Vegan Memorial Day Menu From Start to Finish!

Whether you’re having a small gathering or a big blowout for memorial day, the picnic/BBQ-style food that is a classic staple of the holiday is something that should be enjoyed! It can be hard to know where to start when planning a holiday menu, so we’re here to provide you with some help: a Memorial Day menu including sides, burgers, hot dogs, and desserts that will leave you and all your guests happy and full! Check out these recipes on our Food Monster App.

Sides

1. Sides

Source: Watermelon Salad With Fried Tofu and Basil-Lime Dressing

Say hello to the most flavorful summer salad ever. This Watermelon Salad With Fried Tofu and Basil-Lime Dressing from Chris Bartis stands out from all other watermelon salads — and the secret is warm ingredients. Adding one or two warm ingredients to a cold dish is a great way to mix things up and add dimension to your summer salad. This salad has a base of fresh greens, tangy kalamata olives and red onions, crunchy sprouts, and juicy watermelon. Then, you add the fried tofu and padrón peppers and toss everything in a refreshing basil-lime dressing.

2. Multigrain Rolls

Source: Multigrain Rolls

You always need some good rolls at your party for guests to munch on! These Multigrain Rolls from Vaishali Honawar, once baked, have an airy texture and they taste amazing with the robust flavors of all those healthy flours.

3. Apricot and Date Pasta Salad

Source: Apricot and Date Pasta Salad

This Apricot and Date Pasta Salad from Natasha Minocha has a kick from coarse black pepper, heat from smoked paprika, and how herbalicious is it with loads of fresh mint, basil and thyme! The combination of sweet with salty is a total winner – don’t worry, you’re NOT eating a dessert or a fruit salad. Once you hit the fruit and dates with some salt and olive oil, they turn into flavor bombs! This salad is great for a family meal, for snacking, for entertaining: Cold or warmed up, it works every which way!

4. Homemade Baked Potato Chips

Source: Homemade Baked Potato Chips

While you wait for your veggie burger or veggie dog to be grilled up or while you mingle and talk to guests, you’ll need something to snack on! A classic chip is a great thing to have at picnics or barbecues, and with these Homemade Baked Potato Chips from Rhea Parsons, you have a nice healthy option!

5. Potato Salad With Cilantro, Dill, Tomatoes, and Raw Mayo

Source: Potato Salad With Cilantro, Dill, Tomatoes, and Raw Mayo

This vegan Potato Salad With Cilantro, Dill, Tomatoes, and Raw Mayo from Emily von Euw is great for a dinner, or really any occasion. It is a veganized version of an awesome potato salad. If you have time to get some chives and red onion, it would be delicious to add them. Enjoy!

Hot Dogs

1. Carrot Hot Dogs

Source: Carrot Hot Dogs

When it comes to recreating your favorite childhood meals, it’s all about the seasoning and these Carrot Hot Dogs from Casey Muir Taylor got it right. They’re made by boiling carrots until soft and then marinating them in a savory sauce. After that, you just fry them to make them a little crispy and … ta-dah! You have yourself a whole foods-based and budget-friendly meal that’s a childhood favorite.

2. Meat-Free Haute Dogs

Source: Meat-Free Haute Dogs

Casual comfort food at its best — the iconic hot dog has been transformed into a healthy sausage link of deliciousness using plant-based ingredients: Meat-Free Haute Dogs from VEGANIZE IT! These meat-free dogs are made from tofu, wheat protein, and oat flour seasoned with a blend of savory spices to make them taste just like the American classic. Serve with mustard, ketchup, and plenty of relish.

3. Hot Dog With Apple Mustard Compote and Vanilla Pickled Onion

Source: Hot Dog With Apple Mustard Compote and Vanilla Pickled Onion

The stars of this recipe are these toppings. These are creative, zingy, tangy, and all the other descriptive words that you’d want on your hot dog. They’re beyond easy to make and bring that hot dog from casual to gourmet the minute you slab this stuff on them. Try out a Hot Dog With Apple Mustard Compote and Vanilla Pickled Onion from Trine Rask!

4. Red Cabbage Carrot Dogs

Source: Red Cabbage Carrot Dogs

We understand that some might have doubts about this, but trust us — these Red Cabbage Carrot Dogs from Melina Kutelas actually taste like the real thing. The flavor of the carrots has just the right mixture of sweet and tanginess to it. The added flavor bonus of shredded red cabbage and spicy arugula makes it even better and a little bit more special. Drizzle it with ketchup and mustard and dig in.

