6 Healthy BBQ Grill Ideas on a Budget

As the sun starts setting later and the weather gets warmer, it’s time to sizzle up your summer by firing up with a barbecue. Bust out your tongs and allow the aroma of freshly grilled food to fill the air as you take a seat to bond with family and friends.

Amidst all the excitement of eating a delicious meal, however, comes the importance of watching what you eat. While this sounds like taking all the fun out of a typical barbecue day, you’d be surprised to learn that several options are healthy and mouth-watering!

Barbecues are usually associated with fatty meats and greasy sauces, leaving little room for a nourishing meal. Today, we change this narrative by introducing you to some healthy barbecue-made meals without stripping the feast of its flavourful goodness. You can cook healthy meals on your BBQ grill.

Let’s explore six healthy BBQ grill ideas on a budget.

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #1: Lettuce wraps

While lettuce may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a substitute for bread, it is deliciously healthy. This simple way to reduce carbohydrates goes a long way toward your well-being. Lettuce wraps offer a lighter alternative that allows the flavours of your grilled creations to shine through without the heaviness of bread.

Use the lettuce leaves as a wrap to hold the contents between bread, such as beef, chicken, veggie patty, cheese, vegetables, sauces, and other fillings. Not only do lettuce wraps add a satisfying crunch to each bite, but they also contribute to your daily vegetable intake!

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #2: Chicken skewers

Cutting down on red meat is highly recommended to better your overall health. On the other hand, white meats like chicken are a great way to get your protein in without being too heavy! Chicken skewers are also incredibly easy to prepare.

Whether you opt for classic flavours like lemon and herbs or more exotic spice blends, the tender chicken will absorb it all, resulting in flavour and deliciousness with every bite. Furthermore, grilling adds a smoky charred flavour that enhances the overall appeal of the dish.

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #3: Grilled veggie skewers

The beauty of barbecues is that you can grill almost anything and turn it into a gourmet meal. This means that you don’t necessarily only have to grill meats to make a meal for yourself — vegetables work great too! Piercing some colourful and flavorful veggies with a skewer and placing them on the grill. This works with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

Allow them to sit on the grill until slightly charred, giving them that smoky barbecue look and taste, and voila! Now you have a nutritious and tasty meal to enjoy.

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #4: Veggie burgers

Another easy way to elevate your health and taste buds is by swapping out your meat patties for veggie ones! If you’re a meat lover, don’t close the door to this wonderful option. While cutting out meat may sound treacherous initially, we guarantee you will fall in love with this alternative solution.

Some options are grilled portobello mushrooms or tofu burgers. Grill them until they’re juicy and tender, and serve them on whole-grain buns with your favourite burger toppings. Remember to use the magic of spices and seasoning to transform these patties into a mouthful of flavour!

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #5: Grilled seafood

If you’re focused on maintaining a healthy diet but finding it hard to cut out meat, consider slightly transitioning to seafood instead of diving straight into vegetables! One incredibly healthy and delicious fish is salmon.

Grilled salmon is packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and tastes divine when infused with zesty lemon and aromatic garlic. Another seafood that grills beautifully and easily is shrimp. Marinate your salmon fillets and shrimp in a mixture of lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs and allow your palette to savour every flavour.

Once again, grill until flaky and lightly charred. Serve with a side sauce such as tzatziki and whole grain bread. Mixing all these different ingredients will make for a tangy and tasty dish!

Healthy BBQ Grill Idea #6: Grilled fruits

Instead of eating your typical chocolate dessert to finish your meal, grill some fruits to add sweetness to your courses! Grilled fruits are simply delicious and take no effort at all to make.

Peaches, pineapple, pears, and figs are just some fruits you can throw onto the BBQ and devour. The heat intensifies their natural sugars, thereby intensifying the sweetness of the fruit. You could add this to your savoury dishes or eat it alone!