32+ Vegan BBQ Recipes: Best Ideas for Summer & Grilling

This list of delicious vegan BBQ recipes is full of nutritious warmer weather foods for the barbecue season.

Whether you're hosting a BBQ and expect vegan guests, are attending a cookout with meat eaters and want to bring some plant-based options for yourself, or (better yet!) are having a fully vegan barbecue with all your plant-based friends, this list of vegan bbq recipes is just the thing you need.

Since I'm all about eating plenty of protein on a vegan diet, I recommend choosing a couple vegan protein recipes and a few colorful side dishes to make sure you're still balancing your summer bbq plate with a good combination of protein, fat, and carbs.

Prepare your taste buds for these fantastic vegan bbq recipes on your next hot summer day.

And if you're wanting help to FINALLY lose fat and keep it off for life in a way that allows you to still eat delicious foods like this and doesn't take your mental peace in the process, check out my sustainable fat loss course.

Vegan Proteins & Meat-Free Mains

Teriyaki Tofu & Veggie Skewers

These veggie skewers have grilled tofu, red onion, red bell peppers, and pineapple with a vegan teriyaki sauce. Each serving has 170 calories, 2g fat, 26g carbs, and 13g protein. Keep in mind that these are high in sodium so may not be suitable for people requiring low-sodium diets.

Tofu Kebabs

These vegan skewers are Greek-inspired and full of flavor with tofu, olive oil, garlic, oregano, lemon juice, paprika, and nutritional yeast. Two skewers is 293 calories, 21g fat (3g saturated), 10g carbs, and 18g protein. These are half the sodium as the previous skewers but may still be high for those on low-sodium diets.

Grilled BBQ Tofu

This recipe is so simple -- just grilled tofu cubes with barbecue sauce! Just make sure to check that your favorite bbq sauce is vegan. Each serving has 116 calories, 2g fat, 17g carbs, and 8g protein. The sodium is 431mg per serving.

BBQ Tempeh

This BBQ tempeh is also super simple. It's made with tempeh, BBQ sauce, oil, salt, pepper, and water on a skillet. Each serving has 312 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated), 960mg sodium, 26g carbs, and 21g protein.

Seitan and Jackfruit BBQ Ribs

These vegan ribs are a tender and juicy vegan meat substitute for your next bbq. They're made with vital wheat gluten, jackfruit, mushrooms, almond butter, bbq sauce, soy sauce, liquid smoke, maple syrup, and a bunch of spices for flavor. Each serving is 285 calories, 5g fat (0g saturated), 30g carbs, and 31g protein.

BBQ Seitan Ribs

If you want another option for seitan ribs without the bbq jackfruit, check out this one. It's made with vital wheat gluten, tahini, soy sauce, liquid smoke, and a bunch of spices for flavor. Each serving has 260 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated), 880mg sodium, 32g carbs, and 26g protein.

Protein-Rich Vegan Burgers & Sandwiches

Vegan BBQ Sandwich with Seitan

Made with homemade seitan and spicy barbecue sauce, these vegan BBQ sandwiches have a meaty texture and provides plenty of protein. Each serving has 424 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated), 843mg sodium, 55g carbs, and 32g protein.

Mushroom & Black Bean Veggie Burgers

These burgers are made from black beans, oyster mushrooms, onion, garlic, flax, oats, soy sauce, and a bunch of spices. Each burger patty is 245 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated), 529mg sodium, 35g carbs, and 12g protein.

Seitan & Black Bean Burgers

These meaty burgers are packed with protein from the vital wheat gluten, black beans, and TVP. They also have mushrooms, liquid smoke, barbecue sauce, miso, and a bunch of spices. Each burger has 166 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated), 1209mg sodium, 17g carbs, and 22g protein.

BBQ Black Bean Burgers

These veggie burgers are made from simple ingredients like black beans, flaxseed, breadcrumbs, vegan barbecue sauce, olive oil, and spices. Each burger (with the bun and bbq sauce included) provides 579 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated), 2306mg sodium, 92g carbs, and 24g protein.

Vegan BBQ "Chicken"

This vegan "chicken" is made just 3 simple ingredients - soy curls from butler foods, veggie broth, and bbq sauce. Each serving of the vegan bbq "chicken" has 173 calories, <1g fat, 516mg sodium, 29g carbs, and 6g protein.

BBQ Lentil Burger

These lentil "burgers" can be made in only 30 minutes with lentils, barbecue sauce, onion, bell peppers, carrots, and oil. Each serving has 311 calories, 2g fat (0g saturated), 751mg sodium, 61g carbs, and 13g protein.

BBQ Tofu & Sweet Potato Sandwich

This bbq sandwich is made with tofu, mushrooms, onion, bbq sauce, sweet potatoes, and avocado. The nutrition information is not listed, but the sandwiches are likely around 10g of protein from the tofu and bread, and you can always add more tofu to increase the grams of protein!

Vegan Hot Dogs & Sausages (High-Protein)

Vegan Sausage

These vegan seitan sausages have a meaty texture and are full of protein from the tofu, vital wheat gluten, and kidney beans, making them a perfect main course for the grilling season. They're also made with olives, maple syrup, tomato paste, veggie broth, and spices. Each sausage has 283g protein, 4g fat, 209mg sodium, 25g carbs, and 36g protein.

Smokey Seitan & Black Bean Sausages

These vegan sausages have a smoky flavor from liquid smoke and paprika and are high in protein from the black beans and vital wheat gluten. They're also made with sundried tomatoes, onion, garlic, broth, and spices for tons of flavor. You can meal prep these ahead of time if you'd like as they do well frozen. Each sausage has 142 calories, 1g fat, 977mg sodium, 10g carbs, and 24g protein.

