Meet the perfect ingredients to grill for a health-filled and delicious Labor Day weekend cookout. These are the 8 best fruits and veggies to grill.
Grilling season is officially here.
If you’re the plant-based eater of your group, your friends and family might be banking on you to supply vegetables for the BBQ. And, honestly, who wouldn’t want a veggie-lover to be the one preparing these goodies for the cookout?
Of course, anyone can grill a vegetable — but not everyone can make them delicious. There are so many vegetables out there, and this list could go on and on about what the perfect ingredients are to throw on the grill.
One way to spice things up and add a burst of flavor is by introducing everyone to grilled fruit. We’ve got you covered, from some of your staple grilled veggies to some more unique and vibrant fruits!
Keep reading to learn more about the delicious veggies and fruits that you can grill this holiday weekend that will have everyone looking for seconds.
The Best Ways To Grill Veggies (and Fruits)
As with any kind of food preparation, you are going to make foods that you know you like. When it comes to grilling, there are special ways that you can prepare your ingredients to be grilled.
If you are cooking multiple veggies at once, you will want your vegetables to cook for a similar amount of time. We know from other recipes that not every vegetable cooks at the same heat or for the same amount of time.
To better ensure that your vegetables cook at the same rate, you should chop them into similar sizes. Some ingredients — like grape tomatoes and green beans — won’t need to be chopped because they are smaller in size.
You’ll also need to make sure the grill’s temperature is correct for grilling vegetables and fruits, which is usually around medium-high heat. You can do a few things to grill your food:
- You can directly place the vegetables onto the grill’s grates, depending on how small you’ve chopped your pieces;
- Wrap them in tin foil and place them onto the grates;
- Or skewer and place them onto the grill directly.
Additionally, tossing your veggies in olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper before grilling them adds some flavor and can help them cook better. If you are grilling fruits, you don’t need to oil them, but you might find that coating citrus with sugar adds a real kick.
Our Favorite Foods To Grill
While we believe that if you CAN grill it, you probably should… but there are a few fruits and veggies that make the top of our list. These ingredients are filled with good-for-you nutrients that have bursts of flavor. They are always a good addition to any cookout, and most people will enjoy them.
Plus, if you cook a vegetable skillfully, you can influence a lot of people to want to try it for themselves at home. Here are eight veggies and fruits to bring to your next cookout!
1. Zucchini
A classic — and so good on the grill. You can’t go wrong bringing zucchini to the cookout, loading it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, and throwing them on the grill.
Whether you cook this with other vegetables or on its own, it’s bound to be a hit. One recipe that will always be a success is this completely plant-based Grilled Zucchini. To make this delicious vegetable, you will slice the zucchini into four slabs (if they’re longer than you want, just cut them in half).
Place the raw zucchini into a bowl and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and onion pepper. We recommend adding crushed red pepper if you like an additional kick. Then place the zucchini directly onto the grill grates and cook for three to four minutes on each side until they are charred to your liking.
This is a simple, flavorful, and delicious addition to any cookout plate.
2. Summer Squash
There’s nothing more summery than summer squash – it even says it in the name ☀️ Summer squash is a delectable vegetable that you often see mixed in with zucchini. It’s packed with nutrients like vitamin C—making up 35% of your daily intake—and the potent antioxidant vitamin B6.
To really bring out the bold flavoring of summer squash, you don’t need too much. Just some pepper, salt, crushed garlic, and olive oil will allow the natural flavors of the veggie to brighten up your plate.
One hack to making summer squash even more delicious is to heat the garlic and olive oil in a pan until it’s sizzling, and then brush it over the sliced squash before placing it on the grill.
3. Peppers and Onions
Peppers and onions often come as a pair. Not only do their flavors taste delicious together, but they also cook at around the same pace. These two together give you a naturally sweet flavor that you’ll love.
You can grill a red onion or yellow onions by slicing them up into crescent moon shapes, tossing them in olive oil and garlic, and placing them onto the grill.
There are a variety of peppers you can use, including poblano, bell, shishito, and even chile peppers. Just make sure to remove the seeds of bell peppers before putting them on the grill to get them nice and crispy.
4. Mushrooms
Mushrooms provide consumers with multiple vitamins and minerals that promote nutrition, like potassium, riboflavin, vitamin D, fiber, and protein.
