3 BBQ Recipes Using Ingredients from Your Garden

Turn fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs into something seriously delicious

Sometimes parenting can be really fun; especially around this time of year. It’s the end of summer and the kids are back in school, yet it’s still warm out. One of our favorite things around this time is utilizing fresh produce right from our backyard gardens to test out new, healthy recipes.

Whether you’re hoping to find a way to use the end of summer’s harvest from your garden or have a few guests coming over throughout the week, we’ve got some great ideas for you:

1. Zucchini logs

If you’re like a lot of people (including us), zucchini was one of the top veggies on your gardening list this summer. And we’ve got some good news for you: they make a great side dish when grilling! Quarter your zucchini into ½ inch slices, rub them in a touch of olive oil, salt, and pepper, and you’re good to go! Toss those babies on the grill until warm, flipping every couple minutes, and you’ll have a nutritious, homegrown side in no time.

2. Mango salsa

If you’re lucky enough to live in South Florida or another warm climate, you might have a mango tree in your yard. And this time of year, it produces plenty of juicy, sweet fruit — sometimes so much that you don’t know what to do with them! Have no fear: mango salsa is the perfect complimentary appetizer to nearly any backyard barbecue. All you need is 1 mango (diced), fresh tomatoes (diced), cilantro, chili powder, fresh onion, garlic, and lime. Toss everything together in a bowl and serve with tortilla chips. Yum!

3. Grilled watermelon and feta salad

One of our favorite things is a giant, juicy watermelon. And that’s good news, because grilled watermelon has recently been in the spotlight. Grilling a watermelon caramelizes its sugars, locking in the fresh flavor of the fruit while enhancing its sweetness. It’s a really unique treat! Top it off with a feta salad to up the ante.

Simply grill your watermelon slices for a few minutes on each side. Remove them from the heat and allow them to cool. Toss slices with crumbled feta, tangy balsamic vinegar, a touch of olive oil, and fresh basil. It sounds like an odd combo at first, but trust us on this one—it’ll be a hit.

Gather the family to try a few new recipes for your last outdoor bash. And have fun while you’re at it!

Want to know how to really make the most of your last summer days? Playing outside with the family! Since summer is coming to a close, now is the last chance to soak up the sun and have a ton of fun. Before you know it, we’ll be locked away inside, avoiding the cold weather. Make it extra fun and healthy for the kids this year: hop onto a new trampoline to close out the season — you won’t regret it.