This Backyard BBQ Grazing Board is made with easy and healthy seasonal recipes that are allergy-friendly and ideal for summertime snacking. Mix and match your favorites for an impressive spread that everyone will love. Vegan options.
The Graze Board Craze!
Get ready to upgrade your backyard BBQ or cookout with these easy summer recipes! You can always serve the traditional hotdogs, burgers, and potato salad, but why not switch things up a bit? Impress your guests with a full spread that includes food to fit everyone’s needs with vegan, gluten-free, and Whole30 options!
Bonus — leftovers make for great meal prep! You can make your BBQ charcuterie board as big or as small as you want. Choose to serve all the recipes below, or pick out a few of your favorites. No matter how you choose to serve these healthy summer recipes, your guests will be talking about them for weeks.
How to Put Together a BBQ Graze Board
I know creating a graze board or table can seem like a daunting task, but it can easily be broken down into simple steps!
- First, decide how many items you want to serve. I recommend using at least 5.
- Then, start with your meat or protein sources, and choose accompanying sides and toppings.
- After cooking, assemble your ingredients starting with the protein sources and sides.
- Build out the display filling in any empty spaces with condiments, crackers, and desserts.
Main Dishes
These main dishes are fun twists on classic summer BBQ recipes!
- Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Meatballs – Super easy to make ahead or the day of, these meatballs are the perfect poppable appetizer. Paleo and Whole30 options!
- BBQ Baked Salmon – Make this BBQ Baked Salmon ahead of time to take your BBQ to the next level this summer.
- Baked Salmon with Chipotle Peach Salsa – Ready in minutes, your guests will rave over this pepper smoked salmon.
- Crock Pot Chicken Salad Sliders – Made with gluten-free ingredients, this Chicken Salad recipe is flavorful, tangy, and protein-packed!
- Shredded Chicken – The perfect protein source for all your favorite condiments, this Shredded Chicken can be made in the Crockpot, Instant Pot, on the stove, or in an air fryer.
- Garlic Herb Pan Fried Cod Cakes – These cod cakes are full of healthy fats and nutrients for a healthy appetizer or easy meal. Whole30 friendly!
Sides, Salads, & Snacks
Forget about bland pasta salads and stale chips for good with these nourishing summer snacks.
- Vegan Multi-Seed Crackers – These healthy crackers are a tasty and full of nutritional benefits too! They’re grain-free, paleo, and vegan.
- Spicy Deviled Eggs – Smoky, spicy, and delicious, they’re a nutritious party appetizer that’s easy to make!
- Green Goddess Vegan Pasta Salad – Unlike traditional pasta salads that are bland and full of dairy, this one is allergy-friendly and loaded with flavor.
- Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad – The perfect summer BBQ recipe, this salad is made with fresh, seasonal vegetables for the perfect paleo, vegan, and Whole30-friendly addition!
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower – These come together with just a handful of ingredients in under 15 minutes for the perfect party appetizer!
- Tomatoes and mozzarella – For an easy side dish that is low carb and delicious, slice up some tomatoes for a tomato and mozzarella salad!
Dips
You can’t have a BBQ charcuterie board without all the best dips. Whether you prefer to dunk, drizzle, or smother, we’ve got the perfect dip for you.
- Pickle Salsa – Quick and easy to make, it’s a unique appetizer or snack perfect for warm weather, backyard barbecues, and summer holidays!
- Pineapple Watermelon Salsa – Made with seasonal fruit and veggies, this Pineapple Watermelon Salsa is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy to add to chips, grilled meat, and more!
- Honey Chipotle Peach Salsa – Made in a matter of minutes, this Honey Chipotle Peach Salsa provides a delicious smoky flavor along with sweet, juicy peaches.
- Vegan Salsa Con Queso -This plant-based dip uses fresh vegetables and Tex-Mex spices for a family friendly snack that everyone will love. Paleo and Whole30-friendly!
- Spicy Vegan Ranch – Not like your average Ranch, this recipe gets its zing from horseradish and can be made in less than 5 minutes! Nightshade-free and Whole30-friendly options.
- Vegan Green Goddess Dressing – Simple and nutritious, there’s nothing that doesn’t pair well with this Green Goddess Dressing!
Dessert
Don’t forget to add something sweet! Instead of wasting time trying to keep ice cream from melting or serving complicated and crumbly dishes, try serving these poppable treats!
- Chickpea Cookie Dough Dessert Hummus – This Cookie Dough Dessert Hummus tastes so much like the real thing you won’t believe it’s actually good for you!
- Homemade Gluten-Free Graham Crackers – Made with almond flour, gluten-free oat flour/ oats, and non-dairy milk, these Gluten-Free Graham Crackers are a must-have for every occasion.
- Dark Chocolate Oven-Baked S’mores – Make s’mores in the oven for a fireless version of everyone’s favorite summer dessert and take it a step further with easy coconut homemade marshmallows.
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats – Made with real fruit and a handful of simple ingredients, they’re crispy, chewy, and infused with sweet, fruity flavor.
