50+ Healthy Grilling Ideas

Antonis Achilleos

Fire up the coals or pull out the grill pan: These healthy grilling recipes bring you charred flavor in 30 minutes or less. Whether you're having a summer cookout or enjoying the warm weather on a busy weeknight, these juicy, flavorful recipes will not disappoint.

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Grilled Scallops With Remoulade Sauce

Antonis Achilleos

View Recipe: Grilled Scallops With Remoulade Sauce

These simple grilled scallops are paired with an easy blender remoulade sauce for a quick, yet entertaining-worthy entrée. Use the steps below to learn how to make perfectly grilled scallops every time. Also, look for “dry” (aka untreated) scallops so you can get the best sear possible when cooking.

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Grilled Beef-Mushroom Burgers

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Beef-Mushroom Burgers

Blending finely chopped mushrooms with ground beef adds great flavor, moisture, and even fiber to these no-bun burgers. Garlicky cucumber-yogurt sauce is tasty Middle Eastern–inspired alternative to standard ketchup and mustard.

Served with a juicy slice of fresh tomato and crisp butter lettuce, these burgers are naturally gluten-free. Double the greens and tomato and call it a burger salad. If you're in the mood for bun, try these tucked into warm whole-wheat pitas instead.

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Grilled Heirloom Tomato and Feta Panzanella

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Heirloom Tomato and Feta Panzanella

This salad comes together in just 20 minutes. But spring for heirloom tomatoes—their rich flavor and vibrant color add a huge wow factor. Beans bulk it up with fiber and protein.

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Grilling: Grilled Chicken Curry Flatbreads

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Curry Flatbreads

A grilled chicken dinner comes together quickly with some smart convenience products. Cooked flatbreads just need a quick turn on the grill pan, a far speedier process than baking pizza dough. And rotisserie chicken is always great to keep on hand for fast, easy meals.

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Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salsa

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salsa

Here we combine two of the our favorite early-summer ingredients—cherry tomatoes and fresh basil—into a fresh take salsa. For the crispiest skin (that doesn’t stick to the grill), be sure your grill grates are very clean and the grill is preheated for at least 15 minutes. Avocado adds creaminess and a punch of gut-healthy prebiotics.

Salmon is a pretty potent anti-inflammatory food; its omega-3 fatty acids are great for your heart and brain. Plus, this avocado-studded salsa gives you an extra boost of heart-healthy fats!

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Grilled Romaine Salad With Crab

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Romaine Salad With Crab

Welcome to grilled salad season. A quick char adds smoky depth and a glossy finish to crisp romaine hearts, making them the perfect base for fresh fixings. You'll get smokier results on an outdoor grill, but a stovetop grill pan will give a subtler effect. Our guacamole dressing is a simple riff on green goddess, mastering the less-is-more summer motif. If you can't find crab, use frozen, thawed shrimp instead.

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Grilled Lemon-Rosemary Chicken and Leeks

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Lemon-Rosemary Chicken and Leeks

Chicken cutlets get great flavor from a lemon-rosemary marinade while the leeks cook into a silky, caramelized vegetable side dish. If you’ve never enjoyed the darker green leek tops, give them a try in this recipe.

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Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Mascarpone

Antonis Achilleos

View Recipe: Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Mascarpone

Fresh, in-season peaches make this simple dish really sing. The recipe is sweet, but not overly so. If you want to cut back on sugar even further, you could easily omit brushing maple syrup onto the fruit, and it'll still taste quite good. This makes an lovely way to finish a summer meal, or turn these grilled peaches into a hearty breakfast by adding your favorite crunchy granola.

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Grilled Steak and Elote Tacos

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Steak and Elote Tacos

These tacos are a perfect blend of Mexican street corn (also called elote) and quick-cooking skirt steak. If you have frozen corn, blister the kernels in a skillet over high heat first.

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Flounder Grilled on Banana Leaves

Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Flounder Grilled on Banana Leaves

Many cooks only grill thick fish steaks because thin fillets break and fall into the fire. But a banana leaf solves the problem elegantly. It’s naturally nonstick, covers the rack, and lends subtle grassy sweetness to thinner fillets like flounder, snapper, tilapia, and sole, along with smoky grilled flavor.

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Grilled Steak and Tomatoes With Tofu Ranch Dressing

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Grilled Steak and Tomatoes With Tofu Ranch Dressing

This high-protein, low-carb meal is easy enough to make on a weeknight, but delicious enough to satisfy the family. There's no need to pull out the food processor to make the breadcrumbs for this recipe. Just tear bread by hand into very small pieces; the rustic texture is perfect.

