I’ve rounded up some of my favorite healthy summer recipes for your backyard barbeques and picnics. They are all easy to put together, use whole food ingredients, and are super delish.

All of these healthy summer recipes have been extremely popular with my family and here on the blog. They are perfect for summer because they are super simple, require very little cooking, and are crowd pleasers.

Healthy Summer Appetizer Recipes

If you’re looking for an easy, unique appetizer for your summer celebrations, I gotcha covered! This Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Endive Appetizer combines two of my faves… Pico de Gallo and Shrimp Cocktail. I changed things up by using crisp, slightly bitter, endive boats as the vessel to get this deliciousness to your mouth. Get ready for an explosion of flavors! 

Grilled Peach Crostini with Balsamic Glaze is the ultimate quick and easy summer appetizer. Grilled sourdough bread is layered with creamy ricotta cheese, sweet honey, juicy grilled peaches, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and fresh basil. A delicious treat for your next barbeque or date night on the patio. 

I love combining avocados and mangos in my summer recipes. One of my current avocado/mango obsessions is this recipe for Avocado Mango Salsa. It’s versatile, loaded with nutrients, and so refreshing!

This sweet and spicy Roasted Peach Salsa is perfect for all of your summer festivities. Sweet peaches and onions are roasted with ripe tomatoes and spicy jalapenos and then blended together to create a quick and easy salsa that tastes truly amazing! Enjoy with tortilla chips for an appetizer or pile high on your favorite grilled meat.

Healthy Summer Salad Recipes

Mixed Berry and Goat Cheese Salad is beautiful, nutritious, and so yummy. Mixed greens are tossed with seasonal berries, red onion, creamy goat cheese, and toasted almonds and then drizzled with a homemade sweet and tangy raspberry chipotle vinaigrette. The colors make it perfect for your patriotic celebrations this summer.

Whenever I bring this Whole Wheat Orzo Salad to a barbeque, it is always a huge hit! It’s colorful, fresh, and has an irresistible flavor combination that screams summer! Makes a great side dish with anything you may be grilling, but hearty enough to serve as a main dish.

This recipe for Shrimp Mango Avocado Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing is loaded with fresh healthy ingredients. The creamy avocado, sweet mango, and sizzling shrimp are tossed with a zesty cilantro lime dressing. So delish, refreshing, and easy to make which is perfect for a hot summer day!

Going on a picnic? This Chicken Salad is a must!  It’s the ultimate combination of creamy, crunchy, and sweet. So easy to throw together, customizable, and healthier than traditional chicken salad. 

Healthy Summer Dessert Recipes

My No-Bake Fruit and Yogurt Tart is made with creamy Greek yogurt, a variety of fruit, and a cashew crust. A healthy alternative to fruit pizza, which is usually made with highly processed store-bought cookie dough. You can leave out the kiwi and just use raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries for your patriotic festivities. 

Peach Blueberry Crisp is made with fresh sweet peaches, juicy blueberries, and a delicious crumbly topping. It contains no refined sugar or flour which makes it a little healthier than other crisp recipes. An irresistible must-make summer dessert your friends and family will love! 

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, delicious, and so easy to make. Not only are they gluten-free, but they are also refined sugar-free. Sure to become a new family favorite!

This Easy Apple Crisp is one of my go-to desserts. What’s not to love? It comes together quickly, smells and tastes amazing, and is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s also budget-friendly and can be made ahead of time. 

I hope these recipes give you some inspiration to cook, bake, and grill for your family and friends this summer! There’s nothing better than gathering with the ones you love around a table of delicious food.

If you make any of these recipes, please let me know. You can leave a comment and/or a rating below, and be sure to tag me on Instagram. I love hearing from you and seeing your creations!