What Are The Best Foods To Grill

Grilled Watermelon Can Be Messy And Sort Of Dry

“For me, watermelon is best enjoyed as nature intended,” Mehta told Insider. “When you grill it, the watermelon loses its juiciness and, therefore, has an overpowering smoky flavor … “

Instead, opt for grilled pineapple slices, which can be used in savory and sweet dishes, Scott said.

You can serve grilled pineapple slices with ice cream, pound cake, and whipped cream for a sweeter take, Scott suggested. Mehta said you can also serve grilled pineapple with sticky rice if you’re looking for a more savory option.

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Better Barbecue Side Dishes

Traditional pasta and potato salads can be loaded with calories and carbs. These tasty substitutions won’t leave you feeling deprived:

• Instead of a baked potato with toppings, eat grilled sweet potatoes.
• Instead of potato salad, eat coleslaw with light dressing.
• Instead of iceberg lettuce with ranch dressing, eat sliced tomatoes and avocado drizzled with olive oil and vinegar.
• Instead of pasta salad, eat a whole grain medley salad with beans or quinoa.

Salmon With Citrus Salsa

Fire up the grill for this mouthwatering salmon topped with an orange and grapefruit salsa. Salmon is a nutrition powerhouse! Be sure to check out this foolproof guide to grilling for your next BBQ.

Nothing could be easier than this chicken topped with a tangy dill sauce.

Fresh herbs make this juicy steak one of the most irresistible grill ideas.

Also Check: Church’s Smokehouse Chicken Recipe

Best Gas Grill: Weber Genesis Ii E

A reliable option for both weeknight grilling and occasional outdoor entertaining, this sleek under-$1,000 gas option is all you need to expertly sear up barbecued meats and sides. Three stainless steel burners instantly ignite, while cast-iron cooking grates and a porcelain-enameled lid help evenly distribute heat and keep it retained internally.

Also handy, a warming rack keeps food at the right temperature until you’re ready to eat, and can be tucked away when not in use. Flavorizer bars vaporize a portion of the drippings that collect while cooking, and the remainders are collected in a removable catch pan away from the burners to prevent dangerous flare-ups.

Great for organization, its two stainless steel side tables are perfect for prepping and assembling meals, while tool hooks keep cooking utensils within arm’s reach. Underneath, ample enclosed storage ensures that all grilling essentials stay in one convenient place.

To buy: Weber Genesis II E-315 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill, $799 at

What Is The Healthiest Way To Grill Recipes

There are a few ways you can enjoy a healthy BBQ experience, including:

• Use lean meats: Trim off excess fat before marinading and then remove the skin from poultry . Lack of excess fat also means less chance of fire flare-ups!
• Avoid overly processed foods: Hot dogs and pre-packaged burgers can be filled with all sorts of preservatives, nitrates, and other baddies. Skip these and stick to homemade burgers and other natural products!
• Use a healthy, homemade marinade: Not only are most homemade marinades super simple to prepare, but they usually contain a fraction of the sugar/salt. More so, according to some research, marinating meats before grilling can reduce the formation of harmful HCAs by up to 96% even a dry rub can reduce it by up to 70%!
• Pair your protein with lots of veggies: There are tons of veggies you can sneak onto the grill while you cook and complement the below easy outdoor grill recipes. Even better, they are ready in minutes. Asparagus, squash, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, corn, leek, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, mushrooms, etc.! You can do the same with several fruits too, like mango, pineapple, figs, pear, apple, and more!

If youre worried about the formation of HCAs on your grilled meat you can also flip the food more often, which is said to help prevent the formation of HCAs just make sure to flip it with a spatula! . Most of these easy outdoor grill recipes can also be made indoors with a grill pan, eliminating the risk of char altogether!

Also Check: Grilled Pork Chop Internal Temp

Best Pellet Grill: Traeger Pro Series 780 Grill

Perfect for fish and more tender cuts of meat, this wood-pellet-powered option offers six versatile functions for grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and barbecuing, all in one unit. Igniting the pellets creates a vortex of heat and smoke inside the Traeger Pro’s convection-based rectangular grilling chamber, infusing your food with a robust natural wood-fired flavor.

Its smart digital controller minimizes the monitoring process by allowing you to adjust and set temperatures straight from your smartphone. Instead of incessantly checking up on the progress of your slow-smoked contents, you can feel free to sit back and relax with a drink or keep dinner guests entertained.

To buy: Traeger Pro Series Grill & Smoker, $600 at

Best Grill And Smoker: Pk Grills Original Grill & Smoker

This charcoal-powered grill and smoker is a striking pick for the experimental pitmaster. It features 300 square inches of cooking space and a rectangular capsule shape to accommodate everything from tender rib racks to a traditional Thanksgiving turkey.

Its cast aluminum construction conducts heat far more efficiently than steel, creating a convective effect that cooks food from all sides. Four vents on the top and bottom of the grill give you the freedom to sear food hot and fast or keep the cooking temperature low and slow, and two-zone cooking capabilities offer direct heat for grilling or indirect heat for smoking.

