By Lisa Esile, MS Last Updated:
Summer celebration season is officially here, and what better way to kick off the festivities than outside in the sun, sharing delicious whole-food, plant-based dishes with loved ones. In this tasty collection you’ll find hunger-busting appetizers, primo plant-based burgers, sensational side dishes, and delectable desserts. Enjoy these yummy vegan recipes this Memorial Day and all through the summer season.
For a breadless burger night, skip the bun and serve smoky grilled veggie patties and grilled vegetables over a bed of romaine lettuce and red quinoa with a drizzle of ranch dressing to tie it all together. This recipe uses plant-based burger patties from Mama Sezz, but our Five-Ingredient Veggie Burger, or any other whole-food, plant-based burger, would work well. Pro tip: For an easy grill-night meal, batch-cook veggie patties ahead of time and stash them in the freezer.
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Orange sweet potatoes star in this luscious chocolate cake, adding natural sweetness and a moist texture. The batter is made with spelt flour (or a gluten-free flour mix) and gets extra chocolate flavor from cocoa and vegan chocolate chips. Serve as is, or top with frosting, fresh berries, edible flowers, or a dusting of powdered sugar—or all of the above. Shares a reviewer, “Made the cake as cupcakes. It doesn’t need frosting. Very good.”
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A cookout isn’t a cookout without a potato salad, and this one is popping with vibrant spring produce sure to brighten up your Memorial Day spread. Fresh dill is the perfect flavor partner for horseradish.
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These melt-in-your-mouth stuffed mushrooms are the perfect finger food for any crowd and don’t require much fuss to prepare. Each fresh mushroom acts like a tiny, tender, umami-rich pie shell. (Baby portobello or cremini mushrooms work well.) Load them with sweet, grilled red onion, licorice-scented fennel, and creamy mashed beans seasoned with cumin, paprika, and ground coriander. These will go fast!
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Get the party started with this big beautiful vegetable platter. With a mix of sweet and tender roasted veggies, fresh and crisp raw veggies, and herb-infused hummus to dip, guests will munch their way through this in no time. We suggest using baby carrots, asparagus, radish, and sugar snap peas, but feel free to get creative and make this your own.
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Looking for a party-worthy salad that looks amazing but is manageable to make? We’ve got you covered with this stand-out salad, which pairs crunchy jicama (or cucumber) with the tangy lilt of fresh strawberries. Sharp red onion and fresh cool mint add depth to the salad, and a drizzle of lime-infused Dijon mustard dressing, which features spicy red pepper flakes and sweet maple syrup, takes it over the top.
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It’s grill time! And what better way to add vibrant veggie goodness to your barbecue than with grilled herb-infused colorful baby carrots and asparagus. Top the veggies with a quick-and-easy gremolata featuring lemon zest, pine nuts, fresh parsley, and garlic. The flavors are incredible! Feel free to use other veggies and whatever fresh herbs you fancy.
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These itty-bitty key-lime bites are a perfect party treat to pass around. Caramel-like dates, juicy raisins, and creamy sunflower butter add a chewy richness to earthy toasted oats, while Key lime zest and juice add bright flavor. A fan writes, “The taste is amazing … and the mouthfeel is nice … light and airy with the flavors.”
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Keep rumbling tummies at bay with a crowd-pleasing appetizer that will be gobbled up in a flash. Hearty lentils and black beans are mixed with fresh pico de gallo salsa to create a nacho base that’s made even more heavenly with a dairy-free cheese sauce.
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This dairy-free spinach and artichoke dip has a delightfully creamy yet light taste and texture. Serve with crudités or baked chips.
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Transform summer’s best produce into a tantalizing snack with this easy air-fryer recipe. Nibble on these crispy air-fried tomatoes before the main course is served. A creamy dill ranch dipping sauce is the perfect complement.
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This crowd-pleasing pâté features the earthy flavors of lentil, walnut, and oregano. Serve with whole grain crackers, mini toasts, and/or crudités.
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Zucchini is great stuffed or grilled, but think outside the box for a Memorial Day recipe that will impress everyone at your BBQ. Transform the abundant summer squash into savory fritters packed with fresh flavors that can be enjoyed on their own or dipped in a vegan sour cream.
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You’ve got to try this fun, flavorful recipe. A smoky marinade infuses cooked whole carrots with tons of flavor.
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This simple Memorial Day recipe is tasty, quick, and reduces food waste! Broccoli stalks (which are often thrown in the trash) form the base of this crunchy slaw, which also features crisp carrots and a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Dig in!
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While it may seem like an unusual pairing at first glance, this recipe will soon turn into one of your favorite warm weather dishes. Sweet cantaloupe cradles hearty white beans that are soaked in a tangy shallot-mint vinaigrette. Enjoy as a side dish for your Memorial Day celebration.
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Transport yourself to burger heaven with these hearty patties, soy-glazed grilled pineapple, and tangy veggie pickle. Serve on a lettuce leaf; no bun required!
