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    Home / Vegan Entrees

    The Best Vegan Memorial Day Recipes

    Published: May 23, 2024 · Modified: May 22, 2024 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    With Memorial Day right around the corner, I compiled a list of some of my favorite vegan Memorial Day recipes to share!

    I'm looking forward to spending time with family over the holiday. What better way to celebrate than with healthy, vegan food? So, because I love BBQ, I collected 20 Great Recipes for Memorial Day to share with your families.

    Jump to:
    • Memorial Day
    • Tasty Appetizer Ideas
    • Vegan Crowd-Pleasing Salads
    • Vegan Memorial Day Grilled Recipes
    • 💬 Reviews

    Memorial Day

    Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2023 will occur on Monday, May 29. 

    Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

    As we remember the fallen heroes and welcome summer, let's celebrate with family and friends!

    Tasty Appetizer Ideas

    First, I always serve my family's favorite appetizers during the day for the kids to munch on and enjoy! Since they are my taste kitchen critics, I always ask what they want to eat before making my grocery list.

    Even though they chose some older, classic recipes, they also selected some new ones. So, this Memorial Day, my family suggests these fam favorites!

    A party isn't a party without vegan nacho cheese sauce. Check out this recipe with the various options for every flavor of vegan cheese sauce to match your holiday theme.

    The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    You will love this vegan nacho cheese sauce recipe if you like it cheesy. Made of only vegetables, it is fat-free and oil-free. Dip your favorite tortilla chips, make mac and cheese, add it to your favorite dip made with cheese, or layer in an enchilada casserole. The possibilities are endless.
    Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
    Check Out This Recipe

    And, leftover nacho cheese sauce is perfect for Vegan Chili Mac, Healthy Mac and Cheese, and Tater Tot Nachos.

    No matter what holiday, this layered Greek dip is always a hit and the first dish to vanish! Served with pita chips or fresh vegetables, there won't be a drop left on the plate.

    Vegan Layered Greek Dip
    Total Time: 40 minutes mins
    Layer on top of layer of fabulous freshness. Take hummus to the next level and enjoy this beautiful vegan layer Greek dip! Serve with baked pita chips or vegetables; this dip is always a crowd-pleaser.
    Check Out This Recipe

    What's better than savory stuffed bite-sized stuffed portobello mushrooms? Nothing! These bite-sized mushrooms are filled with mushrooms, shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, and other wonderful ingredients.

    Vegan Baby Portobello Mushroom Bites
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Mushrooms are a perfect capsule to stuff wonderful ingredients. These savory bite-sized mushrooms are to die for.
    vegan recipes for super bowl
    Check Out This Recipe

    Zucchini fries are a great appetizer for everyone to enjoy! Try serving with vegan ranch, lemon basil dipping sauce, or mustard dill sauce.

    Vegan Zucchini Fries
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    It's zucchini season, and zucchini fries are a great way to enjoy summer zucchini. With their crispy exterior and soft delicate inside, this recipe is a great appetizer, side dish, or main dish! Kid friendly and easy to make in under 30 minutes!
    Check Out This Recipe

    Vegan buffalo chicken dip is always on the menu whenever the kids visit. Made with jackfruit and vegetables, this dip is perfect with chips or fresh vegetables. No matter how often I make vegan buffalo chicken dip, it never disappoints.

    Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
    Total Time: 1 hour hr
    Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip is a combination of my vegan ranch, shredded sauteed jackfruit, and my favorite buffalo sauce. This spicy dip is perfect with veggies or homemade pita chips.
    Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    Vegan spinach artichoke dip is a creamy dip perfect for vegetables, bread, or crackers.

    Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
    Total Time: 50 minutes mins
    Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip is a creamy all veggie sensation. Served hot or cold, this all-vegetable dip is oil-free, nut-free, and plant-milk-free. Even the cheesy sauce is made with only vegetables. This is skinny dipping at its finest.
    baking vegan spinach artichoke dip
    Check Out This Recipe

    This simple and delicious vegan white bean dip is a crowd-pleaser. It's perfect for spreading on toast points or a sandwich spread. Or serve with vegetables.

    Vegan White Bean Dip
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    This vegan white bean dip is a savory, rich, hot dip with incredible flavor. Healthy and robust, this white bean dip can also be served as a cold dip with bread, crackers, or vegetables for dipping—skinning dipping at its best.
    white bean dip recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    I love my crockpot because it cooks for me and is a simple, win-win recipe. Tangy crockpot meatless meatballs have few ingredients; you won't believe how easy they are to make. And, as I said, the crockpot cooks them for you. So when your guests arrive, don't be surprised as they vanish before your eyes.

