21 Grilled Vegetable Recipes That'll Make You Forget About Your Oven

No matter which grilled vegetable side you decide to fire up, get ready to pile your plate high.

By

and

Kimberly Holland

Updated on July 26, 2023

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad — Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Backyard cookouts are the hallmark of warm, sunny summer days, but just because hamburgers and ribs are the kings of the grill doesn't mean they can't spare some room the grate. Share the flames with some of the season's finest produce, and you'll have an oven-free meal that'll let you keep you kitchen cool.

Just a hint of smoke and char from the grill is often all it takes to turn corn on the cob, zucchini, asparagus, or potatoes into a flavorful side. Some of our easiest grilled vegetable recipes just need a kiss on the grate and a pinch of seasoning. Other dishes use the char of one grilled veggie to add a richer, more complex flavor to a summer salad, like our Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad. No matter which BBQ vegetable side you decide to fire up, get ready to pile your plate high.

01 of 21

Charred Vegetable Guacamole

Southern Living Charred-Vegetable Guacamole in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Elevate your guacamole recipe by adding gorgeous and smoky grilled vegetables like corn, onion, and jalapeños. The char adds a depth of flavor and makes for a beautiful display on any summer appetizer table.

02 of 21

Grilled Baby Eggplants with Tomato-Corn Relish

Southern Living Grilled Baby Eggplants With Tomato-Corn Relish on a platter to serve — Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Baby eggplants are worth searching for to make this smoky and spicy side dish. Along with the smoke from grilling, these eggplants get an extra burst of flavor from the chili-garlic oil rubbed on them before touching the grill.

03 of 21

Grilled Corn Salad

Southern Living Grilled Corn Salad on plates to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Embrace the summer warmth by making this bright and flavorful grilled corn salad. With all fresh ingredients and grilled corn, bell peppers, zucchini, shallots, and more, this is the perfect side dish for any summer dinner.

04 of 21

Grilled Okra and Pepper Skewers

Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Nothing says summer in the South like okra. This recipes grills them with baby bell peppers to make a refreshing and smoky side that is the perfect seasonal side.

05 of 21

Grilled Radish and Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese Toasts

Grilled Radish-and-Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese Toasts — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

This colorful and sophisticated dish is a standout grilled veggie appetizer or side that all company will enjoy. The fresh and smoky flavor from the grilled veggies paired with the goat cheese toasts make for a light and pleasant dish.

06 of 21

Grilled Vegetable Foil with Chickpeas, Feta, and Couscous

Grilled Vegetable Foil Packets with Chickpeas, Feta, and Couscous — Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Enjoy an easy, healthy dinner with the most convenient methods of cooking and cleaning up. Mix together your ingredients, add them into the foil, and grill them in the foil wraps until softened and delicious.

07 of 21

Rigatoni with Grilled Vegetables and Mozzarella

Rigatoni with Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

If you're looking for a bright and healthy summer pasta salad, look no further than this delicious and simple rigatoni recipe.

08 of 21

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

You can't go wrong with corn at a cookout. This recipe offers flavorful twists with butters and toppings to take the classic summer side to the next level.

09 of 21

Easy Grilled Asparagus

Easy Grilled Asparagus — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

It may have "easy" in its name, but its tastes anything but simple. Using bacon drippings for a tasty vinaigrette, this side is sure to step up your grilling game.

10 of 21

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Fresh summer tomatoes meet baby zucchini in this colorful dish that only needs a two-minute kiss on the grill on each side.

11 of 21

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Topped with honey and salty queso fresco, these sweet potato fries are anything but ordinary and truly elevate your summer sides.

12 of 21

Grilled Yellow Squash Roll-Ups

Grilled Yellow Squash Roll-Ups — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

A dab of creamy goat cheese mixed with lemon and tarragon seals the deal on these cute, petite rolled veggies that are ready in under 30 minutes.

13 of 21

Smoked Corn on the Cob

Smoked Corn on the Cob — Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Celebrate corn season with a touch of smoke. Buttery with a subtly smoky flavor, this recipe has just a bit of a kick to make a perfect summer side.

14 of 21

Spicy Grilled Corn Salad

Spicy Grilled Corn Salad — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Inspired by Mexican-style street corn, this side delivers a fiesta in a bowl, with sweet and spicy elements to make a bold flavor for your summer dinners.

15 of 21

BBQ Grilled Potato Salad

Grilled Potato Salad from Burn Co. Barbecue — Oxmoor House

Straight from Burn Co. BBQ in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this grilled potato side is a customer favorite and can now become a family favorite! Amp up your typical potato salad with this unique and utterly delicious dish.

16 of 21

Grilled Wedge Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing

Grilled Wedge Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

A light touch on the grill adds a nicely charred flavor to your everyday wedge. Add bacon, chives, and blue cheese dressing and you've got a simple, crowd pleasing side for dinner.

17 of 21

Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

These grilled peppers are the perfect texture for stuffing with a delicious filling. Poblano peppers are generally mild, so if you're looking for a kick try substituting halved medium-size bell peppers in this recipe.

18 of 21

Grilled Bell Pepper Caprese

Grilled Bell Pepper Caprese — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

While caprese is usually synonymous with tomatoes, try this peppery twist on the classic. A drizzle of lime juice and olive oil completes this easy grilled caprese.

19 of 21

Grilled Baby Eggplant Parmesan

Grilled Baby Eggplant Parmesan — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

No breading or frying here. Just a light, grilled eggplant parmesan that's hearty enough to be served as a main.

20 of 21

Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad

Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This recipe calls for zucchini and bell peppers, but you can pop almost any produce on the grill. It will pair nicely with this versatile pasta salad.

21 of 21

Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob — Jennifer Davick

Jalapeño peppers, cilantro, and lime juice are the jazzy trio your grilled corn on the cob needs for simple, south-of-the-border flavor.

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