- Vegan Black Bean Brownies – These are so delicious that no one ever guesses that they’re completely gluten-free and loaded with plant-based fiber and protein!
Add-Ins & Extras
Don’t forget your condiments! Add even more flavor to your summer dinner recipes with toppings and extras everyone will love.
- Homemade Sriracha Sauce – Add a little heat to all your favorite meals with this Homemade Sriracha Sauce! Whole30 options.
- Gluten-Free Rolls or low-carb vegan Tortillas – Don’t forget to pick up some gluten-free rolls or wraps as necessary vehicles for all this delicious food.
- Condiments (cheese, pickles, sauerkraut, veggies) – Condiments are a crucial piece of any BBQ charcuterie board. Load yours up with all the classics such as cheese slices, sauerkraut, sliced veggies, and more.
- Olives – Add little bowls of olives to your BBQ Graze Board to fill in any gaps!
- Anti-Inflammatory Pink Pickles – Pink Pickles are great for snacking or topping grilled meats.
- Herbs – Basil and Cilantro
Vegan Options
Think you can’t have all-inclusive summer BBQ recipes? Think again! These healthy summer recipes are vegan and delicious to fit all your needs.
- Tempeh – Tempeh is a great nutrient-rich, plant-based source of protein that can be prepared in a wide variety of ways!
- Vegan Mushroom Meatballs – Gluten-free and delicious, these Vegan Mushroom Meatballs are quick, easy, and delicious!
- Greek Quinoa Tabouli Salad – Using quinoa instead of bulgur, this Greek Quinoa Tabouli Salad is the perfect healthy summer recipe
- BBQ Tempeh Vegan Quinoa Salad – This BBQ Tempeh Vegan Quinoa Salad makes for a great side dish or a satisfying meal.
- Freezable Vegan Veggie Burger – Grain-free and packed with flavor, this Vegan Veggie Burger can be prepped ahead of time in the oven or placed on the grill!
- Green Goddess Spiralized Potato Salad – Paleo, vegan, and creamy, this Spiralized Potato Salad is a tasty side dish that’s actually good for you, too.
More of Our Favorite
Gluten-Free Food Boards & Platters
Common Questions
The easiest way to eat from a BBQ cutting board is to just use your fingers! For easy eating, spear foods with toothpicks. Or, include small plates and silverware for your guests, and serve the summer recipes buffet-style.
To create a BBQ charcuterie board, feel free to get as fancy as you like. Or, keep it simple if you prefer. To start, you’ll need to gather either a board or table along with plates and platters to serve the summer BBQ recipes. Then, add silverware and fill in any gaps with decorations if you like. Find more on how to make a snack board.
If you’re creating a board, you don’t have to buy anything fancy! Feel free to use a chopping board, a slate board, a serving board, or a tray.
Or, if you want to create a BBQ grazing table, any table you have available will work! Whether it’s your kitchen table, a foldable table, or something else, as long as you have enough room to place your food, it’ll work.
To avoid severe allergic reactions, I recommend creating a special allergy-friendly section of your board or table using a different platter or a colored cutting board.
BBQ Graze Board & Easy Summer Recipes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5-7 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
While you can add just about anything to your Summer BBQ Graze Board, here are a few of our favorite nourishing summertime dishes to get you started!
Ingredients
Main Dish
- 3 to 4 cups gluten free pasta salad (vegan)
- 2 cups no mayo chicken salad
- 20 Meatballs (vegan)
- 8 ounces BBQ Tempeh
- 6 Sausage (paleo or vegan)
- 6 – 8 ounces BBQ salmon
Dips & Salsas
- 1 cup of multiple salsas (pineapple watermelon salsa, peach salsa)
- ½ cup homemade dips (vegan ranch, homemade sriracha)
- ⅔ cup hummus
Snacks
- Gluten free seed crackers or veggie chips
- ¼ cup each of other fixings of choice (cheese, pickles, sauerkraut, veggies, olives)
- 5–8 gluten-free rolls or coconut flour wraps
- ¼ to ½ cup olives, tomatoes, and/or mozzarella balls
- fresh herbs
- veggies for dipping. Ex: Snap peas, celery, cucumber, mini bell peppers, etc.
Instructions
- Gather a large platter or cutting board and multiple small dishes. Add the dips and spreads to the small bowls. See notes.
- Next, gather all of the ingredients and arrange the largest items first.
- Next, nestle in the dip bowls.
- Finally, fill in the remaining space with smaller foods and cover any holes or gaps with fruit, garnishes, or any extras.
Notes
You can also use the table as your board. Simply lay a runner or tablecloth down to act as your “board” and fill as instructed above. This is meant to be fun and whimsical.
- Prep Time: 30
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: N/A
- Cuisine: American
OMG! I love all these! Thank you so much!
Let me know if you try it out this summer 👍
I made the salsa and the pasta salad and they were both incredible! I am saving this post for sure.
Awesome! So glad that worked out Tatum!