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Grilling season is here! While meat often takes center stage, let’s not forget all the delicious veggies! I love grilling veggies because it brings out so much juicy, sweet, and delicious flavor—not to mention that char! Let’s just say some veggies are simply made for the grill!
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Smoky, charred, and with that natural sweetness that will have you reach for seconds, these grilled vegetable ideas will easily win the hearts and stomachs of meat-lovers everywhere! Don’t let the summer months pass by without trying some of the best grilled vegetables out there.
Why You Should Grill More Vegetables
- Enjoy seasonal goodness! If you’re not savoring summer squash like zucchini and juicy tomatoes, you’re doing it wrong. When else will you get to enjoy all the summer veggies at their peak? Bell peppers, eggplants, corn, asparagus, and much more! Now is their time to shine, and I’m here for it.
- Instant side dish ready in a flash. My favorite part about these grilled vegetable ideas is that they make an instant side dish to go with any grilled meat. If I already have the grill fired up, it takes very little effort to slap some veggie kebabs or a bundle of asparagus on it to have a delicious and healthy side dish ready to go.
- Quick and easy cleanup. Do I need to say more? I love having zero pots and pans to wash. Sure, there may be a few platters or a grill basket but generally, grilling requires less dirty dishes than cooking indoors. Sign me up!
Tips for Grilling Vegetables
- Cut veggies into shapes and sizes that expose more surface area to the grill. This will help create even grilling. So instead of cutting onions, eggplant, and zucchini into chunks, cut them into strips or rounds.
- Mix up textures for a more satisfying bite if using vegetables in kebabs! I like to pair soft vegetables like mushrooms and tomatoes with harder veggies like bell peppers and onions.
- Pre-cook harder vegetables. Some produce, like asparagus, can benefit from a quick 3 min parboil before grilling, making them quicker to grill with a softer texture.
- Toss the vegetables with olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil. Even if you’re after simple grilled vegetables, I highly recommend this not so much for the flavor but to prevent veggies from drying out and sticking to the grill.
- Keep the smaller vegetables in check by piercing them on a skewer. Baby tomatoes, zucchini slices, and mushrooms are delicious candidates for the grill but keep them from falling through the grates by using skewers or a grill basket.
How to Grill Vegetables
- Read up on the how-to. The good news is that grilling vegetables isn’t that much different than grilling meats. If you want to really dive into how to grill vegetables and get all my tips and tricks for beginners, check out my post on How to Grill.
- Stay close to the grill. If you read my tutorial for grilling above, you know that leaving the grill post is a hard no! But it’s even more important when grilling vegetables because they can go from raw to sad and overcooked and, in the worst case, charred and inedible in an instant—so keep an eye on them.
- Know direct heat. Chances are, you’ll be using more direct heat since vegetables don’t require low and slow cooking like steaks and roasts do. But do you know where that is on your grill? (Hint: it’s directly over the heat source).
- Have the right tools. Grill basket is one of my go-to’s when grilling smaller veggies like grape tomatoes or button mushrooms. Metal skewers come a close second when bamboo wooden skewers won’t cut it (especially when grilling heartier veggies like Brussel sprouts).
Best Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables are my secret to healthy, easy, and flavorful side dishes all summer long. If you’re wondering what are some good vegetables to grill, you’re in the right place. I have everything from veggies to tuck into burgers and sandwiches to veggie kabobs that can be served on individual skewers. Trust me when I say, these grilled vegetable ideas will transform your summer meals, too!
Classic Grilled Vegetables
- Grilled Corn – When you’re looking for good vegetables to grill – corn certainly tops the list. And all the kids say: yes! But do you grill with or without the husks? Lucky for you, I cover both techniques in this easy tutorial!
- Grilled Zucchini – Turn this slightly bland vegetable into a savory summer sensation! Once you try grilling it, you won’t want to go back to anything else. It’s one of those easy grilled vegetables that everyone loves and goes with just about anything.
- Grilled Onions – Smoky grilled onions add a subtle bite and sweetness to burgers and other foods like nothing else. They’re easy to slap on the grill next to that burger patty, and the char is unbeatable!eq
- Grilled Asparagus – If you’re looking for the best grilled vegetables that make a wonderful side dish, asparagus is your answer. It’s simple (no special barbecue basket is needed) and grilling it adds that sweet and smoky flavor to it.
Easy Grilled Vegetables as Sides
- Grilled Vegetable Platter – If you’re looking for a simple platter of grilled vegetable ideas, this one is a hit every time. Red bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus, and mushrooms in one dish – yes, please!
- Grilled Veggie Kabobs – Want individual-serving of veggies that are fun to eat? These veggie kabobs are just that. Easy grilled vegetables don’t come easier – just thread everything on a skewer and grill to tender perfection.