5. Spicy Veggie Dogs

Source: Spicy Veggie Dogs

Looking for a delicious way to sneak some veggies into your diet? These Spicy Veggie Dogs from Tina Dawson are made from beet, carrot, green chilis, potatoes, and peas, then are seasoned with an assortment of spices, and eventually are brushed with a bit of oil and pan-seared. The result? A crispy sausage that is perfect for barbecues when served in a fluffy hot dog bun with a generous drizzle of vegan mayo and ketchup.

Burgers

1. Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Source: Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Meaty Portobello mushroom caps are seasoned with just salt and pepper and then grilled until tender and juicy. They’re served on a bun with sautéed vegetables crisp baby bok coy, broccolini, and red bell peppers, and then served with a creamy, garlicky avocado mayonnaise. These Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers from Molly Ashworth will be the star of your summer cookout, or anytime.

2. Quinoa and Chickpea Burgers With Burger Sauce

Source: Quinoa and Chickpea Burgers With Burger Sauce

How about a scrumptious burger with a crispy grilled quinoa patty, delicious burger sauce, and fresh salad greens? Yes, please! These Quinoa and Chickpea Burgers With Burger Sauce from VBQ: The Ultimate Vegan Barbecue Cookbook by Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer.

3. Grilled Hummus Burgers With Sweet Potato Slices

Source: Grilled Hummus Burgers With Sweet Potato Slices

You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a great burger, nor do you need to spend a lot to make them. You don’t even need to spend a lot of time! These Grilled Hummus Burgers With Sweet Potato Slices from Melanie Sorrentino require only five ingredients to make, not including the grilled sweet potato slices on the side. They’re soft, but crispy on the outside and they cook in just 10 minutes!

4. Grilled Black Bean and Pumpkin Burger

Source: Grilled Black Bean and Pumpkin Burger

This Grilled Black Bean and Pumpkin Burger from Ron Badach layers a blend of seasonal flavors in a black bean and pumpkin patty. Dressed up with roasted red pepper and creamy avocado spread, it’s completely irresistible. Go ahead and take a bite. You deserve this!

5. Grilled Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burger

Source: Grilled Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burger

Burger lovers rejoice because these smokey, hearty burgers are just what you were looking for. This Grilled Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burger from Dana Sterling will give you burger patties that will hold up to grilling; the crumble ingredients will be folded into this dough, providing texture and complexity for an awesome juicy mouth feel.

Desserts

1. Lemon Tartlets With Oatmeal Cookie Crust

Source: Lemon Tartlets With Oatmeal Cookie Crust

Lemon lovers rejoice! These little Lemon Tartlets With Oatmeal Cookie Crust from Shannon Summers are a hybrid between lemon bars and a chewy oatmeal cookie loaded with pecans and shredded coconut. Brilliant, lemony coconut cream is layered atop an oatmeal cookie crust. Sure to satisfy any lemon craving, these luxurious tartlets come in individual sizes, making them perfect for parties and so you don’t have to share.

2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Raspberry Bars

Source: Chocolate Peanut Butter Raspberry Bars

Peanut butter and jelly is a classic; it’s sweet and creamy, and the favorite sandwich of many. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Raspberry Bars from Susan Edelman pay homage to all that goodness by combining all those flavors into a dessert. Fresh raspberries and raspberry jelly stand-in for the classic grape jelly, a layer of chocolate is thrown into the mix, and it’s all sandwiched between two layers of peanut butter oat crumble.

3. Pear and Apple Crisp

Source: Pear and Apple Crisp

There’s nothing like a nice crisp pie filled with deliciously sweet fruit. This Pear and Apple Crisp from Jessica Bose is great all year round, and it pairs perfectly with your favorite dairy-free ice cream!

4. No-Bake Lemon Cake

Source: No-Bake Lemon Cake

This recipe definitely has that “WOW” factor for when you want to impress your guests. The sweet and tart flavors will make everyone happy! Check out this No-Bake Lemon Cake from Charanya Ramakrishnan.

5. Black Forest Cake Trifle

Source: Black Forest Cake Trifle

Layers of cake, cherry filling, and coconut whipped cream make this Black Forest Cake Trifle from Kristen Genton as pretty as it is delicious. Whip this together and try to not eat it all out of the bowl!

Need more picnic recipes? Check out our Picnic Archives and our 15 Vegan Recipes For Your Next Picnic!