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49 Vegetarian BBQ Recipes Perfect For Summer

Meatless Monday can last all summer long.

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grilled teriyaki cauliflower steaks on a platter with more teriyaki sauce and scallions
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Imagine for just a moment that... grilling isn't just about burgers and ribs, and, on top of that, BBQS aren't just for omnivores? We know you can believe it! Even if you're skeptical, we've got the vegetarian BBQ recipes to prove it. Whether you’re vegetarian for life or just looking to eat less meat, you don’t have to miss out this season. Please your plant-based partygoers with these creative, flavorful, and filling vegetarian BBQ recipes—we bet you’ll come back to them again and again this summer.

It’s FINALLY summer, so you’re going to want to put all that warm weather produce to the best use possible. That could mean grilling veggies directly on the grill, like our grilled carrots or grilled green beans; whipping up super-fresh sides, like our black bean & corn salad, our Greek chickpea salad, or our summer couscous salad; or assembling mini meals on skewers, like our Buffalo cauliflower kebabs or our tomato gnocchi kebabs. Trust us, fresh veggies are a MUST—they’re what turn a good outdoor BBQ into a great one.

Maybe grilling isn’t just about hamburgers, but there is something pretty wonderful about biting into a flavorful patty tucked between a soft and squishy bun. Lucky for you, we’ve got tons of options for meatless burgers, like our copycat Shake Shake shroom burger, our shroomami burger, or our meat lover’s veggie burger (making two thinner patties instead of one big one is the BEST hack to keep them from falling apart). Once you get the hang of making meatless patties, check out our fave burger toppings for ideas too (we think the lemon yogurt sauce from our lamb burger or the white cheddar and caramelized onions from our bison burger would go great with any of our meatless patties).

Looking for more meat-free ideas? Try our amazing grilled vegetables, our best veggie burger recipes, and our fave grilled fruit recipes too.

1

Grilled Portobello Tacos

grilled portobello tacos topped with cabbage slaw, avocado, and queso fresco
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Mushroom lovers alert: Summer taco nights just got upgraded. Featuring portobello mushrooms marinated in taco spices and grilled to perfection, these vegetarian tacos will delight meat-lovers and vegans alike.

Get the Grilled Portobello Tacos recipe.

2

Grilled Peach Salad

lettuce topped with grilled peach slices, tomatoes, toasted hazelnuts and creamy buttermilk dressing
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

With so much juiciness and just a hint of acidity, peaches—like their summery friend the tomato—are amazing in all sorts of salads. Next up on our peach salad agenda? This summery spin on the iconic wedge salad.

Get the Grilled Peach Salad recipe.

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3

Gnocchi Foil Packets

corn and tomato gnocchi foil packs
Andrew bui

These foil packs trap in steam from the wine and juices from the tomato and corn as everything grills, which in turn cooks the gnocchi to perfectly tender while infusing the pasta with all the flavors of the dish. Bonus: Some of the meal browns a bit on the bottom right before it finishes cooking, adding extra flavor.

Get the Gnocchi Foil Packets recipe.

4

Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts

skewered and grilled zucchini planks topped with herby whipped ricotta and crunchy toasted walnuts
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Instead of leaving the zucchini in their traditional slices, we threaded them onto skewers to lessen the amount of direct contact the zucchini had with the grill and create contrasting textures. The ribboning also creates plenty of nooks and crannies for the creamy ricotta and walnuts to settle.

Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.

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5

Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes

grilled tomato feta pizzettes with scallions and mozzaraella
PHOTO: JOEY DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKZINE GORE

These little pizzettes are excellent for a lazy summer backyard hangout. The combination of crunchy grilled pizza dough, garlic, and olive oil with charred sweet tomatoes and briny salty feta is a simple pleasure, while the scallions get a nice char right before they're covered with gooey cheese. In short, it’s time to start up the grill.

Get the Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes recipe.

6

Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks

grilled teriyaki cauliflower steaks on a white plate topped with sesame seeds and scallions
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Looking for a vegetarian centerpiece for your summer grill-out? Make these teriyaki cauliflower steaks. Slathered in a brown sugar and soy glaze and showered with scallions and toasted sesame seeds, these saucy cauliflower steaks might just upstage the ribs.

Get the Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks recipe.

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7

Shroomami Burger

shroomami burgers with scallions and lime slaw
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

We here at Delish love a regular burger, but something about a flavor-packed veggie burger can be SO satisfying in its own way. This mushroom-based version is a symphony of salty, complex flavors. Paired with a bright citrus slaw and spicy vegan mayo, it might be our favorite plant-based burger ever.

Get the Shroomami Burger recipe.