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Celebrate the warmer weather with an outdoor dinner party featuring these crave-worthy barbecue jackfruit sandwiches. The smoky sauce pairs perfectly with the crunchy broccoli slaw so that each bite is packed full of delicious flavors and textures.
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Let guests at your Memorial Day bash choose their own adventure with these versatile pesto pizzas. The homemade dough gets deliciously crisp on the grill and the topping options are endless: Simply add your favorite veggies, and enjoy!
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Savory, simple, and so good for you, this easy recipe might just be your new go-to veggie burger.
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The sweet, slightly smoky flavor of grilled veggies is a perennial summer delight. To infuse grilled veggies with herbal aromas, simply place water-drenched herbs directly on the hot coals when grilling.
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This no-cook recipe is ideal for using up the extra veggies in your fridge. Heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, apples, and chile peppers are blended into a creamy soup and brightened with mint, lemon juice, and Tabasco. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing appetizer.
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Jalapeño, garlic, and lime juice lend a fresh and spicy flavor, and tomatoes add a sweet pop of red in this easy dip. Serve with toasted pita bread or corn tortillas.
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In this vegan take on egg salad, tofu and potato are seasoned with nutritional yeast, mustard powder, and paprika to give it a delicious eggy flavor.
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Sink your teeth into a scrumptious portobello burger stacked with juicy tomato, fresh spinach, and a creamy tarragon sauce that will leave you licking your fingers. It’s the perfect recipe to serve alongside baked french fries or potato salad at a Memorial Day potluck!
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Classic barbecue flavors get a plant-based twist in this delightful recipe, which combines meaty jackfruit, earthy sweet potatoes, and tangy pickled onions. Saucy lentils add heft, while a topping of refreshing cucumber slices brings a cooling element to this dish—perfect for warm summer nights.
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In this stunning strawberry-centric salad, fresh strawberries and grilled pineapple supply sweetness, while edamame and almonds add plenty of crunch.
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Portobello mushrooms make a great vegan burger; they’re easy to prepare and they take on the flavor of whatever marinade you choose. And while you’ve got the grill fired up, throw on some bell peppers, onions, zucchini, corn, and any other veggies you fancy.
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Basil-kale pesto is mixed into these hearty patties for a boost of bright flavor while the creamy cashew-garlic aioli is so good you’ll want to put it on everything! Pro tip: To make the burgers gluten free, be sure to use gluten free oats in the patties and serve them on gluten-free whole grain buns—or wrap them in large lettuce leaves instead.
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All you need are sweet potatoes and a few spices to make this popular, classic recipe from Chef Del Sroufe.
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Balance out a heavy main course with this refreshing but filling pineapple salad. Tender butter lettuce creates a delectable base for chewy barley, juicy blood oranges, and crunchy bell pepper. A creamy cashew dressing tops it all off for the perfect summertime salad.
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New season potatoes get the royal treatment in this vegan potato salad; avocado adds creaminess, celery lends a satisfying crunch, and fresh dill rounds out the flavors.
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Bursting with juicy strawberries, tender wheat berries, fresh herbs, and frisée salad greens, this delicious salad is easy to make and a great special occasion dish.
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Cool down the party with these absolutely delicious vegan fruit popsicles. With no added sugar and just two ingredients—watermelon and kiwi—they’re simple to make and affordable, too. You could also make straight watermelon or kiwi pops, or use other fruits such as grapes, pineapple, plums, berries, and bananas. Making fruit popsicles is a delicious way to use up ripe in-season fruit.
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These dense, fudgy vegan brownies look great on the plate and have loads of melt-in-your-mouth raspberry yumminess. There is simply no way anyone will guess these are dairy-free and oil-free, so don’t go telling them!
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All the best flavors of summer are captured in this delightful dessert. Grilling peaches takes their juicy sweetness to new heights, while a refreshing basil-banana nice cream balances out the warm fruit. Drizzled with maple syrup and sprinkled with crunchy pecans, what’s not to love about this tasty treat?
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In this stunning no-bake dessert, a date-sweetened oat base is the perfect pairing for the creamy cashew-mango filling. Top with your choice of fresh berries, chopped cashews, fresh mango slices, and/or fresh mint.
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These pretty pink cupcakes will make a great final course in your Memorial Day feast. Luscious strawberry icing tops a fluffy vanilla cake that gets a light nutty boost from almond butter. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices for a dessert that really hits the spot.
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You’d never guess that avocado forms the base of this decadent chocolate treat! Perfectly creamy, naturally sweetened, and topped with fresh fruit, this yummy pudding deserves to be a Memorial Day recipe that you serve for years to come.
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Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. She is the author of Reach Your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Find her on Facebook.
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Comments (3)
All of these recipes sound super delicious! Great inspiration too. I can’t wait to try out many of these this summer and surprise my family and friends with these yummy dishes.
excellent choices and they all look very good to try.
Fantabulous!!!