With portobello mushrooms or large brown mushrooms, you don’t even need to cut them up. You can place them right on the grill (with some olive oil, salt, cilantro, and pepper), gill side down at first for four to five minutes before flipping them cap side down until they are grilled to your liking.
To make your grilled mushrooms even more flavorful, you can make a marinade with a balsamic vinegar base. The acidity will make your grilled shrooms even tastier. They also pair perfectly with pesto, chimichurri, and other savory sauces.
5. Eggplant
Eggplants are an underrated vegetable that truly is one of our favorites to grill. You will want to cut your eggplant into ¼ to ½-inch thick circles that will only take about six minutes to grill. Put the slices of eggplant into a bowl and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Once you’ve got these slices grilled, you can add parsley and lemon juice on top (with feta, if you’d like). These go extremely well with a tahini-lemon dressing, made up of tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and water. Drizzle that on top and you will find yourself a new favorite recipe.
6. Pineapples
Have you not tried grilled pineapple yet? You’re missing out 🍍
Grilled pineapple is both sweet and savory, making for a unique side dish that people will love. Since it’s mostly water, it has a super-quick cook time and prep time.
Pineapples are also filled with vitamin C, B vitamins, fiber, potassium, and magnesium which all contribute to a more nutritious lifestyle. If you like your pineapple cold, who’s to say you won’t like it grilled?
Pineapples are known as a denser fruit, so they will take longer than other fruits to grill. Depending on how hot and soft you want them, the longer they will stay on the grill, but checking them every five minutes can ensure you cook them the way you intend to.
7. Peaches
Peaches are another fruit that you’re going to wish you thought of grilling sooner. Grilled peaches are a sweet addition to any cookout and make for a great dessert.
Soften butter and mix it with brown sugar and cinnamon. Then, coat your sliced peaches before sticking them on the grill, and you’ll be sure to blow your friends’ minds.
This recipe is fairly simple to make and put together, and grilling them only takes a few minutes. You’ll need to grill them until they are a golden brown color and softened. These peaches will melt in your mouth and are even better when topped with a coconut whipped cream.
8. Melons
Melons are another fruit that does well on a grill and has a quick cook time. Whether you want to use watermelon, cantaloupe, or even honeydew, there is a recipe out there that can give you what you’re looking for.
Melons are known for their sweet and hydrating properties, and when grilled, their flavors burst even more so. Try sticking them on skewers and serving them as a sweet appetizer.
If you’re looking for something that will *shock* your friends and family, try this Sweet & Spicy Cantaloupe recipe. All you need is sliced cantaloupe, smoked paprika, and honey.
Sprinkle some smoked paprika onto the cantaloupe before grilling them for five to seven minutes per day. Once they are done, you can drizzle them with some honey and serve! Your friends will have a new obsession after the first bite.
You can simply place some watermelon on the grill with a squirt of lime juice, watching for the grill marks to form. Once you see them, take them off. Now, they’re ready to be enjoyed.
The Best Grilled Vegetables and Fruits We Haven’t Covered Yet
In addition to the options listed above, you can also add some color and flavor to any barbecue with these easy grilled vegetables and fruits.
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Brussels Sprouts
- Artichokes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Yellow Squash
- Corn on the Cob
- Broccoli Florets
- Romaine
Any of these makes a perfect side or main dish. You can put them together to create unique kabobs and bring out their flavors with your favorite fresh herbs and spices.
Get Inspiration With Thistle
Food is supposed to be fun and good for you. At Thistle, we love finding easy and exciting ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your everyday food intake. Even on Labor Day, you should be eating plenty to keep your energy up and going.
With these easy ingredients, you can make something good for everyone, easily and without much complaint. If you are looking for more inspiration on how to make veggies and fruits easier to consume, sign-up with Thistle.
We offer homemade Meals delivered to your door with rotating menus that are there to help you better understand your own relationship with food.
There’s no better time to start preparing for Labor Day weekend than today 🏖️
Sources:
Squash, Summer, Zucchini, Includes Skin, Raw Nutrition Facts & Calories | Nutrition Data
Vitamin B6: A Molecule For Human Health? | NCBI
Edible Mushrooms: Improving Human Health And Promoting Quality Life | NCBI
Meet the perfect ingredients to grill for a health-filled and delicious Labor Day weekend cookout. These are the 8 best fruits and veggies to grill.
