It’s *already* almost July and we’re just getting started with all of the amazing summer BBQ recipes. What better time to try out a new grilling recipe, use summer produce in a seasonal salad, or finally try that delicious, nostalgic dessert?
I put together over 50 incredible, healthy summer BBQ recipes for you that are perfect for a backyard cookout, park picnic and for just enjoying in your own backyard. There are plenty of easy grilling recipes great for first-timers using the grill (be sure to check out my guide for grilling chicken and pizza!) and tons of gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options.
These summer recipes are broken down into appetizers & sides, salads, main dishes, cocktails and desserts, so pick one from each category and put together a delicious menu!
GF = Gluten Free
V = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian
If you make any of these healthier summer BBQ recipes, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations.
FREE Ultimate Guide to Grilling
Get our FREE, printable e-book with all of the tips, tricks and tutorials you’ll need to gain confidence behind the grill this summer (and all year round!)
You’ll learn:
- Exactly how to operate your gas grill + get all of our recommended grilling tools
- How to grill amazing proteins to use in your fav recipes
- The best way to grill any types of veggie (found in the blog post you’re currently reading!)
- And even how to make desserts on the grill
What are you waiting for? Grab your e-book above and enjoy a full summer of delicious grilling!
Craveable Dips & Salsas
*These are all gluten-free
Avocado Peach Salsa V
Spicy Green Feta Sauce
Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe V
Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip VT
Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip
Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus V
How to Make Super Creamy Hummus (+5 different flavor variations!) V
Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa V, GF
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat V
Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus V
Whipped Feta Yogurt Dip with Hot Honey, Basil & Toasted Almonds
Sweet and Spicy Curry Hummus V
Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa V
Creamy Jalapeño Spinach Artichoke Dip VT
Spicy Green Cashew Dip V
Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus V
Easy + Cheesy Southwest Bean Dip
Roasted Beet Hummus V
Vegetarian Three Cheese White Bean Buffalo Dip VT
Roasted Garlic Hummus V
Unique Appetizers
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta VT
Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts VT
Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF
Grilled Crostini with Roasted Cherries, Goat Cheese & Basil VT
Roasted Strawberry, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini VT
10-Minute Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip
Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers VT, GF
Smoked Salmon Crostini
Greek Salad Pinwheels VT
Easy Sides
Tony’s Melt-In-Your-Mouth Grilled Brussels Sprouts V, GF
Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Curry Dip VT, GF
Best Healthy Coleslaw Ever (no mayo!) V, GF
Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF
Vegan Potato Salad with Herbed Tahini Sauce V, GF
Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts V, GF
Cauliflower Tots VT, GF
Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (roasted or grilled!) V, GF
Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF
Fresh Fruit & Veggie Salads
Peach Brussels Sprouts Crunch Salad with Creamy Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing V, GF
Avocado Peach Tomato Salad with Dilly Tahini Dressing V, GF
Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad V
Grilled Corn Salad with Avocado, Goat Cheese & Hot Honey Vinaigrette VT, GF
Sesame Chicken Cabbage Crunch Salad
Honey Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad VT, GF
Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado VT, GF
Grilled Carrot Arugula Salad with Fig, Goat Cheese & Avocado VT, GF
Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad with Pineapple Corn Salsa V, GF
Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad V, GF
Dad’s Dilly Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad VT, GF
Summer Peach Spinach Salad with Avocado, Toasted Almonds + Goat Cheese VT, GF
Cashew Crunch Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad V, GF
The Easiest Chopped Greek Chickpea Salad VT, GF
Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad V, GF
Gaby’s Chicken Taco Salad GF
California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF
Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF
Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad GF
The Best Quinoa & Pasta Salad
*Use your favorite gluten-free pasta shape to keep any of these gluten-free!
Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing
Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad V
Curried Chickpea Couscous Salad V
Kale, Edamame & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette V
Avocado & Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette VT
Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Roasted Veggie, Chickpea & Pesto Quinoa Salad V
Vibrant Curry Cashew Chickpea Quinoa Salad V
Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto + Goat Cheese VT
Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad V
Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad VT
Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad V
Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad VT
Sandwiches, Burgers & Tacos
Grilled Tahini Chicken Caesar Sandwiches GF
Chipotle Lime Salmon Tacos with Corn Avocado Peach Salsa & Cilantro Yogurt Sauce GF
Herby Chicken Meatball Pitas with Jalapeño Tzatziki
How to Grill Amazing Burgers (plus recipes!)
Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF
Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole GF
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches GF
Ultimate Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Creamy Tahini Garlic Sauce V, GF
Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Tacos (with yummy sauce options!) V, GF
Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa GF
Amazing Easy Turkey Tacos (with a slow cooker option!) GF
Vegan Sweet Potato Burgers V, GF
Seriously Good Sweet Potato Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers GF
Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce GF
Crazy Good Street Corn Chicken Tacos GF
Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers GF
Grilled Proteins
Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (with the best honey mustard marinade!) GF
Grilled Sesame Chicken GF
Sazon Grilled Chicken Thighs GF
How to Spatchcock a Chicken GF
How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy GF
Sticky, Sweet & Spicy Grilled Ginger Chicken GF
Honey Lemon Garlic Salmon GF
How to Grill Delicious Tofu (2 different ways!)
Grilled Jalapeño Cilantro Chicken GF
How to Grill Perfect Salmon (plus recipes!)
Fun Main Dishes
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF
Pesto Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF
How to Grill Pizza that’s Crispy, Chewy and Ready in only 15 Minutes VT
Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa GF
Vegan Turmeric Pineapple Tofu Kabobs V, GF
Hot Honey Bangin’ Crunchy Cornflake Baked Chicken
Zucchini Mac and Cheese
3-Ingredient Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers VT, GF
Buffalo Mac and Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Greek Chicken Kabobs GF
Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese VT
Vegan Pasta Primavera with Creamy Garlic Cashew Sauce V, GF
Festive Cocktails
Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Watermelon Frosé
Grapefruit Margarita
Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
Drunken Strawberries
Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita
Palm Springs Cocktail
Bars, Brownies & Chocolate
Ooey-Gooey Tahini S’mores Bars GF
Raspberry Bars with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble V, GF
Ooey-Gooey Tahini S’mores Bars GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats V, GF
Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars V, GF
Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble V, GF
The Best Zucchini Brownies You’ll Ever Eat GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars V, GF
Tahini Monster Cookie Bars GF
Fudgy Almond Butter Blondies GF
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tahini Chex Bars V, GF
Grain Free Tahini Brownies (the best brownies I’ve ever eaten!) GF
Vegan Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars V, GF
Strawberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Healthy Lemon Bars GF
Healthy 4 Ingredient Reese’s Eggs V, GF
Small Batch Paleo Almond Flour Brownies with Raspberries GF
Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats GF
Crowd-Pleasing Cookies
The Best Bakery-Style Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet GF
Soft Lime Sugar Cookies GF
Salted Brownie Cookies
Healthier Flourless Monster Cookies GF
Chocolate Chunk Toasted Marshmallow Ginger Cookies
The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat GF
Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie V, GF
Not Your Mama’s Magic Cookies
Key Lime White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies GF
Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies with Toffee & Crushed Pretzels
Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies V, GF
Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Chocolate Cookies
Beautiful Cakes & Pies
The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat
Chocolate Zucchini Cake GF
Lemon Pistachio Cake with Lovely Lemon Frosting GF
Dad’s Extraordinary Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
World’s Best Banana Cream Pie (with peanut butter cookie crust!)
Almond Lemon Raspberry Poppy Seed Cake GF
Orange Zucchini Cake with Orange Frosting GF
Spiced Zucchini Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Brown Butter Strawberry Coffee Cake with Lovely Strawberry Icing
Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake GF
Almond Flour Strawberry Shortcake Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF
Lemon Cookies with Lovely Lemon Glaze
Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake GF
Wonderful Fruit Desserts
Gluten Free Peach Crisp with Salted Coconut Milk Caramel V, GF
Rainbow Fruit Skewers V, GF
Grilled Peaches (+6 different topping ideas!) V, GF
Strawberry Crisp with Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Crumble V, GF
Lightened-up Vanilla Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp V, GF
2-Ingredient Blueberry Nice Cream V, GF
If you make any of these healthier summer BBQ recipes, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations.
