Fire up the grill with these easy vegan grilling recipes and vegan BBQ favorites. 30+ plant‑based burgers, mains, sides, salads, and desserts perfect for summer cookouts, picnics, and potlucks.
This vegan grilling roundup saved our BBQ. Even the meat‑eaters were licking BBQ sauce off their fingers and asking for the recipes. Simple, affordable, and so dang good.
– Bethany
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30+ Vegan Grilling Recipes, BBQ Favorites, & Picnic Ideas
Growing up in Mississippi, grilling wasn't just about eating. It was how you found out who got married, who wrecked their truck, and who was still mad about last year's backyard baseball game.
There was always smoke in the air, somebody burning burgers, and at least one uncle insisting he was "the grill master" while serving up crusty hamburgers and limp hot dogs.
For me, those cookouts meant seeing family I hadn't laid eyes on in a year and hearing the same old stories told like they just happened yesterday.
Backyard baseball games, kids running wild, adults talking loud, and paper plates piled high. When the food had to change for obvious reasons, I wasn't about to lose all that.
So I took everything I loved about those Mississippi grills and turned it into this list of easy vegan grilling recipes and vegan BBQ dishes you can actually make, that your people will actually eat, and that still feel like a real southern cookout.
These 30+ vegan recipes are perfect for grilling, barbecues, and picnics. You'll find mains, sides, salads, and desserts made with simple ingredients, big flavor, and zero pretension.
Shane’s Tips For Easy Vegan Grilling & BBQ
- Keep the menu short and sane. Pick 1-2 mains, 2-3 sides, 1 salad, and 1 dessert. That's it. You don't need a spread that looks like a casino buffet.
- Marinate in the morning, grill at night. Tofu, tempeh, and veggies get crazy flavorful if you toss them in a simple marinade and let them hang out in the fridge all day.
- Use foil or a grill basket. If you're sharing a grill with meat‑eaters, use foil or a grill basket so your food doesn't pick up random charred chunks nobody asked for.
- Oil the grates, not everything else. Lightly oil the grates to keep burgers and tofu from sticking and tearing when you flip. No need to drown everything in oil.
- Set up a topping bar. Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapeños, sauces, maybe a vegan cheese. Let folks build their own and stay out of your way while you're working the grill.
- Don't announce it's vegan. Let them eat first, then tell them it was vegan while they're going back for seconds. Just sayin'…
Grill‑Ready Vegan Mains (Burgers, Dogs, & BBQ)
These vegan grilling recipes are the star of the show. Plug your actual recipes and links in under this section.
Easy Vegan Black Bean Burgers
Hearty, smoky, and grill‑friendly. They hold together, get a nice crust, and are begging for all the toppings.
The Best Vegan Carrot Dog Recipe
Classic BBQ vibes with a plant‑based twist. Load them up with mustard, onions, relish, and maybe some slaw on top.
Easy Vegan BBQ Seitan Ribs
Sticky, sweet, and smoky with all the messy rib energy and none of the bones. Perfect for summer cookouts and game days.
Best Vegan BBQ Sandwich
The Best BBQ Sandwich is right here! It's made with Butler Soy Curls & my Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce. Ready in 20 minutes, a great source of protein & fiber, and an awesome game day food.
BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Vegan)
Saucy, smoky, and piled high on a soft bun. Tastes like it cooked all day, ready in a fraction of the time.
Grilled Portobello "Steaks" or Burgers
Big, meaty mushrooms marinated and grilled until juicy. Serve on a bun or slice over salad.
The Best Grilled Tofu Recipe
Thick slabs or cubes of tofu soaked in barbecue sauce, then grilled until caramelized around the edges.
Veggie Kabobs, Tacos, & Fun Stuff On A Stick
These are the "everyone keeps grabbing these" dishes. They’re perfect for parties, cookouts, and picnics.
Easy Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Skewers
Quick and easy grilled teriyaki tofu skewers covered in a homemade teriyaki sauce and grilled to perfection. Healthy, vegan, and delicious!
Vegan Elote aka Mexican Street Corn
Vegan Elote, or Mexican Street Corn, is grilled to perfection, topped with a flavorful chili mayo and cashew parmesan.
Rainbow Veggie Kabobs
Peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini tossed in a simple marinade and threaded on skewers. Colorful, fast, and always a hit.
BBQ Shredded Tofu Tacos
Smoky BBQ Shredded Tofu Tacos made with super firm tofu, tomato paste, soy sauce, and spices. A delicious vegan taco recipe perfect for Taco Tuesday!
Healthy Sheet Pan Veggie Fajitas (Vegan)
Smoky peppers, onions, and squash stuffed into warm tortillas with salsa, guac, and fresh lime.
Vegan BBQ Side Dishes For Every Cookout
Side dishes are where you win hearts at a barbecue. These are perfect with any of the mains above.
The Best Classic Vegan Potato Salad (Oil-Free)
This classic vegan potato salad recipe is healthy and so easy to make! Made with creamy cashew mayo, it’s a must for any potluck or gathering. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and oil-free!
Easy Vegan Coleslaw
Crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfect on top of BBQ sandwiches or next to everything else on the plate.
Vegan Baked Beans (BBQ Style)
Sweet, smoky beans that are great made ahead and reheated when it's time to eat.
