Everyone loves a good barbecue. It’s a great way to hang out with friends and family, while the aromatic scents off the grill will make the dining experience more pleasurable.

When we think of barbecues, we often think of meaty steaks and burgers. But, that doesn’t mean vegans can’t host their barbecues. With the right food to grill, you’ll be surprised by what vegans can do for a BBQ.

If you’re looking for Vegan BBQ ideas, you came to the right place. Here are some of the best ideas to help you prepare for your next vegan barbecue.

Vegan BBQ Ideas: Snacks

Whether you’re dining with kids or with your friends, you should always have some healthy snacks available for them to munch on while you grill the main course. Here are some yummy grilled options that are surprisingly easy to prepare.

Corn on the Cob

Corn on the Cob is a staple in every barbecue, whether you’re vegan or non-vegan. That’s because it’s easy to prepare and fun to eat – plus the fact that it’s quite versatile.

By versatile, we mean that it can be paired with almost anything. You can choose to use salt with vegan butter or use olive oil instead. You can also use vegan BBQ sauce to add a bit of heat to it. In other versions, you can brush guacamole all over it. The possibilities are endless.

Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad

If corn on the cob seems too simple for you, then take things up a notch and prepare a grilled corn and avocado salad.

Simply grill the corn and avocado, scrape them once they’re done grilling, place them in a bowl along with other vegetables, and toss them in with your favorite vegan dressing. It may take a little effort than plain corn on the cob, but the extra effort makes it more pleasurable to snack on.

Grilled Baby Potatoes

Another easy vegan BBQ snack idea would be grilled baby potatoes. Just like its name suggests, it’s a really simple but tasty snack that everyone will enjoy.

To help bring out its flavor, we recommend slicing them into halves before grilling them and brush on some olive oil with salt and herbs as you grill. You can also add some spices into the oil if you prefer giving it more heat and flavor.

Grilled Potatoes Nachos

If you want to bring the baby potato recipe to the next level, why not make some grilled potatoes nacho instead?

Instead of using store-bought vegan nachos, you can use the grilled potatoes as an alternative. Top it off with some vegan cheese, salsa, or guacamole, and you’re bound to have a pleasurable snack time with the family.

Grilled Salad

You can’t go wrong with a grilled salad. While a regular vegetable salad is tasty and nutritious by itself, grilling them helps bring out its natural flavors – and that’s a snack time upgrade that we’re here for.

For the grilled salad, simply grill all the vegetables you want to be thrown into the mix. Popular vegetable options include grilled tomatoes, asparagus, and the usual leafy greens. You can also add in some marinated mushrooms to give it more flavor.

And to make it more interesting, you can also top it off with vegan mozzarella or any plant-based salad dressing of your choice.

Vegetable Skewer

We can all agree that a barbecue won’t be complete without any skewers. That’s why we’re sure that the crowd will love this vegetable skewer.

The best part about a vegetable skewer is that you can choose whichever you want to add to it. For the best flavor, pick juicy vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, zucchini, shallots, and bell peppers.

Adding all of these into a skewer doesn’t only guarantee an explosion of flavors – its fascinating colors are also a feast for the eyes.

And if you want to take it up a notch, you can brush it with some balsamic or oil with crushed herbs for a more captivating aroma. We guarantee, even non-vegans won’t get enough of this colorful skewer 

Vegan Hotdogs

Whether young or old, there’s no denying that hot dogs are a barbecue staple. Thankfully, several vegan hotdog sausage brands will allow us to feast on this delicious snack.

Just grill them, put them in a bun or on a stick and add on your choice of vegan sauces and toppings. Because of how easy it is to prepare, this may be one of the yummiest snack ideas on this list.

Roasted Garlic Bread

Garlic bread goes well with almost everything – whether it’s salad or pasta or just something to munch on. It’s tasty and versatile, making it a great BBQ snack idea.

To make the most of the garlic bread, we recommend roasting the garlic first before mixing it with olive oil and other herbs. The roasting process will help bring out the garlic’s natural juices, and that will make it more flavorful.

But before you make this snack, make sure to use vegan bread.