- Grilled Eggplant Parmesan – If you love a traditional eggplant parmesan but looking to make it lighter – this is your recipe! Rounds of eggplants are grilled and then topped with cheese, tomatoes, and breadcrumbs for one of the most delicious grilled vegetable ideas.
- Grilled Romaine Lettuce – When you want something a little more than regular lettuce – grill it! It’s flavored with a vibrant lemon vinaigrette and topped with parmesan cheese. It’s one of those unique grilled vegetable ideas that will wow your guests!
- Grilled Green Beans – Tender and crisp with a smoky char and bursting with flavor, these green beans will have you hooked after the first bite. If you thought green beans aren’t good vegetables to grill – you were so wrong. I show you how you can get perfectly crisp, tender beans every time!
Simple Grilled Vegetable Ideas
- Grilled Tomatoes – Juicy, smoky, and a delicious pairing to any BBQ. The heat brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes, making them delicious as a standalone side dish or to tuck into your burgers. It’s one of those easy grilled vegetables that are addictingly delicious.
- Grilled Eggplant – Quick and easy, you will love this delicious side that takes minutes to make. It’s tender and flavorful and topped with pine nuts for a nice crunch. Just talking about it makes me drool over one of the best grilled vegetables!
- Grilled Brussel Sprouts – This is one of the best grilled vegetable ideas out there! Thread the Brussel sprouts on a skewer and add to the grill and watch magic happen. If you have Brussel sprout skeptics – this will certainly win them over!
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms – Move over grilled steak – these deeply flavorful balsamic marinated mushroom steaks are in town and they are here to stay. Great source of protein and low in calories, these are hands-down one of the best grilled vegetables!
Grilled Potatoes
- Grilled Baby Potatoes – If you love baby potatoes and love the grill – combining them together is a match made in heaven. They are seasoned to perfection with a smoky char on the outside and creamy and smooth on the inside.
- Grilled Sweet Potatoes – My love for sweet potatoes has no limits. Between hasselback sweet potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and of course, the classic roasted sweet potatoes – I needed a recipe to bring out the smoky charm in these grilled sweet potato wedges.
- Grilled Baked Potatoes – Baked potatoes have a new meaning (and flavor) when they are cooked to tender perfection on the grill. They have that addicting crispy skin and a light, pillowy soft interior. They’re the best-kept secret and oh-so-delicious!
- Baked Sweet Potatoes – …but make it grilled. If you prefer sweet potatoes over russets, you’ll love these root vegetables that magically transform into savory-sweet, caramel-like goodness. Use the same technique as grilled baked potatoes but use your favorite sweet taters instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
My answer may surprise you but with the exception of a very few – most vegetables can be grilled, as long as you have the proper tools like grill basket and skewers. Everything from zucchini to grape tomatoes can benefit from that smoky char and makes an instant side dish to pair with your grilled protein. Avoid watery vegetables like cucumbers and celery since they will become mushy (besides, they just taste better fresh and crispy!).
Yes! Most of these grilled vegetable ideas can be cooked inside on a grill pan on the stovetop. A grill pan has grates, similar to an outdoor grill, which will give you those beautiful char marks but may lack the smoky flavors. Unfortunately, if you prefer the smoky char – take your veggies outside to cook on an outdoor grill. But otherwise, you can still enjoy delicious, grilled vegetables year-round.
Here’s another answer that may surprise you: no! A light coat of olive oil to prevent sticking to the grates is enough. You can marinate the veggies before grilling if you wish, but if you forget, no worries. Toss the grilled vegetables in the marinade after grilling them, while they are still warm – they will soak up the flavors like nobody’s business and will be so mouthwatering good! Grilled veggies are quite forgiving – you can’t mess them up! Well, unless you step away from the grill and let them burn.
Now that you know what are good vegetables to grill, let me know what your favorites are?! Did some of these surprise you? Or did you find your favorites in this list? Either way, I hope you enjoy all that summer has to offer and grill up some of these tasty veggies – they really come alive!
Full List of Recipes
Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.
Grilled Corn
Grilled Zucchini
Grilled Onions
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Vegetables
Grilled Veggie Kabobs
Grilled Eggplant Parmesan
Grilled Romaine Lettuce
Grilled Green Beans
Grilled Tomatoes
Grilled Eggplant
Grilled Brussel Sprouts
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
Grilled Potatoes
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Baked Potato on a Grill
Baked Sweet Potatoes
For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Best Summer Grilling Recipes, Summer Dinner Ideas, Best Sides to Serve with Burgers, and Refreshing Summer Salads.
If you found this recipe roundup for Vegetables to Grill helpful or if you try any recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipes! It helps others who are thinking of trying out this tutorial and we would love to hear about your experience. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
Can’t decide which to start with. But, these look amazing!
You really can’t go wrong! Thank you!
Great tips. Mixing soft vegetables like mushroom with harder ones like sweet pepper is a good idea.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!!