Vegan Pasta Salad Without Mayo (Healthy) – Elavegan
Pasta, veggies, and a simple dressing. Great cold, great at room temp, perfect for picnics and potlucks.
The Best Vegan Macaroni Salad
The BEST Vegan Macaroni Salad is so easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s loaded with crunchy veggies, a rich and creamy dressing, and is sure to please any crowd. The best cold pasta salad for summer picnics, cookouts, and gatherings.
Easy Grilled Corn On The Cob (The Best!)
Grilled Corn On The Cob is a great summer side dish! It’s so easy to make and is ready in 10 minutes. Slather it with my vegan Cashew Mayo and a sprinkle of smoked paprika for amazing flavor.
Vegan Side Dish Recipes Perfect For Every BBQ
If you want more amazing side dishes perfect for a BBQ, check out this exhaustive list.
Fresh Salads & Picnic‑Ready Dishes
These are easy to make ahead, pack well, and hold up outside-perfect for picnics, pool days, and park hangs.
Watermelon Salad with Tofu Feta
Juicy watermelon, salty tofu "feta," mint, and a simple dressing. Basically, summer in a bowl.
Vegan Broccoli Salad
Crunchy, creamy, and a total potluck favorite. Gets even better after chilling in the fridge.
Simple Tomato Cucumber Salad (No Oil)
Light, refreshing, and made from stuff you can find at pretty much any small‑town grocery store.
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Made without oil and seasoned with zesty lime juice and fresh cilantro, this Simple Black Bean and Corn Salad is the perfect side dish for summer!
Big Green Salad With Creamy Dressing
Crisp greens, crunchy veggies, and a homemade vegan ranch or tahini dressing to balance out all the BBQ.
Easy Vegan Desserts For Cookouts & Picnics
If the desserts are good, nobody remembers they didn't eat meat.
No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake Bars
Creamy, tangy, and set in the fridge so you don't have to heat up the kitchen.
Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies (Gluten-Free)
Healthy Chickpea Blondies are made with a can of chickpeas, natural peanut butter, pure maple syrup, and vegan chocolate chips. This amazing recipe requires only one bowl and 30 minutes to make. No one will ever know it's vegan, healthy, and flourless!
Healthy Vegan Brownies (Easy, Fudgy, and Oil-Free)
Healthy vegan brownies that are refined sugar-free, rich, fudgy, and oil-free! An easy low-calorie treat that’s moist and full of decadent chocolate flavor.
4-Ingredient Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies (Vegan, GF)
Guilt-free, fudgy sweet potato brownies made with just four simple ingredients. These vegan sweet potato brownies are flourless, gluten-free, and utterly delicious!
Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad
Berries, melon, and maybe a little coconut whip-perfect for 4th of July or any summer cookout.
3-Ingredient Vanilla Nice Cream
Blend frozen bananas with cocoa or berries and call it dessert.
Grilled Fruit with Coconut Cream
Pineapple, peaches, or bananas caramelized on the grill and topped with coconut whip. Simple and impressive.
How To Plan A Stress‑Free Vegan Cookout
- Pick your mains. Choose 1-2 grillable recipes from the burgers, dogs, or BBQ section. Burgers + a BBQ sandwich or ribs is a solid combo.
- Add 2-3 sides and one salad. Potato salad, baked beans, slaw, and one fresh salad will cover just about everybody.
- Choose a make‑ahead dessert. Bars, brownies, or no‑bake cheesecake are easiest for travel and picnics.
- Prep as much as you can the day before. Mix salads, marinate tofu/seitan, form burger patties, and prep dessert. Save the actual grilling for showtime.
- Set up a topping and sauce station. Ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, jalapeños, and maybe a house sauce. Let people customize their plates.
- Create a "vegan corner." Group your plant‑based dishes together on one table so people know what's what without having to ask you 47 times.
Make‑Ahead & Storage
- Burger patties, marinated tofu, and kabobs can usually be prepped up to 24 hours ahead and stored in the fridge.
- Potato salad, pasta salad, and slaw are actually better the next day once the flavors have time to mingle.
- Leftover grilled veggies, tofu, and seitan make great bowls, tacos, and sandwiches during the week.
- Most bars, brownies, and some cookies freeze well. Wrap tightly and stash in the freezer for another cookout.
What To Serve With These
To build out your whole summer cookout plan, pair these recipes with:
FAQ
Yes. If the food is familiar-burgers, BBQ sandwiches, ribs‑style seitan-and seasoned well, most people don't care that it's plant‑based as long as it tastes good.
You can. Use a grill pan, cast‑iron skillet, or the oven broiler. You'll miss a little smoke, but the sauces and marinades still bring a ton of flavor.
Pasta salad, potato salad, slaw, bean salads, brownies, and fruit‑based desserts travel really well and don't need to be piping hot to be delicious.
Lean on beans, tofu, simple veggies, and homemade sauces. Skip most specialty products when you can. You don't need a $9 pack of anything to make a good BBQ sandwich.
You can, but doing salads, desserts, and marinades the day before makes the actual grilling day way less stressful and keeps you from losing your religion over the grill.
If you made it this far, do me a favor and leave a star rating on the recipes you try. It helps more people find simple, plant‑based food that doesn't feel pretentious, and keeps this Mississippi boy behind the grill and out of trouble.
~Shane
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