5 Healthy Barbecue Recipes For Your Next Gatherings

It is the time of the year again - barbecue time! While hot-dogs or hamburgers, mashed potatoes or chips, and even giant cups of ice cream sound like an enticing incentive for throwing your next one, if you are concerned with the amount of calories to be consumed, it might be the time to swap in some new recipes for the old ones! Here are our favorite healthy barbecue recipes that will surely be the hit of your next gathering: 

Warm Red Potato Salad

Who really wants to eat a dish packed full of fatty mayonnaise and unnecessary calories? Some days might call for it but not today! If you want to lighten up your version of the classic potato salad, try one of our favorite recipes instead. 

Serves - 6-8 | From Saveur

Gather Together : 

• 3 Pounds of Medium Waxy Red Potatoes
• 1 Large Red Onion - Chopped
• ³⁄₄ Cups of Olive Oil
• ¹⁄₂ Cup of Red Wine Vinegar
• ¹⁄₃ Cup of Roughly Chopped Parsley
• ¹⁄₄ Cup of Roughly Chopped Oregano
• Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper - To Taste

Directions : 

1. Heat a charcoal grill or set a gas grill to high; bank coals or turn burner off on one side. Using a fork, prick potatoes all over and wrap individually in foil; grill on the cooler section of grill, turning as needed, until tender, about 45 minutes. Unwrap and slice about ½" thick; transfer to a serving platter.
2. Whisk onions, oil, vinegar, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl; pour over potatoes. Serve warm.

Grilled Halloumi and Peaches with Dukkah

Instead of choosing a side that is packed with fat or added sugars - we are looking at you beans - why don't you try something new and equally as delicious like these recipe. The peaches become even sweeter with a lovely smokey undertone that melts into the creaminess of the cheese. 

Serves - 4 | From My New Roots

Ingredients:

• 4 Ripe Peaches
• 1 Block of Halloumi Cheese
• Garnishes - Such as Mint, Honey, Maple Syrup, Olive Oil, Salt + Pepper

Directions:

1. Wash and cut peaches into eighths, removing the pit.
2. Slice the halloumi into 1” cubes.
3. Skewer the peaches and cubes of halloumi.
4. On a medium-hot grill, cook the skewers on one side until the peaches have charred just slightly and the cheese has browned in places, then flip the skewer and cook until the other side is done (about 2-3 minutes per side, depending on the heat of your grill).
5. Remove the skewers from the grill and place on a serving platter. Drizzle the skewers with honey, a little olive oil, a handful of chopped fresh mint leaves and a good douse of dukkah. Serve immediately.

For Dukkah 

Gather Together : 

• 1 cup hazelnuts
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
• 1 ½ Tbsp. cumin seeds
• 1 Tbsp. whole black peppercorns
• 1 tsp. sea salt

Directions : 

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, roast coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Place in a mortar and pestle and pound together with the peppercorns until pulverized (or grind in a coffee mill, or in a food processor).
2. In a dry skillet over medium heat, roast hazelnuts until fragrant, about 10 minutes (watch them carefully so that they don’t burn). Put hazelnuts on a plate to cool. When cool enough to handle, rub the nuts together to remove the skin. Place in a food processor.
3. In the same skillet, roast sesame seeds until fragrant and they begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly. Place sesame seeds in the food processor with the hazelnuts. Pulse to chop hazelnuts until a chunky-sand texture results (do not blend as you will end up with hazelnut-sesame butter! Tasty yes, but not what we’re after).
4. In a large jar or bowl, empty the contents of the food processor and add the spice mix, along with the salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Store in an airtight glass container for up to one month.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is one of those dishes you can serve all year round, being perfect for pot lucks or large gatherings such as barbecues. While most recipes are fattening or often are a concern for calories, this leaner version uses a boneless pork loin roast that keeps it at about 200 calories per serving! 

Serves - 6 | From Skinny Taste

Gather Together : 

• 2.5 Pound of Boneless Pork Loin Roast - Center Cut | Fat Trimmed
• 2 Teaspoons of Red Wine Vinegar 
• 2 Teaspoons of Hickory Liquid Smoke
• 1 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder
• 1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt
• 1 Cup of Your Favorite BBQ Sauce (Or Recipe That Follows)

Directions : 

• Place pork in the slow cooker and season with salt, vinegar, garlic powder and liquid smoke.
• Cover and set to high 6 hours.
• Remove pork and transfer onto a large dish; reserve all the liquid into a cup and set aside.
• Shred the pork with two forks and put it back into the slow cooker along with about 3/4 cup of the reserved liquid and the BBQ sauce (for every 3 oz cooked pork, I used 2 tbsp BBQ sauce).
• Cook on high one more hour.

Paleo BBQ Sauce

Making your own homemade BBQ sauce is a lot easier than you think! Just toss the ingredients in a pot and you'll be ready to go! 

Serves - 4 Cups (2 Batches - 2 Cups) | From Fed+Fit

Gather Together : 

• 2 Tablespoons of Butter or Ghee
• 24 Ounces of Strained Tomatoes
• 7 Ounces of Tomato Paste
• 1/2 Cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/3 Cup of Molasses
• 1/3 Cup of Coconut Amino
• 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Powder
• 1 Tablespoon of Onion Powder
• 1 Tablespoon of Ancho Chili Powder or Chili Powder
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt and Pepper

Directions : 

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and whisk together.
3. Let it simmer on low for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat and either use immediately or can to store.

Lemon Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

This 5 minute Lemon Raspberry Frozen Yogurt is incredibly easy to make, using only 4 ingredients! It is one of those showstopper, crowd-favorite dishes that is the secret weapon to your recipe box; guest won't know how easy it is to throw together! 

Serves - 4-6 | From Joyful Healthy Eats 

Gather Together : 

• 1 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt
• 12 Ounces of Frozen Raspberries
• 1/3 Cup of Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 Teaspoons of Lemon Zest
• 3 Tablespoons of Honey

Directions : 

1. To a blender add greek yogurt, raspberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, and honey.Blend until smooth.
2. Serve immediately or for a more solid consistency place in an air tight container and put in freezer for 1-2 hours. Serve!