Planning a BBQ at the weekend? Here’s a tempting spread of meat-free BBQ recipes to enjoy at your next backyard spread.

As a registered dietitian, I’ve gathered a bunch of my food blogger friends who are also some of the best recipe creators I know, to showcase easy and healthy plant-powered recipes. Think grilled veggie kebabs, cauliflower steaks doused in a tahini sauce, smoky baked beans, grilled portobello and asparagus fajitas, and more.

Indeed, these BBQ recipes prove that you don’t need meat to pull off a great Summer feast. Bonus: I’ve also thrown in a bunch of delectable desserts to have the perfect end to your meal.

This recipe collection is full-on flavour and loaded with nourishing ingredients. It’s the ultimate collection of vegan BBQ recipes you need to try. Fire up the grill and get ready to rock your vegan BBQ party!

Vegan BBQ Recipe Ideas

1. Grilled Corn Salad

3 corn on the cob on a bed of purple cabbage placed on top of newspapers flatlay

Soak the corn husk leaves in water for a few minutes to prevent them from burning, brush the corn with oil and grill. Served here on a bed of shredded red cabbage and beetroot with quinoa, toasted flaked almonds, spring onions and fresh herbs with an apple cider vinegar & olive oil dressing.

Recipe by Krissie Oldroyd of @fancyplantsfoodie Plant-based food blogger and photographer.

2. Grilled Portobello Fajitas

BBQ mushrooms and mixed vegetables fajitas topped with guacamole on a charcoal surface with lime wedges and herbs
Grilled Portobello and Asparagus Fajitas are vegan fajitas with grilled portobello mushrooms and asparagus topped with guacamole.  It’s an easy, healthy summertime meal!

Recipe by Marcie of Flavorthemoments.com

3. Peanut & Cilantro Grilled Veggie Skewers

Tray of BBQ vegetable skewers on a bright blue background
Vegan peanut, cilantro, miso and ginger grilled veggie skewers are perfect for summer barbecue time. Marinated in a creamy, herby peanut and miso sauce, these colourful veggie kebabs make a tasty and healthy grilled side or main.

Recipe by Evi, Food Photographer of greenevi.com

4. Smoky Vegan Baked Beans

A hand stirring smoky BBQ baked beans topped with avocado slices
These vegan baked beans are sweet, smoky, satisfying and nutritious too. Great for barbecues, grill-outs or to accompany your breakfast. You can use any type of beans, these were made using cannellini and kidney beans. Served here with slices of vegan sausage and avocado slices.

Recipe by Krissie Oldroyd of @fancyplantsfoodie Plant-based food blogger and photographer

5. Grilled Ginger Cauliflower Steaks With Tahini Sauce

BBQ vegan recipe of cauliflower steak doused in tahini sauce on a black plate
Thick slices of cauliflower, rubbed with spices and grilled to tender perfection. Served with a slightly spicy tahini sauce, these grilled ginger cauliflower steaks need to hit your grill stat!

Recipe by: Rebecca Pytell of Strength and Sunshine

6. Street-Style Spicy BBQ Corn (Butta)

pile of bbq corn coated in spices on a tray with lime segments and dipping sauce

Street-Style Spicy BBQ Corn (Butta)

BBQ corn on the cob, aka butta, is the quintessential taste of Indian and Pakistani street food. Take advantage of sweet summer corn with this spicy, flavor-packed side dish for your backyard BBQ! The addition of thyme and oregano dispense a warm and peppery undertone. How can you resist?
Check out this recipe

7. Basil Lime Charred Corn Salad

Bowl of BBQ corn and mixed vegetable salad surrounded by herbs and tomatoes
Basil Lime Charred Corn and Zucchini Salad is an easy, flavorful grilled corn and zucchini salad with fresh basil and lime! 

Recipe by Marcie of Flavorthemoments.com

8. Grilled Cabbage With Asian Lime Dressing

BBQ Chinese Cabbage on a white tray with a several sprigs of herbs
Add some fun to your next BBQ with some Asian grilled cabbage. A gentle sear adds flavour and texture while a zesty lime sauce finishes the dish with a kick.

Recipe by Kelly Page, Certified Transformational Health Coach of TastingPage.com

9. Grilled Asparagus Gazpacho

a bowl of green soup topped with asparagus shavings and croutons on a napkin
Asparagus season is upon us and this gazpacho is delicious and features asparagus at its flavorful peak.  It is vegetarian/vegan and gets its creaminess from Avocado! Grilled asparagus paired with grilled sweet onion really enhances the flavour of this soup!