Grilling season is officially here.
If you’re the plant-based eater of your group, your friends and family might be banking on you to supply vegetables for the BBQ. And, honestly, who wouldn’t want a veggie-lover to be the one preparing these goodies for the cookout?
Of course, anyone can grill a vegetable — but not everyone can make them delicious. There are so many vegetables out there, and this list could go on and on about what the perfect ingredients are to throw on the grill.
One way to spice things up and add a burst of flavor is by introducing everyone to grilled fruit. We’ve got you covered, from some of your staple grilled veggies to some more unique and vibrant fruits!
Keep reading to learn more about the delicious veggies and fruits that you can grill this holiday weekend that will have everyone looking for seconds.
The Best Ways To Grill Veggies (and Fruits)
As with any kind of food preparation, you are going to make foods that you know you like. When it comes to grilling, there are special ways that you can prepare your ingredients to be grilled.
If you are cooking multiple veggies at once, you will want your vegetables to cook for a similar amount of time. We know from other recipes that not every vegetable cooks at the same heat or for the same amount of time.
To better ensure that your vegetables cook at the same rate, you should chop them into similar sizes. Some ingredients — like grape tomatoes and green beans — won’t need to be chopped because they are smaller in size.
You’ll also need to make sure the grill’s temperature is correct for grilling vegetables and fruits, which is usually around medium-high heat. You can do a few things to grill your food:
- You can directly place the vegetables onto the grill’s grates, depending on how small you’ve chopped your pieces;
- Wrap them in tin foil and place them onto the grates;
- Or skewer and place them onto the grill directly.
Additionally, tossing your veggies in olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper before grilling them adds some flavor and can help them cook better. If you are grilling fruits, you don’t need to oil them, but you might find that coating citrus with sugar adds a real kick.
Our Favorite Foods To Grill
While we believe that if you CAN grill it, you probably should… but there are a few fruits and veggies that make the top of our list. These ingredients are filled with good-for-you nutrients that have bursts of flavor. They are always a good addition to any cookout, and most people will enjoy them.
Plus, if you cook a vegetable skillfully, you can influence a lot of people to want to try it for themselves at home. Here are eight veggies and fruits to bring to your next cookout!
1. Zucchini
A classic — and so good on the grill. You can’t go wrong bringing zucchini to the cookout, loading it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, and throwing them on the grill.
Whether you cook this with other vegetables or on its own, it’s bound to be a hit. One recipe that will always be a success is this completely plant-based Grilled Zucchini. To make this delicious vegetable, you will slice the zucchini into four slabs (if they’re longer than you want, just cut them in half).
Place the raw zucchini into a bowl and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and onion pepper. We recommend adding crushed red pepper if you like an additional kick. Then place the zucchini directly onto the grill grates and cook for three to four minutes on each side until they are charred to your liking.
This is a simple, flavorful, and delicious addition to any cookout plate.
2. Summer Squash
There’s nothing more summery than summer squash – it even says it in the name ☀️ Summer squash is a delectable vegetable that you often see mixed in with zucchini. It’s packed with nutrients like vitamin C—making up 35% of your daily intake—and the potent antioxidant vitamin B6.
To really bring out the bold flavoring of summer squash, you don’t need too much. Just some pepper, salt, crushed garlic, and olive oil will allow the natural flavors of the veggie to brighten up your plate.
One hack to making summer squash even more delicious is to heat the garlic and olive oil in a pan until it’s sizzling, and then brush it over the sliced squash before placing it on the grill.
3. Peppers and Onions
Peppers and onions often come as a pair. Not only do their flavors taste delicious together, but they also cook at around the same pace. These two together give you a naturally sweet flavor that you’ll love.
You can grill a red onion or yellow onions by slicing them up into crescent moon shapes, tossing them in olive oil and garlic, and placing them onto the grill.
There are a variety of peppers you can use, including poblano, bell, shishito, and even chile peppers. Just make sure to remove the seeds of bell peppers before putting them on the grill to get them nice and crispy.
4. Mushrooms
Mushrooms provide consumers with multiple vitamins and minerals that promote nutrition, like potassium, riboflavin, vitamin D, fiber, and protein.
