Best Vegan BBQ Recipes UK: Easy Plant-Based Ideas for Summer

Last updated: 13 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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Five years ago, a vegan BBQ meant a sad portobello mushroom and some hummus on the side. In 2026, the best vegan BBQ recipes UK cooks are firing up include smoky jackfruit pulled pork, plant-based burgers that genuinely fool meat-eaters, and marinades that would make a pitmaster jealous. Whether you are fully plant-based or just want to mix things up this summer, these recipes prove that the grill is no longer meat-only territory.

We know this because we tested it ourselves. Last summer, the CoolCuration team held a fully plant-based BBQ. Some of us are vegan, some definitely are not, but every single person went back for seconds. What follows is everything we cooked, everything we learnt, and a few shortcuts if you want brilliant results without the effort.

The Recipes: 8 Plant-Based BBQ Ideas That Actually Deliver

These are tried and tested. We cooked all of them on a standard charcoal BBQ in a South London garden, so nothing here requires specialist kit or a degree in food science. Each recipe lists difficulty, rough timings, and the one tip that made the biggest difference.

Smoky Chipotle Tofu Skewers

Press firm tofu for at least 30 minutes, then cube it and marinate in a mix of chipotle paste, smoked paprika, lime juice, olive oil, and a pinch of brown sugar. Thread onto skewers with chunks of red pepper and red onion, then grill for 8 to 10 minutes, turning regularly. We over-marinated the tofu by about four hours and honestly it was better for it. The smoky chipotle flavour had properly soaked in, and the edges crisped up beautifully over the coals.

Prep/cook: 15 mins prep + 2 hours marinating (overnight is better) + 10 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

The Ultimate Vegan Burger Stack

Use a Beyond Burger or THIS! Isn't Beef burger as your base. Grill for about four minutes each side until you get a proper char. Stack with smashed avocado, a slice of vegan cheddar, pickled red onion, shredded lettuce, and a generous drizzle of sriracha mayo. The key is toasting the buns cut-side down on the grill for the last minute. It adds crunch and stops the bottom going soggy from the sauces.

Prep/cook: 10 mins prep + 10 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

Charred Corn on the Cob with Vegan Chilli Butter

Mix softened vegan butter with smoked chilli flakes, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of salt. Husk the corn, brush with oil, and grill directly over the coals for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning every few minutes. Slather with the chilli butter the moment it comes off the heat. In addition, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast gives a savoury cheesy finish that works surprisingly well. One warning: we forgot ours on the grill and it went from charred-chic to actual charcoal in about three minutes. Set a timer.

Prep/cook: 5 mins prep + 12 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

Jackfruit Pulled "Pork" Buns

Drain two tins of young green jackfruit and shred the pieces with a fork until they look like pulled meat. Toss in your favourite smoky BBQ sauce, a splash of apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Cook in a foil tray on the grill for about 20 minutes until sticky and caramelised, then pile into soft brioche buns with a tangy homemade slaw. The texture is genuinely impressive. Even the committed meat-eaters at our BBQ admitted this one was a highlight.

Prep/cook: 15 mins prep + 20 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

Violife Grill Me and Grilled Peach Stack

Violife's Mediterranean Style Grill Me block is the best vegan halloumi alternative we have tried. Slice it into thick pieces, brush with olive oil, and grill for two to three minutes per side until golden and slightly crisp. At the same time, halve some ripe peaches and grill them cut-side down until caramelised. Stack the cheese and peach slices, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and finish with fresh mint. It is sweet, salty, and smoky all at once.

Prep/cook: 5 mins prep + 8 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

Grilled Aubergine Steaks with Tahini Drizzle

Slice aubergines lengthways into thick steaks, about 2 cm each. Score the cut side in a cross-hatch pattern, brush generously with olive oil, and season with cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Grill over medium heat for around six minutes per side until soft and deeply charred. Drizzle with tahini thinned with lemon juice and scatter with pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley. The scoring is essential because it lets the heat penetrate evenly and gives the tahini something to cling to.

Prep/cook: 10 mins prep + 12 mins grilling | Difficulty: Easy

BBQ Cauliflower Wings with Hot Sauce Glaze

Cut a cauliflower into large florets. Make a batter with flour, plant milk, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, then coat the florets and grill in a foil tray or grill basket for about 15 minutes, turning halfway. In the last five minutes, brush with a glaze made from your favourite hot sauce mixed with maple syrup. They should be crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. This is a brilliant starter to keep people busy while the main courses cook. Consequently, you buy yourself time without anyone hovering over the grill.

Prep/cook: 15 mins prep + 15 mins grilling | Difficulty: Medium

Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos in Foil

Slice sweet potatoes into thin rounds and toss with olive oil, salt, and chilli powder. Layer them in a large double-thickness foil tray with black beans, sweetcorn, diced jalapeños, and grated vegan cheese. Seal loosely with more foil and cook on the grill for 20 to 25 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the cheese has melted. Open up, top with guacamole, salsa, and a squeeze of lime. This is messy, communal, and absolutely perfect for a crowd. Similarly, it works as a side or a main depending on portion size.

Prep/cook: 15 mins prep + 25 mins grilling | Difficulty: Medium

The Grubby Shortcut

If sourcing all the ingredients yourself feels like too much effort, Grubby's meal kits take the thinking out of it. Grubby is the UK's first fully plant-based recipe kit company, now B Corp certified and serving over 100,000 customers. Their rotating menu of 40+ chef-crafted dishes changes weekly, and several regularly feature smoky, charred, or summer-friendly flavours that translate brilliantly to outdoor cooking or warm-weather eating.

