What are the Best Vegetables to Grill? The Best Way to Cook Veggies (2022)

The best thing about GRILLED VEGETABLES is they make a delicious and healthy side dish. You can pair them with every type of food.

Today our team recommends the best 15 vegetables to grill and a quick-to-follow recipe!

Best Vegetables to Grill

#1 Artichoke

Artichoke is a classic grilled vegetable you may have grown to love from your mom's vegetable recipe! One way to serve this is in skewers if you want to try something new.

#2 Asparagus

Grilled asparagus is among the easiest and best-grilled vegetables to prepare.

Its natural green flavor is enhanced by its smoky flavor and ample seasoning of oil, salt, and pepper.

#3 Beets

Grilled beets are perfect alternatives to your usual vegetables. Try this with a vinegar marinade and pair them with your usual meat dinner.

#4 Bell Pepper

Bell peppers will always be on the list of best-grilled vegetables! Bell peppers don't need a sauce to enhance their flavor because of the natural smokiness you can get from pure grilling alone.

#5 Cabbage

This is a welcome surprise. Cabbages are common vegetables at home, but they're arguably best grilled. Grilled cabbages bring out more of their sweetness that you wouldn't have been able to taste under a normal recipe.

#6 Cauliflower

This dish brings out the inherent smokiness of the cauliflower even more!

#7 Carrot

Carrots have their sweetness amplified into a complex flavor after just about a FEW MINUTES on the grill. The crisp makes grilled carrots a perfect side dish to roasted chicken, steak, and even burgers.

#8 Edamame

This is the perfect veggie to snack on if you want some smoked spiciness for a fix. It makes for a fun experience too, especially if you grill entire pods!

#9 Favas

Grilled beans are quite an experience. Simple and smoky, favas are delicious when doused in olive oil and seasoned with some peppers.

#10 Kale

Roasted kale is consumed more closely as chips. These come out of the grill crispy and charred as the perfect appetizers to serve at dinner.

#11 Okra

Okra isn't a particularly famous summer produce. Grilling helps to keep the natural slime of okra at a minimum. People get to enjoy the charred bits with its grassy flavor this way!

#12 Onion

Red onions or green onions, this vegetable is an integral part of any skewer combination. You simply shouldn't miss out on the added sweetness your easy grilled onions can offer your dish.

#13 Parsnips

Parsnips resemble easy grilled carrots because of their shape, taste, and crunch. Parsnips are mostly eaten raw, but the grill brings out its earthiness a bit more.

#14 Portobello Mushroom

Recipes with portobello mushrooms are usually for burgers or burger steaks. These are great because mushrooms make for the perfect sauce that can accompany your meat entrees.

Try grilling these mushrooms whole instead of slicing them thinly to preserve moisture and flavor.

#15 Zucchini

Do you want to take a break from your usual eggplant dishes? Why not try out zucchini for a change?

Grilled zucchini is a classic dish that works well with herbs like basil, oregano, and garlic powder. Thin slices of zucchini on the grill will result in flavorful tender bits.

Is It Healthy to Grill Vegetables?

Yes. Grilled vegetables are healthy options you can always add to diversify your daily menu.

Our experts understand your concern since subjecting vegetables to unnecessary grilling does reduce some of the nutritional value.

Just avoid grilling them to a crisp. Not only are charred veggies unhealthy and possibly carcinogenic [1], but they're distasteful as well.

How to Grill Vegetables

Grilling times depend on the food and recipe. Make sure you know how long you should grill your vegetables before proceeding.

Remember: there is no one method of cooking your food!

Step 1: Slice Evenly

Equal portions will ensure the EVEN COOKING of the vegetables.

Slicing everything thinly might overcook and also make them disintegrate on the grill — too far shriveled for consumption.

Step 2: Brush With Oil

Brush both sides with an ample amount to avoid having them stick to the grill.

TOO MUCH OIL can make your grilled vegetable soggy.

We recommend using organic oils such as olive oil, grape seed oil, or avocado oil on vegetables like eggplant and asparagus to ensure proper moisture.

Step 3: Season to flavor

Sprinkle the desired amount of kosher salt and ground black pepper.

These are perfect complements to the smoky flavor brought by your grill. You may also season with dried herbs such as oregano, basil, or rosemary.

Step 4: Grill the Vegetables

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat.
2. Make sure to lay each veggie perpendicular to the grill grates to ensure that they don't fall in between the grills.
3. Flip them around to avoid overcooking.

Step 5: Close the Lid

1. Close the lid after ensuring it's at a medium to low-temperature level.
2. Let your vegetables cook undisturbed for around 3-5 minutes to ensure even heating and light charring.

Step 6: Serve

You'll know if you're ready once you see apparent grill marks on either side of the dish!

You may want to add some more herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, parmesan cheese, or light sauces to add the cherry on top!

Making grilled vegetables is as simple as that!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Vegetables Are Good For Grilling?

There are quite a lot! We highly recommend the classics such as artichoke, asparagus, onion, zucchini, cabbage, and others like eggplant and potatoes.

Are Grilled Veggies Healthy?

Yes. Grilling doesn't affect the nutritional value of your vegetables that much.

Always remember to follow and scrutinize the recipe. If it feels like you're grilling for too long, then feel free to adjust accordingly.

Are Grilled Vegetables Carcinogenic?

No, grilled vegetables do not form carcinogens common in meats such as PAHs and HCAs.

In fact, they're essentials in recipes that promote healthy living and dieting.

The confusion arises from the use of active flames that have links to the production of carcinogens that stick onto the surfaces of meats. Don't worry because the vegetable cooking method doesn't take too long for these substances to seep through.

Burning vegetables can form carcinogens. If you follow the recipe properly, overheating won't happen, thus making your veggie life perfectly fine.

One suggestion would be to opt for a grill basket instead of exposing them to direct heat.

Conclusion

You can never go wrong with serving grilled vegetables as a side dish.

Remember there are different ways to cook your food, so try experimenting with different recipes too! You'll be unstoppable in the kitchen once you embrace this.

Have you tried our expert recipe? Spice your dishes and use 2 to 3 of these best vegetables to grill on your next backyard party!

Earning knowledge about grilling never stops! Read more of our guides below:

• A Guide to Grilling Halibut
• How to Grill Tomahawk Steak
• How Long Grilling Tri-Tip Takes