Vegetarian Grill Recipes for Labor Day

With Labor Day less than two weeks away, you’re probably planning a picnic or cookout. If you’re a vegetarian, or planning to host a few vegetarians, it can be challenging when the traditional grill foods are rather meaty.

As you start planning to celebrate the last “official” weekend of summer, we wanted to help you round-up a few recipe ideas that are as good on the grill as any burger or steak.

Veggie Kabobs
These can be rather filling and are great served as a stand-alone meal, or as a side for the grilled chicken eaters in your party. Use bamboo or stainless steel kabob skewers and stack your choice of baby bella mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, squash, cherry tomatoes, pineapple, peaches, and eggplant. Toss the veggies first in a little olive oil, Kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, and freshly chopped herbs for more flavor.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burger

Inspired from a vegan cookbook, this burger uses black beans, sweet potatoes, almond butter, garlic, and ginger to to make a hearty and delicious meatless burger. Top with your favorite condiments and veggies and your cookout doesn’t look any different than any other!

Raw Portobello Mushroom Stuffed with Basil Pesto

Raw foodies are becoming more popular, and this recipe is a great example of why. However, once you’ve packed your portobello with the recipe for fresh pesto, no one is stopping you from tossing it on the grill for a few minutes.

Grilled Jerk Tofu

Your choice of barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and a homemade Cajun spice mix will give firm tofu a bold flavor that will be irresistible to just about any guest in your backyard.

Grilled Open-Face Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwich with Nectarines and Walnuts

While not exactly classic cookout fare, if you’re going for a more white-wine-and-cloth-napkins affair, this will go over very well with guests no matter their take on the herbivore vs. carnivore argument. Sweet in-season nectarines are complemented by a homemade balsamic glaze on grilled baguette and creamy goat cheese. Serve as an appetizer or entree.

Of course, no cookout is complete without the sides. A few vegetarian options that will add color, flavor, and variety include these recipes for Grilled Vegetable Couscous, Smoky-Spicy-Sweet Vegetarian Barbecue Beans, and Asian Napa Cabbage Carrot Slaw with Snow Peas. And no recipe is needed for throwing corn on the cob or thick slices of fresh pineapple on the grill for delicious and effortless sides.