10 Easy Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, odds are that you’re planning to fire up the grill and spend some much-needed quality time with your friends and family. I’ll be doing the same!

Memorial Day weekend is a pretty big time for my family. Not only is it my birthday weekend, but we traditionally host a Memorial Day barbecue for our close friends and family as well. It’s a time for us to slow down, reconnect, eat delicious—and healthy—food, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Why Your Food Should Be Healthy and Delicious

As I shared in my previous article, Dr. Pingel on How to Cope with Grief and Stress: 5 Tips to Help You Heal, I’ve experienced a lot of loss in my life, so I truly relish this time with my loved ones. And as a naturopathic physician, it’s important to me to feed them nutritious, health-supporting, veggie-based foods when we’re together. I want to know exactly what’s in our food so I can share the ways it’s boosting their health and happiness!

Speaking of knowing what’s in your food, did you know that hot dogs account for one of the most consumed foods over Memorial Day weekend? In fact, Americans consume over 20 billion hot dogs each year, yet surveys show that 43 percent are too afraid to know exactly what’s in them!

This year, instead of guessing what’s in your food (and wondering what it may be doing to your health), I want to implore you to try some of my favorite dishes below (you may also want to check out my super-easy and tasty vegan burger recipe!). Make these vegetarian barbecue recipes for your friends and family, and feel confident that you’re serving them delicious, nutrition-packed foods that you know will only help boost their health. And if you’re wondering, “What can vegetarians eat at a BBQ?” you may be happily surprised to learn that there are plenty of options!

Top 10 Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes

Vegan queso dip - Dr. Pingel

1. Vegan Queso Dip

This queso dip is so creamy that no one will ever guess it’s dairy-free. As a bonus, it contains only five ingredients, making it a simple must-have at all of my barbecues and one of my absolute favorite appetizers at my vegetarian BBQs.

Vegetarian recipes: vegan spinach artichoke dip

2. Spinach and Artichoke Dip

If you follow my Instagram account, you already know how much I love to incorporate leafy greens in my food whenever possible, which is why I love this recipe. It features vegan gooey mozzarella cheese and is one of my top go-to vegan BBQ recipes. I like to serve it with fresh-cut veggies for a beautiful and bright display.

Vegetarian barbecue recipes: baked beans

3. BBQ Baked Beans

Just because we’re avoiding meat with these recipes doesn’t mean you have to give up that smoky flavor so many love! This sweet and savory dish is the perfect vegetarian BBQ side for any spread. And as a bonus, it’s a one-pot dish, which means less clean-up after your guests leave. It’s a win-win!

Vegan potato salad

4. Vegan Potato Salad

No barbecue is complete without this timeless staple! Creamy, filling, and scrumptious, this vegan spin will remind you of your mom’s classic dish. It’s one of my top vegetarian BBQ sides!

Grilled corn on the cob - Dr. Pingel

5. Grilled Corn on the Cob

I’ll confess that I don’t eat a lot of corn regularly, but I like to indulge occasionally, and this is one of my top vegetarian BBQ recipes for a healthier take on this traditional BBQ dish. Featuring vegan-friendly coconut oil, fresh lime, cilantro, and smoky paprika, this corn on the cob will have your guests raving (and trying to guess your secret)!

Vegetarian barbecue recipes: mushroom skewers

6. Mushroom Skewers

I love making veggie skewers for our vegetarian BBQs, so I was immediately drawn to these mushroom skewers. Instead of using the soy sauce recommended in the recipe, though, I like to use liquid aminos or coconut aminos for an added health boost. This may become one of your favorite vegetarian barbecue recipes!

Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes: Buffalo cauliflower "wings"

7. Buffalo BBQ Cauliflower “Wings”

If you have been wondering what veggies you can BBQ, you may be surprised by this one. This is it—the dish even your meat-loving friends won’t be able to get enough of! It’s filling and full of the barbecue flavor your guests will be craving. As a bonus, these “wings” are baked, not fried. There is a gluten-free option included, which is not only perfect for those who have a gluten sensitivity, but it's also the way I always make them.

10 Easy Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes 1

8. Vegan BBQ Tofu Bowl

This beautiful vegan barbecue recipe features healthy staples such as broccoli, bell peppers, brown rice and crispy BBQ tofu. It even contains baked beans to give you all the classic barbecue flavors you’re looking for this weekend. This recipe is so simple to make—you don’t even need to heat up the grill for this one!

Vegan avocado chocolate mousse - Dr. Pingel

9. Avocado Chocolate Mousse

There’s nothing I love more than sneaking a health-boosting food like avocado into a dessert! Not only does it make it creamy and rich, but it’s simply one of the best healthy fat sources you can eat! I like to top this mousse with fresh berries to round out the taste and make it bright and colorful.

Vegetarian barbecue recipes: vegan lemon curd

10. Vegan Lemon Curd

There’s nothing quite like the taste of a sweet, tangy lemon curd to let you know you’re on the brink of summertime. When I make this recipe, I like to make it a bit healthier and substitute either coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener to taste.

Well, there you have it—my top vegetarian barbecue recipes that I love to serve at my holiday gatherings. Give them a try this Memorial Day weekend as we gather to remember and honor all of those who died serving our wonderful country. I hope you're able to enjoy and nurture those close to you with these healthy, delicious foods they’re sure to love.