What are you going to do when you are the vegan at the cookout? What do you eat? That’s when you think: “what vegan cookout food can I bring so I can eat, and make a contribution to the meal?“

No matter what stage of vegan life you are in, it will happen: you’re going to a cookout. 

A lot of people (correctly) imagine the grill, and the table, heaped with bits of cooked animals, stacks of cheesy things, and all sorts of other dishes they simply will not (and cannot) eat. But, big get-togethers – like cookouts and family parties – are an excellent opportunity to share delicious vegan cookout food with people who have the all too common perception of vegan food being carrots and tasteless tofu, and to introduce them to the wonderful variety. The choice then, is be rude and stay home, or be the vegan at the cookout with the awesome food that everyone wants to try! This post is to help you do the latter, and be the hero!

Summertime Means Cookouts

Here in North America, the cookout is a staple of Summer entertaining, and it officially starts with the Memorial Day weekend. That’s what got us started thinking about this. So, we reached out to a bunch of our awesome vegan blogger friends and asked them for their favorite vegan cookout food. Well, you are in for a treat because they really came through with some outstanding vegan dishes that even a newbie in the kitchen can put together and wow friends and family. Of course, we have a few in here, too 😉

WHAT TO BRING ROUNDUP Saves the Day!

We have compiled a fantastic list of options for you. There is something here no matter if you are rushing about last minute or all the way to hosting the whole thing at your place. We have organized the list into 4 categories (click on the category to jump down the page):

1. Salad & Dips
2. Sides
3. Main Dish, Burgers, & Grill
4. Desserts

OK! Enough of that – let’s get started!

VEGAN COOKOUT FOOD ROUNDUP

SALADS & DIPS

VEGAN FAMILY RECIPES: Summer Pasta Salad

FRIED DANDELIONS: Balsamic Bean Salad

CADRY’S KITCHEN: Peach & Black Bean Salsa

THE VEGAN 8: Smoky Jalapeño Black Bean Dip

HEALTHIER STEPS: Garlic Tofu Salad with Lime Dressing 

GLUE & GLITTER: Vegan Dilly Pesto Potato Salad

VEGGIES DON’T BITE: 7 Layer Taco Dip 

VEGGIES DON’T BITE: Italian Orzo Salad

FULL OF BEANS: Can’t Stop Eating This Bean Dip

VEGGIE INSPIRED JOURNEY: Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Tahini

 

SIDES

TRINITY’S CONSCIOUS KITCHEN: Raw Sunflower Seed Pate

ELEPHANTASTIC VEGAN: Mediterranean Couscous with Olives, Artichokes, & Dried Tomatoes

FULL OF BEANS: Fat-Free Vegan Baked Beans 

FULL OF BEANS: Best Ever Cornbread

 

MAIN DISH, BURGERS, & GRILL

HEDI HEARTS: Clean Eating Falafel Burger

CADRY’S KITCHEN: Curried Tofu Salad – Quick & Easy Lunch

VEGANOSITY: Red Wine Portobello Burger

VEGANOSITY: Pulled BBQ Carrots

FULL OF BEANS: Tofu Dill Salad

GO DAIRY FREE: Famous Black Bean Chipotle Burger

XANDER FRIENDLY FOODS: Veggie Carrot Hot Dogs

MY PLANT BASED FAMILY: Secret Ingredient Vegan BBQ Sandwich

FULL OF BEANS: Killer Vegan Chili!

 

 

DESSERTS (everyone’s fav!)

FRIED DANDELIONS: Coconut Almond Tart

A VIRTUAL VEGAN: Raspberry Walnut Squares

GO DAIRY FREE: Frosted Strawberry Shortbread Bars

FEASTING ON FRUIT: Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

UNCONVENTIONAL BAKER: Caramelized Peanut & Chocolate Pie

Have fun sharing all this amazing food with friends, family, and skeptics!

🙂