BBQ recipes: crowd-pleasing side dishes for your next barbecue

BBQ season is a timeless Australian tradition and, for better or worse, it has become an iconic part of our identity on the international stage. It happens every year: as soon as the sun starts to peek through those winter clouds, we’re running outside to scrub down the grills and place orders for stacks of beef sausages served up with caramelised onions and a slice of white bread.

Perhaps more traditional still is the BBQ sides competition. It’s never something you sign up for but it’s absolutely a competition you end up taking part in. Impress your fellow BBQ goers and top the competition with these quick and healthy BBQ recipes.

While you’re at it, don’t forget the essentials. No BBQ is complete without our range of no added sugar, gluten-free and all-natural condiments. There is the essential Tomato Sauce and BBQ Sauce, but we’ve also got you covered with a Sweet Chilli Sauce and a Vegan Mayo.  All with no added cane sugar

Tomato & Basil Pasta Salad

Put an authentic Italian spin on this BBQ staple with our Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce. Add the Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce and some diced tomatoes to a pot, bring to the boil and then simmer for 3 minutes. Cook your penne and stir through the pasta sauce, then simply add a generous serve of pitted kalamata olives, a delicious chunk of buffalo mozzarella, a drizzle of olive oil and a handful of fresh basil leaves. Simple, delicious and a surefire crowd-pleaser.

BBQ Chicken Wings Image credit: mel_goesfitspo, Instagram

Quinoa Pilaf

This super healthy side will help you justify the unhealthy mountain of burgers on your plate. Our Quinoa Pilaf recipe provides you with half of your RDI for fibre and just under half of your daily protein needs. Add to that the zing of fresh green chillies, the hearty nutrition of our Vegan Stock and the crunch of corn kernels and pepitas, and you’ll be taking home gold in the BBQ side competition.

BBQ Chicken Wings

Take your side game to the next level with this incredible recipe from Melanie, @mel_goesfitspo. Mince some garlic and stir it through our BBQ Sauce, then marinate your chicken wings for a couple of hours before frying it up over the grill. Go ahead and sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds over the top for extra fancy points.

Potato salad with Vegan Mayo

You’d never think of potato salad as game-changing but making it vegan definitely is. Switch out that whole egg mayonnaise with our Vegan Mayo — not only is it lower in fat and sugar, it’s completely gluten-free, making it a side that everyone at the party can enjoy together. It’s about as inclusive as sides go.

Bonus points: Grilled Smoky Keto Beef Burgers

Now that you’ve conquered the BBQ sides competition, why not try your hand at making our Grilled Smoky Beef Burgers? Served in a mushroom bun with smashed avocado, rocket, red onions and our no added sugar BBQ Sauce, this is a keto burger that’s packed with more flavour and nutrition than your standard BBQ burger.