13 Grilled Vegetarian Recipes That Hold Their Own at Any Cookout

Cookouts can get awkward when the only meatless option is a lonely bun and a few chips. These 13 grilled vegetarian recipes are built around food that can stand next to anything coming off the grill: charred corn, skewers, peppers, eggplant, fruit, burgers, and a pasta salad with grilled vegetables. Some are true grill recipes, while the burger-style options give the table a main that still fits the cookout spread. The range covers quick sides, fruit for dessert, sturdy mains, and vegetables that do more than sit politely on the edge of the plate.

A black bean burger in a burger bap with relish oozing out over it. — Black Bean Burger. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob on a black plate. — Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Brushed with Cajun oil before grilling, Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob brings a 30-minute side built from corn, Cajun seasoning, olive oil, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, and feta or cotija cheese. Four servings make it easy to scale for a bigger cookout. The creamy topping and charred corn give the table something bolder than plain buttered ears, especially when the rest of the grill is already full.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob

Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Threaded with zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, green bell pepper, and eggplant, Grilled Veggie Kabobs take 40 minutes and serve four. A lemon, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, basil, parsley, and garlic dressing keeps the vegetables from feeling like a backup plan. The skewer format makes them easy to pass around at a cookout, and the mix of vegetables gives every plate more than one texture.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Charred Grilled Peppers

Grilled red and yellow bell peppers with char marks, topped with crumbled feta cheese and garnished with herbs. — Charred Grilled Peppers. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Ready in 15 minutes, Charred Grilled Peppers turn two large bell peppers into a four-serving side with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, optional oregano, and minced garlic. The peppers grill skin-side down first, then finish on the flesh side until tender. They work warm or at room temperature, so they can sit beside burgers, corn, and pasta salad without needing last-minute care.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Peppers

Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

A bowl of vibrant pasta salad with penne, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced cucumbers, red onions, and a drizzle of dressing. — Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Packed with zucchini, red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and cavatappi, Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies takes 40 minutes and serves four. The balsamic vinaigrette uses olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, garlic, dried basil, salt, and lemon. It gives the cookout table a sturdy bowl that can cool slightly before serving, making it useful when the grill schedule keeps changing.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

Grilled Eggplant

Sliced into thick rounds, Grilled Eggplant takes 25 minutes and serves four with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. The recipe cooks the slices directly on a hot grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Eggplant brings enough weight for a light main or side, especially for anyone building a plate without a burger patty.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Eggplant

Sweet and Savory Pesto Corn

Pesto corn on the cob on a serving plate. — Sweet and Savory Pesto Corn. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Finished with pesto butter, grated vegetarian Parmesan, and chopped basil, Sweet and Savory Pesto Corn takes 30 minutes and serves four. The recipe starts with four cleaned corn cobs brushed with olive oil, then adds pesto and butter after cooking. It fits a cookout where plain corn already feels too expected, and the basil-Parmesan finish works well next to grilled vegetables or pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Savory Pesto Corn

Grilled Peaches

Close-up of grilled peach slices with caramelized, slightly charred edges on a white plate. — Grilled Peaches. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cooked for just 11 minutes, Grilled Peaches serve six with firm ripe peaches, olive oil, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, optional golden rum, and ice cream. The fruit grills for 2 to 3 minutes until lightly charred, then gets spooned with warm butter sauce. This gives the cookout a quick dessert that still uses the grill instead of sending someone back inside.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peaches

Charred Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus spears served on a plate with two charred lemon halves. — Charred Grilled Asparagus. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

A 10-minute side built from one pound of thick asparagus, Charred Grilled Asparagus serves four with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, and lemon wedges. The spears grill over high heat until tender-crisp, which keeps them from turning limp. They are fast enough to cook between bigger items and useful for plates that need something green without another bowl of salad.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Asparagus

Caramelized Grilled Pineapple

Close-up of grilled pineapple rings topped with coarse salt and drizzled with syrup. — Caramelized Grilled Pineapple. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Rubbed with brown sugar and dark rum, Caramelized Grilled Pineapple takes 20 minutes and serves four with 10 fresh pineapple rings, flaky sea salt, and mint leaves. The slices grill for 2 to 4 minutes per side until tender and lightly charred. It can work as a side, topping, or dessert, which makes it handy when the cookout menu needs one more flexible item.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Grilled Pineapple

Charred Grilled Vegetables

A platter of grilled vegetables including zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, bell peppers, and red onions, garnished with chopped herbs. — Charred Grilled Vegetables. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Loaded with zucchini, red onion, bell peppers, asparagus, and portobello mushrooms, Charred Grilled Vegetables takes 35 minutes and serves six. Olive oil, salt, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, oregano, and parsley keep the seasoning simple enough for any cookout plate. The mix gives the table a true vegetable platter with enough variety for people who want more than one grilled option.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Vegetables

Charred Mexican Street Corn

Close-up of Mexican Street Corn on the cob topped with creamy sauce, crumbled cheese, chili powder, and chopped cilantro. — Charred Mexican Street Corn. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Boiled first and finished on the grill, Charred Mexican Street Corn takes 30 minutes and serves six with eight ears of sweet corn. Sour cream or crema, mayonnaise, lime, garlic, cotija cheese, cilantro, and Tajín build the topping. It fits the cookout table because the corn gets char, creaminess, salt, and heat in one cob, without needing a separate dip or side sauce.
Get the Recipe: Charred Mexican Street Corn

Veggie Sliders

Close-up of a Veggie Burger Slider with a fried patty, sliced cucumber, shredded purple cabbage, greens, and mayonnaise in a bun. In the background, a blurred portion of another slider and a dish are visible. — Veggie Sliders. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Made with lentils, black beans, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, oat flour, mushrooms, parsley, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, Veggie Sliders take 40 minutes and make 16 small patties. The recipe cooks them in a skillet, so they are not a grill item, but the slider format still belongs on a cookout table. Serve them on small buns with cucumber, red onion, and sauce for a main option.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Sliders

Black Bean Burger

Built from black beans, grated onion, garlic, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, egg, and Panko breadcrumbs, Black Bean Burger takes 22 minutes and makes six patties. These cook in a skillet rather than on the grill, so they should be framed as a cookout-table main. They give meatless plates a proper burger format with buns, toppings, and sauces.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Burger