7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (2024)

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1

Fire up the grill

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (1)

Potato salad with half the calories? Burgers that slash saturated fat by 75%? Yep! Turns out you can have your burger and bite into it, too. All you need to do is give classic cookout favorites a healthy makeover. In which case, we've got you covered.

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2

Tasty Turkey Burger

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (2)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
SERVINGS: 4

¼ c 2% plain Greek-style yogurt
2 Tbsp chopped scallions
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 lb ground organic turkey breast
¼ c coarsely chopped pitted green olives
2 oz feta, crumbled
1 tsp Greek seasoning
4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
4 sm leaves butter lettuce
8 sm slices tomato
8 thin slices red onion

1. STIRtogether yogurt, scallions, and 2 tsp of the lemon juice in small bowl. Set aside.
2. MIXtogether turkey, olives, feta, Greek seasoning, and remaining 2 Tbsp lemon juice until just combined. Form into 4 patties.
3. PREPARE lightly oiled grill for medium heat. Grill patties, turning, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), about 12 minutes.
4. SERVE burgers on buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, and yogurt sauce.

NUTRITION (per serving) 316 cal, 36 g pro, 28 g carb, 4 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 8.5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 630 mg sodium

MORE:400-Calorie BBQ Meals

3

Bean Salad

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (3)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
SERVINGS: 8

6 Tbsp chopped red onion
4 Tbsp red wine vinegar
4 oz thin green beans, trimmed
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 c shelled cooked edamame (about 10 oz), thawed if frozen
1 can (15 oz) dark kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1. COMBINE onion with 3 Tbsp of the vinegar in small bowl and let stand 15 minutes to pickle. Cook green beans in boiling salted water until tender, 3 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, and cut into thirds.
2. WHISK together mustard, honey, oil, and remaining 1 Tbsp vinegar in large bowl. Stir in pickled onion mixture.
3. ADD cooked green beans, edamame, kidney beans, and chickpeas. Toss together until well combined. Season to taste. (Makes 6 cups.)

NUTRITION (per serving) 164 cal, 9 g pro, 22 g carb, 6 g fiber, 6 g sugars, 7 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 260 mg sodium

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4

Watermelon Cooler

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (4)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes
SERVINGS: 2

2 c cubed seeded watermelon
2 Tbsp tart cherry or cranberry juice
1½ Tbsp fresh lime juice + lime slices for garnish
1-2 Tbsp honey

1. COMBINE watermelon, cherry juice, lime juice, and 1 Tbsp of the honey in blender with ⅓ cup ice and cold water. Puree until smooth. Taste and add more honey if desired. (Makes 2 cups.)
2. POUR into 2 ice-filled glasses, garnish with lime slices, and serve immediately.

NUTRITION (per serving) 89 cal, 1 g pro, 23 g carb, 1 g fiber, 20 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 6 mg sodium

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5

Pineapple-Jalapeño Crush

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (5)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes
SERVINGS: 2

2 c cubed fresh pineapple + additional for garnish
2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves + additional for garnish
1 sm fresh jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1-2 Tbsp honey

1. COMBINE pineapple, basil, mint, jalapeno, and 1 Tbsp of the honey in blender. Add ½ cup ice and cold water and puree until smooth. Taste and add more honey if desired. (Makes 2½ cups.)
2. POUR into 2 ice-filled glasses, garnish, and serve immediately.

NUTRITION (per serving) 114 cal, 1 g pro, 30 g carb, 3 g fiber, 24 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 4 mg sodium

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6

New Potato Salad

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (6)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
SERVINGS: 6

1½ lb new potatoes
3½ Tbsp white wine or cider vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp finely chopped shallot or onion
2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon
2 lg hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
1 lg rib celery, chopped

1. COOK potatoes in boiling salted water until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. When potatoes are just cool enough to handle (but still warm), cut into quarters.
2. WHISK together vinegar and mustard in large bowl while potatoes are cooling. Add oil in slow stream, whisking until well combined. Stir in shallot and tarragon. Immediately add warm potatoes, tossing to combine.
3. ADD eggs and celery and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Makes 4 cups.)

NUTRITION (per serving) 154 cal, 4 g pro, 20 g carb, 2 g fiber, 2 g sugars, 6.5 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 77 mg sodium

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7

Tricolor Slaw

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (7)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes + chilling time
SERVINGS: 8

3 Tbsp cider vinegar
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp olive oil
8 oz fresh coleslaw mix (about 3 c)
2 c shredded red cabbage
1 c shredded carrot
1 bell pepper, sliced (optional)
1 Tbsp poppy seeds, toasted (optional)

1. WHISK together vinegar, lime juice, and honey in large bowl. Add oil in slow stream, whisking to combine.
2. ADDremaining ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss to combine. Cover and chill at least 1 hour to let flavors develop. (Makes about 6 cups.)

