30 Easy Plant-Based Summer Recipes

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Chili Lime Mango Margarita glasses on a cutting board for our 30 Easy Plant-Based Summer Recipes roundup

Hi Friends!  We’ve gathered 30 of our favorite plant-based recipes for you to take along to all your summer BBQs, parties, and on picnics this season! Happy cooking!

MAINS

Wooden salad bowl loaded with Abundance Kale Salad
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Abundance Kale Salad with Savory Tahini Dressing
An abundant kale salad with roasted sweet potato, zucchini, avocado, sprouts, crispy chickpeas, and kimchi! Topped with a savory tahini dressing, this salad makes the perfect 30-minute meal or side.
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AMAZING BBQ Black Bean Burgers! 10 wholesome ingredients, BIG flavor, so satisfying #vegan #glutenfree #burger #plantbased #recipe #minimalistbaker
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Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger
Smoky, hearty black bean burgers with sweet potato, mushrooms, quinoa, and pecans. Wholesome, satisfying, BIG on flavor, and just 10 ingredients required! The ultimate veggie burgers for the grill or stovetop.
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Platter of homemade Vegan Coconut Wraps filled with hummus and vegetables
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5-Minute Veggie Coconut Wraps
An easy, incredibly fresh and delicious lunch or snack idea: Grain-free coconut wraps with hummus, curry paste, and tons of fresh vegetables. Just 8 ingredients and 5 minutes required.
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Wood platter filled with Roasted Vegetable Salad drizzled with chimichurri
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Roasted Vegetable Salad with Magic Green Sauce
30-minute, colorful roasted vegetable salad over greens with macadamia nut cheese and chimichurri-inspired dressing! A satisfying plant-based meal or side!
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Plate of our delicious Roasted Fennel Salad with edges of the salad platter and bowl of dressing in the corners
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Curry Roasted Fennel Salad with Rosemary Tahini Dressing
Insanely delicious 30-minute salad with crispy, tender curry-roasted fennel. Topped with red bell pepper and a creamy tahini rosemary dressing. Add crispy chickpeas for an optional boost of protein, fiber, and crunch!
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Plate filled with our Easy Greek Bowl recipe surrounded by tahini sauce, lemon, and sliced vegetables
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Greek Goddess Bowl (30 Minutes!)
30-minute, 10-ingredient Greek- and Mediterranean-inspired bowl with vegetables, tabbouleh, vegan tzatziki, and crispy baked chickpeas! A healthy, satisfying entrée or snack.
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Platter of Grilled Veggie Skewers with a small dish of Chimichurri sauce
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Veggie Skewers with Magic Green Sauce
Colorful, 30-minute veggie skewers grilled to perfection and served with a chimichurri-inspired sauce! The perfect plant-based side or main for summertime BBQs.
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Platter filled with our Easy Jackfruit Tacos recipe for a delicious plant-based meal
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Spicy Jackfruit Tacos (1-Pot Meal!)
Spicy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos made in 1 pan in about 30 minutes! A DELICIOUS, easy-to-make filling that's perfect for tacos, taco salads, burritos, nachos, and more!
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Baking sheet with Grilled Corn drizzled with Vegan Sriracha Aioli
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Grilled Corn with Sriracha Aioli
Perfect grilled corn with a savory, spicy sriracha aioli. The perfect summer side dish or snack. 10 ingredients, vegan, and gluten-free.
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Cutting board with several Raw Burritos, lime wedges, and bowls of hot sauce, pickled onion, and salsa
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Vegan Collard Green Burritos
Easy-to-make, 8-ingredient, 30-minute vegan burritos wrapped in collard greens! Stuffed with wholesome ingredients like Raw Vegan Taco Meat, Vegan Mexican Cheese, Red Salsa, avocado, and more! The perfect quick and portable lunch or snack.
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Platter filled with our healthy Loaded Kale Salad recipe
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Loaded Kale Salad
Healthy and delicious loaded kale salad with quinoa, roasted and fresh vegetables, avocado, and a creamy tahini dressing! Just 10 ingredients required.
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Using wooden salad spoons to grab a serving of our colorful Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
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Vibrant Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
A quick and easy Thai-inspired salad with fresh vegetables and mango! Drizzle on a simple peanut dressing for a delicious side, or add a protein of choice to make it an entrée.
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Plate of sliced cucumbers, pita, and a bowl of Smoky Harissa Eggplant Dip
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Smoky Harissa Eggplant Dip
9-ingredient savory eggplant dip with smoked paprika and spicy harissa paste. A subtly spiced dip loaded with flavor and nutrients. The perfect side dish or appetizer.
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Plate of The Best Damn Vegan Nachos made with cashew queso, salsa, guac and more
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The Best Damn Vegan Nachos
The heartiest, most delicious vegan nachos I’ve ever had. Salty, crunchy tortilla chips, fresh guacamole, black beans, and salsa all covered in a healthy layer of cashew-less vegan queso!
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DRINKS