Low-Protein Vegan Meat Substitutes

Although these vegan food options are low in protein, sometimes they are fun to include as well because of their meat-like flavors or textures. Just make sure to include high protein options alongside!

Vegan BBQ Pulled "Pork" Sandwiches

This vegan pulled "pork" is made from bbq jackfruit, making it low in protein. However, it's still a delicious and healthy option to include in your vegan bbq menu this summer.

Portobello Mushroom Burger

These veggie burgers are made from portobello mushrooms marinated in a balsamic vinegar mixture. The chipotle sauce adds a little protein from the cashews but overall this sandwich is pretty low in protein. Each burger has 522 calories, 33g fat (6g saturated), 2541mg sodium, 48g carbs, and 13g protein.

High Protein Vegan Salads

Easy High Protein Vegan Summer Salad

This salad uses seitan chorizo, vegan pesto, garlic hummus, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and romaine for a super quick 10-minute high protein summer salad. Each serving is 223 calories and 20g of protein!

Pesto Orzo Salad with Sundried Tomatoes

One of my favorite things about the warmer weather months is having tons of fresh basil growing in my garden to make all of the pesto my heart desires. This pesto orzo salad is full of fresh veggies like cucumber, arugula, and parsley. It also has sundried tomatoes, chickpeas, vegan feta, and lemon juice. Each serving has 293 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated), 166mg sodium, 51g carbs, and 13g protein.

Strawberry Balsamic Tofu Pasta Salad

This salad is loaded with plant-based ingredients like tofu, rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil, strawberries, and vegan feta with a homemade balsamic marinade. Each serving has 441 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated), 465mg sodium, 64g carbs, and 18g protein.

Three Bean Salad

This salad is made with green beans, red kidney beans, chickpeas, red onion, parsley and a homemade vinaigrette dressing. Each serving has 189 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated), 162mg sodium, 28g carbs, and 8g protein.

Tahini Barbecue Salad with Cabbage and Chickpeas

This salad is made with chickpeas, tahini, homemade vegan bbq sauce, cabbage, chives, carrots, corn, cucumber, avocado, and quinoa. While the nutrition facts aren't listed, this salad will likely provide at least 10g protein from the chickpeas, quinoa, and tahini.

Side Dishes & Veggies

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese is so cheesy and comforting! There's no cashews or tofu - just pure creamy goodness from plant milk, vegan butter, and vegan cheese. It's a cookout classic and perfect for your next summer gathering.

Vegan Macaroni Salad

You can't have a cookout without macaroni salad, right? This one is made vegan with macaroni, fresh veggies, vegan mayo, pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, agave, fresh herbs, and spices. Each serving has 292 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated), 404mg sodium, 43g carbs, and 9g protein.

Vegan Pimento Macaroni Salad

This recipe has a different spin on macaroni salad by combining macaroni, fresh veggies, and pimentos with a homemade vegan "cheese" sauce out of cashews, nutritional yeast, roasted red peppers, lemon juice, rice vinegar, hot sauce, and spices. Each serving has 285 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated), 575mg sodium, 43g carbs, and 11g protein.

Italian Pasta Salad

This pasta salad has rotini, cucumber, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and olives with a homemade Italian dressing. Eating fresh salads like this is the easiest way to pack in a bunch of nutrients and fiber.

Grilled Potato Salad

This grilled potato salad is made with 5 simple ingredients - potatoes, olive oil, green onions, olive oil, and dijon mustard. Each serving provides 244 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 327mg sodium, 32g carbs, and 4g protein.

Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Who doesn't love mashed potatoes? These are made with potatoes, non-dairy milk, vegan butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Each serving provides 247 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated), 698mg sodium, 31g carbs, and 4g protein.

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

These crispy sweet potato fries are baked to perfection with olive oil, cornstarch, garlic, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper. Nobody will be able to turn these down. Each serving has 163 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 67mg sodium, 26g carbs, and 2g protein.

Tropical Mango Coleslaw

This coleslaw uses traditional cole slaw ingredients like green and red cabbage and carrots but adds in a tropical twist with mango. It's also lighter without the mayo by using olive oil and apple cider vinegar as a dressing with some fresh herbs like mint and cilantro.

Ginger Miso Summer Slaw

This Asian-inspired slaw is made with cabbage, carrots, kale, green onions, and a homemade ginger miso dressing.

Grilled Vegetables

Grilled vegetables and colorful, nutritious, easy to make, and pair well with everything at a backyard barbecue.

Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple

Eating fresh fruits is a great way to hydrate and cool down during the bbq season. This grilled pineapple can be made without much time and with little effort. All you need is pineapple, lime juice, and spices. Each serving is 79 calories, 1g fat, 411mg sodium, 20g carbs, and 1g protein.

Mango Corn Red Pepper Salsa

Chips and salsa are some of the best things to have around for any get-together. This salsa is full of flavor from the mango, red onion, bell peppers, corn, jalapeno, lime juice, and spices. 

Pineapple Avocado Salsa

Continuing on with the fresh fruit & salsa theme, this pineapple avocado salsa is perfect for summer and can be made in just 20 minutes. It's made with pineapple, avocado, red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, and salt.

It's Time to Get Cookin'

When it comes to vegan and vegetarian BBQ recipes, your options are endless! I can't wait to hear how this list of the best vegan recipes turned out at your summer cookout. Let me know in the comments!

If you're looking for more recipes, be sure to check out these air fryer tofu recipes.