8

Grilled Tofu

tofu a la parrilla
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Miso and soy sauce are both high in umami, meaning they infuse the tofu here with savory depth. Once you've marinated the tofu, it takes less than 15 minutes to grill the planks, during which you can make the garlicky ginger-scallion sauce.

Get the Grilled Tofu recipe.

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9

Campfire Potatoes

cheesy potatoes in a foil pack
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Cooking over the campfire is our favorite thing to do, and throwing everything into a foil pack makes it so easy! These cook up fast and make the perfect summer side dish.

Get the Campfire Potatoes recipe.

10

Vegan Chili Dogs

vegan chili dogs
Suzanne Clements

Sure, it's hard to replicate the snap of a true hot dog with plant-based ingredients, but this complex chili is world-changing. You're going to want to put it on way more than just veggie dogs. We see chili mac, tamale pie, and plenty of chili fries in your future.

Get the Vegan Chili Dogs recipe.

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11

Grilled Cabbage "Steaks"

grilled cabbage steaks topped with bacon, sour cream and chives
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Grilled cabbage is an excellent "blank canvas" to carry out any other flavors that you may have your heart set on, so feel free to customize as you see fit to find your true cabbage soulmate. Spoon it with honey mustard dressing, dollop it with garlicky romesco, or drizzle some prik nam pla for a spicy kick.

Get the Grilled Cabbage "Steaks" recipe.

12

BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches

delish bbq tempeh sandwiches
Andrew bui

The grill adds subtle, almost bacon-like smoky flavor to these tempeh steaks, but there's no meat in sight. Add a whiskey-infused homemade BBQ sauce, a cooling, creamy coleslaw, and a toasted buttered bun for the perfect summer sandwich.

Get the BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches recipe.

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13

Grilled Halloumi

grilled halloumi
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re looking for something a little different to serve at your backyard barbecue, look no further than grilled halloumi. It's a fresh cheese similar to a cheese curd, which gives it that rubbery texture that contributes to halloumi's high-melting point, which allows it to be griddled or grilled, creating an irresistibly crispy, golden exterior and a salty, chewy inside.

Get the Grilled Halloumi recipe.

14

Eggplant Steak Frites With Chimichurri

eggplant steak frites pin
Delish

How do you successfully accomplish steak night without the steak? Sub in creamy eggplant for a grilled mash-up of the classic French combo. An Argentine herb sauce, chimichurri, transforms it to a fancy dinner, but feel free to sub in your fave sauce too.

Get the Eggplant Steak Frites With Chimichurri recipe.

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15

Greek Orzo Salad

greek orzo salad with olives, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, and fresh dill
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS

Move aside plain ol' pasta saladorzo is here to shake things up. While we love it in comforting, warming dishes (we're looking at you, creamy Tuscan orz0), it also makes for a great salad base. This easy, fresh recipe is filled with bright Mediterranean flavors and mix-ins, but feel free to swap in and out your faves.

Get the Greek Orzo Salad recipe.

16

Slutty Vegan's One Night Stand Burger

slutty vegan's one night stand burger
ANDREW BUI

If you think that vegan burgers can't rival meat-based ones, think again. Atlanta-based chain Slutty Vegan's One Night Stand Burger puts the argument to rest with this loaded burger. It's topped with all the fixings, including caramelized red onion, vegan bacon, melty vegan cheese, and a smoky chipotle-lime mayonnaise. Woah!

Get the Slutty Vegan's One Night Stand Burger recipe.

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17

BBQ Tofu

bbq tofu on a plate with roasted broccoli
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Who needs meat? Tofu isn't just for vegetarians and vegans. Be sure to serve the tofu with more of the spicy BBQ sauce on the side, and it will compete with all your classics like brisket, short ribs, and chicken.

Get the BBQ Tofu recipe.

18

Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs

tomato gnocchi kebabs with red onion and salsa verde
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Sure gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had nicely browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill? The gnocchi paired with blistered grilled tomatoes and tender red onion make for a perfect summer dinner or side dish.

Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.

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19

Coleslaw

classic coleslaw tossed in a creamy, mayo based dressing
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

When it comes to summer BBQs, potlucks, and picnics, coleslaw is a classic, staple side dish to rely on. Everyone needs a go-to recipe, and we happen to think that ours is the one you should reach for.

Get the Coleslaw recipe.

20

Grilled Carrots

grilled carrots with chimichurri and ricotta
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Carrot's natural sweetness comes out during cooking, a complementary foil to the smoky char achieved on the grill. We love serving this veggie side atop creamy ricotta, with a punchy carrot top-based chimichurri sauce for some brightness.

Get the Grilled Carrots recipe.

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