Fourth of July often involves barbecues. In fact, 65.5 percent of Americans will celebrate with a barbecue, cookout, or picnic, according to the National Retail Federation. Such celebrations are usually loaded with meaty fare, but we’ve found 10 vegan recipes that show you how to have a delicious, cruelty-free holiday. Impress the skeptics with an array of meatless burgers and hot dogs, dairy-free cakes and side dishes, and vegan-friendly drinks—all while leaving animals off the menu.
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What do you serve at a Fourth of July vegan cookout?
For many Americans, a Fourth of July cookout isn’t complete without meat. But there are plenty of animal-free ways to celebrate this federal holiday. Follow our guide to vegan barbecue sides and salads, for example, for the best dairy-free mac and cheese recipes, mushroom skewers, and more. We also have The Essential Vegan Guide to Grilling, the best vegan burger toppings (for when you’re bored of ketchup), as well as the most addictive vegan barbecue sauces. And, of course, all of the delicious recipes below.
Vegan recipes for Fourth of July
These meatless recipes are sure to please at any Independence Day cookout.
Quarry Books
1 Spicy Ancho-Spiced Barbecue Burgers With Caramelized Onions
Homemade veggie burgers that won’t fall apart when grilled? Count us in! This super simple, hearty recipe shows just how good the plant-based life can be. Running low on time? Check out our guide to the best vegan burgers for barbecue season.
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Chris Miller
2 Vegan Avocado Portabello Tacos
These tasty tacos from the But My Family Would Never Eat Vegan cookbook are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to make and packed with good-for-you ingredients, like avocados, portabello mushrooms, red onion, and jalapeños.
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Lauren Toyota
3 Vegan Greek Potato Feta Salad
A cookout isn’t complete without a tasty potato salad. This one from the Hot For Food Vegan Comfort Classics cookbook is packed with tangy, bold flavors, thanks to the vegan tofu-based feta and the creamy cucumber dressing.
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Hot for Food
4 Grilled Corn on the Cob With Coconut Lime Cream
Perfectly buttery grilled corn, smothered in creamy coconut lime sauce sounds like absolute perfection and is sure to be a hit at your summer cookout.
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Kylie Perrotti
5 Vegan Summer Nectarine and Chickpea Salad
All the best flavors of summer mingle together in this simple, fragrant salad. Nectarines are intermixed with ripe tomatoes, creamy chickpeas, aromatic basil, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil—creating a tasty salad that’s both tasty and nutritious.
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Masha Davydova
6Five-Step Vegan Cherry Skillet Cobbler
Cobblers are one of the easiest ways to transform fruit into a decadent dessert. Sweet and tart cherries are topped with a crunchy, oaty crumble topping for an explosion of summery flavors. Serve with ice cream for the ultimate dessert.
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A Saucy Kitchen
7 Mixed Berry and Whipped Coconut Cream Pie
A raw, date-nut crust—topped with light whipped coconut cream and loaded with fresh, seasonal berries—will have you coming back for seconds. Trust us, it’s the perfect vegan pie for summer cookouts and the red, white, and blue color scheme make it the perfect dessert for your holiday barbecue.
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Chloe Coscarelli
8 Vegan Seasonal Berry Cobbler With Vanilla Bean Whip
This vegan berry cobbler was created by renowned vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli so you know it’s going to be good. It’s delicious, it looks good, and it’s in all the right colors for a Fourth of July celebration.
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9 Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches
Another vibrant Coscarelli creation, these ice cream sandwiches are the ultimate cookout treat. Break them out when all the savory mains have been gobbled up and watch them disappear in minutes.
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Anson Smart
10 Boozy Ginger-Peach Mint Sangria
Treat your guests to a jug of boozy, sweet sangria made with ginger, vanilla, mint, lime, and sweet seasonal peaches to keep the party going all night long. It’s easy to make, delicious, and refreshing.
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