Two glasses of our Strawberry Rhubarb Margarita recipe
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Rhubarb Strawberry Margaritas
6-ingredient rhubarb strawberry margaritas with silver tequila, lime juice, and a homemade rhubarb-strawberry syrup. Tart-sweet, easy to make, and perfect for spring!
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Tall overflowing glass of our Caramel Frappuccino recipe
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Cold Brew Caramel Frappuccino
Creamy, caffeine-packed caramel frappuccino made with just 3 ingredients and naturally sweetened with date caramel. The perfect dairy-free morning pick-me-up.
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Homemade Watermelon Slushie served in a watermelon rind with fresh limes on top
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Coconut Lime Watermelon Slushie
Super simple, 3-ingredient watermelon slushie with coconut milk and lime juice. The perfect refreshing, naturally sweetened summer treat!
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Using a wooden spoon to stir fresh fruit for making White Sangria
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Easy Traditional White Sangria
An easy, 8-ingredient (1-pitcher!) recipe for traditional white wine sangria. Brandy and wine recommendations included, and seasonally adaptable!
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Wood cutting board with lime wedges and Chili Lime Mango Margaritas
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Chili Lime Mango Margaritas
Simple mango margaritas with orange, lime, agave, and silver tequila! Cold, sweet, tangy, and subtly spiced. Perfect for Mexican food and warm weather!
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Swirling dairy-free milk into a tall glass of homemade Thai Iced Tea
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Vegan Thai Iced Tea
Creamy, luxurious, 5-ingredient Thai Iced Tea made with black tea, natural sweeteners, vanilla and coconut milk! The perfect beverage for Thai dishes and more.
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Lime wedges around glasses of Watermelon Margaritas
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Best Watermelon Margaritas (3 Ingredients!)
The best Watermelon Margaritas with just 3 ingredients! Naturally sweet from the watermelon, tangy from the lime, and spiked with silver tequila!
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Side view of glasses of our whiskey ginger recipe
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Orange-Infused Whiskey Ginger
Orange-infused whiskey ginger with fresh lemon and ginger juice. Naturally sweetened, zesty, citrusy, and perfect for the holidays and beyond!
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DESSERTS

Setting a Vanilla Cake Bite covered in coconut onto a wood cutting board
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No-Bake Vanilla Cake Bites
Energy-packed date and walnut cake bites infused with vanilla and coconut. The result is an easy-to-make, tender snack bite that tastes like vanilla cake! Just 6 ingredients and 1 food processor required!
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Two bowls and a baking pan of Grain-Free Berry Crisp served with vegan ice cream
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Grain-Free Berry Crisp
Vegan berry crisp with 3 types of berries. It's naturally sweetened with crispy, grain-free topping! The perfect plant-based, gluten-free summer dessert!
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Two glasses of Vegan Chocolate Malt topped with coconut whip and chocolate syrup
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3-Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Malt
Easy, 3-ingredient vegan chocolate malt with creamy vanilla bean coconut ice cream, naturally sweetened chocolate syrup, and superfood maca powder!
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Plate with two Raw Banana Splits topped with nut butter, raspberries, and more
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5-Minute Raw Banana Splits
Easy-to-make banana splits with coconut yogurt, nut butter, hemp seeds, rawnola, coconut flakes, and berries! Just 5 minutes and 7 ingredients required!
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Glass dishes filled with Vegan Peanut Butter Pudding topped with coconut whipped cream and chopped peanuts
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5-Ingredient Vegan Peanut Butter Pudding
Thick and creamy vegan peanut butter pudding made with just 5 ingredients in 1 saucepan! Naturally sweetened, easy to make, and the perfect balance of salty and sweet! Enjoy plain, with chocolate ganache, or as a pie filling!
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Holding up an ice cream cone with triple scooped homemade Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
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Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
Creamy, 6-ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream infused with cocoa powder, vegan dark chocolate, and coconut cream. Simple methods, extremely rich and satisfying results.
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Stack of Vegan Ice Cream Snickers Bars
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5-Ingredient Vegan Ice Cream Snickers
Vegan ice cream Snickers made at home with just 5 ingredients! Naturally sweetened, so rich and creamy, and shockingly close to the real thing!
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Spoon in a baking pan of Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
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Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
10-ingredient MEGA creamy vegan ice cream loaded with peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough! So creamy and decadent you’d never believe it was dairy- and egg-free.
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If you give any of these plant-based summer recipes a try, let us know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Happy summer, friends!

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  1. Nela says

    I’m just confused why so many of these recipes are telling me to roast things. The page is called “Easy *Summer* Recipe Ideas.” Am I the only one who’s trying to avoid turning my house into a sauna by turning on the oven and leaving it on for 90 minutes?

  2. Gosia says

    Hi! I gave the vegan mayo with aquafaba a go, and it came out delicious and thick. Instead of brown rice syrup, though, I used agave syrup, which may have been a tad too sweet for this recipe, so next time I will add only two thirds of what the recipe calls for. Thanks for the inspiration!