No matter what stage of vegan life you are in, it will happen: you’re going to a cookout. 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?”
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:
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
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!
🙂
This Post Has 17 Comments
Skeptics beware — no denying these dishes look DELICIOUS 🙂 Beautiful collection. And thank you for sharing my pie.
Skeptics have officially run out of the ability to claim that vegan food is “limited”, or “tasteless”, or “boring”. But we knew that already! 😄 It was fun putting it together – thanks for your pie, Audrey, it’s exceptional!
I want to be at THIS BBQ! 🙂 Thanks for including my Chickpea Cucumber Salad! Sharing.
It would be an epic event, for sure!! Thanks for the comment, your contribution, and the share! 😊
Oh my goodness, this is such an epic line up of plant-based foods. No we are spoiled for choice 🙂
So true! What I say all the time is “we eat like kings!”
😄 -Greg
This would make for the most epic potluck ever!! So much great food, thanks for putting it together you two 🙂
OMG, it really would! It was fun to put it all together 🙂
It sure would be fun to get all of us together for a feast! Thanks for sharing my recipe and putting this all together. What a great collection! Can’t wait to share this with friends.
Wouldn’t it be fun? Its an awesome list – glad that you like it and thanks for your contribution. 🙂
Omg I’m drooling over all of these amazing dishes, for real!! Thanks for including my black bean dip! Sharing this!
Aren’t they all amazing!? LOVE your dip!
🙂
Are y’all on Twitter? I shared it on Twitter but couldn’t find your name to tag you!
Well…we weren’t, but we are now! LOL @fullofbeanslife
WOW! I think the vegans at this cookout might have to fight the non-vegans off. So many delicious options. Thank you for including my pulled carrots and Portobello burger recipes. 🙂 Sharing everywhere!
Thank you so much for including my mediterranean couscous! What an epic round-up!
Hi Bianca! You’re welcome, it looks so wonderful, how could we not include it?