Recipe by Irene Matys, Recipe Curator, Food Stylist Food Photographer of www.irenematys.com

10. Chaat Salad With Corn

indian chaat salad with corn in a red staub pan with spoon in it and fresh cilantro on the side flat lay

Quick Corn Chaat Salad With Potatoes

It's a tantalizing dance of textures and tastes that'll have your taste buds doing the happy chaat cha-cha! Russet potatoes coated in carom seeds, mingling with crunchy sweet corn, juicy peppers, and fresh cilantro. And just when you think it can't get any better, It's all drizzled with lip-smacking tamarind chutney. Done within 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe

11. Grilled Shishito Peppers

BBQ grilled shishito peppers lined up on a charcoal surface with lemon wedges
Grilled Shishito Peppers with Lemon and Sea Salt are smoky, charred shishito peppers served with fresh lemon and flaky sea salt!

Recipe by Marcie of Flavorthemoments.com

12. Grilled Summer Vegetables with Basil Vinaigrette

Skewer your favourite summer vegetables like zucchini and peppers with onions and mushrooms to make this easy side dish. Finish with a drizzle of homemade fresh basil vinaigrette for the ultimate summer flavour.

Recipe by Marisa Moore, MBA.RDN.LD of marisamoore.com

13. Garlic Rosemary Grilled Cauliflower Foil Packets


These delicious foil packets are fully vegan and made with cauliflower, white beans, and fresh rosemary and garlic. They’re easy to make, nutritious, and flavorful.

Recipe by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD of It’s a Veg World After All

14. Grilled Veggie Kebabs


Taste the rainbow with these beautiful plant-based Rainbow Grilled Vegan Veggie Kebab Skewers that are naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, Paleo, allergen-friendly and packed with antioxidants, dietary fibre, and important vitamins & minerals.

Recipe by: Emily Kyle, MS, RDN, HCP, Owner of Emily Kyle Nutrition

15. Summer Vegan Power Bowl

Go ahead and add grilled veggies to a power bowl to take it up a notch!

Recipe by Amy Gorin, RD of Amygorin.com

16. Orange Tahini Grilled Tofu

Here’s the perfect way to enjoy tofu for a Summer cookout. Made with a zesty orange tahini marinade.

Recipe by Melissa Altman-Traub MS, RDN, LDN of Melissatraub.com

17. 15-Minute Easy Raw Salad

bowl of easy salad recipe with colourful vegetables and topped with pomegranate and seeds surrounded by vegetables

15-Minute Easy Salad Recipe

This could be your go-to easy salad recipe. Packed with a medley of fresh and crunchy ingredients like broccoli, kale, carrots, pomegranate and pumpkin seeds – super nourishing and YUMMY! Tossed in a tangy dressing, that's the perfect match.
Check out this recipe

18. Tofu Chutney With Dill

bowl of desilicious chutney recipe surrounded by roasted vegetables

Desi~licious Tofu Chutney Recipe With Dill

Dip veggies, pour on salads or enjoy as a sauce, this 5-minute vegan tofu chutney recipe is like nothing you've tried before. Healthy, plant-powered and Desi~licious – It's easy to see why!
Check out this recipe

19. Collard Green Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Bowl of collard green wraps stuffed with colourful vegetables and a peanut butter dip
Impress your guests with these delicious and tasty collard green wraps. You can’t go wrong when the peanut sauce is so delicious!

Recipe by Rosemary Squires, MA, RD, CDN of thehintofrosemary.com

20. Nightshade-Free BBQ Sauce

a small jar of BBQ peach sauce in a plate with peaches and pink flowers on the side
This delicious nightshade-free Paleo BBQ-Sauce comes with adaptations to make an AIP-friendly BBQ sauce, a Whole30 BBQ sauce, and important nutrition and culinary considerations for making a nightshade-free, tomato-free, corn-free BBQ sauce that still tastes good.

Recipe by: Emily Kyle, MS, RDN, HCP, Owner of Emily Kyle Nutrition

21. Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salsa

bowl of sweet corn and black bean salsa salad for a vegan BBQ recipe spread
Fresh tomatoes, crisp raw sweet corn, cilantro, you can make this recipe as spicy or as mild as you like. Serve this as an appetizer, or to go along with your main dish for your BBQ.

Recipe by Laura Harshbarger of Glowinglywell.com

22. General Tso’s Vegan Cauliflower

tray of BBQ cauliflower and mixed vegetables flatlay
This vegan general Tso’s cauliflower recipe is a perfect dish to have with some hot sauce in a bread roll OR you can just enjoy it with some salad. It’s so full of flavour!

Recipe by Trisha of Sugarthumb.co.uk

Dessert Recipes Collection For Your Vegan BBQ

23. Grilled Grapefruit


A healthy and juicy addition to a bbq this summer. Simply sprinkle grapefruit with ground cinnamon and grill for around 5 minutes. The grilling process caramelizes the natural sugar and sweetens the fruit, but if needed, drizzle a little maple syrup to serve.

