Memorial Day, which is observed every year on the last Monday in May, has been celebrated since the American Civil War to honor all the men and women who died in military service. Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer vacation and grilling season. It’s time to dust off the grill, get out the lawn chairs and picnic tables, and throw awesome outdoor parties, potlucks, and barbecues. There will be plenty of time for salads all summer long, so let’s celebrate the holiday with delicious, decadent plant-based comfort foods that will knock everyone’s socks off.

Here are 15 delicious comfort food ideas from the Food Monster App for your Memorial Day Weekend celebration!

1. Black Bean Apple Burgers With Caramelized Onion Chipotle BBQ Sauce and Shiitake Bacon

Source: Black Bean Apple Burgers

Nothing says comfort food more than a burger with the works! These Black Bean Apple Burgers by Jennifer Strohmeyer with sweet and spicy BBQ sauce and smoky shitake bacon have everything you could want in a burger. Check out Tricks for Making Veggie Burgers That Won’t Fall Apart.

2. Balsamic BBQ Seitan and Tempeh Ribs

Source: Balsamic BBQ Ribs

These Balsamic BBQ Ribs by Rhea Parsons are indulgent, delicious, and will satisfy your BBQ cravings. Make them with seitan or keep them gluten-free by using tempeh.

3. The Vegan Gutbuster Sandwich – Homemade Vegan Italian Sausage on Baguette

Source: Vegan Gutbuster

Try this Vegan Gutbuster by Lori Hirsch Stokoe– a vegan version of an Italian classic – sausage with peppers and onions. These bean sausages are also loaded with tomatoes, mushrooms, and vegan mozzarella for a gut-busting sandwich. For grilling tips, see How to Make Vegan Sausages That Will Hold Up On the Grill.

4. Best Ever “Steak” Sandwich on the Planet

Source: Best Ever Vegan Steak Sandwich

Steak sandwiches may be comfort food but this Best Ever Vegan Steak Sandwich by Miriam Sorrell topped with caramelized onions is the ultimate comfort food. Make it on the grill for even extra flavor.

5. Vegan BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich with Sweet Miso Coleslaw

Source: BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich with Sweet Miso Coleslaw

Barbecue sandwiches and coleslaw go together like summer and cookouts. You can have it all with this amazing BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich with Sweet Miso Coleslaw by Marly McMillen Beelman which is a sandwich and side dish in one.

6. Spelt Pizza With Roasted Veggies

Source: Spelt Pizza with Roasted Veggies

Pizza is everyone’s favorite food and it will really top the chart when it’s topped with sweet, caramelized roasted vegetables like this Spelt Pizza with Roasted Veggies by Akshata Sheelvant. Make both the pizza crust and the veggies on the grill. See How to Grill Tasty Veggies Indoors and Outdoors for all the tips and tricks.

7. Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce

Source: Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce

Food on a stick is always fun and perfect for outdoor summer cookouts. These Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce by Josephine Watmore are sweet and spicy with a decadent, creamy sauce. Swap seitan for tofu for a gluten-free version like these Tofu Vegetable Kebabs with Peanut Sauce. Not sure about how to cook kebabs? 5 Tips for Amazing Summer Skewered Food has all the help you’ll need.

8. Cashew Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl

Source: Cashew Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl

We can’t talk about comfort food without including mac and cheese. This Cashew Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl recipe by Bridge Rose is made with cashews and served in individual bread bowls for the ultimate experience. What’s better than a bowl you can eat?

9. Portobello Mushroom Steaks

Source: Portobello Mushroom Steaks

Fire up the grill to cook thick, juicy steaks – Portobello Mushroom Steaks by Kathleen Henry, that is. These are made with onions, balsamic vinegar, herbs, and spices for maximum flavor.

10. Grilled Buffalo Tofu Po’Boy with Apple Slaw

Source: Buffalo Tofu Po’Boy with Apple Slaw

Grilled tofu? Check. Buffalo sauce? Check. Creamy and crunchy apple slaw? Check. This Buffalo Tofu Po’Boy with Apple Slaw by Zsu Dever is the trifecta of sandwiches!

11. Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad

Source: Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad

Whoever said salads aren’t indulgent never had this Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad by Rebecca Jacobs made with avocados and coconut milk. They don’t know what they’re missing!

12. Ina Garten’s Potato Salad Veganized

Source: Ina Garten’s Potato Salad Veganized

Potato salad is a summer cookout classic. Here tradition gets a twist when the mayo is swapped out with a creamy dairy-free cashew dressing to make Ina Garten’s Potato Salad Veganized by Koko Brill.

13. Grilled Avocado with Roasted Tomatoes

Source: Grilled Avocado with Roasted Tomatoes

Anyone can grill corn on the cob. Step out of the box and make Grilled Avocado with Roasted Tomatoes by Carri Pattison, corn, and spicy jalapenos instead. A show-stopper!

14. Strawberry Shortcakes with a Coconut Whipped Cream Topping

Source: Strawberry Shortcakes with Coconut Whipped Cream

The best desserts are the ones that are mini-sized but big on flavor like these adorable Strawberry Shortcakes with Coconut Whipped Cream by Spork Foods. For an added flavor burst, throw the cakes on the grill just long enough to get some grill marks on them.

15. Creamy Coconut Mango Pops (With a Boozy Version)

Source: Creamy Coconut Mango Popsicles

All that grilling is bound to make people hot. Cool off with these refreshing, super-decadent, and dairy-free Creamy Coconut Mango Popsicles by Dora Daily that are coated with both a chocolate shell and coconut!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!