Vegan BBQ: An Entire Meal Plan With Recipes

Picture this… a hot summer day. You’re sitting on your deck enjoying a nice cool drink and some sunshine and your friends call you up wondering if you want to get together for a barbecue. The weather is great so you agree it’s a fabulous idea and invite them to come over. Now, the question is … what are you going to make? No problem! In this blog, I will share with you one of my favourite vegan BBQ meals, complete with recipes, you and your guests will love!

 

Serve Your Guests A Drink

To get started a great vegan BBQ must Strat with a refreshing drink. Since I am someone who is lightweight when it comes to alcohol I tend to minimize the drinking. Here are a couple of refreshing beverages, one with alcohol and one without that you can serve depending on your guests’ preferences.

 

1) Beet Lemonade

Beet Lemonade Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 medium beets
• 1 lemon
• 1 cucumber
• 1 green apple
• 1/2 cup white grape juice
• 1/2 cup sparkling water
• ice

Instructions:

1. Juice the beets, lemon, cucumber and green apple.
2. Pour in a fancy glass over ice.
3. Serve.

Note: This will serve one to two people. Adjust as necessary to serve all of your guests. You may choose to make this and serve in a nice pitcher.

 

2) Sangria

Sangria Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 large orange
• 1 cup thinly sliced seasonal fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, watermelon
• 1 small lemon, sliced
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 bottle of Pinot Noir
• 1/2 bottle sparkling water
• Ice, to serve

Instructions:

1. Slice the orange in half from the stem downward.
2. Juice one half of the orange into pitcher and slice the other half to put into the pitcher.
3. Add the seasonal fruit, maple syrup, wine and sparkling water.
4. Serve over ice.

Simple Appy’s

While you are making the rest of your dinner and as your guests arrive you will want to have a few things on deck for them to nibble on. Here are a few of my favourite snacks to set out until dinner is ready. 

 

1) Veggies & Hummus

This is one of my all-time favourite snacks. You can either choose to make the hummus, which is very easy to do, or buy one from the store. Cut up a variety of veggies including cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. Set on a nice tray and voila…the perfect pre-dinner snack. 

Spicy Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¼  cup olive oil
• 1 large can organic chickpeas
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• ½  tsp cracked pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne
• Pinch turmeric

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.
2. Serve in a nice bowl or serving tray surrounded with cut up veggies. 

 

2) Chips & Guacamole

I know, you might be thinking this isn’t the healthiest snack in the world but once in a while who doesn’t love a good chip? My favourite in an organic blue corn chip served with a homemade guacamole and salsa.

All you have to do is pour the chips into a large, fun bowl and serve with guacamole and your favourite salsa. 

 

Simple Guacamole Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe avocados, pitted and diced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 roma tomatoes

Instructions:

 

The Main Course

This is where the good food comes in. My absolute favourite vegan BBQ meal is a veggie burger with potato salad and corn on the cob. This meal will be loaded with delicious, and healthy veggies, fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals as well as satisfy your taste buds. 

 

1) The Black Bean Burger

Veggie burgers are the easiest things to make. You can choose to make your own burger patty or simply buy a veggie patty from your local store. My favourite veggie burger patty’s are from Yves or Gardein brand. 

If you want to make your own here is a simple recipe:

 

Black Bean Burger Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 2 Tbsp. sweet onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. sweet potato, cooked and mashed
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 ½ tsp. dried oregano
• ½ tsp. dried basil
• ¼ tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 4 large romaine lettuce leaves or 4 fresh buns

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients, except olive oil and lettuce, in a large bowl. 
2. Form patties and place on an indoor grill or grill pan coated with coconut oil and on medium heat.
3. Cook for five minutes on each side or until patties are golden and crispy.
4. Place burgers on lettuce and wrap, or buns and top with slice of tomato and other desired condiments. 

 

2) Potato Salad

This is one of my all-time favourite summer salads because my mom used to make homemade potato salad when I was a kid. However, when I chose to eat a plant-based lifestyle I found it hard to this traditional favourite since it is usually made with mayonnaise and eggs but I found a way!

Vegan Dill Potato Salad Recipe

Ingredients for the veggies:

• 1 pound, or about 6 cups, potatoes, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped

Ingredients for the sauce:

• 1 cup Veganaise
• 1 Tbsp avocado or olive oil
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp mustard
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until soft.
2. Once potatoes are soft, drain the water and allow to cool wither on the counter or in the fridge. 
3. In the meantime, place all sauce ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Add water if sauce is too thick. 
4. Chop bell pepper, celery sticks and red onion and place in a large bowl with the potatoes. 
5. Pour sauce on top of the veggies and mic thoroughly until fully coated. 
6. Top with a sprinkle of fresh dill or parsley and serve in a large glass bowl. 

 

3) Corn On The Cob

There is nothing better than the first bite of a fresh corn on the cob. This is an easy one to make. 

1. Peel the corn and place it in a large pot.
2. Cover with water.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Remove from water when ready to serve.
5. Smother corn with coconut oil and a dash of sea salt.

 

 

Finish With Dessert

After this big meal if you have any room left you may want to treat yourself with something sweet.

Here are some of my favourite post BBQ dessert ideas:

 

1) Dark chocolate

Buy a nice organic dark chocolate bar, break off a piece and enjoy.

You can also make your own chocolate and add any superfoods or flavours your desire.

Raw Superfood Chocolates Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cacao butter
• ½  cup coconut oil
• 2 cups cacao powder
• ½ cup maple syrup or raw agave nectar
• 2 tbsp maca powder
• ½ tsp Harmonic Arts 14 mushroom blend
• ¼ tsp hibiscus berry powder

Instructions:

1. Melt coconut oil and cacao butter in a double boiler over low heat.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until thoroughly mixed.
3.  Pour into moulds and freeze for 20-30 minutes.

 

2) Fresh fruit

Although I don’t always recommend fruit as a post-meal treat, due to the fact that it can cause some digestive distress in some people, it can be a nice healthy dessert.

Cut up some fresh watermelon, or an assortment of berries and serve. 

 

3) Almond Macaroons

These tasty little almond macaroons can be served frozen as a nice cool post-dinner treat. 

 

Almond Macaroons Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups dried, unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/3 cup coconut butter
• 1 1/2 cups fine almond flour
• 1 tablespoon almond extract
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine.
2. Using a small cookie scoop place the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. 
3. Refrigerate until cookies are solid. 
4. These cookies can be frozen.

 

So there you have it! The perfect summer vegan BBQ for you, your friends and family. Please leave a comment below and let me know if you made this delicious meal and how you liked the recipes. 

Do you have any favourite vegan BBQ meals? Please share in the comments below. 

 

Until next time, 

Namaste,

 

Rachel Joy Olsen, BSc., MBA

Vegan, Author, Health & Wellness Coach