Summer comes with the excitement of hanging out with your loved ones and enjoying food together. This season also has warm temperatures perfect for outdoor gatherings. It’s a no-brainer to put the two together and fire up the grill for a cookout. Who doesn’t love eating outside in the fresh air? Here are some healthy grilling recipes to try, whether you are having dinner on weekdays or are relaxing with your friends on weekends:

1. Cedar plank salmon
While beef and pork are traditional barbecue fare, some of the best grills this season, such as the Traeger Grill 650, also allow you to grill more fish. People particularly love cedar plank salmon for its delicious taste. You can soak the planks in water, wine, or cider. Heat them at low temperatures to prevent the alcohol from catching fire. The fish grills gently, becoming soft, moist, and delicious due to the smoke and cedar flavors. This meal is a crowd-pleaser that is rich in proteins and dietary fiber. 

2. BBQ chicken breasts
The ingredients for this delicious BBQ recipe are dark brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, dry mustard, onion powder, salt, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil, and chicken breasts. First, dry the chicken breasts and slice them in half crosswise. Then, combine the remaining ingredients to create a seasoning, rub it on the chicken breasts, and refrigerate the covered pieces for an hour. Then, heat the grill high and clean it with a towel soaked in vegetable oils. Finally, grill the skin side over indirect heat for 20 minutes, finish seasoning, and grill for another ten minutes. This dry-rubbed chicken is popular among people trying to avoid the sugars in barbeque sauces.

3. Grilled potatoes
For this tasty side dish, you will only require salt, pepper, olive oil, and potatoes. First, place the potatoes in a pot containing boiling water an inch deep, add salt, and simmer for ten minutes. Next, drain the water and cool the potatoes before cutting them in half crosswise. Then, dip the potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill both sides for five minutes with the cut side facing down. Finally, season with more salt and pepper to taste and eat. This dish is great for vegans, since it’s purely plant-based.

4. Grilled mushroom burgers
You will only require six ingredients to make this mushroom burger recipe: portobello mushrooms, tamari, balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. First, clean the mushrooms and remove the stems. Next, season the mushrooms with olive oil, tamari, and balsamic vinegar, and add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, grill the mushrooms for five to seven minutes per side. This vegan alternative to a burger is a favorite, even among meat eaters, because it is cheaper and has more flavor than the beef burger. Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants, minerals, and fibers.

5. Grilled veggie skewers
The ingredients for this recipe are yellow squash, zucchini, cremini mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, corn, virgin oil, sea salt, black pepper, and pesto. First, moderately heat the grill, cut the veggies into equal sizes, and thread them onto metal skewers. After that, add olive oil and salt and pepper to the skewers as seasoning and grill them for eight minutes on both sides. Finally, serve the skewers with your preferred dressing. This plant-based recipe is rich in vitamin A and E and is ideal for vegetarians at a barbecue.

Barbequing can be healthy if you avoid ingredients with high calories, trans fats, and sugar (e.g., always look at BBQ sauce labels). These recipes do precisely that, providing a well-rounded, seasonally fresh meal while still maintaining the delicious smoky flavors that make barbecues great.