25 Unique Foods To Add To The BBQ (Incl. Vegetarian And Vegan Options)

17 May 2019

Every year, once the first patches of sunshine break through the clouds, hundreds of us begin racking our brains for the best BBQ food ideas. Cheap BBQs fly off the shelves, and we all gather in our gardens to enjoy one of our favourite summertime traditions. Well, the good news is that the al fresco dining season is nearly upon us.

The even better news is that you don’t have to stick to simple burgers and sausages this summer. While these staples are always welcome and quickly polished off, a little variety never goes amiss.

Here, B&M have put together a selection of 25 unique, easy and cheap BBQ food ideas to assist you – whether you’re on a health kick for the holidays, catering to meat-free friends or just fancying a bit of a change!

Starters, Sides and Snacks

These mouthwatering morsels are perfect for those with smaller appetites, but can also be served as appetisers or accompaniments to central dishes.

1. Seafood selection - squid and shrimp are delicious grilled, but don’t stray away from more unconventional options such as octopus and scallops. Homemade aioli, created by combining lemon juice, mayonnaise and garlic paste works beautifully as a dip here!

2. Peppers & aubergine - the perfect summery accompaniment, these veggies char beautifully, creating a rustic smoky taste. They also become super juicy when grilled. Pile them up on the side of your plate or add them to a spiced chicken skewer for a Mediterranean experience.

3. Courgette boats - an ever-popular veggie starter. Slice the courgette along its length, scoop out the seeds and place it on the grill flesh-side down until slightly soft, then turn over and let the other side cook for a few minutes.

Next, spoon the filling into the channel you scraped the seeds out of. We love using couscous mixed with herby, spicy chopped tomatoes and roasted peppers. Wrap your boats in foil and, using heat resistant gloves, place them in the hot ashes of your grill for 15-20 minutes.

Remember: You should only attempt to use ashes to cook in barbecues that have removable grills. Using a disposable BBQ for this purpose is dangerous, as the grill section can be difficult to remove.

4. Baked prawns - another great option to bake in your BBQ ashes, with garlic, chilli and ginger. Marinade the dish in your fridge overnight, then wrap each portion in foil and place them in your BBQ’s ashes for at least 10 minutes.

5. Asparagus - an extremely easy, healthy side. Cut off the bottom tip of each spear, then brush them with melted butter and place individually on the grill. Flip them over after five minutes, wait for another five, then serve.

Fry oil, butter

6. Yams - grilled yams are very popular in America, and for good reason. Earthy and rustic-tasting, they’re delicious with a dusting of salt and pepper but also work wonderfully with a wide variety of other savoury seasonings. Coat with a spray of oil then place on the grill for twenty minutes, flipping halfway through.

7. Plantain - visually similar to bananas, but usually longer and with green skin, plantains are a mouthwatering combination of sweet and savoury flavours. They work best with spiced dishes. Cut them in half along their length and grill them for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

8. Crumpets - grills work in much the same way as toasters do, so if you fancy a delicious buttered crumpet, simply place one on the grill and wait until it reaches your desired level of toastiness, remembering to turn it over halfway through.

9. Bacon - choose from smoked and unsmoked options for your favourite flavour. Dice up into tiny chunks to sprinkle over dishes, add it to your burger for a crispy crunch or wrap it around sausages or other foods for some extra interest!

The Main Event

10. Watermelon steak - yes, you can create a savoury steak from simple watermelon! Just cut the fruit into rectangles, pat them dry and pop them on the grill. They’ll end up with a savoury taste and a texture a little like the raw tuna you might find in sushi.

11. Spam burgers - if you like it hearty and old-school, take a couple of slices of spam and grill them for around five minutes per side on the barbecue, then pop them in a sandwich.

12. Kofte kebabs - rich and perfectly spiced, these pre-prepared kebabs from B&M are ready to eat either hot or cold, so pop them straight onto the grill and heat them through, then place them on a skewer or in a bun with lashings of garlic or chilli sauce.

13. Cauliflower steaks - a healthy and meat-free alternative to beef, cauliflower steaks can be prepared with a hearty char and seasoned exactly how you like them.Simply slice a head of cauliflower from the top down along the stem, producing several “steaks”, then lay each flat on the grill for five minutes per side.

14. Baked potatoes - a wholesome favourite! Smother them in butter, wrap them in two layers of foil, then pop them in the ashes of your BBQ and cook for up to an hour. You can grill other foods while you wait for them to bake! Serve with your favourite filling.

15. Halloumi - this dense and delicious cheese is a great alternative to meat as it grills beautifully. Slice it up and lay it on the BBQ until it becomes as crispy as you like it.

16. Tuna steak - like beef, you can serve it rare or medium, but remember, well-done tuna can be tough. Aim to grill it for less than three minutes per side. It’s gorgeous with grilled veggies such as tomatoes and aubergines.

17. Pork Riblets - this super easy option from B&M is one of our top cheap BBQ food ideas. They’re already prepared to perfection and dripping with rich barbecue sauce, so just lay them on the grill until they’re hot through - remembering to turn them.

BBQ summer

18. Tofu grills - light and delicious, tofu is suitable for vegans and delicious with East Asian flavourings such as sweet chilli sauce. Slice it up and marinate it overnight, then place it on the grill for at least two minutes per side. It works wonderfully on skewers.

19. Grilled cheese sandwiches - if you like your grilled cheese with a smoky char, this method is perfect! Butter both sides of two thick slices of bread, place a couple of slices of cheddar on one, sprinkle it with grated mozzarella for satisfying stringiness, then place on the grill for at least two minutes per side. Place a gentle heatproof weight on top of the sandwich as it grills to ensure it holds together.

20. Rump Steak - most people think of a BBQ as a meat lover’s dream, so why not go all out with a delicious juicy steak? Cook for five minutes, then turn and cook for a further three to five minutes for rare, five to seven minutes for medium and up to ten minutes for well done.

Desserts

21. Pineapple - grill pineapple rings for something sweet and smoky. Serve them with ice cream or sorbet, or pop them on top of a beef burger for a delicious bit of contrast.

22. Peaches - Peaches caramelise beautifully on the grill, so their sweetness is enhanced. Eat them on their own or as a topping for other gorgeous desserts, such as cheesecake.

23. Bananas - grill bananas in their skins, then add whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce.

24. Strawberry and marshmallow kebabs - marshmallows are at their best when cooked over a flame, so slide them onto a skewer, divided by juicy strawberries, and watch them gain that delicious brown coat.

25. Apple slices - another delicious dessert topping that works wonderfully with cream, custard or caramel, watch slices of apple become soft, juicy and brown before spooning them into a bowl and tucking in.

As you can see, cheap BBQs don’t have to lack flavour or originality! Experiment with the ideas above and serve up a brilliant spread.

B&M Top Tip: For more delicious and super cheap BBQ food ideas, just visit B&M’s summer and BBQ food section here! You can also grab high quality garden grills and cheap disposable BBQs from our stores.

If you’re on top of your game when it comes to cheap BBQs with delicious dishes, why not share your ideas and pictures with the B&M Community via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram?

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