What says “Summer” like the smell of your favorite foods cooking on the grill? Add in some warm July sunshine, an ice cold beverage and a handful of loved ones. You’ve got the recipe for the perfect summer day!
Grill out and Chill out with Healthy Grilling Recipes!
As with most food prep, however, firing up the grill poses quite the challenge if you’re watching what you eat. Grilled favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs and even steaks seem to be American staples nowadays, but they don’t always benefit your weight management goals. While there’s nothing wrong with eating these foods in moderation, there are plenty of great ways to break-in your grilling equipment with some splendid summer recipes!
Chicken, Tomatoes and Corn Foil Packs
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 ears corn, shucked
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh basil for garnish
Directions:
- Heat grill to high. Cut 4 sheets of foil about 12″ long.
- Top each piece of foil with a chicken breast, corn and garlic. Drizzle each with 1 tablespoon olive oil and top each with a pat of butter. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fold foil packets crosswise over chicken and vegetable mixture to completely cover the food. Roll top and bottom edges to seal closed.
- Grill until internal temperature of chicken reads 170 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer and vegetables tender.
- Garnish with basil and serve.
Source: Delish
Ingredients:
- 4 ripe medium peaches
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 to 2 pints frozen vanilla yogurt
- Suggested toppings – toasted sliced almonds
Directions:
- Cut peaches in half and remove pits. Slice each half in half and toss them in a bowl with vanilla extract, almond extract and brown sugar. Set aside for 5 minutes while you preheat grill with medium-high heat.
- Grill skin side down until skin is slightly charred, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill on the other 2 sides until you see nice grill marks, about 1 minute on each side.
- Divide the peaches among bowls and service with frozen yogurt and toasted almonds, if desired.
Source: Food Network
Grilled Garlic and Black Pepper Shrimp
Ingredients:
- 1 fresh red chile, seeds removed, finely grated
- 3 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon coarsely ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more to grill
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, devained
- Kosher salt
- Lime wedges and Kashmiri chili powder or paprika
- Four 8-inch-long metal skewers or bamboo skewers soaked 30 mins in water
Directions:
- Whisk chile, garlic, pepper, lime juice and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat; season with salt. Thread shrimp onto sets of 2 skewers.
- Prepare grill for medium-high heat; clean grates well, then oil. Grill shrimp, turning once, until cooked through and lightly charred, about 5 minutes total. Serve with lime wedges dipped in chili powder.
Source: Bonappetit
Looking for Some More Summer Recipes?
Fun, healthy recipes don’t end with just the grill – there are plenty of other ways to celebrate summer and “spice up” your plate! For some additional summer recipes, please CLICK HERE.