31 Vegan Barbecue Sides That Will Definitely Impress Meat Eaters (2024)

By

Michele Foley

Cucumber, Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad

Crafted with basic ingredients, this satisfying Summer salad is not only low in calories, but is also a great way to combine the flavors of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cilantro.

Sesame Ginger Quinoa Salad

If you're bored of a basic green salad, here's a hearty variation that includes cooked quinoa for added protein and fiber.

Jennifer Aniston's Spring Salad

Serve up a side of Jennifer Aniston's fresh Spring salad for a dish that's high in fiber, iron, and vitamin C. Hydrating cucumbers and refreshing tomatoes go well with any BBQ fare.

Dry Roasted Edamame With Black Sesame Seeds

If you're a fan of the edamame that's served alongside your sushi, you'll want this recipe ASAP. The dish only requires four ingredients for an easy and healthy side.

Lentil Salad With Mustard and Tomatoes

A tangy and bright lentil salad makes for a pretty side dish for a Summer barbecue.

Cumin-Spiced Lentils With Quinoa

This flavorful dish is both vegan and gluten free! The coriander and cumin spices give the quinoa an added kick.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

This quinoa tabbouleh salad is so good, you may actually do a double scoop onto your plate. The recipe is very spicy and oniony, great for those who want a spicy side dish.

Tomato Salsa

You'll want to make two batches of this quick and easy tomato salsa because your party guests will devour it in minutes.

Spicy-Sweet Potato Salad

For a side dish that will satisfy everyone's diets, from Paleo to vegan, you'll want to make this spicy-sweet potato salad. As an added bonus, sweet potatoes regulate your blood sugar and help you lose weight.

Indian-Spiced Chard With Tofu

If you're going to make a tofu side dish, make an Indian-spiced chard version. For a lighter side dish, leave out the tofu.

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

There's nothing to not love about this sun-dried tomato hummus. All vegan and all natural, the healthy side dish will impress everyone's taste buds.

Spicy Black Bean Hummus

A spicy black bean hummus dip will give you that added fiber to your diet. Black beans are also high in iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B1.

Fava Beans With Green Garlic and Kumquats

Add some healthy greens to your BBQ side dishes with this fava bean recipe. It can even be tossed in pasta, grilled, or mashed into a crostini topper.

Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad

You don't need mayo to pull of a cold pasta salad — take this vegan version, for one. Instead of mayo, the fresh veggies and pasta are tossed together with a low-fat, olive oil dressing.

Sesame Carrot Salad

The spicy and sweet flavors of this sesame carrot salad hold up even better the next day. Prep it the night before and wow your friends when they show up for your party later that week!

Vegan Mac and Cheese

Who can pass up a side of gooey and comforting mac and cheese? Because no one should have to, we created this recipe for vegan mac and cheese. In this recipe, cheese gets replaced with nutritional yeast, butter with Earth Balance spread, and cream with veggie broth.

Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Cool off with a serving of some fresh mango and red pepper salsa. It's great as a side dish, but works equally as well when served with fish, chicken, or tofu.

Guacamole

No backyard BBQ is complete without homemade guacamole. This creamy dip goes well with veggies, corn chips, or pita bread.

Avocado and Lime Black Bean Salad

This avocado and lime black bean salad from Oh She Glows is full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, minus all the meat! It's also damn delicious.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Chili-Walnut Layered Dip

Spelt Mixed Salad

This colorful spelt salad will not only look good on the picnic table, it will be a definite crowd-pleaser when it comes to taste.

Chopped Salad

Every backyard barbecue needs a fresh, crunchy salad, and Jamie Oliver's version does not disappoint. It's especially great because it's an easy recipe to build on.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Amaze guests with this spinach artichoke dip. Gooey and rich, this vegan version is guaranteed to be the first dish to disappear.

Quinoa, Black Bean, and Mango Salad

Cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a fave amongst vegans and vegetarians. Her food is next level, and you never feel deprived — even if you're a meat-eater. If you want a fresh, Summer-esque salad this Winter, go for a quinoa, black bean, and mango salad from Isa's popular book, Veganomicon.

Edamole

If you're a fan of guacamole, but don't like that it's high in fat, then you're going to go crazy for edamole. The green appearance comes from edamame, which are high in protein, low in fat and calories, and have a sweet and fresh flavor that is perfect for warm-weather parties.

Black Bean Dip

No backyard barbecue is complete without an array of dips. This black bean dip gets a nice kick from the garlic, onions, and cayenne pepper, and it's low-cal with almost no fat and sugar!

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

These spicy roasted chickpeas will satisfy chip cravings, but there's no deep frying required. The snack is full of heat and crunch and sort of reminds us of spicy wasabi peas or corn nuts.

Warm Cranberry Balsamic Pasta Salad

It wouldn't be a backyard barbecue without a pasta salad! This cranberry balsamic pasta salad is not only vegan, it's also gluten-free! Good eats for the entire party.

Spring Salad

This Spring salad is filled with nutritional goodness like buckwheat, tofu, and avocado. An easy dish to throw together a batch for your next big dinner.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

We are in love with this quinoa tabbouleh; the parsley and lemon add a sharp, fresh taste to the natural nuttiness of the quinoa. Added bonus: you only need five ingredients to make it!

Sweet Pecan and Wild Rice Salad

This vegan and gluten-free sweet pecan and wild rice salad will go great with the rest of your spread — all the added veggies won't hurt either!