Great for portability, the grill easily dismantles from its cart, not only making it a top option for grilling up masterfully cooked dishes, but also for taking along on tailgates and camping trips.

To buy: PK Grills Original Grill & Smoker, $370 at

Recommended Reading: Weber Smoker Parts

Sweet And Spicy Grilled Salmon

The decadent-tasting “good” fat in salmon complements the sweet-spicy Buffalo glaze. The skin gets caramelized and crisp on the grill as the sauce drips onto it. It’s delicious, but can be discarded to save fat and calories. A crisp and refreshing celery slaw is dressed with the same sauce, made creamy with light mayo, and brightened with onions and chives.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Grilled Salmon

Grilled Kebabs All Summer Long

• A healthy, hearty Mediteranean feast starts with these grilled beef kofta kebabs with tzatziki.
• Loaded with warm spices and brightened up with pineapple and peppers, these grilled jerk chicken kebabs are your summer BFF.
• Yogurt is seasoned with turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and cardamom to create a flavor-packed marinade for chicken thighs in these juicy, tender grilled chicken shawarma kebabs.

Also Check: Pork Chops On The Grill Temp

Grilling Tools & Equipment

You want to be prepared for all that grilling youre going to be doing this summer. Here are some of the basic tools and appliances youre going to be using for these recipes .

These are my top tips for any grilling you do:

• Make sure your grill is on a solid surface, away from flammable things.
• Flip meat as little as possible to keep it tender. Cook both sides, but dont flip too many times! Ideally youll only need to flip once to fully cook.
• Longer cook time = lower temperature to avoid drying out the meat.
• Use aluminum foil to wrap vegetables, fish, and other items together to make fun foil packet recipes .
• Always clean your grill after cooking! This keeps it in tip-top shape and prepares it for the next time you use it.
• Use an instant read meat thermometer to check internal temperatures when grilling meat. Its the best way to make sure your food is fully cooked.

Keep reading for more tips and answers to your most asked grilling questions, and then Ill share my best grill recipes.

How Do You Clean A Grill Mat

To clean your grill mat, start by rinsing and soaking it in warm, soapy water. If there is any stubborn food debris, you can also use the soft side of a scrub pad to loosen up the food. Never use any scratchy metal objects to clean these mats, as it will damage the nonstick coating and could potentially ruin the mat. Some grill mats are dishwasher safe, so check to see if yours is and run it through your dishwasher accordingly.

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Best Sides To Serve With Grilled Food

No matter what protein you choose to grill, there are some classic healthy grill recipe sides that are perfect for adding to your BBQ table, including:

• Leafy salads: Greek salad, arugula salad, or Caesar-like lemon kale salad are easy to prep while your protein is grilling or can be made ahead! Check out this list of 45 healthy salad recipes for even more inspiration!
• Hot pasta: The grilled meat, fish, and shrimp can also pair well with pesto pasta , mac n cheese, Tuscan pasta, or zucchini tomato pasta, etc.

You can also enjoy grilled proteins with grilled veggies that are cooked at the same time, some examples of which are included below!

The Top 10 Foods To Grill Indoors

By | Submitted On October 22, 2009

If you love to grill outdoors then why let the fun stop when the weather gets cold? There are so many great indoor grills on the market today that it would be a waste for you not to take your summer time grilling inside. Most everything you can grill outside can be grilled inside. For proof let me list out my top ten favorite foods to cook on your indoor grill.

Number 10 – Squash

While there are a lot of people that don’t like squash to begin with, however, if you grill it, it’s absolutely fabulous. If you’ve never tried grilled squash do it fast.

Number 9 – Asparagus

Like squash some people don’t think much of asparagus but with a little seasoning you’ll cook up a tremendously tasty and healthy side dish.

Number 8 – Green and Red Peppers

Peppers will add zing to any dish. But instead of adding a bunch of unhealthy additives to it, simply grill it up. You’ll love it.

Number 7 – Sausage

For some sausage is their number one choice to grill indoors. When done right a grilled sausage with some peppers is totally delightful. Perhaps not the most healthy food ever but very good just the same.

Number 6 – Wild Game

Many people do not have the opportunity to grill up wild game because they are not hunters. But for the ones that do you know what kind of winner you have. Every kind of game bird or animal is different but grilling is by far the best.

Number 5 – Fish

Number 4 – Tomatoes

Number 3 – Pineapple

Number 2 – Meat

Number 1 – Chicken

Also Check: Cleaning The Outside Of A Stainless Steel Grill

Best Bbq Pit Grill: Kudu Portable Grill

This portable dual-purpose grill brings campfire-style open-flame cooking to the comfort of your backyard. Two adjustable cooking surfaces can be used simultaneously to fire up multiple dishes at once and can be raised and lowered as needed to control the heat level and intensity.

Its elevated grate system can grill, sauté, sear, fry, boil, and steam all of your favorite foods, but like a smoker lid and a fire ring can help you make the most of your purchase by converting it into a smoker or fire pit for added flavor and fun.

