A Guilt-Free Grilling Guide for your Compassionate Cookout

Memorial Day is widely considered the official start of summer – and, of course, the grilling season. As families across the country fire up their backyard barbeques, many are also firing up some plans for hosting a compassionate cookout to introduce their pre-vegan friends and family to delicious meat-free foods.

To get started, check out our guilt-free grilling guide featuring some of our summer favorites:

Veggie Burgers: There is a flavor of veggie burger for every palate, from the “meaty” Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burger, to a Sunshine Burger chock full of veggies, rice, and sunflower seeds, to the Vegan Original Boca Burger – available in many major supermarkets.

Veggie Dogs: Great for kids – or anyone who likes relish – Lightlife Smart Dogs, Field Roast Vegetarian Frankfurters, or Yves Original Meatless Jumbo Hot Dogs are all tasty “not dogs.”

Sausages: Tofurky Beer Brats and Kielbasas appeal to grown up tastes and Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage Sausages are perfect for gourmet gatherings.

Veggie Chicken: Gardein Chick’n Scallopini or skewers of Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips would taste great glazed with barbeque sauce. Or for a crispy sandwich, Boca Original Chik’n Patties are a convenient choice.

Fresh Veggies and Fruit: Portabella mushrooms, asparagus, thick slices of zucchini, and even watermelon, plums and peaches (pictured above) taste great on the grill – just make sure that you oil the cooking grate well so they don’t stick.

Meat-Free Cookout Recipes:

Chicken-Free Macaroni Salad
10-12 servings

• 1 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked and cooled to room temperature
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup red onion, diced
• 1 cup carrot, shredded
• ½ – 1 cup vegan mayo
• ½ cup sweet relish
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 ½ tsp. black pepper
• 12 oz. Beyond Meat Chicken Free Strips, cut into ½ inch pieces

Mix all ingredients together and adjust mayo, relish, and seasoning until desired consistency and flavor is reached.

Veg Kabobs
4-6 servings

• 1 cup zucchini, cubed
• 1 cup button mushrooms
• 12-16 cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup red, yellow, or green peppers, cubed
• 1 onion, cut into chunks
• Any oil-based salad dressing or your favorite marinade
• Veggie sausage, sliced into several pieces

Marinate the vegetables in the salad dressing or marinade for at least an hour. Thread onto skewers, alternating the vegetables with veggie sausage. Grill over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, rotating halfway through.

Visit VegRecipes.org for more meal ideas — and  you’ll also discover lots of fantastic vegan BBQ recipes in Vegan Grilling Style by John Schlimm.