By Lisa Esile, MS,
Last Updated:With the warmer weather comes grilling season. The simple pleasure of dining outdoors, enjoying smoky grill flavors, is a highlight of summer. It's also a great way to add variety to mealtimes, even when you're cooking for one. The range of star-studded plant-based dishes that can be made on the grill is endless, from vegan burgers and "steaks" to veggie-centric sides, succulent grilled fruits, and amazing salads. Get out the barbecue and let these summer grill recipes fire up your inspiration. You won't believe how delicious and healthy these other vegan recipes are!
Vegan Mixed Grill Platter
If you’re hankering for a burger without a bun, try serving the veggie patty on a platter alongside grilled veggies and quinoa. A drizzle of vegan ranch is all you need to tie it all together. Note: This recipe uses Mama Sezz’s Burger Pattie and Ranch Dressing, but feel free to get creative and use whatever burger-and-dressing combination takes your fancy: Our Five Ingredient Veggie Burger would also work well.
Grilled Squash and Mushrooms with Fresh Herbs
Add a wet sprig of sage or rosemary to hot coals as you grill squash and mushrooms, and watch the herb-flavored smoke make the yummiest side dish ever. Serve with a squeeze of grilled lemon.
Peachy-Orange Arugula Salad
In this sensational summer side dish, mouthfuls of juicy peach and orange combine with the peppery bite of arugula, fresh rosemary, tangy lime juice, and a touch of maple syrup to create a drip-down-your-chin-delicious salad that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Individual Grilled Pesto Pizzas
These dreamy barbecue pizzas feature homemade flatbread dough cooked on the grill. The combination of fresh-baked bread with a creamy bean ricotta and the aromatic notes of basil pesto is heavenly. Throw on some veggies and you’ve got all the makings of a new favorite dish. Added bonus: The dough only needs 10 minutes to rise, so these come together surprisingly quickly.
Greek-Style Grilled Eggplant-Steak Supper
A thick slab of eggplant makes a great veggie steak: The hot grill creates a smoky, crisp outside while the inside cooks into a velvety, soft bite. For extra flavor, douse the cooked steaks with a garlicky mustard-herb vinaigrette and let them stand for 30 minutes. Serve with couscous (or quinoa) and a dollop of white bean hummus. Yum!
Grilled Mushroom Burgers with Tarragon Crema
Ready in just 30 minutes, these grilled portobello mushroom burgers, smothered in a divine cashew-based tarragon cream sauce, take veggie burgers to the next level. One reader writes, “This recipe is amazing. You will not be disappointed.”
Carrot Dogs
No need to mess around with highly processed vegan hot dogs when you discover the culinary magic that happens when you marinate carrots and grill them—the perfect addition to your Fourth of July menu!
Grilled Peaches with Basil-Peach Nice Cream
This top-shelf dessert combines smoky, caramelized grilled peaches with a cool, creamy, basil-infused peach nice cream. While this dish looks and tastes fancy, the success lies in the succulent flavor of in-season produce; a couple of simple cooking techniques, such as grilling the peaches and blending frozen fruit, are all you need!
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle-Lime Rub
Once you get used to eating grilled corn sans butter, you can really taste those sweet, tender niblets. Dial up the flavor even more with this spicy-tart rub: It's divine.
Sun-Dried Tomato and Chickpea Sliders
Sick of the same old burgers? Ditch the bun and serve these tasty chickpea-vegetable sliders between planks of grilled zucchini. Make sure to splash the zucchini with balsamic vinegar before grilling, for extra flavor.
Veggie Fajita Kabobs
A quick brush of a spicy lime marinade is all you need to turn these summer veggie skewers into a smoky, mouthwatering treat. Got some scallions? Throw them on the grill, too! For a hearty family-friendly meal, serve over a bed of brown rice and black beans with a drizzle of cashew-based queso, a few snips of cilantro, and a wedge of lime. For more skewering inspiration, be sure to check out our guide on How to Make Great Veggie Kabobs.
Peach-Corn Salsa with Chili-Lime Chips
Next time you fire up the grill add this fruity veggie salsa to the menu. The smoky flavor of veggies such as corn, onion, and poblano pepper and juicy sweet peaches perfectly pair with the earthy notes of black eyed peas and the tang of raw tomato. Serve with chili- and lime-infused baked corn chips for an appetizer worth raving about.
How to Make Veggie Steaks (Great for Vegans)
A tender, smoky grilled veggie steak is a great addition to any meal. Eggplant, cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potato, and baby beets are just a few of the veggies you can have fun with.
Grilled Street Corn Pizza
This made-from-scratch pizza has a double dose of smoky grill flavor as both the base and the topping are cooked on the grill. The fingerlicking-good topping features grilled corn and bell pepper coated in a smoky tofu-lime sauce. The white whole wheat crust cooked on the grill is as close to perfection as fresh-baked bread can get.
Summer Squash Veggie Skewers Over Edamame Quinoa
In this festive summer feast, colorful veggie skewers—laden with zucchini, bell pepper, mushrooms, and onions—are coated in a scrumptious soy-miso glaze. The tender, flavorful veggies taste great over a bed of edamame and red quinoa, especially as the extra marinade drips down, covering everything.
Grilled Watermelon and Honeydew Salad
In this mouthwatering salad, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are soaked in vinegar, grilled, and then chilled. Chopped pistachios add crunch and fresh basil gives the salad an aromatic lift.
Grilled Marinated Portobello Mushrooms
Using portobello mushrooms as veggie patties is a great no-fuss solution to vegan burgers. The meaty, tender flesh soaks up the tasty ginger-garlic marinade to delicious effect.
Grilled Peach and Blueberry Pasta Salad
Grilled peach halves, fresh blueberries, whole grain pasta, and peppery arugula come together in this stunning cold pasta salad topped with a lemon-mustard dressing.
Mexican Veggie Burger
Add your own twist to this basic bean- and rice-based burger with additions like corn, olives, cilantro, chili, and spices. Serve on a whole grain bun or lettuce wrap, with ketchup and onion.
Grilled Romaine Salad
With a few simple ingredients, this grilled salad with tangy cashew-cheese dressing is always a hit. If you've never grilled lettuce, it only takes 2 to 3 minutes, and you'll wonder why you never did it before.
Basic Veggie Burger Recipe
Homemade plant-based burgers are packed full of goodness and a real treat for the whole family. This is a great basic recipe you can adapt to suit your tastes and what you have on hand.
Grilled Veggie Salad
In this nourishing summer salad, corn, red pepper, zucchini, squash, and onions are grilled over high heat and served with fresh dill and Dijon Dressing.
Spinach, Pineapple, and Strawberry Salad
The succulent smokiness of seared pineapple adds an enchanting depth of flavor to this magnificent salad. Hint: Bookmark the strawberry dressing for when you need to jazz up another salad.
About the Author
About the Author
Lisa Esile, MS
As an author, Do Nothing meditation instructor, and wellness coach, Lisa Esile combines her love for food and nutrition with her mental health background and delights in helping people find a stress-free way to make lasting lifestyle changes. Esile has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is the co-author/illustrator of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. Learn more at lisaesile.com.
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