3 Vegan BBQ Recipes to Bring to Your Summer Cookout

By Ashley Ess in Healthy Feeling

Cookout season is just around the corner—but with traditional BBQ menus consisting of burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad, the vegan options tend to be sparse. Declining an invite to your friend's grilling party may be your usual go-to response, but it doesn't have to be. Luckily, there are plenty of tasty vegan BBQ options you can try that won't leave you out of the fun at the next neighborhood grilling party.

Sustainable Choices Are Worth Celebrating

A vegan diet is not only kind to animals and the environment—it also has some great health benefits, too. According to Harvard Medical School, eating plant-based foods over meat and dairy products helps decrease the amount of saturated fats you consume. So give these vegan grilling recipes a try—and who knows, your friends might even find they have a new favorite dish, too!

Grilled Vegetable Kebabs

For this recipe, grab these ingredients to get started:

  • 4 long metal skewers or 8 wooden skewers
  • 1 box of white or brown mushrooms
  • 12 cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 yellow or red onion
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 2 zucchinis
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • black pepper, to taste

Preheat your grill to medium heat, and cut your vegetables into 1½-inch pieces. Load the skewers, alternating vegetables one by one. Mix the olive oil and salt with some black pepper, and brush the skewered veggies with the mixture. Place the kebabs on the grill and cook until tender, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to turn the veggies every few minutes and brush them with the remaining oil mixture as needed.

Woman grills vegan kebab skewers

Grilled Vegan Burgers

Here's what you'll need for these delicious, meat-free burgers:

  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large carrot, shredded
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 15-oz. cans of pinto beans or black beans, drained
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. ketchup
  • 1½ cups quick oats
  • 8 burger buns
  • several leaves of lettuce
  • 1 tomato, sliced

In a large skillet, sauté your chopped onion with olive oil. Toss in the minced garlic and continue to sauté for another minute. Then, add the shredded carrot, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for several minutes more, until the carrot is tender, then set aside.

In a large bowl, mash the drained beans, and toss in the sautéed onion, garlic, and carrot. Add the soy sauce, ketchup, and quick oats, and stir until well combined.

Next, shape the mixture into eight patties. Make sure your grill is greased and preheated, then place the patties on grill. Make sure the sides of each are nicely browned, then you can serve them up on some buns with lettuce, tomato slices, and the condiment of your choice.

Vegan burger

Vegan Potato Salad

Stock up on these items to wow your friends with this vegan potato salad recipe:

  • 8 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 3 tsp. mustard
  • ¾-1 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp. dried dill or ⅓ cup dill pickle relish
  • ⅔ cup celery, chopped
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

Begin by boiling the cubed potatoes until slightly tender. Once cooked, drain the water and let the potatoes cool completely in a large bowl. Then, add the remaining ingredients and toss until well mixed. Feel free to add more mayonnaise, salt, or pepper as needed.

What are some of your vegan BBQ staples? Share them with us on Twitter!

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Why It's Good

Those who consume a plant-based diet need not miss out on the fun of attending or organizing a summer BBQ. There are plenty of delicious vegan alternatives to classic cookout favorites!