15 Meatless Grilling Ideas

Grilling is a great way to cook up your favorite veggies and fruits in the summer. It’s also a delicious way to spice up your tofu or tempeh dishes. The only problem is, who wants to eat meat when you have all these great options? Even if you’re not strictly vegetarian or vegan, there are so many tasty ways to grill with vegetables and fruit that it’s worth trying out at least once during the summer months! Here are 15 meatless grilling ideas:

Marinated eggplant

Eggplant is a great veggie to have on the grill, especially if you’re looking for meatless grilling ideas. Eggplant is best when it’s cooked over high heat, so it’s a perfect candidate for grilling. You can make amazing dishes using eggplant as the main ingredient or as an accompaniment to other foods.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy grilled eggplant is by marinating it in olive oil with lemon juice and garlic—a simple marinade that imparts great flavor! If you want something more complex, consider adding spices such as cumin or coriander; herbs like mint or parsley; or even chopped red bell pepper (it has a similar texture).

Eggplants contain fiber and potassium—two nutrients that help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Portobello mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms: These large, thick-capped mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D and contain almost as much protein as red meat. They’re also a great source of fiber, potassium and B vitamins. They’re low in calories and fat, so you can eat them without worrying about the calories or fat content.

Portobello mushrooms have an earthy flavor that pairs well with steak sauce or marinades containing garlic and rosemary. You can also serve them hot off the grill on top of a salad or plate them alongside your favorite vegetable side dish such as grilled corn on the cob or grilled kale chips.

Grilled Corn

You can’t go wrong with grilled corn. It’s sweet and juicy, and it’s also incredibly easy to prepare. To grill your corn, simply remove the husks and silk from each ear of corn. Then place them on a hot grill for about 15 minutes (or until tender).

While you’re grilling, try flavoring your corn with one of these two homemade butters: Chipotle Lime Butter or Cilantro Lime Butter. Both are creamy spreads that will keep your taste buds happy as you wait for that grill to warm up!

Once you’ve finished cooking your ears of grilled corn, make sure to season them with salt before serving! And if you’re feeling really adventurous, try adding some shaved parmesan cheese or crumbled feta into the mix!

Jamaican Jerk Grilled Eggplant

Next time you’re craving a juicy steak, try this Jamaican jerk-spiced eggplant. The smoky and spicy flavors of the grilled vegetables go great with a side of rice or quinoa.

Jerk seasoning can be made with allspice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg—all which pack some serious flavor. This recipe calls for one teaspoon of each spice along with butter to create the perfect balance between sweet and spicy in every bite.

Summer squash

Summer squash is a terrific option for grilling. It’s easy to grill and tastes delicious with just a little salt and pepper. Summer squash, especially yellow ones, are rich in vitamins A and C—two important nutrients that help keep your skin looking young and healthy. Men may also benefit from the high potassium content found in summer squashes, which can help lower blood pressure.

Asparagus

Grilling asparagus is a great way to enjoy the springtime vegetable and make it even more delicious. Try these simple grilling recipes and see which one you like best:

• Grilled Asparagus with Garlic – This recipe uses garlic powder, olive oil, and lemon juice for an easy flavor profile that will add tons of flavor to your grilled asparagus. It’s also very easy to prepare so it can be made in no time!
• Grilled Asparagus with Olive Oil & Lemon – The addition of lemon juice gives this dish some tangy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the smoky notes from the grill. If you don’t have fresh lemons on hand (but you do have fresh limes!), substitute lime juice for a similar effect!
• Grilled Asparagus with Lemon & Garlic – Sometimes simple flavors work best when cooking meatless dishes like this one because they allow all those other flavors to shine through unimpeded by competing ingredients. In short: if you love garlic but don’t want anything else getting in its way when grilling vegetables like asparagus then try this simple recipe!

Zucchini

Zucchini is a good source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. It also contains a good amount of fiber, folate (a B vitamin), and vitamin B6. You can eat zucchini raw or cooked—the skin on the vegetable retains most of its nutrients even when it’s cooked. Zucchini is also high in vitamin A. This antioxidant helps your eyes adjust to light changes and protects against age-related vision loss. Additionally, research has shown that eating foods high in beta carotene may reduce your risk for certain cancers including prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamin A and potassium. They’re also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. Sweet potatoes have a lower GI than regular potatoes because they contain more soluble fibre which slows down the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar.

Because sweet potatoes can be used in so many ways and are versatile in terms of their appearance on your plate or grill, you should use them as your go-to veggie if you want something more interesting than simple grilled zucchini or eggplant slices.

Pineapple

Pineapples are a great addition to any summer grill. They’re sweet and juicy, with a slightly tangy taste to them. And they’re packed with nutrients that you’ll want to get into your body.

Pineapple is also a good source of vitamin C, manganese, fiber and potassium. It’s also low in calories (about 80 per cup), making it an ideal choice for people watching their weight or those looking for an alternative sweet treat on the grill this summer!

Flatbread

When you’re grilling, flatbread is a great base for a sandwich. It’s usually baked in an oven, but you can make it at home too. Flatbread is also a good way to use up leftovers—just throw them on top of the flatbread before putting it in the oven or on your grill! Flatbread is easy to make and has lots of fiber and vitamins in each serving.

Tofu kebab

Tofu is a great substitute for meat and can be prepared in a variety of ways. To begin, you can use tofu as a kebab with any vegetables that you like. For example, you could use red onions, bell peppers and mushrooms. You can then add sauces such as soy sauce or pesto to your skewers before grilling them on the grill or pan frying them indoors.

You could also try something different by serving your tofu kebabs with an apple cider vinegar balsamic sauce over quinoa pasta instead of rice noodles! This dish will give you all the flavors of traditional Italian cuisine while still allowing you to eat healthy at every mealtime!

Falafel burger

Falafel is a Middle Eastern dish made from ground chickpeas, and it’s usually served in a pita bread with various salads and sauces. While falafel is traditionally vegetarian, you can still make a meatless version of this popular dish by substituting mushrooms for the chickpeas. This burger has all the flavors of falafel without any of the guiltand if you use red wine vinegar instead of balsamic vinegar in your mayonnaise spread, you’ll get an extra boost of vitamin C!

Tempeh burger with avocado sauce and grilled peaches

Tempeh is made from soybeans, which are fermented and then pressed into a block. It’s high in protein and contains all the essential amino acids. It’s also a good source of iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

In this recipe for Tempeh Burgers with Avocado Sauce and Grilled Peaches, the tempeh replaces the usual beef patty while the avocado sauce adds creaminess to keep things moist.

Grilled naan pizza with grilled vegetables and a light pesto.

Grilled naan pizza is my favorite way to eat pizza when I don’t have time to make a dough. You can find naan (Indian flatbread) at most grocery stores, or you can use pita bread if that’s what you have on hand. Just brush each slice of bread with olive oil and grill until golden brown. Then, add your toppings: roasted vegetables for some extra flavor; fresh veggies for something light; pesto for an easy twist on traditional tomato sauce—the options are limitless!

It’s easy to grill without meat by using vegetables, fruit, or tofu.

Vegetables and fruit are a great alternative to meat. You can use them in burgers, or just grill them on their own. Tofu is another great meatless option for grilling because it takes on a flavor similar to grilled chicken.

The best part about grilling without meat is that you get tons of vegetable options! You can make veggie burgers by combining beans and vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, green peppers, broccoli florets and/or corn kernels. For fruit alternatives—try pineapple rings (they’re delicious!) or watermelon slices (perfect for hot days).

The next time you’re planning a barbecue, instead of reaching for the same old options, try some of these ideas. You won’t be disappointed!