Top 25 Vegan Summer Recipes
Enjoy 25 fresh, healthy vegan summer recipes—beverages, salads, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts–featuring seasonal vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and plant-based ingredients perfect for summer.
Top 25 Vegan Summer Recipes: Fresh, Healthy & Easy Ideas
Summer is all about fresh, light, healthy eating—and celebrating the incredible bounty of the season. From juicy tomatoes, zucchini, corn, and cucumbers to sweet peaches, melons, and berries, these Top 25 Vegan Summer Recipes make the most of colorful seasonal produce. Whether you’re harvesting basil and squash from your own garden or picking up fresh ingredients at the farmers market or supermarket, these healthy vegan summer recipes are perfect for easy meals, picnics, parties, outdoor concerts, and long dinners al fresco. I’m sharing some of my favorite plant-based summer recipes that I turn to time and time again for friends and family, from fresh salads and veggie-packed dishes to satisfying summer meals. Let these easy vegan summer recipes inspire you to enjoy the season, embrace seasonal eating, and nurture your own delicious plant-based eating style.
Top 25 Vegan Summer Recipes
Vegan Summer Beverage Recipes:
Iced Green Tea with Lemon and Cucumbers
Make your own iced green tea blend as one of the healthiest and greenest things you can do! Those bottles of iced tea can contain sugar and a plethora of unwanted additives. Not to mention how much you can lower your environmental footprint over a year by avoiding all of those plastic bottles, which must be prepared then shipped to your nearby supermarket, consuming fossil fuels along the way. This refreshing beverage is great for beating the heat—serve it in a pitcher for the whole table.
Cool down with this easy strawberry agua fresca recipe—a refreshing Mexican fruit drink made with real strawberries, lime, and water. Perfect for summer and naturally sweet!
Naturally sweet dates are the basis for this ultra creamy, healthy, delicious vegan date shake, which happens to be dairy-free, added-sugar free, and gluten-free.
Vegan Summer Dip Recipes:
I love a good veggie-rich salsa dip to serve with whole grain crackers, corn or bean chips, and veggies. And this avocado salsa is packed with extra goodies: corn, green onions, cilantro, black olives, corn, and jalapenos. It’s not only delicious, but it’s beautiful to boot. While this avocado salsa is great at snack time or as an appetizer, it’s also delicious served as an accompaniment to veggie-burgers, lentil patties, veggie “meat” balls, tacos, burritos, and sandwiches. Bring it to your next party or picnic as a delicious dish that will be the hit! With only 10 ingredients, not including pantry staples, it’s a go-to recipe you will turn to again and again.
Easy Classic Tomato Bruschetta
This vegan Classic Bruschetta is so easy to make at home, and it’s the perfect summertime dish to make the most of those rich, juicy tomatoes.
Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Hummus
This Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Hummus is an easy homemade hummus recipe made with just a few simple ingredients. Healthy, creamy, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, it’s perfect as a dip, spread, or snack.
Vegan Summer Salad Recipes:
Colorful Vegan Confetti Potato Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
This vibrant vegan confetti potato salad is packed with potatoes, red cabbage, carrots, radishes, red onions, and bell peppers, all tossed in a creamy lemon dressing. A healthy, gluten-free side dish full of flavor and color!
When I bring back a perfect tomato—gorgeous, heavy, juicy, and ripe—from the farmers market, this is one of my favorite easy salads to showcase that perfect tomato. Inspired by the classic Caprese salads in Italy, I pair my perfect tomato with arugula, olive oil, pine nuts, basil, balsamic vinegar, and EVOO and leave out the customary goat cheese to make this recipe completely plant-based. This is also a great recipe to showcase a bumper crop of tomatoes in your garden.
Green Bean Tomato Salad with Almonds & Herb Vinaigrette
Light, fresh, and healthy! This easy vegan green bean tomato salad with almonds and herby red wine vinaigrette is the perfect gluten-free summer side.
Vegan Side Dish Recipes:
Inspired by the “boils” celebrated in the South and New England, this plant-powered version excludes the seafood normally included in these big steaming pots. This dish is the perfect way to celebrate simply perfect, late summer produce, such as fresh sweet corn and tender new potatoes. My version includes handfuls of fresh dill and whole cloves of garlic. It’s ideal for your next outdoor meal or party.
