8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (2024)

Grilled Pepper Boat Sandwiches

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (1)

Serves: 4

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Forget cheese and crackers and serve these grilled pepper boats instead. Not only are they perfectly portion controlled; they provide more nutritional value than crackers or baguette and won't get soggy for poolside snacking!

Ingredients:

2 large yellow, orange, or red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and quartered

olive oil, for brushing and drizzling

1 recipe for herbed cream cheese, below

½ cup finely chopped fresh yellow, orange, or red tomato

¼ cup chopped Italian parley

Ingredients for herbed cream cheese:

8 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1 tablespoon snipped fresh chive

Directions:

In a bowl, blend the cream cheese, garlic, basil, and chives together until smooth. Set aside.

Prepare a medium-hot fire on the grill. Place a well-oiled perforated grill rack over direct heat.

Brush the skin said of each pepper with olive oil. Dollop a spoonful of herbed cream cheese in each pepper boat.

Transfer the boats to the perforated grill rack, cover, and grill until the bottoms are scorched and the cheese has melted, 4 to 5 minutes.

Sprinkled with tomato and parsley and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve hot with a knife and fork.

Nutrition score per serving:

Calories: 166

Fat: 12g

Saturated fat: 8g

Carbs: 16g

Fiber: 2g

Protein: 4g

Recipe courtesy of Karen Adler and Judith Fertig of The Gardener and the Grill.

Curry Turkey Burgers

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (2)

This burger recipe is packed with flavor so you won't need to load it up with calorie-rich condiments like cheese, mayo, or ketchup.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped

2 green onions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 to 2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen® Red Curry Paste

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 pound ground turkey

4 hamburger or crusty rolls

lettuce, tomato, and chutney (optional)

Directions:

Mix bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, red curry paste, garlic, ginger, and sea salt in medium bowl until well blended. Add ground turkey; mix well. Shape into 4 patties.

Grill over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F).

Serve burgers on rolls with toppings and condiments as desired.

Nutrition score per serving:

Calories: 339

Fat: 11g

Saturated fat: 3g

Protein: 29g

Carbohydrates: 31g

Cholesterol: 91mg

Sodium: 668mg

Fiber: 2g

Calcium: 135mg

Iron: 2mg

Recipe courtesy of Thai Kitchen.

Char-Grilled Baby Summer Squash Pizza

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (3)

If you haven't tried pizza on the grill this recipe will convert you. From the seasonal summer squash to the char-grilled pizza crust this recipe is a crowd pleaser!

Serves: 4Ingredients:

1 recipe pizza dough (recipe follows) or 1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed

all-purpose flour, for sprinkling

4 baby summer squash, such as zucchini, yellow summer squash, or patty pan

olive oil, for brushing

salt to taste

1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

1/2 cup grated Romano or Asiago cheese

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Directions:

Divide the dough into four equal parts and press or roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Sprinkle flour on two large baking sheets and place two rounds of dough on each sheet. Prepare a hot fire on one side of your grill for indirect cooking. Oil a perforated grill rack and place over direct heat.

In a bowl, toss the squash with olive oil. Transfer the squash to the perforated grill rack and grill, turning often, until they're slightly charred and softened, 15 to 20 minutes. Quickly chop into 1-inch pieces and sprinkle with salt and lemon pepper seasoning.

To grill directly on the grate, brush one side of each pizza with olive oil and place, oiled side down, over direct heat. Grill for 1 to 2 minutes, or until you see the dough starting to bubble. Brush the top with olive oil and flip each pizza, using tongs, onto a baking sheet. Quickly brush with more olive oil, and then spoon on one fourth of the grilled squash and sprinkle with cheese. Using a grill spatula, place each pizza on the indirect side of the fire. Cover and grill for 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is slightly melted. Top with fresh basil and serve hot.

Stir-Together Flatbread and Pizza Dough Recipe

Use instant or bread machine yeast, which doesn't have to be proofed in water for a no-knead dough. Allow 1 hour for rising time.

Makes 1 pound dough for 4 individual pizzas or flatbreads

Ingredients:2 cups bread flour

11/4 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons instant or bread machine yeast

1 cup lukewarm water

1 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon olive oil

Ingredients:In a medium bowl, stir the flour, salt, and yeast together. In a separate bowl, combine the water, honey, and olive oil then stir into the flour mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature (72°F) until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before rolling out.

Nutrition score per serving:

Calories: 347

Fat: 12g

Saturated fat: 4.8gCarbs: 47g

Protien:17g

Fiber: 2.5g

Recipe courtesy of Karen Adler and Judith Fertig of The Gardener and the Grill.

Light and Lemony Grilled Lobster

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (4)

Nothing says summer like lobster! Round out this all-American meal with an ear of grilled corn on the cob and a few sliced of grilled pineapple.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 1 hour rest

Cook time: 8 minutes

Ingredients:

¼ cup white wine

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons melted butter (or butter substitute)

1 tablespoon minced or crushed garlic

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

1 tablespoon fresh oregano

Salt & Pepper

4 lobster tails

Directions:

In a microwave safe bowl, add all ingredients except butter, whisk, and let sit 1 hour (or more). Add butter and microwave 1 minute or until butter is melted. Whisk or stir to combine.

To prepare lobster tails: Rinse tails in cool water. With a large, sharp knife, "butterfly" the tails (cut the flesh down the middle, lengthwise, keeping the tail intact). If needed, use kitchen shears to cut through the shell down the same line as your butterfly cut. Baste generously, let sit 5-10 minutes.

Preheat grill to about 400 degrees. Lay tails, flesh side down, grill 3 to 4 minutes. Flip over. Pour rest of baste on top and close grill lid. Grill 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove and serve immediately.

