Grilling is the epitome of summer cooking: fiery, free-spirited, and fun for all. There’s something irresistible about vegetables, fruits, and proteins when kissed by the heat of an open flame. The sizzle, the char, and that smoky aroma forge new textures and flavors, and you can do it all while basking in the warmth of the season.
Whether you’re throwing a backyard cookout with the whole community or simply craving a fresh, seasonal meal in the great outdoors, these recipes will prove that the grill is the perfect partner for all kinds of plant-based creations.
Top 9 Plant-Based Grilling Recipes
Fire up the grill and enjoy a feast alfresco! These are the best recipes for summertime grilling and chilling.
Green Goddess Burgers
More interesting than your average mish-mash of random vegetables and textured soy protein, this approach takes the flavors of green goddess dressing and translates them into burger form. Quick, easy, and deeply satisfying, they're perfect to whip up on the fly.
Umami Shiitake Burgers with Shiitake Aioli
Chickpeas and mushrooms join forces to create supple yet sturdy patties that are sure to satisfy the heartiest of appetites. Crisp on the outside, the initial crunchy bite yields easily to a tender interior, bursting with an intense depth of savory flavor. Quick, garlicky aioli further amplifies the bold flavor with shiitake powder. Spread it on thick for a luscious, juicy burger that can't be beat.
Pumpkin Protein Burgers
Hearty, protein-packed veggie burgers get a boost from the savory side of pumpkin. They're the quick and easy answer for a weeknight meal, any season.
Bamboo Burgers
Veggie burgers for people who truly appreciate vegetables; these simple patties don’t pretend to be meat and aren’t afraid to show what they’re really made of. Made with tender bamboo shoots in the patties and bamboo rice for the buns, it's a unique fusion of eastern and western cuisine that celebrates fresh spring produce through a whole new lens.
Vegan Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Smoky, caramelized, crunchy yet tender, this meatless version of burnt ends uses vegan hot dogs to recreate that same crave-worthy taste sensation. Darkly lacquered with spices and sugar, they only need a brief trip through the oven to reach barbequed perfection.
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Dogs
Make the best meatless hot dogs you've ever sunk your teeth into with this quick, easy recipe. It will be hard to go back to store-bought after trying your first batch.
K-Elote (Korean Elote)
Juicy, charred fresh corn is smothered in spicy kimchi mayo and topped with savory almond-based cotija cheese in this K-Mex fusion dish. It's explosively flavorful and wildly addictive.
Elote or Esquites
Grilled corn smeared with a creamy, spice spread is about the height of summertime flavor ecstasy. Cut those kernels off the cob, and you have esquites instead. Either way, it's an absolute must when fresh corn is abundant.
Creamy Zucchini Pinwheels
Walnuts blended with umami miso and savory herb turn into a stunningly creamy, unbelievably cheesy take on dairy-free ricotta. Wrapped up in tender planks of grilled zucchini and served with marinara sauce, it may just be the new power lunch.
First of all – I hope and trust you are or have celebrated Independence Day as well and happily as possible – may the year to come bring contentment and happiness. Like the ideas you have shown above but laugh at the differences in language usage as so often twixt Down Under and you. We NEVER grill outdoors – that is called barbecuing – we DO grill an awful lot in the grill drawer every cooktop possesses or using top grill in the oven or on the stovetop :) ! Outside the word used in ALWAYS ‘barbecue’ :) !
Ha, it’s a whole different world! Here, “barbecue” means smoked low and slow, sometimes 24 – 48 hours, and traditionally meat, of course. You can grill inside on a grill pan too, but a drawer? Never heard of it! Languages (and kitchen appliances) are so interesting.
You have taught me something I did not know! In Australia barbecuing is something done in the back yard by the males in the house in summer multiple times a week. ALWAYS THE FASTEST WAY TO COOK WITH SMOKE ALL OVER THE PLACE – AND ALMOST ALWAYS DONE BY THE MEN! The grill drawer is situated between the cooktop rings and the oven – these days more people use the ridged grill pan atop a very, very hot top ring or the top grill in the oven.
It’s still a woefully male-dominated activity here too, with the bulk of the effort going into stoking coals, or flames, or whatever it is, and very little actual cooking, which somehow comes out burnt no matter the material, time, or temperature. Now I wish I had a grilling drawer, that sounds so handy.
Yum! Happy 4th, Hannah.
And belatedly to you too, Janet!
These recipes will be perfect for me to try when we are with our kids in the summer.
Always as fun family activity. :)
Hope your holiday was fabulous! Love all the delicious grilling and chilling options. Might need to those delicious bamboo burgers and a shiitake burger soon .
Thank you! Anytime outside with good food is a happy holiday. 😊
Now this is how you summer! That K-Elote and those shiitake burgers are calling my name, so much flavour and creativity packed into every bite!
Definitely my top picks, too!