NUTRITION (per serving) 83 cal, 1 g pro, 9 g carb, 1 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 5 g fat, 0.5 g sat fat, 23 mg sodium

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8

Hot Dog Trio

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (8)

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
SERVINGS: 8

¼ c sliced red onion
2 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
1 avocado, halved and pitted
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
⅛ tsp minced garlic
8 uncured organic beef hot dogs
8 whole wheat hot dog buns, toasted
½ c salsa
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
Yellow mustard

1. TOSS together onion and vinegar in small bowl and let stand 15 minutes to pickle. Scoop avocado into another bowl and mash with lime juice, garlic, and ⅛ tsp each salt and pepper. Cover and chill.
2. PREPARE lightly oiled grill for medium heat. Grill hot dogs, turning, until lightly marked and heated through, 6 minutes.
3. SERVE hot dogs in buns. Top with avocado and drained pickled red onion, or salsa and cilantro, or mustard, as desired. Serve immediately.

NUTRITION (per serving) 235 cal, 11 g pro, 27 g carb, 5 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 10 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 844 mg sodium

MORE: Perfect Summer Wine Pairings

7 Recipes For The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Bash (2024)

FAQs

What to cook for backyard BBQ? ›

Grilled meats like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken are classic barbecue staples, but don't forget about vegetarian options like grilled vegetables or veggie burgers. Sides like coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans are also popular choices. And let's not forget about the drinks and desserts!

What is served at a Southern BBQ? ›

Meats: pork ribs, beef brisket and chicken (all bbq and grilled/smoked). Bread: corn bread seek a recipe that includes corn kernels. Sides: baked beans, potatoes salad, Cole slaw, baked cheesy grits, green beans, greens made with bacon, onions, and vinegar based sauce.

What should I bring to a BBQ to impress? ›

Here's our list of 7 things to bring to a summer BBQ (that are WAY better than chips!):
  • Fresh Fruit Platter. ...
  • Tasty Skewers With Fresh Veggies & Produce. ...
  • Margarita Pitchers. ...
  • Desserts From Yours Truly. ...
  • Quebrada Corn Muffins. ...
  • A Refreshing Salad (with or without pasta) ...
  • A Keg, or a Few Six Packs.

What is the secret to good BBQ? ›

1) Precook Your Meats

Not many people think to precook their meat, but this simple trick will prove to be an important part of your BBQ techniques. Not only will save you time when it comes to grilling your food, it also gives you reassurance that the food is cooked through properly.

What are two dishes that are traditionally BBQ? ›

If doing real BBQ for multiple hours on a slow smoker then typically some form of beef, pork, chicken. The usual suspect is grilling a steak or pork chops. Most people just gill hot dogs, sausages, hamburger patties, or ribs.

What is the most popular item to grill? ›

Steak was the favorite grilled food of roughly one third of Americans in 2020. When asked which grilled food they enjoy the most, 34 percent of the respondents to a widespread survey opted for the beef steak, with hamburgers and chicken completing the top three.

What do you need for backyard BBQ party? ›

Having these tools can make it easy to handle the party and have fun without any hassle.
  • Essential Things For A Successful BBQ Party. ...
  • Portable Grill. ...
  • BBQ Outfit. ...
  • Fuel & Charcoal Supply. ...
  • Brushes & Spatulas. ...
  • Chilled Drinks. ...
  • Drink Dispenser. ...
  • Meat Thermometer.

How do I plan a backyard BBQ party? ›

How to plan the perfect backyard barbecue
  1. Prepare your grill. Clean the caked-on grease off your grill before guests arrive. ...
  2. Plan the menu. ...
  3. Craft a signature co*cktail. ...
  4. Keep bugs at bay. ...
  5. Plan to play. ...
  6. Embellish with festive lights. ...
  7. Don't forget dessert. ...
  8. Cultivate a relaxed atmosphere.

What do you bring the host at a barbecue? ›

Hostess gifts are usually simple gifts that say “thank you for having me” in a nice way. They can range from a pair of tongs and a “kiss the cook” apron to my personal favorite which is flowers. Fresh flowers are the pretty much the be-all hostess gift for barbecues and backyard parties.

What do you need for an outdoor barbecue? ›

Tools and Gear
  • Grill or smoker. Any kind will do! ...
  • Spatula and tongs. For flipping burgers, hot dogs, veggies, buns. ...
  • Fuel: charcoal, wood, pellets, kerosene.
  • Lighter or long matches.
  • Heat-resistant gloves. No need to burn yourself.
  • Apron. For that classic barbecue look!
  • Thermometer. Necessary for perfection!
  • Timer.

How to host a cheap BBQ? ›

Unless you plan to host a small, fancy dinner party, barbecues are designed to include those less expensive staples. Instead of steaks and seafood, opt for hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, and sausage. Make it a group effort and ask guests to bring a dish to share. Choose sides and desserts with simple ingredients.

What is backyard BBQ attire? ›

I always opt for dresses, but obviously shorts & tanks are just as appropriate. Cotton, denim & linen are your best bets when it comes to material because they're breathable, absorbent & will keep you cool. Also don't forget a jacket!

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