Recipe by Krissie Oldroyd of @fancyplantsfoodie Plant-based food blogger and photographer

24. Mango Yogurt Popsicles

Tray of mango popsicles with ice and half a mango
These mango yogurt popsicles are made with just THREE ingredients! Perfect to have ready in your fridge at a BBQ. Plus, they’re totally good for you!

Recipe by Rosemary Squires, MA, RD, CDN of thehintofrosemary.com

25. Watermelon Strawberry Popsicles

3 strawberry popsicles on ice on a round plate decoratd with fresh watermelon and flowers

Healthy Watermelon Strawberry Popsicles

Stay hydrated with these bright and cooling no-added sugar watermelon strawberry ice lollies. The perfect healthy treat for a hot Summer’s day. Its not only the kids who will devour these!
Check out this recipe

26. (Virgin) Piña Colada Grilled Pineapple Dessert

This vegan grilled pineapple and coconut milk “ice cream” is the perfect dessert to end the barbecue. It’s sweet, smoky, and easy!  

Recipe by Marisa Moore, MBA.RDN.LD of marisamoore.com

27. Grilled Avocado Stuffed with Grilled Mango Salsa

This Grilled Avocado Stuffed with Grilled Mango Salsa is not only absolutely delicious, it’s packed with rich antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Time to get nourished while your taste buds explode with flavour.

Recipe by Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN of Sarahkoszyk.com

28. Watermelon Slushie

two glasses of watermelon slushie on a round wooden board with pieces of watermelon and lime slices close by

Watermelon Slushie

Quench your thirst in style with this super easy no-added sugar Watermelon Slushie recipe. With only three whole food ingredients, it's the perfect healthy choice to cool down on a hot Summer's day.
Check out this recipe

29. Vegan Falooda Recipe (No Added Sugar!)

two glasses and a bottle of rose falooda in a tray with a pink rose on the side

Vegan Falooda Recipe (No Added Sugar!)

Sweet, floral, and decadent, this homemade royal Falooda recipe is a must-try. Made with rose-infused milk, strands of homemade jelly, basil seeds, and topped with coconut whip and crushed pistachios. Here's everything you need to pull off this easy and healthy Indian drink or dessert — with zero added sugar, yet ALL the flavour.
Check out this recipe

What’s your favourite BBQ recipe? Which one of these vegan BBQ recipes will you try? Share in the comment section below!

If you try this recipe, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can’t wait to see your photos.

Desi~liciously Yours, Shahzadi

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pile of bbq corn coated in spices on a tray with lime segments and dipping sauce
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Get the Recipe:

Vegan BBQ Recipes: Spicy Corn

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 8 people
These BBQ recipes prove that you don't need meat to pull off a great Summer feast. Bonus: I've also thrown in a bunch of delectable desserts to have the perfect end to your meal.

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper,
  • 1 tsp oregano, dried
  • 1 tsp thyme, dried
  • 1 tsp mango powder, amchur powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 8 corn on the cob
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lime

Equipment

  • BBQ Grill

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the grill.
  • Start by pulling the outer husks down the ear to the base. Strip away the silk from each ear of corn by hand
  • In a medium bowl, combine the slices. Brush each corn on the cob with olive oil.
  • Dip half a lime in the spice mix and rub the corn to coat completely.
  • Grill the corn on all sides until slightly charred and cooked through – about 10 minutes.
  • Serve with lime wedges and your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Make sure your corn is fresh as it can shrink when placed in a hot grill
  • Make sure to preheat the grill so you get a nice char all over
  • Feel free to adjust the spice mix and make it your own. There will be some leftover.
  • Serve with other grilled veggies, salads or as a side
  • Leftover corn will store well in the fridge for around 3 days and can be eaten cold or reheated in an oven.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 106kcal (5%)Carbohydrates: 20g (7%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 3g (5%)Saturated Fat: 1g (5%)Sodium: 456mg (19%)Potassium: 292mg (8%)Fiber: 3g (12%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 630IU (13%)Vitamin C: 11.1mg (13%)Calcium: 11mg (1%)Iron: 0.9mg (5%)

Keep in mind that the nutritional values provided are approximations and suggestions, and might fluctuate depending on ingredient variations, portion sizes, and recipe adjustments. This nutrition facts table cannot account for your individual needs. Your body — including your hunger and satiety cues — change daily. It’s perfectly fine to eat more or less on different days. Instead of letting food guilt take over, consider mindful eating.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cuisine: Desi, ethnic, Indian, pakistani, South Asian
Course: Side, Snack
Did you make this recipe?Mention @desiliciousrd on Instagram or tag #desiliciousrd.
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