41 Best Vegetarian Grilling Recipes for Everyone in the Yard
Vegetarian grilling isn’t just for folks who don’t eat any meat, and grilled vegetables can be way more exciting than a plate of random charred onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. In this collection of vegetarian recipes for your barbecue, you’ll find celebration-worthy main dishes—and the tips for getting them right—plus elegant grilled appetizers and sides and salads that make the most of what’s in season and layer on deep flavor. Check on your charcoal supply, text a few friends to invite them to join you, and then scroll down to plan the menu for your best cookout yet.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/41Grilled Whole Cauliflower With Miso Mayo
The secret to great grilled cauliflower: First, steam the whole head (or zap it for a few minutes in the microwave) to ensure that it's tender to the core. Then, baste it with a spicy butter sauce as it chars on the grill and serve over a lemony miso mayo to turn it into a flavor-packed and impressive-looking grilled vegetarian entrée.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson2/41Grilled Corn on the Cob With Salt-and-Pepper Butter
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton3/41Open-Face Mushroom Sandwiches With Pecorino Salsa Verde
King trumpet mushrooms stand up beautifully to the heat of a grill, getting a little char, a little smoky flavor, and the perfect chewy-crisp texture. This open-faced sandwich from Epi contributor Christian Reynoso, (who has cooked at restaurants including Zuni Café in San Francisco), is a fork-and-knife affair. The bread is grilled, too, providing a sturdy base for the flavorful mushroom topping.
Photo by Issy Croker4/41Eggplant Tikkas in Creamy Yogurt, Mustard, Chile, and Ginger
You can cook these vegetarian skewers in the broiler, but if you have a grill, it’s perfect for this recipe. The secret is in the flavorful yogurt marinade. Let it absorb for an hour before you heat up the grill.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Dawn Perry5/41Beer-Can Cabbage Sandwiches
You’ve heard of beer-can chicken. But what about beer-can cabbage? Meet the vegetarian star of your next backyard barbecue.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo6/41Grilled Pizza
You can load up these grilled pizzas with whatever toppings you like, but the burst cherry tomatoes and lemony Swiss chard are a good place to start. (And, of course, to keep them vegetarian, leave the optional pepperoni out.)
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/41Grilled Whole Eggplant With Harissa Vinaigrette
Nestle a whole eggplant in the dying embers of a charcoal grill (or char it up top) and it’ll soften into a deliciously smoky, spoonable topper for flatbread or grilled slices of sourdough. While you're at it, throw a foil packet of strawberries in the embers too.
Photo & Food Styling by Hetty McKinnon8/41Grilled Cauliflower Wedges With Herb Tarator
Just because whole cauliflower entrées are a thing at restaurants doesn't mean you have to go that way in your own backyard. In this recipe from Epi contributor Hetty McKinnon, you’ll slice the cauliflower into wedges first, to maximize the caramelized surface. The minty, tahini-enriched tarator sauce is is brightened with a heavy dose of lemon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege9/41Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad
Grill eggplant and zucchini, then toss with hot pasta, fresh tomatoes, herbs, and mozzarella for an almost instant ratatouille-inspired pasta dinner. This is one of those vegetarian grilling recipes that’ll please vegetarians and omnivores alike.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch10/41Grilled Jerk Tofu and Plantains With Mango Salsa
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens11/41Grilled Greens and Cheese on Toast
Pile charred Halloumi cheese, kale, and cherry tomatoes onto grilled bread rubbed with garlic for an almost-instant meal in the backyard.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson12/413-Ingredient Grilled Watermelon, Feta, and Tomato Salad
Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews13/41Grilled Potatoes With Red Miso Butter
