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39 Ways To Grill Vegetables That'll Show Meat Who's Boss

Think veggies are just a boring side dish? Think again.

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grilled potatoes on a white platter with a bowl of green herb sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

When the temperature warms up, you can catch us dining alfresco as often as possible. While you can expect that we'll grill the usual burgers, hot dogs, and skewers, you need some good side dishes to go with it. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our favorite grilled vegetables recipes to serve all summer long. We're sharing innovative riffs on classic vegetable sides, as well as plenty of tips and tricks for making perfectly charred product every time. Our most crucial tip? Make extra because each dish will disappear in a flash.

If you’ve never grilled veggies before (or just aren't that confident about it yet!), start simple with some basics, like grilled corn on the cob, grilled broccoli, grilled carrots, or grilled potatoes. Once you master the simple techniques, it's time to get creative. Turn these into a salad or side—like we did with corn in our grilled corn salad, our grilled corn salsa, or our grilled creamed corn. You could also thread them onto skewers, which can serve as a side dish or a vegetarian-friendly main course.

Of course, you can't forget about condiments! Turn average toppings into spectacular ones by first charring them on the grill. Top burgers and more with grilled avocados, our grilled guacamole, grilled tomatoes, and this epic grilled onion blossom for a crunchy texture and savory flavor.

Want even more grill ideas? Check out our favorite grilled fruit recipes and our favorite weeknight dinners on the grill too. Light up the coals and start cooking!

1

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

This is no ordinary zucchini recipe. Instead of cutting the zucchini into slices, we threaded them onto skewers. The ribboning creates plenty of nooks and crannies for the creamy ricotta and walnuts to settle.

Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.

2

Grilled Corn On The Cob

cuisine, corn on the cob, food, sweet corn, corn on the cob, dish, vegetarian food, ingredient, vegetable, produce,
Parker Feierbach

Boiled corn on the cob is one of our go-to summer sides all season long, but we can't deny it: Something extra special happens when you throw corn on the grill. The sweetness and crunch that comes from the sweet summer corn is unbeatable.

Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.

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3

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 be the star of the show.

Get the Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks recipe.

4

Grilled Potatoes

grilled potatoes on a platter with a ramekin of herby green sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Burgers and fries might be a culinary power couple—until now. Lightly charred on the grill and drizzled with a bright green herb sauce, these grilled potatoes will make you wish every night was a cook-out.

Get the Grilled Potatoes recipe.

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5

Grilled Cabbage "Steaks"

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

These versatile grilled cabbage steaks—covered in bacon, ranch dressing, blue cheese, and scallions—are the ultimate summer BBQ main.

Get the Grilled Cabbage "Steaks" recipe.

6

Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

thai inspired grilled cauliflower steaks
ANDREW BUI

Cauliflower steaks demand a place on your grill! We created the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in this Thai-inspired sauce to blanket the vegetable.

Get the Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks recipe.

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7

Grilled Bell Peppers

grilled peppers
erik bernstein

Grilling bell peppers is a quick and easy way to pack in a ton of flavor. This recipe is so easy that it’ll make you think twice before buying your next jar of roasted peppers. They also happen to be super easy to make.

Get the Grilled Bell Peppers recipe.

8

Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge

grilled romaine lettuce wedge topped with caesar dressing and croutons on a white platter
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

We upgraded all of the classic components of Caesar salad in this summer recipe by grilling a romaine wedge for a smoky, irresistible flavor.

Get the Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge recipe.

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9

Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs

tomato gnocchi kebabs
Andrew bui

Yes, gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill? We're here to tell you that the crispy-chewy texture is something that you have to try.

Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.

10

Buffalo Cauliflower Kebabs

buffalo cauliflower kebabs with peppers and celery
PHOTO: ANDREA MONZO; FOOD STYLIST: SPENCER RICHARDS

These cauliflower kebabs introduce all your favorite flavor from classic Buffalo wings in the form of vegetarian-friendly. kebabs. To make them, glaze the kebabs with buffalo sauce, grill until the cauliflower is tender, then drizzle with blue cheese dressing.

Get the Buffalo Cauliflower Kebabs recipe.

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11

Grilled Carrots

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

When it comes to grilled vegetable recipes, carrots probably aren't the first that come to mind. However, their natural sweetness comes out during cooking, a complementary foil to the smoky char achieved on the grill.

Get the Grilled Carrots recipe.

12

Campfire Potatoes

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

Cooking over the campfire is one of our favorite ways to prep vegetables while the weather is warm! We topped these potatoes with shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes, but feel free to get creative with the toppers.

Get the Campfire Potatoes recipe.

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13

Grilled Avocados

grilled avocado
Andrew bui

It's no secret that avocados are the best, but have you tried grilling them? Doing so not only gives avocados a charred and smoky flavor, but it makes them incredibly tender and extra creamy.

Get the Grilled Avocados recipe.

14

Honey Lime Grilled Corn

honey lime grilled corn
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Nothing says summertime like corn on the cob. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. For this recipe, juicy ears of corn are charred on a hot grill, then get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you'll want to put on everything.

Get the Honey Lime Grilled Corn recipe.

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15

Grilled Corn Salad

grilled corn salad
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

This versatile, flavorful corn salad is the perfect way to use up leftover grilled corn. Mix and match your favorite cheeses, herbs, and nuts, but keep the citrus for brightness and oil for a little richness. If you like a little kick, add some sliced jalapeños or a big pinch of red pepper flakes.

Get the Grilled Corn Salad recipe.

16

Grilled Green Tomatoes

grilled green tomatoes
Andrea monzo

Grilled green tomatoes are juicy and delicious—perhaps even better than fried. Here, they're served with a whipped goat cheese, basil, sea salt, and red pepper flakes.

Get the Grilled Green Tomatoes recipe.

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17

Grilled Baked Potatoes

grilled baked potatoes in foil topped with sour cream, bacon, chives, and cheese
ERIK BERNSTEIN

Sure, an oven-baked potato is great, but have you tried them on the grill? Use this method for your backyard grill or camping. The potatoes cook up just as fluffy as they do in the oven, but have the bonus of smoky flavor.

Get the Grilled Baked Potatoes recipe.

18

Balsamic Grilled Mushrooms

grilled balsamic mushrooms
Parker feierbach

Mushrooms can get sidelined at a BBQ as a lame side dish, but when tossed in a balsamic-soy glaze, they'll get all the attention.

Get the Balsamic Grilled Mushrooms recipe.

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19

Grilled Green Beans

grilled green beans topped with peanuts, sesame seeds, and scallions
Parker Feierbach

Pro tip: If you're cooking over a grill, place a heavy duty piece of foil over the grates before adding the green beans. It'll prevent the veggies from falling through the cracks.

Get the Grilled Green Beans recipe.

20

Grilled Tomatoes

grilled tomatoes with tahini caesar
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Tomatoes are maybe the best part of summer, especially when you grill them. Not only does the char from the grill add a slight bitterness that balances a tomato’s acidity and sweetness, but the direct heat manages to bring some out some of their deep umami flavors.

Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.

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