With portobello mushrooms or large brown mushrooms, you don’t even need to cut them up. You can place them right on the grill (with some olive oil, salt, cilantro, and pepper), gill side down at first for four to five minutes before flipping them cap side down until they are grilled to your liking.
To make your grilled mushrooms even more flavorful, you can make a marinade with a balsamic vinegar base. The acidity will make your grilled shrooms even tastier. They also pair perfectly with pesto, chimichurri, and other savory sauces.
5. Eggplant
Eggplants are an underrated vegetable that truly is one of our favorites to grill. You will want to cut your eggplant into ¼ to ½-inch thick circles that will only take about six minutes to grill. Put the slices of eggplant into a bowl and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Once you’ve got these slices grilled, you can add parsley and lemon juice on top (with feta, if you’d like). These go extremely well with a tahini-lemon dressing, made up of tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and water. Drizzle that on top and you will find yourself a new favorite recipe.
6. Pineapples
Have you not tried grilled pineapple yet? You’re missing out 🍍
Grilled pineapple is both sweet and savory, making for a unique side dish that people will love. Since it’s mostly water, it has a super-quick cook time and prep time.
Pineapples are also filled with vitamin C, B vitamins, fiber, potassium, and magnesium which all contribute to a more nutritious lifestyle. If you like your pineapple cold, who’s to say you won’t like it grilled?
Pineapples are known as a denser fruit, so they will take longer than other fruits to grill. Depending on how hot and soft you want them, the longer they will stay on the grill, but checking them every five minutes can ensure you cook them the way you intend to.
7. Peaches
Peaches are another fruit that you’re going to wish you thought of grilling sooner. Grilled peaches are a sweet addition to any cookout and make for a great dessert.
Soften butter and mix it with brown sugar and cinnamon. Then, coat your sliced peaches before sticking them on the grill, and you’ll be sure to blow your friends’ minds.
This recipe is fairly simple to make and put together, and grilling them only takes a few minutes. You’ll need to grill them until they are a golden brown color and softened. These peaches will melt in your mouth and are even better when topped with a coconut whipped cream.
8. Melons
Melons are another fruit that does well on a grill and has a quick cook time. Whether you want to use watermelon, cantaloupe, or even honeydew, there is a recipe out there that can give you what you’re looking for.
Melons are known for their sweet and hydrating properties, and when grilled, their flavors burst even more so. Try sticking them on skewers and serving them as a sweet appetizer.
If you’re looking for something that will *shock* your friends and family, try this Sweet & Spicy Cantaloupe recipe. All you need is sliced cantaloupe, smoked paprika, and honey.
Sprinkle some smoked paprika onto the cantaloupe before grilling them for five to seven minutes per day. Once they are done, you can drizzle them with some honey and serve! Your friends will have a new obsession after the first bite.
You can simply place some watermelon on the grill with a squirt of lime juice, watching for the grill marks to form. Once you see them, take them off. Now, they’re ready to be enjoyed.
The Best Grilled Vegetables and Fruits We Haven’t Covered Yet
In addition to the options listed above, you can also add some color and flavor to any barbecue with these easy grilled vegetables and fruits.
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Brussels Sprouts
- Artichokes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Yellow Squash
- Corn on the Cob
- Broccoli Florets
- Romaine
Any of these makes a perfect side or main dish. You can put them together to create unique kabobs and bring out their flavors with your favorite fresh herbs and spices.
Get Inspiration With Thistle
Food is supposed to be fun and good for you. At Thistle, we love finding easy and exciting ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your everyday food intake. Even on Labor Day, you should be eating plenty to keep your energy up and going.
With these easy ingredients, you can make something good for everyone, easily and without much complaint. If you are looking for more inspiration on how to make veggies and fruits easier to consume, sign-up with Thistle.
We offer homemade Meals delivered to your door with rotating menus that are there to help you better understand your own relationship with food.
There’s no better time to start preparing for Labor Day weekend than today 🏖️
Sources:
Squash, Summer, Zucchini, Includes Skin, Raw Nutrition Facts & Calories | Nutrition Data
Vitamin B6: A Molecule For Human Health? | NCBI
Edible Mushrooms: Improving Human Health And Promoting Quality Life | NCBI