Nutrition score per serving:

Calories: 218

Fat: 7.4g

Saturated fat: 3.9g

Protein: 25g

Recipe courtesy of Kelly Anderson, Certified Chef & Culinary Consultant. Owner of lunchbunchbistro.com, a resource for fun, healthy recipes for families.

Flame Licked Chili Flank Steak

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (5)

Skip the sugar-laden barbecue sauce and let chili paste (with just 2 grams of sugar per tablespoon) give your steak a kick! If you manage to have any leftovers, slice remaining steak for a Thai-inspired salad the next day.

Serves: 8

Prep time: 5 minutes

Refrigerate: 30 minutes

Cook time: 16 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen® Roasted Red Chili Paste

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon black peppercorns, crushed

1 tablespoon cumin seed, crushed

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

2 pounds flank steak

Fiery Thai Salsa, optional (recipe follows)

Directions:

Mix red chili paste, oil, peppercorns, cumin seed and sea salt in small bowl. Coat steak evenly on both sides with mixture.

Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor.

Grill steak over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Cut steak across the grain into thin slices.

For the Salsa:

Mix 1 large ripe mango, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen® Sweet Red Chili Sauce, and 1 teaspoon minced garlic in a large bowl until well blended. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition score per serving:

Calories: 194

Fat: 10g

Saturated fat 3g

Protein: 24g

Carbohydrates: 2g

Cholesterol 68mg

Sodium 348mg

Calcium 33mg

Iron 2g

Recipe courtesy of

8 Tasty Yet Healthy Grilling Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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.

What is the healthiest way to cook on the grill? ›

Grilling exposes food to less heat than other cooking methods, such as frying or baking. This means that the food retains more of its nutrients and antioxidants. The fat drips off the food as it cooks on the grill, which reduces the number of unhealthy fats consumed.

What are 5 foods good for grilling? ›

  • Chicken halves. You get a great dinner plus leftovers for chicken noodle soup or enchiladas or whatever.
  • Pork steak 2 inches thick cut from the butt/shoulder. ...
  • Shish*to peppers. ...
  • Any kind of large peppers you like. ...
  • Onions. ...
  • Mix the peppers and onions. ...
  • Golden beets are f'king amazing grilled. ...
  • Spring/bulb/grilling onions.
Feb 4, 2022

How do you eat healthy on the grill? ›

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 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.

Which grill is healthier charcoal or gas? ›

To achieve a healthy style of grilling, using gas over charcoal is a really smart decision. Besides the benefits of avoiding the cancer-causing carcinogens, gas grilling is more convenient, ready at any time, and easier to clean up.

Is outdoor grilling healthy? ›

Despite its long history and rising popularity, grilling comes with health dangers. A growing body of research suggests that cooking animal protein over high temperatures or an open flame creates cancer-causing compounds called Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Is it better to grill with or without aluminum foil? ›

Don't line the grill grates with foil either. It restricts the airflow in the grill which can be a fire hazard. Lining your grill grates with aluminum foil doesn't allow the juices and fat to drain naturally. They will pool up inside the foil.

Which grill makes food taste better? ›

Charcoal grillers, including those who use a kamado grill like the Big Green Egg, insist that coals impart a distinct flavor that's unmatched by gas. Gas grill enthusiasts feel that gas grills offer better control than charcoal, so you don't scorch food or overcook it.

What is the hardest meat to grill? ›

Beef Brisket

It's a really difficult piece of meat to get right on the bbq and depending on size, it takes a long time to cook. If you're going to tackle it, be prepared for either an all nighter or a very early morning to get in cooked in time for dinner!

What can I grill instead of meat? ›

16 Summer Grilling Recipes Without Meat Or Dairy
  • Grilled BBQ Tofu Vegetable Kebabs. ...
  • Grilled Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Portobello Steaks With Avocado Chimichurri. ...
  • Grilled Eggplant Salad With Mustard Vinaigrette. ...
  • DIY Veggie Burgers. ...
  • Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks. ...
  • Balsamic Grilled Asparagus.
Jul 1, 2019

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 are 3 rules for using the grill? ›

Learn how you can help keep your home and family safe by following our grill safety tips.
  • Only use grills outside. ...
  • Place your grill away from your home. ...
  • Make sure your grill is located on a flat, level surface. ...
  • Check your grill for leaks. ...
  • Always clean your grill after use.

Is grilling on a gas grill healthy? ›

Gas or electric grills may pose a lower risk of introducing carcinogens in foods than charcoal grills. Charcoal itself is not a carcinogen, but cooking with charcoal has been linked to two types of cancer risks.

What is the healthiest outdoor cooking method? ›

Nutrient Retention: Grilling is a gentle cooking method that exposes food to less heat than frying or roasting. This helps retain more nutrients and antioxidants in your food, making your grilled dishes tasty and healthier. Reduced Fat Consumption: When you grill, the fat drips off the food as it cooks.

Is grilling the healthiest way to cook meat? ›

Grilled meat is lower in fat and calories compared with meats prepared other ways, so it's the healthiest cooking option.

What is the healthiest way to cook meat? ›

Grilling, roasting, baking, broiling, steaming, press cooking and slow cooking are some of the healthiest ways to cook meat. And yes, you should avoid deep-frying it. “Avoid marinades and sauces that are high in sugar and sodium,” she adds.

Is propane grilling healthier than charcoal? ›

Propane grilling, on the other hand, does not produce the same harmful compounds as charcoal grilling. However, there is some concern that propane gas can be potentially hazardous if it leaks or is not used properly, which could lead to fires or explosions.

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