    Vegan Sweet and Sour Meatballs
    Total Time: 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    I veganized Grandma's sweet and sour meatball recipe. Even meat-eaters love these vegan sweet and sour meatballs! So, don't tell anyone. Shhh!
    Tangy crockpot meatballs
    Check Out This Recipe

    Skip the same old jarred salsa and add a little twist with this quick and easy pineapple salsa. It's sweet, sassy, and great for everything Mexican.

    Easy Pineapple Salsa
    Brighten up your summer with this easy pineapple salsa recipe. It's a little sweet with a hint of spice and vibrant and bright, perfect for dipping, adding to your favorite burger, or spooning over your favorite ice cream. So, dive into this delicious pineapple salsa.
    Check Out This Recipe

    If you like crunchy and savory, these Southwest egg rolls are the answer. Dip them in your favorite vegan sauce—we like vegan Southwest dressing.

    Easy Vegan Southwest Egg Rolls
    These delicious vegan Southwest egg rolls are a party in your mouth! Each egg roll is filled with lentil taco meat and veggies and cooked to a golden brown. This Southwest egg roll recipe is served with southwest dipping sauce.
    Check Out This Recipe

    Vegan Crowd-Pleasing Salads

    Besides serving an array of appetizers, I always make my favorite salad recipes to accompany my main dish. Since Memorial Day, I have chosen my family's favorite spring and summer salads, perfect for any BBQ or party.

    One of my favorite salads is Cowboy Caviar, which doubles as an appetizer when served with tortilla chips or vegetables.

    Cowboy Caviar
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cowboy caviar recipe is a dip, relish, salad, salad topping, side dish, taco topper, and great on potatoes, tofu scramble, or any dish you love. Oil-free, gluten-free, and delicious, make cowboy caviar to your next BBQ or picnic.
    Check Out This Recipe

    This vegan bean salad contains three different beans, chopped vegetables, and herbs in an oil-free, tangy dressing. Again, this vegan bean salad is easy to make and a definite crowd-pleaser. 

    Easy Vegan Bean Salad
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    For a quick and easy lunch idea, or your next BBQ or picnic, make an oil-free bean salad.
    three bean salad
    Check Out This Recipe

    Another favorite must for Memorial Day salad is a vegan version of grandma's classic potato salad.

    Vegan Potato Salad
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    Vegan potato salad is the perfect picnic or barbeque side dish. Creamy and full of veggies, this classic potato salad is so delicious that you won't believe it's vegan. So don't skip your favorite foods; instead, make them vegan and healthy, and enjoy!
    Check Out This Recipe

    Or, if your family loves pasta, try this easy vegan macaroni salad recipe. It's creamy and loaded with veggies!

    Vegan Macaroni Salad
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    Summer is on the way, and what better way to greet it than with a classic vegan macaroni salad for your first BBQ! 15 minutes from start to finish, this vegan version of a classic macaroni salad will bring them back for more.
    Check Out This Recipe

    If you want a light yet beautiful salad, Greek orzo salad is perfect for your Memorial Day celebration. In addition to orzo pasta, this salad is full of red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and kalamata olives in an oil-free dressing.

    Easy Greek Orzo Salad
    Total Time: 18 minutes mins
    Greek orzo pasta salad recipe is loaded with fresh, crunchy vegetables, with an oil-free lemony dressing. All these refreshing summer flavors taste like summer in a bowl.  
    Check Out This Recipe

    Watermelon is in the stores, and what better way to serve it than with fresh cucumbers, rosemary, infused pickled red onions, radishes, and mint? Watermelon cucumber salad is a perfect side dish for any party if you want a light, fresh salad.

    Watermelon Cucumber Salad
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    Watermelon cucumber salad recipe is summer in a bowl! Refreshing, simple, and oil-free, this salad is perfect for a picnic, BBQ, or any family gathering. It's beautiful, vibrant colors, and refreshing taste screams summer.
    Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    Vegan Waldorf salad is a creamy fruit and nut-based salad in a sweet, tangy, oil-free dressing. Apples, grapes, celery, rosemary-infused pickled red onions, dill, walnuts, and more! Vegan Waldorf salad looks beautiful and tastes just like grandma's recipe. 

    Vegan Waldorf Salad
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Crunchy with crisp apples, celery, and walnuts, this vegan Waldorf salad is a classic recipe perfect for the fall. Take a bite of this sweet and savory vegan Waldorf salad recipe, and you'll be hooked.
    Check Out This Recipe

    Everyone loves this cold spaghetti salad recipe in a delicious oil-free Italian dressing.