Vegan BBQ Ideas: Meals

Now that we have the snacks covered, let’s proceed to delicious vegan meals that will make your next barbecue a success.

Seitan Kebab

Without a doubt, kebabs are also a barbecue staple. And for vegans, a seitan kebab makes a great alternative.

For this meal idea, simply slice the seitan into cubes and arrange the cubes into a kebab. You can even add tomatoes, vegan cheese, and other vegetables into the skewer to give it a pop of color.

Once they’re arranged, simply grill them and they’re ready for serving.

You can also prepare a vegan BBQ sauce to make it more flavorful.

Tofu Steak

Another barbecue staple is steaks. Luckily, we found tasty vegan alternatives for such a beloved classic. One such alternative is the tofu steak.

Tofu is an incredibly versatile vegan-friendly food that you can cook in any way possible – yes, you can even grill it. And that’s exactly what you’ll do with a tofu steak.

Simply cut the tofu into your desired size and grill them until cooked. Then, serve the tofu with your choice of vegan sauce to enjoy the experience. Since tofu functions like a sponge, you’re undoubtedly getting a lot of flavors with every bite.

Grilled Cauliflower Steak

If you prefer a plant steak instead, you can try grilled cauliflower instead. This vegan dish uses a cauliflower that’s sliced into steak-like cuts then brushed with olive oil and herbs as you grill.

In some versions of this dish, you can also dust it off with some paprika to give it a bit of heat and smokiness. You can likewise serve it with your choice of vegan dip to maximize the experience.

Vegan Steak

Out of all the steak options out there, the vegan steak is what you can proudly share with non-vegan.

Vegan steaks often use ready-bought seitan or Impossible meats, which you can grill to perfection. On the other hand, you can make your own steaks using wheat gluten to deliver that juicy steak-like texture and flavors.

Because of how it mimics a real steak, a lot of non-vegans also enjoy eating this steak. That’s why it’s the best choice if you happen to be dining with non-vegans.

Vegan Burger

Burgers are a barbecue staple, so it’s easy to see why a vegan burger should be on our list.

The best part about preparing a vegan burger is that there are several options available for you. You can choose to buy meat-free patties at your local grocery store, or you can make one yourself using plant-based alternatives.

This way, you can find the perfect patties with the right flavors and textures to impress even your non-vegan peers.

Popular meat-free alternatives include tofu, jackfruit, black bean, kidney beans, quinoa, lentil, coriander, and seitan. You can also add any garnish you want, whether it’s shallots, lettuce, tomatoes, or vegan cheese. That goes to show how versatile it is.

Honey BBQ Ribz

Another tasty main dish that will make even the non-vegans drool is honey BBQ Ribz. You read that right – ribz. These are the meat-free ribs alternative made of seitan that delivers a similar flavor and texture. That makes it more pleasurable to devour.

Aside from the seitan ribz, the heart of this dish is the honey BBQ sauce, giving it the perfect balance between smoky and sweet. We guarantee that you won’t get enough of these ribz.

Chick’n Kebab

The chick’n kebab is another tasty option that you should try. This can simply be made using chicken meat alternatives.

Simply slice the chick’n into cubes and ass them into a skewer. You can also add tofu, vegan cheese, or tomatoes to give it a little more texture and color. Then, grill the chick’n kebab while brushing it with your choice of barbecue sauce or oil with herbs.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms are popular for their meat-like texture and versatility. When marinated to perfection, you can create different dishes with it – whether as a steak, a kebab, or as a topping for your salad or nachos.

These mushrooms are also easy to prepare and grill, so you won’t have to spend too much time getting things ready. If you’re in a hurry to prepare food for the barbecue, you won’t regret serving these grilled Portobello mushrooms.

Vegan BBQ Ideas – summary

If you’re looking for some vegan BBQ ideas, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best vegan options that will make your barbecue more enjoyable.

Try grilling some tofu or cauliflower steaks, or opt for a vegan burger or kebab. You can also go for honey BBQ Ribz or grilled portobello mushrooms.

Whatever you choose, we’re sure that you and your guests will enjoy it. So fire up the grill and get cooking!