Opinion Need vegan BBQ ideas? Try these 12 tasty vegan side dishes

Looking for easy vegan side dishes to serve at your next BBQ? Fill out your summer spread with these satisfying veggie options – all super tasty and quick to put together.

If you’re on the hunt for some delicious vegan BBQ ideas and easy vegan side dishes to complement any ‘meatier’ plant-based mains or meat alternatives already on the menu, you’ve come to the right place! 

We’ve compiled a list of 12 versatile veggie options perfect for BBQs, lunches, and dinners alike, whether cooking up an entirely plant-based spread or just catering for vegan guests. 

From melt-in-your-mouth grilled veggies to tender, miso-glazed eggplant and sweet, dippable corn ribs, these vegan BBQ sides showcase just how indulgent plants can be – and prove that not every dish needs to imitate meat to steal the show!

Easy vegan BBQ ideas and side dishes

1. Veggie Kebabs with Almond & Sultana Burghul

Tender, flame-kissed veggie kebabs – in this case, served on a bed of burghul studded with sultanas and slivered almonds – are one of our fave vegan BBQ ideas and is a classic side dish for a reason. You can’t go wrong!

2. Grilled Potato Slices with Herbed Sour Cream

Crispy-edged grilled potato slices are already delicious in their own right, but dip them in this tangy, cashew-based sour cream, and they become genuinely next-level.

3. BBQ Corn ‘Ribs’ with Chipotle Dipping Sauce

The secret to how addictive these corn ribs are is all in the vegan BBQ spice rub. They’re sweet and smoky – and exactly the right amount of spicy when dunked in the coconut-based chipotle dipping sauce.

4. Grilled Fennel with Black Garlic Dressing

Featuring fresh slices of cucumber, edible flowers, and vivid pops of chilli, this aromatic black garlic and grilled fennel dish is ‘summertime’ on a plate. 

5. Olive & Hazelnut Paste with Grilled Cabbage 

Picture a soft-on-the-inside, charred-on-the-outside cabbage wedge basted in garlic-infused sauce and served over a rich paste of olives and hazelnuts: simple ingredients, bold flavours, and an absolute showstopper of a vegan side dish.

6. Baked Miso Eggplant

This caramelised miso eggplant comes out of the oven perfectly tender and tastes utterly divine. Serve it up at your next vegan BBQ, then add it to your regular dinner rotation.

7. Smoked Mushroom & Cheese Kebabs

There’s nothing quite like an open flame to bring out the drool-worthy flavour potential of skewered mushrooms. Add some melty cubes of vegan cheese into the mix, and you’re onto an umami-packed winner.

8. Charred Tofu with Radish Slaw & Chimichurri

With its spicy chimichurri sauce and crunchy purple cabbage backdrop, this bright and punchy tofu side dish is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds! 

9. Grilled Cabbage Skewers with Country Slaw

These gorgeous cabbage skewers – brushed with thyme-infused butter – are irresistibly tender and complemented by a fresh, country-style slaw.

10. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Red Pesto Chickpeas 

Pop these bad boys in the oven to save space on the grill. They’re super filling and easy to prepare, ideal for rounding out a vegan BBQ feast.

11. BBQ Veggies with Almonds & Olives 

Charred seasonal veggies get a flavour boost from crunchy almonds and briny olives, proving that even the simplest ingredients can create a moreish vegan side dish.

12. Grilled Corn Two Ways

No list of vegan BBQ food ideas would be complete without grilled corn on the cob. Choose your favourite vibe: Seasoned with smoky spices, lime, and coriander, or made elote-style with vegan butter, mayo, and cheese.

After something fancier?

Level up your snack game (and impress all your guests) with a gourmet vegan cheese platter, complete with olives, crusty bread, fresh fruit, herbs, and melt-in-your-mouth marinated veggies.

Store-bought vegan cheese options nowadays go far beyond cheddar and mozzarella. You can find rich, creamy, and downright decadent options like cashew camembert, brie, and even vegan blue cheese at Coles and Woolies, with even more artisanal options available at specialty stores and online. 

Vegan BBQ ideas = sorted ✅ Now for the ‘meaty’ bits!

A proper plant-based BBQ spread doesn’t stop at side dishes. There are plenty of ‘meaty’ vegan recipe ideas to explore for your mains.

Coles and Woolworths also offer a mouthwatering range of vegan sausages and veggie burger patties.  Sizzling up just like their animal-based counterparts, and matching them in taste and texture, too, they’re a super satisfying BBQ option for vegans and vegetarians (and open-minded meat-eaters) 😉

Happy BBQ-ing, friends! With all these amazing vegan BBQ ideas to choose from, your plant-based BBQ is bound to be a hit!