate molasses is perfect for a light summer meal. Cook in a griddle pan or under a hot grill if you don't have a barbecue.

Chicken tikka

Marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic and spices, these juicy chicken skewers make a great starter or light lunch. The recipe asks you to grill the chicken, but you could easily cook it on the barbecue.

Grilled halloumi salad

Try this colourful halloumi salad with courgette ribbons as a side dish at your next barbecue.

Vegetarian BBQ flatbreads

These flatbreads, loaded with courgette, peas, asparagus and ricotta, are a great way to use up any leftover veg.

BBQ buttermilk chicken with charred courgette sauce

Buttermilk creates the juiciest chicken on the BBQ. It's delicious simply served in a bun, or try it with our smoky-sweet tomato and courgette sauce plus crunchy crumbs.

Aubergine kebabs with charred onion salsa

Try these healthy skewers – simple to put together, quick to cook and easily scaled up or down depending on how many you’re feeding.

Healthy turkey kebabs

Mix turkey mince with feta, lemon and parsley and serve in warm pittas with yogurt and salad for a light, summery take on the classic kebab.

Vegan tempeh and pineapple kebabs

Delicious chunks of marinated tempeh work brilliantly with juicy pineapple in this low calorie BBQ recipe.

Hole-in-the-wall beef skewers

These kebabs are simple to make and cook fast on a barbecue. Rather than serve them in a wrap, make these a little different, plating them up on a slick of hummus – and then top the meat with a really zesty mix of red onion, sumac and parsley.

Ras el hanout and honey BBQ chicken thighs

Marinade chicken thighs in warming ras el hanout and sweet honey for a fragrant twist on classic BBQ chicken.

Fish kebabs

This recipe for spiced fish kebabs with a crunchy pickled vegetable salad is inspired by turmeric fish banh mi. Serve with a pile of sesame-dressed rice noodles or lettuce leaf cups for a light al fresco dinner.

Barbecued squid with charred lemon and caper dressing

Barbecued squid with charred lemon and caper dressing is really quick and easy to make, but it tastes delicious and looks really impressive.

Lamb koftas with kale salad

Make your own lamb koftas in minutes then whack on the BBQ and serve with a super-green salad for a delicious low-carb dinner.

Farro, grilled peach and pecan salad

The grilled peaches deliver a satisfying sweetness, balanced by the zing of lime-pickled shallots and the smoky nuttiness of toasted pecans in this vibrant vegan salad.

BBQ aubergines

This aubergine and pepper muhammara is smoky and sweet, with just a little hint of tang. It makes a highly versatile side dish at a barbecue and is a great way to boost your 5-a-day.

Charred onions with balsamic, walnuts and ricotta

Brush sweet onions in a balsamic honey glaze, bake until tender and serve with dollops of creamy ricotta for an easy veggie side that'll be ideal at a BBQ.

Grilled vegetable antipasti

For a vegan barbecue, serve these grilled veggies with fresh focaccia, olives and hummus for an easy, impressive spread.

Grilled peas

Cooking peas on the barbecue like this gives them a lovely chargrilled flavour. Serve with lemon and a good pinch of salt.

Thai-style turkey burgers

Looking for a low-fat alternative to a beef burger? These flavour of these healthy turkey burgers is kicked up a notch with the Thai-inspired addition of ginger and chilli. Serve with salad instead of in a bun to keep them really healthy.

Tender spring onions with charred romesco

This recipe for tender spring onions with charred romesco makes a great vegan alternative for the BBQ.

Whole tandoori cauliflower with jewelled rice salad

Check out this Indian spiced whole roasted cauliflower with fluffy rice, pomegranate seeds and crunchy pistachios. This flavoursome recipe makes a showstopping veggie dish to serve friends and family at your next BBQ.