Calling all veggie-lovers! If you’re looking to amp up your outdoor barbecue food menu without the meat, you’re in luck—because we found 21 healthy, summery and vegetarian BBQ recipe ideas. Barbecues are not solely reserved for grilling up juicy burgers and smoked chicken breasts. From fresh veggies to tofu and veggie burgers, these BBQ ideas will make you want to heat up the grill and have people over ASAP. In fact, these recipes are so appealing, they could distract any meat-lover from cheeseburger FOMO. Seriously, just wait until you see the grilled cauliflower tacos. I’m drooling already.
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Whether you’re someone who eats vegetarian food every single day or you just want to add some veggies to your barbecue menu, we’ve got exactly what you need to make your next backyard party a truly delicious one. While vegetables aren’t always at the top of the list when you think of the most delicious foods of all time, they can easily be transformed into summer-ready and tasty barbecue menu items. Thought you couldn’t grill sweet potatoes, pineapples and onions to create drool-worthy meals? Think again.
Below, you’ll find 20 different vegetarian BBQ ideas that are sure to have everyone in your life asking for the recipe. Grab a bag of coals and some lighter fluid, queue up your summer-vibes Spotify playlist to get the party going and let’s get grilling. You might never look at your veggies the same way again—and that’s a good thing.
1. Grilled Cauliflower Tacos
Grilled cauliflower tacos with mango slaw and drizzled with avocado crema… Are you drooling, too?
2. Grilled & Breaded Tofu Steaks
With or without the spinach salad, your guests won’t be able to tell the difference between these grilled, breaded tofu steaks and grilled, breaded chicken.
3. Grilled Flatbreads
Be sure to serve these grilled flatbreads drizzled witholive oil and sprinkled with the rosemary leaves the second they come off the barbecue.
4. Grilled Sweet Potatoes
These grilled sweet potatoes topped with a cilantro vinaigrette will quickly become one of your summer BBQ staples.
5. Grilled Zucchini Nachos
If you thought a heaping meatless mound of nachos wasn’t worth it, Closet Cooking will prove you wrong with its grilled zucchini nachos recipe.
6. Grilled Veggie Burgers
It’s true: You can grill these veggie burgers. Curious what’s inside? We’ll tell you: walnuts and spices, sautéed onions, panko bread crumbs, brown rice, BBQ sauce and black beans.
7. Grilled Zucchini Caprese
A grilled caprese salad with zucchinis? Count us in.
8. Grilled Mexican Street Corn
This grilled Mexican street corn is slathered in a mayonnaise and sour cream cilantro mixture and then dusted with parmesan cheese and chili powder. Oh my god.
9. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms With Spinach & Cheese
Who needs chicken breasts when you can grill portobello mushrooms and stuff ’em with spinach and cheese?
10. Grilled Pineapple
It’s the cinnamon honey drizzle that really elevates this grilled pineapple recipe.
11. Hawaiian Veggie Burgers
Bound to be a hit with your guests are these Hawaiian veggie burgers: tropical black bean patties topped with grilled pineapple and Swiss cheese.
12. Grilled Rainbow Peppers
These grilled rainbow peppers stuffed with herb cream cheese look almost too pretty to eat… OK, not really, we’d still eat them.
13. Grilled Turnips With Dill Olive Oil
Grilled turnips with dill olive oil? We’ll take four skewers, please and thank you.
14. Grilled Mushroom Skewers
The cayenne pepper, garlic and balsamic vinegar take these grilled mushroom skewers to a whole other level.
15. Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
We can’t describe it better than Cafe Delites: “Garlic butter smothered portobello mushrooms stuffed and grilled with fresh mozzarella cheese, grape tomato slices and drizzled with a rich balsamic glaze!”
16. Garlic Roasted Cabbage Wedges
If you’re a cabbage stan, then try out these garlic roasted cabbage wedges topped with fresh parsley, fresh lemon wedges and/or crumbled bacon
17. Grilled Blossom Onions
Behold: a healthier version of the famous Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse. It’s served with a red pepper aioli sauce for dipping, too.
18. Garlic Parmesan Broccoli & Potatoes
Garlic, parmesan, potatoes and broccoli: a perfect combination.
19. Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas
Who doesn’t love quesadillas? Throw in some grilled veggies and you have a healthy crowd-pleaser.
20. Mediterranean Grilled Avocados
This one’s pure Mediterranean heaven: grilled avocados stuffed with chickpeas and drizzled with tahini.
A version of this article was originally published in June 2020.
