Gone are the days when the meat-free options at a barbecue were limited to tasteless veggie sausages and boring bean burgers. Whether you are looking for sizzling halloumi, perfectly chargrilled tofu, tasty veggie patties, colourful kebabs, or just the best veg-packed sides, we have all of the recipes you need to take the vegetarian dishes at your barbecue to the next level. Still on the hunt for some options for the carnivores? Take a look at our collection of favourite meaty mains here and don’t forget to finish off the feast with one of our summery desserts, perfect for enjoying in the garden.
Mega Veggie Burgers Garden Salad and Basil Dressing
These veggie burgers from Jamie Oliver are not only easy to prepare but also packed with flavour. The simple tofu patties are layered with a rich tomato sauce and plenty of melted cheese, making for a filling crowd-pleaser.
From the book
Everyday Super Food
Jamie’s inspiring recipes for delicious and nourishing meals
Simple, trusted recipes that leave you feeling great
Satisfying salads and guilt-free desserts
Aubergine and Goat’s Cheese Burger Stacks with Honey and Thyme
Inspired by the classic Spanish dish, berenjenas con miel, these honey and thyme-laced aubergine stacks from Rukmini Iyer are a unique alternative to more classic veggie burgers.
Grilled Halloumi Burgers with Chilli Ketchup and Tahini Mayo
These burgers from The World of The Happy Pear are a favourite with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Our advice when making this recipe? Double it. They’ll disappear in no time.
Black Bean Burgers
Even though this recipe from At My Table uses a combination of black beans and mushrooms rather than beef, these burgers are undeniably meaty. A brilliant recipe if you’re looking for a beef burger substitute and irresistible when served with all the trimmings.
Cauliflower Shawarma with Pomegranate, Pine Nuts and Rose
This Middle Eastern-inspired whole roasted cauliflower, marinated in a shawarma-spiced butter and topped with a creamy tahina sauce, wins the award for show-stopping vegetable centrepiece.
Barbecued or Griddled Sweetcorn with Flavoured Butters
This whole sweetcorn recipe from Grill it with Levi is a barbecue staple. Levi’s flavoured butters intensify the flavour of the sweetcorn, taking it to a whole new level – choose from lime and coriander, Parmesan or chilli butter.
Crispy Barbecue Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Cashews, Carrots and Nuoc Cham
Crispy grilled tofu is stacked into fresh lettuce leaves, topped with a crunchy carrot pickle and served alongside a Vietnamese-inspired ginger soy dipping sauce in this easy plant-based barbecue dish. For more Southeast Asian barbecue inspiration, check out our collection here.
Crispy Jerk Barbecue Tacos
A Caribbean twist on a Mexican classic, these jerk barbecue mushroom tacos are topped with fried plantains, crunchy red cabbage, jerk mayo and a cooling salsa. They also happen to be vegan-friendly too.
Griddled Courgette with Parmesan, Almonds and Lemon
In this easy side dish, strips of courgette are griddled on the barbecue for a smoky flavour before being topped with toasted almonds, vegetarian Parmesan and a fresh, zesty lemon truffle dressing.
Mega Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These sweet potatoes are a perfect recipe for feeding a crowd. And if you’ve got meat-lovers at your barbecue too, you can always top the sweet potatoes with bacon.
Fire-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Balsamic Onions, Blue Cheese and Walnuts
Sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for any barbecue. Simply foil wrap and leave to roast in the coals, before stuffing with caramelised onions, crunchy walnuts and punchy blue cheese. (Look out for rennet-free blue cheese to ensure this dish stays fully vegetarian).
Crispy Gnocchi – On a Stick! (With Roasted Peppers and Basil Pesto)
Rukmini Iyer gives her signature roasted gnocchi dish a summery twist with this recipe for crispy gnocchi skewers with sweet roasted peppers and basil pesto.
Halloumi and Watermelon Skewers with Tamarind Dip
With cubes of sweet and juicy watermelon, crunchy bread croutons and crisp, salty halloumi these simple skewers are a lovely balance of textures and flavours, served with a sweet honey and tamarind dip.
Crispy Ginger Cauliflower Wings With Tamarind and Coriander
Cooked on the grill until charred and tender, cauliflower florets are tossed in a simple tamarind dressing for a punchy vegan barbecue option.
Griddled Sweet Potatoes with Mint, Chilli and Smoked Garlic
The combination of caramelised sweet potato, smoky garlic, fresh mint and biting chilli is extremely hard to beat. Once you’ve tried this recipe it’s unlikely you’ll ever cook sweet potatoes in the same way again.
Oregano, Pine Nut and Mozzarella Stuffed Mushrooms With Chilli
Cooked on the barbecue, Portobello mushrooms become soft and juicy, perfect for topping with melty mozzarella cheese, pine nuts, fresh oregano and a little chilli for some extra heat.
Squash with Charred Carrots, Red Onions, Coriander Seeds, Pistachios and Lime
This is a lovely easy veg dish for serving at a relaxed barbecue. Charring the squash, onion and carrots on the barbecue turns them soft and caramelised, ready to be finished with a super fresh lime and coriander seed dressing.