Quick, healthy, and absolutely delicious—these herb grilled vegetables are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Perfect for summer grilling or weeknight dinners!
Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower with Ranch Dip
Discover a delicious and healthy vegan buffalo cauliflower recipe, served with homemade creamy ranch dressing. A perfect plant-based appetizer or snack that’s flavorful, spicy, and guilt-free!
Vegan Main Dish Recipes:
These savory, home-made Zucchini Oat Veggie Patties are filled with nutrient-rich whole plants, like zucchini, carrots, kidney beans, oats, pistachios, chia and flax. Make a batch and enjoy them all week long. They are delicious served as a veggie burger in a whole grain bun with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado, as well as an entrée with a flavorful dipping sauce, such as this avocado salsa. If you have a garden and you have a bounty of zucchini growing, this recipe offers a great solution for using up your seasonal produce.
This easy recipe for Grilled Spicy Sesame Tofu pays homage to traditional Asian flavors, including sesame, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger, red chili, and seaweed. All you have to do is mix up this flavorful marinade—which takes just a few minutes and 8 ingredients—and then marinate your extra firm, pressed tofu to allow it to seep up those wonderful flavors. Then you can grill it, allowing the surface to caramelize and gain a little crispness.
A harvest from your summer vegetable garden or trip to the farmers market—and rummage through the kitchen cupboard—never looked so delicious! With one large saucepan and a few simple ingredients, this mouthwatering plant-based Ratatouille with White Beans is sure to satisfy any hearty appetite.
Vegan Cantaloupe Basil Flatbread Pizza
This Vegan Cantaloupe Basil Flatbread Pizza is a fresh, healthy summer recipe made with creamy cashew ricotta, juicy cantaloupe, kale, basil, pumpkin seeds, and crisp flatbread. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a colorful plant-based meal or appetizer that’s vegan, vegetarian, and packed with flavor.
Vegan Seafood Salad with Hearts of Palm and Chickpeas
This vegan seafood salad features hearts of palm, chickpeas, seaweed, and a zesty dressing. Light, hearty, and full of ocean flavor—100% plant-based & gluten-free!
Curried Oat White Bean Veggie Burgers
These wholesome curried oat white bean veggie burgers are packed with veggies, herbs and spices. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, oil-free, and free of added salt or sugar. Easy and healthy!
Vegan Dessert Recipes:
You won’t believe that this ooey-gooey, fudgy chocolate cake is loaded with shredded zucchini, nor that it is completely plant-based (vegan). This recipe showcases the magic of aquafaba, reserved bean liquid that whips up like a meringue, replacing eggs in baking recipes. This delicious cake also highlights how veggies can add so much moisture to recipes, such as the zucchini in a luscious cake.
It’s peach season! So enjoy these yummy, succulent fruits while you have the chance. I love this easy way to serve fresh, ripe peaches. Just brush them with this olive oil-basil marinade and grill them up. Serve them with plant-based ice cream for a special treat.
Easy Summer Fruit Skillet Cobbler
This healthy vegan summer fruit cobbler is easy, low in sugar, and made in one skillet! Use berries, peaches, plums—whatever’s in season. Delicious & light!
This simple, serene Rustic White Peach Pecan Tart features pale white-pink peaches and melt-in-your mouth golden pastry. It’s the perfect vegan dessert!
Discover More Healthy Plant-Based Summer Inspo!
The Health & Nutrition Benefits of Summer Berries + Easy, Delicious Berry Recipes
Top 3 Ways to Celebrate Summer Produce in Season
Top 5 Dietitian Tips for Summer Fruits & Vegetables: Eat Fresh, Cook Smart, Stay Healthy
40 Vegan Summer Fruit Recipes with Melon
45 Plant-Based Summer Picnic Recipes
Top 20 Healthy Vegan Summer Dips
45 Healthy & Delicious Plant-Based Summer Salads
Top 5 Dietitian Tips for Summer Fruits & Vegetables: Eat Fresh, Cook Smart, Stay Healthy
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