Everything arrives pre-portioned, so there is zero waste and no wandering around Tesco trying to find smoked paprika. Meals come in at around £5 to £6.50 per serving depending on box size, and they regularly partner with brands like THIS and BOSH for limited-edition kits. For every box sold, Grubby also donates a meal to a child in need, which is a nice bonus on top of genuinely good food.

We have reviewed Grubby in depth if you want the full verdict before ordering. And if you are wondering whether the cost stacks up, we have done the maths on whether Grubby is worth it too.

Get money off your first Grubby box

Kit You Actually Need

You do not need a fancy setup for a great vegan BBQ. However, a few well-chosen tools make the whole process smoother and stop you losing half your food to the coals. Here are the essentials we actually use.

Long BBQ Tongs

A decent pair of 17-inch stainless steel tongs keeps your hands away from the heat and gives you proper control when flipping. Look for ones with a locking mechanism so they store flat in a drawer.

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Grill Basket for Vegetables

Small veg like cherry tomatoes, sliced courgettes, and mushroom pieces fall straight through a standard grate. A stainless steel grill basket solves this completely. It is the single most useful BBQ accessory for plant-based cooking.

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Reusable Metal Skewers

Wooden skewers snap, catch fire, and need soaking. Flat stainless steel skewers last forever and stop food spinning when you turn them. Worth the upgrade.

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Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter

If you are using charcoal, a chimney starter gets your coals glowing in about 15 minutes without lighter fluid. The Weber Rapidfire is the one most people recommend, and for good reason. It simply works every time.

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Supermarket Cheat Codes

Not everyone wants to cook from scratch, and that is perfectly fine. UK supermarkets now stock an impressive range of ready-made vegan BBQ products that go straight from the packet to the grill. The Beyond Burger is available at most major supermarkets and grills almost identically to a beef patty. THIS! Isn't Chicken pieces work brilliantly threaded onto skewers with peppers and onion, and their plant-based lamb kebabs were the first thing to disappear at our team BBQ. The committed meat-eaters went back for seconds before anyone mentioned it was the vegan table.

For supermarket own-brand options, Tesco's Plant Chef range includes koftas and burgers that are surprisingly solid for the price. Sainsbury's Plant Pioneers line has a good selection too. In addition, Vivera plant steaks are widely stocked and hold up well on a grill. If you want to save even more, check out our guide to getting cashback on your weekly supermarket shop, because those BBQ ingredients add up fast.

Tips from Our BBQ Disasters

We learnt these the hard way so you do not have to.

Marinate Tofu Properly

Two hours is the minimum. Overnight is better. Unmarinated tofu on a BBQ is a crime against food. Press it first to remove excess water, then let it soak up all that flavour. As a result, you get something that actually tastes of something rather than warm sponge.

Oil the Grill Grate

Before anything touches the metal, brush or spray the grate with a high smoke-point oil like rapeseed. Otherwise, everything sticks and you will lose half your food to the coals. This is especially important for tofu and delicate vegetables.

Do Not Press the Burgers

Everyone does it. Everyone should stop. Pressing a burger down with the spatula squeezes out all the moisture and leaves you with a dry hockey puck. Just let it cook.

Keep a Spray Bottle Handy

Plant-based food still drips oil, and flare-ups happen. A simple spray bottle filled with water keeps things under control without you having to panic. It also works for cooling down sections of the grill if you need a lower-heat zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can vegans eat at a BBQ?

Plenty. Vegan BBQ recipes UK cooks are embracing include tofu skewers, jackfruit pulled pork, plant-based burgers from brands like Beyond and THIS!, grilled aubergine, cauliflower wings, corn on the cob, loaded nachos, and vegan halloumi alternatives like Violife Grill Me. The options are far broader than most people expect.

Is halloumi vegan?

No. Traditional halloumi is a dairy cheese made from sheep and goat milk, so it is vegetarian but not vegan. However, Violife makes a Mediterranean Style Grill Me block that works as an excellent plant-based alternative. It grills well and has a similar salty, squeaky texture.

What is the best vegan burger for BBQ UK?

The Beyond Burger and THIS! Isn't Beef burger are the two most popular choices in UK supermarkets. Both grill well and have a meaty texture that appeals to non-vegans too. For a more homemade option, black bean and chickpea burgers hold up nicely on the grill if you firm them up in the fridge first.

Can you BBQ tofu?

Yes, absolutely. The key is to press it first to remove excess water, then marinate it for at least two hours. Use firm or extra-firm tofu, cut it into thick slabs or cubes, and oil the grill grate well before cooking. Without these steps, tofu tends to stick and fall apart.

Are Grubby meal kits good for BBQ?

Grubby's rotating weekly menu regularly includes dishes with smoky, charred flavours that translate well to summer eating. While they are designed as indoor recipe kits, the pre-portioned ingredients and bold marinades make them a great shortcut for BBQ-friendly meals. If you want to compare Grubby against other UK vegan meal kits, we have a full comparison guide.

What vegan BBQ food can you buy in supermarkets?

Most UK supermarkets now stock vegan burgers, sausages, and skewers in the chilled section. Look for Beyond Burger, THIS! products, and Vivera plant steaks. Tesco's Plant Chef and Sainsbury's Plant Pioneers ranges offer budget-friendly options too. All of these go straight on the grill with minimal prep.