    Cold Spaghetti Salad
    Total Time: 27 minutes mins
    Spaghetti salad is an elegant combination of noodles, and raw and roasted vegetables, dressed in an oil-free Italian dressing and served on a bed of beautiful greens. Every bite is a blissful combination of flavors. Ready in 30 minutes or less!
    Spaghetti Salad
    Check Out This Recipe

    This vegan tuna pasta salad recipe tastes like the tuna pasta salad grandma used to make but vegan, of course.

    Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad
    If you love pasta and vegan tuna, you will fall in love with this vegan tuna pasta salad. Made with chickpeas and hearts of palm, this vegan tuna pasta salad recipe is the perfect lunch or dinner on a hot summer night.
    Check Out This Recipe

    Vegan Memorial Day Grilled Recipes

    Memorial Day is all about barbecues, picnics, and outdoor fun!

    At my house, we love corn on the cob. But, I also marinate the corn before I grill it, infusing it with different flavors. So, I will make it a little fancier for Memorial Day with fabulous flavors.

    Vegan Mexican Street Corn
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Spice up your corn on the cob, and make it fancy and fun for the family. Marinating, grilling, and topping your corn brings out the depths of the flavors of summer corn.
    Mexican Street Corn Recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    One of the easiest burgers to make is grilled portobello mushroom burgers. Just clean and marinate the mushrooms, and serve with a tray of toppings. As a result, this quick and easy burger takes minutes to prepare and another 10 minutes to cook. Easy..peasy!

    Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger
    Total Time: 13 minutes mins
    Portobello mushrooms are a healthy meat substitute for the perfect grilled portobello mushroom burger recipe, filled with your favorite burger toppings, all tucked inside the cap. Cook dinner in under 20 minutes!
    Grilled Portobello Mushroom
    Check Out This Recipe

    Grilled veggies are always popular with my family. In fact, with or without sticks, grilled vegetables are quick and easy to make. Depending on the flavor you are looking for, the recipe provides different marinades and vegan dipping sauces. Again, prepare grilled vegetable kabobs ahead of time for party preparations. 

    Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    It's time for chilling and grilling! For a quick and easy dinner, grill up some vegetable kabobs. Three different marinade recipes included, as well as two different dipping sauces!
    Grilled Vegetable Kabobs Recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    Try my pulled pork sweet potato sandwiches if you don't have a grill but crave BBQ. Topped with vegan pineapple coleslaw, this BBQ sandwich tastes incredible. With very few ingredients, cook up a batch of pulled pork sweet potatoes ahead of time and reheat them to make sandwiches quickly. 

    Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Sandwich
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    If you LOVE BBQ as much as I do, you will love this pulled pork sweet potato sandwich recipe. Not only is it easy to make, but your pulled pork sweet potato sandwiches will disappear from your dinner table in minutes.
    Check Out This Recipe

    Are you looking for a veggie burger that stays together and grills? Well, this Beet Burger is the burger you have been searching for. Grill it, cook on the stove, or bake; this burger is hearty, tasty, and doesn't fall apart when cooked or eaten. Super easy to make and has very few ingredients!

    Vegan Beet Burger
    Total Time: 35 minutes mins
    This nut-free, oil-free, soy-free lentil beet burger is a copy-cat version of Chef Chloe's Beet Burger without the fat. So skip the fake meat and eat a whole foods burger you will LOVE!
    BEET BURGER
    Check Out This Recipe

    By far, grilling tofu is my favorite way to prepare it. However, my tofu world changed once I learned to marinate and grill tofu. BBQ Grilled tofu is made with a healthy BBQ sauce, marinated, and grilled in under 20 minutes. Serve it in a sandwich (above) or eat it with a fork and knife. Or try these grilled tofu recipes this Memorial Day.

    Grilled Tofu With Mango Salsa
    Total Time: 31 minutes mins
    It's chillin' and grillin' time! Grilled tofu is a fresh summery meal! The citrus marinade combined with the mango salsa makes this grilled tofu recipe the perfect meal for a spring or summer night.
    Grilled tofu recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    Carrot dogs are always great for welcoming summer if you plan a vegan Memorial Day BBQ.

    Carrot Dogs
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Carrot dogs are a healthy alternative to vegan hot dogs. This carrot dog recipe will tempt your taste buds and leave you satisfied! Made in a skillet or grilled outdoors, no one will believe these veggie dogs are made from carrots.
    carrot dog recipe
    Check Out This Recipe

    From my family to your family, Happy Memorial Day! These vegan recipes help to plan a Memorial Day or another party soon.

    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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    1. Sue

      May 28, 2022 at 6:57 am

      Everything looks great. Can’t wait to try them.
      Thank you for sharing 🌻

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kathy! I love creating delicious whole foods plant-based recipes. I believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet!

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