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Smoky Beer-Poached Grilled Corn

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Smoky Beer-Poached Grilled Corn

We took a technique that's typically used for bratwurst and applied it to corn—with amazing results. You can save the beer after poaching the corn and use it for poaching brats or for steaming peel-and-eat shrimp.

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Olive Oil-Basted Grass-Fed Strip Steak

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Olive Oil-Basted Grass-Fed Strip Steak

Brushing healthy fat like olive oil onto sizzling grass-fed steak keeps the lean meat juicy and adds rich flavor. We developed this technique specifically for lean grass-fed steaks. Turn them frequently to cook evenly and prevent the exterior from toughening. Baste after every turn so the sizzling surface stays moist.

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Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

Ridged shishito peppers are usually pleasantly bitter with mild to medium heat, but watch out: Every so often, you'll get one that packs a fiery punch.

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Grilled Corn and Bell Pepper Salad

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Corn and Bell Pepper Salad

Get the most out of your grill space by adding a little char to every element of this quick, fresh corn salad. Add all the vegetables at once; remove each as it finishes cooking.

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Mini Pineapple Pizzas

Photo: Jamie Vespa

View Recipe: Mini Pineapple Pizzas

There is a longstanding argument surrounding the merits of pineapple on a pizza. Here at Cooking Light, not only do we believe in pineapple as a pizza topper, we believe it can be the base too. Look for peeled and cored pineapple in your supermarkets produce aisle for even slicing. Canadian bacon adds salty, savory depth, which cuts the sweetness of the fruit while lending hearty texture. Use any toppings you like – we look to briny black olives, sautéed red onion, and fresh basil for a delicious flavor trifecta. This easy recipe comes together in 20 minutes and is very kid-friendly. Not to mention a genius way to sneak in an extra serving of fruit.

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Lobster Roll Bruschetta

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Lobster Roll Bruschetta

Though we love the sweet flavor of lobster in this appetizer, you can easily substitute 1/2 pound of shrimp with delicious results.

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Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Kebabs

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Kebabs

Cubes of grass-fed sirloin can be a little tough and chewy—but thin slices stay tender and cook quickly. Feel free to prep the sauce and skewer the beef ahead of time.

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Grilled Chile-Lime Flank Steak

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Grilled Chile-Lime Flank Steak

Garnish the steak with fresh red onion, cilantro, garlic, and lime for a great look and a bit of extra flavor in every bite.

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Caesar-Crusted Chicken Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Caesar-Crusted Chicken Salad

Deconstructing a familiar classic is always fun. Here, the anchovy and Parmesan dressing becomes a rub for grilled chicken and the crunch comes from a crisp panko crust instead of croutons. The anchovy adds a briny, savory depth to the chicken that isn’t fishy, but you can omit for a version that’s more kid-friendly. Instead of shredded lettuce, we grill romaine hearts whole for more of a centerpiece, knife-and-fork feel. Most grill pans are made of cast-iron and are oven-safe. If yours is not, or your pan is missing a handle, use a cast-iron skillet instead.

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Grilled Chicken Breasts with Satay Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Breasts with Satay Sauce

Dinner Transformation: We turn the traditional appetizer of chicken skewers and dipping sauce into a main course by spooning the satay sauce over sliced grilled chicken breasts.

Serve with Cucumber, Carrot, and Orange Salad

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Turmeric Pork Chops With Green Onion Rice

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Claire Spollen

View Recipe: Turmeric Pork Chops With Green Onion Rice

You'll love this pork chop, but it may be the rice side dish that you make again and again, as it pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes, ranging from Spanish to Asian.

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Grilled Vegetable and Flank Steak Salad With Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Vegetable and Flank Steak Salad With Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

If you don't love blue cheese, try crumbled feta or grated Parmesan instead.

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Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks With Tropical Fruit Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks With Tropical Fruit Salad

Time: 30 minutes

Simple Sub: Go meatless by swapping 3/4-inch-thick slices of extra-firm tofu for drumsticks. Glaze and grill 3 minutes on each side.

Serve with Curry Rice Pilaf

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Lemon-Honey Chicken Thighs

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Lemon-Honey Chicken Thighs

These sticky saucy chicken thighs are perfectly paired with any of our grilled zucchini sides. You can also use chicken breasts; just cook them a little longer, about 6 minutes per side.

