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A Bumper Meat-Free BBQ Guide for the August Bank Holiday

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grilled vegetable kebabs on BBQ grid

The weather forecast migh be mixed, still the August Bank Holiday is prime barbecue territory, and this year there’s no reason for anyone to be stuck eating a sad veggie sausage on the side.

Whether you’re fully vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or simply looking to put more plants on the table for friends and family, I’ve pulled together over 60 of my favourite meat-free BBQ recipes (some of my own and some of my favourite food bloggers) to make sure everyone eats well this Bank Holiday.

Cutting back on meat, even for one meal, has real benefits. The NHS recommends eating less red and processed meat as part of a healthy, balanced sustainable diet, and the British Dietetic Association highlights the fibre and nutrient boost that comes from building more meals around vegetables, pulses and wholegrains. Whatever brought you here, you’ll find plenty of these Bank Holiday BBQ recipes worth adding to the grill.

This is meat free BBQ for a crowd: proper kebabs and skewers, hearty burgers and patties, big grilled mains, a whole section of grilled vegetables, corn and fruit, plus salads, sides, sharing starters and bread.

Some recipes are vegan, some vegetarian. Each one is clearly labelled so you can plan a menu that suits your guests, whether that’s an all-vegan spread or a flexitarian mix.

For more meat free BBQ ideas UK hosts will love, browse my full Meatless BBQ collection, or start with my flexitarian diet guide if you’re just getting started going meat-free.

Kebabs & Skewers

Skewers make effortless BBQ food: thread, grill, and let everyone dig in. This selection pairs classic paneer and halloumi kebabs with plant-based options like vegan yakitori, so everyone gets a stake at the grill.

Paneer Kebabs on wooden board with coriander chutney

Paneer Kebab Recipe – The Flexitarian

Cubes of paneer and vegetables are marinated in tikka masala paste and yoghurt, then threaded onto skewers and cooked on the barbecue, under the grill, or in an air fryer. It’s served with naan bread and a zingy coriander mint chutney for dipping.

Burgers & Patties

For vegan BBQ burgers that actually hold together on the grill, this section has you covered. From seitan and black bean patties to my own Blue Cheese Mushroom Burger with Caramelised Red Onions. Browse more of my burger recipes for even more inspiration.

vegan chickpea burger on bun with garnish

Easy Chickpea Burgers [vegan] – Foodess

Chickpeas are blended and shaped into patties that turn crisp outside and fluffy within, a vegan burger built for weeknight ease as much as a barbecue spread. Simple pantry ingredients make it an easy one to batch-cook. Grill or pan-fry.

Grilled Proteins & Mains

Beyond the burger bun, these heartier mains: pulled jackfruit, marinated grilled tofu, Korean BBQ seitan, prove meat-free grilling doesn’t have to mean a smaller plate.

pulled jackfruit buns with beer bottle

Pulled Jackfruit [vegan] – Jack Stein

Jackfruit is cooked down with spices until juicy and tender, giving it the texture of pulled pork, then piled into buns with homemade pickled onions, red cabbage and cucumber. Developed with chef Jack Stein, it’s a convincing plant-based centrepiece for the BBQ table.

Grilled Vegetables, Corn & Fruit

Some of the best things at any barbecue come straight off the grill with nothing more than oil and salt. This section rounds up smoky corn, charred aubergine, grilled peaches and more. Simple sides that make the most of the flames.

grilled stuffed avocado on wooden board

Grilled Stuffed Avocado  In the Kitch

Avocado halves are grilled and filled with a savoury stuffing, warming and softening the avocado for a different way to serve it. Grilling avocados enhances their natural creamy texture. It’s a creative, plant-based starter or side for the grill.

Salads & Sides

No BBQ spread is complete without a good stack of vegetarian BBQ side dishes, and this is the biggest section of the guide for exactly that reason — potato salads, bean salads, pasta salads and Turkish-inspired dishes to round out the table. For even more inspiration, see my salad recipes and summer salads collection.

close up of bow pasta salad in salad bowl

Southwest Pasta Salad with Black Beans and Corn [vegan]– Becoming You With Julie

Pasta is combined with black beans and corn in a Southwest-style salad, giving a hearty, colourful side. It’s a make-ahead dish that’s easy to scale up for a crowd.

Sharing Starters & Bread

Keep guests happy while the coals get going with an easy sharing starter — my Antipasto Platter, Caprese Skewers and homemade Focaccia Bread all work brilliantly served before the mains come off the grill. Most of them travel well too, so take a look at my picnic recipes if you’re taking the spread outdoors.

caprese skewers with balsamic drizzle on white serving plate

Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Glaze [vegetarian] – The Flexitarian

Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and basil are threaded onto skewers and finished with a balsamic glaze, turning the classic Caprese salad into easy, no-cutlery-needed sharing food. It’s a simple starter that comes together in minutes

However You’re Hosting This Bank Holiday

However you’re marking the Bank Holiday (a big family get-together or a low-key evening with friends) I hope this guide makes it easy to put a proper spread of meat free BBQ recipes on the table. If you’re short on time, my 30-minute meals collection is worth a look for quick sides you can pull together while the grill heats up.

Made one of these? Tag me on Instagram @theflexitarianuk. I’d love to see your Bank Holiday spread.

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