To buy: Kudu Portable Grill, $549 at orvis.com

Biolite Firepit+ Outdoor Smokeless Wood & Charcoal Burning Firepit And Grill

Its safe to say youve never used a grill like this BioLite. Rather than using gas or charcoal, the grill utilizes hyper-efficient electrically generated flames that minimize smoke and maximize warmth. Though its designed as a portable fire pit, it can be transformed into a grill with the various FirePit accessories BioLite sells. The built-in 12,800 mAh battery lasts for up to 7 hours on high, 14 hours on medium, or 30 hours on a low simmer, and youll love the ability to control your flame using the Bluetooth app . Thanks to its heat-radiating body and high-temperature enamel coating, you get all the heat you want with far less smoke and minimal energy waste.

Also Check: Temperature To Grill Pork Chops

Grilled Chicken With Spinach And Pine Nut Pesto

Simply grilled chicken is the perfect platform for all of the bright, fresh flavors in this dish: Giada covers each piece with a zesty spread of spinach and pine nut pesto before serving. Grilling yours outdoors ? Be sure to oil the grates before you preheat the grill. That way the chicken wont stick.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto

Italian Flatbread With Fontina And Prosciutto

Giada says, “A piadina is a lot like a pizza, except that the crust doesn’t rise and it’s typically cooked on a grill to give it a nice, smoky flavor and crunchy crust. You can top a piadina with anything you like. This no-sauce combination is very typical of northern Italy, where piadini are especially popular.”

Also Check: How To Prepare A Charcoal Grill

Best Value Set: Dad’s Choice Heavy Duty Grill Mats

• Includes black, copper, and mesh mat

• Budget friendly

• Only safe up to 500°F

If youre having trouble deciding which mat you want to go for and you want to give a few different versions a try, this set is a great way to try out multiple versions. It includes a basic mat, a copper mat, and a mesh mat, so you can sample them all and decide which you prefer. At under $15, this is a great deal for what youre getting, especially if youve never tried grilling with a mat and are feeling indecisive. These mats are dishwasher safe so you have nothing to worry about when it comes time to cleanup. Theyre safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and this variety pack would make for a great gift, especially for a young or novice griller.

Material: PTFE-fiberglass coating | Dimensions: 15.75 x 13 inches

• Extra wide for added coverage

• Can be cut into smaller pieces

• Not dishwasher safe

These Teflon mats are on the thinner side, which some cooks prefer because you can get some more intense flavors from the charcoal and smoke. The nonstick surface is ideal for everything from steaks, veggies, and fish to eggs and bacon. The recommended care for these black mats is warm, soapy water, so its probably best to avoid cleaning them in the dishwasher. These sheets can also double as an oven liner or baking sheet.

Material: PTFE-fiberglass coating | Dimensions: 15.7x 13 x 0.08 inches

Grilled Peaches Can Develop A Delicious Smoky Flavor

For a fruity option, you can marinate and grill peaches, Scott said. They develop a nice, smoky flavor when grilled.

“You can marinate peaches in brandy, brown sugar, and spices , and put them on the grill with a drip tray underneath,” Scott told Insider. “With the juice you caught in the tray, you can reduce it into a smoked peach syrup to use on ice cream.”

Also Check: How To Clean Grease Off Patio Pavers

Grilling Recipes For An All

When the weather starts to warm up, our favorite spot to be is behind the grill. Cooking for a crowd can be stressful, but grilling allows for a more casual and interactive approach to the dinner party. You can socialize while you cook and recruit help from friends or family. Focused on developing big flavor rather than achieving perfection, grilling is an art all its own.We’ve rounded up 50 of our favorite grilling recipes to help you master the barbecue this season. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, from summertime barbecues to fall tailgates, these quick and easy grilling recipes are guaranteed to impress your guests. You can build a whole meal from the grill. Start with a simple appetizer like Grilled Sausage-and-Shrimp Pizzas, move into a main course of Beer Can Chicken or Grilled Steak, pair with a side like classic Corn on the Cob, and finish with Grilled Peach Cobbler for dessert. With 50 recipes to choose from, there are endless combinations. One of our favorite parts about grilling is its freedom. Use these recipes as a guide, but feel free to get creative with your flavor combinations and create your own specialties.

Best Charcoal Grill: Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill

An enhanced version of Weber’s iconic Original Kettle Charcoal Grill, this premium upgrade features all of the same offerings as its classic counterpartlike excellent heat retention and precise temperature controlwith the addition of a refillable ash catcher underneath and a convenient hinged grate to add more charcoal while grilling.

Its removable porcelain-enameled lid features a built-in thermometer that clearly displays the internal cooking temperature, and when you’re ready to check up on the progress of your contents, an angled hook securely and sanitarily holds the lid on the side of the grill to keep it off the ground.

Priced affordably under $200, its circular 22-inch size is large enough to fit up to 13 burgers, so you can feed a crowdor just a couple of hungry teens.

To buy: Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill, $165.00 at

Read Also: Charbroil Grill Cleaning

Want More Healthy Dinner Ideas

If you enjoyed these healthy grill recipes, why not check out this list of 45 healthy dinner ideas , 65 healthy chicken ideas, or browse through my entire collections of potluck and grilling season recipes! If you are looking for more ways to keep your kitchen cool this summer use your Instant Pot for these summer recipes.