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Grilled Salmon With White Bean and Arugula Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Salmon With White Bean and Arugula Salad

Ask for salmon fillets from the head end of the fish—the tail end is much thinner.

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Grilled Eggplant Planks With Miso Aioli

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Planks With Miso Aioli

Grilling eggplant allows its flavor to really shine, but our four simple toppings take this speedy side to the next level. Top it with Miso Aioli, Sherry Vinaigrette, Creole Salsa, or Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing. Be sure to choose smaller eggplants; they'll be easier to slice and easier to handle on the grill.

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Chimichurri Shrimp

Photo: Erin Kunzel

View Recipe: Chimichurri Shrimp

Forget shrimp cocktail—this will be your go-to party staple from now on. You could take the shrimp off the skewers for the platter, but the pick-up nature of kebabs is great for parties.

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Chicken Thighs With Ginger-Sesame Glaze

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Chicken Thighs With Ginger-Sesame Glaze

Make-ahead tip: Mix up the glaze first thing in the morning, and allow the chicken thighs to marinate all day long in the refrigerator to soak up even more flavor. After that, getting dinner on the table is as simple as heating up the grill pan.

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Chicken Pesto Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Chicken Pesto Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

It’s seems like portobello mushrooms were just made for stuffing. Not only is this loaded fork-and-knife-entrée easy and cheesy; it's customizable, too. Make it your own with any produce or herbs you already have in your fridge, you can even switch up the protein if you’re feeling like steak or serving a vegetarian guest. If you don’t mind the extra step, homemade pesto takes this dish from great to amazing.

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Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

This is a riff on elote, Mexican street corn. We love how sweet dill plays on the richly caramelized corn and briny cheese.

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Barbecued Lime Shrimp and Corn

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

View Recipe: Barbecued Lime Shrimp and Corn

This recipe is designed to cook on a campfire, but you can take the rack out of your grill and put the foil bags on the charcoal for the same effect. Corn and shrimp with deeply flavorful seasonings like lime, soy sauce, honey, and coriander bake and steam in 10 minutes wrapped in foil. You don't even need plates―just tear open the packets and eat straight from them, with a side of French bread for sopping up juices.

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Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini With Almond Salsa Verde

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini With Almond Salsa Verde

With a wonderfully complex and flavorful sauce like this, the chicken and zucchini need almost no seasoning―just salt, pepper, and the grill's flame. The salsa's combination of tangy, briny, herbal, and nutty flavors is perfect for chicken, pork, fish, or shrimp, especially if they're grilled. To save soaking the skewers for a half an hour, use metal ones instead of wood.

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Grilled Corn With Mint Butter

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Grilled Corn With Mint Butter

Grilling is the best way to cook corn on the cob; boiling just doesn't deliver the same intense sweetness. This recipe's tangy herbal butter adds layers of flavor to that sweet base. Try this alongside just about any

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Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches With Roquefort Dressing

Howard L. Puckett

View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches With Roquefort Dressing

Tasty grilled eggplant needs strong flavors to stand up to it, and the pungent Roquefort and sweet-savory tomato in this recipe do that job well. Crusty-outside, soft-inside grilled sourdough is the perfect bread to contain everything. For an even more indulgent version of the sandwich, add a couple slices of crisp bacon for a BLT-E.

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50+ Super Quick Recipes You Can Make on the Grill

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Grilled Scallops With Remoulade Sauce

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Grilled Beef-Mushroom Burgers

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Grilled Heirloom Tomato and Feta Panzanella

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Grilling: Grilled Chicken Curry Flatbreads

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Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salsa

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Grilled Romaine Salad With Crab

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Grilled Lemon-Rosemary Chicken and Leeks

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Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Mascarpone

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Grilled Steak and Elote Tacos

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Flounder Grilled on Banana Leaves

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Grilled Steak and Tomatoes With Tofu Ranch Dressing

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Smoky Beer-Poached Grilled Corn

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Olive Oil-Basted Grass-Fed Strip Steak

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Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

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Grilled Corn and Bell Pepper Salad

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Mini Pineapple Pizzas

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Lobster Roll Bruschetta

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Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Kebabs

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Grilled Chile-Lime Flank Steak

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Caesar-Crusted Chicken Salad

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Grilled Chicken Breasts with Satay Sauce

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Turmeric Pork Chops With Green Onion Rice

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Grilled Vegetable and Flank Steak Salad With Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

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Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks With Tropical Fruit Salad

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Lemon-Honey Chicken Thighs

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Grilled Salmon With White Bean and Arugula Salad

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