'Tis the season of camping, grilling, and backyard parties. While classic barbecue sides like potato salad and macaroni and cheese are big favorites, they don't always work for those following a vegan diet. If you're planning a barbecue this holiday, here are more than 30 side dishes that will have vegan friends coming back for seconds.
Crafted with basic ingredients, this satisfying Summer salad is not only low in calories, but is also a great way to combine the flavors of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cilantro.
Serve up a side of Jennifer Aniston's fresh Spring salad for a dish that's high in fiber, iron, and vitamin C. Hydrating cucumbers and refreshing tomatoes go well with any BBQ fare.
If you're a fan of the edamame that's served alongside your sushi, you'll want this recipe ASAP. The dish only requires four ingredients for an easy and healthy side.
This flavorful dish is both vegan and gluten free! The coriander and cumin spices give the quinoa an added kick.
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7Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
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This quinoa tabbouleh salad is so good, you may actually do a double scoop onto your plate. The recipe is very spicy and oniony, great for those who want a spicy side dish.
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8Tomato Salsa
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You'll want to make two batches of this quick and easy tomato salsa because your party guests will devour it in minutes.
For a side dish that will satisfy everyone's diets, from Paleo to vegan, you'll want to make this spicy-sweet potato salad. As an added bonus, sweet potatoes regulate your blood sugar and help you lose weight.
A spicy black bean hummus dip will give you that added fiber to your diet. Black beans are also high in iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B1.
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13Fava Beans With Green Garlic and Kumquats
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Add some healthy greens to your BBQ side dishes with this fava bean recipe. It can even be tossed in pasta, grilled, or mashed into a crostini topper.
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14Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad
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You don't need mayo to pull of a cold pasta salad — take this vegan version, for one. Instead of mayo, the fresh veggies and pasta are tossed together with a low-fat, olive oil dressing.
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15Sesame Carrot Salad
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The spicy and sweet flavors of this sesame carrot salad hold up even better the next day. Prep it the night before and wow your friends when they show up for your party later that week!
Who can pass up a side of gooey and comforting mac and cheese? Because no one should have to, we created this recipe for vegan mac and cheese. In this recipe, cheese gets replaced with nutritional yeast, butter with Earth Balance spread, and cream with veggie broth.
Cool off with a serving of some fresh mango and red pepper salsa. It's great as a side dish, but works equally as well when served with fish, chicken, or tofu.
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18Guacamole
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No backyard BBQ is complete without homemade guacamole. This creamy dip goes well with veggies, corn chips, or pita bread.
Every backyard barbecue needs a fresh, crunchy salad, and Jamie Oliver's version does not disappoint. It's especially great because it's an easy recipe to build on.
Cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a fave amongst vegans and vegetarians. Her food is next level, and you never feel deprived — even if you're a meat-eater. If you want a fresh, Summer-esque salad this Winter, go for a quinoa, black bean, and mango salad from Isa's popular book, Veganomicon.
If you're a fan of guacamole, but don't like that it's high in fat, then you're going to go crazy for edamole. The green appearance comes from edamame, which are high in protein, low in fat and calories, and have a sweet and fresh flavor that is perfect for warm-weather parties.
No backyard barbecue is complete without an array of dips. This black bean dip gets a nice kick from the garlic, onions, and cayenne pepper, and it's low-cal with almost no fat and sugar!
These spicy roasted chickpeas will satisfy chip cravings, but there's no deep frying required. The snack is full of heat and crunch and sort of reminds us of spicy wasabi peas or corn nuts.
It wouldn't be a backyard barbecue without a pasta salad! This cranberry balsamic pasta salad is not only vegan, it's also gluten-free! Good eats for the entire party.
This Spring salad is filled with nutritional goodness like buckwheat, tofu, and avocado. An easy dish to throw together a batch for your next big dinner.
We are in love with this quinoa tabbouleh; the parsley and lemon add a sharp, fresh taste to the natural nuttiness of the quinoa. Added bonus: you only need five ingredients to make it!