Breaking news! Next Meatless Monday is Memorial Day.

So, here are some of my favorite vegetarian recipes for cookouts and picnics – from grilled veggie sandwiches and main dish salads to dips, sides and pimento cheese.

Because it’s your three-day vacation, and you can be as trashy as you wanna be.

Grilled Main Dishes:

• Grilled California Pizzas. Perfect for parties. Grill the dough, pile on the toppings, and let the heat from the grill melt the cheese.
• Grilled Chipotle Portobello Burgers. A spicy burger topped with pepper jack, grilled onions and avocado slices. It will make your toes curl.
• Grilled Portobello Burgers with Pesto, Provolone and Roasted Red Peppers. When I realized I could make these at home, my whole world got better.
• Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Sandwiches (shown above). One of my all-time favorites. A double-decker slathered with herbed goat cheese and stuffed with grilled eggplant, peppers, red onion, zucchini and squash dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette. So. Much. Flavor.
• Grilled Vegetable Fajitas. Cut the peppers in half, toss them in oil with the onion slices and mushroom caps, grill ’em, and slice ’em up. Super-delicious.
• Grilled Veggie Sub with Vinaigrette. Cut your zucchini, red pepper and onion into thick slices, and grill them to get your hot-and-cold on. Great for picnics.

Main Dish Salads:

• Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Creamy Lemon-Yogurt Sauce (shown above). A new favorite! Made for big bites and absolutely no guilt.
• Big Fat Vegan Taco Salad. Have you met my friend Guacamame?
• Cornbread Salad with Black Beans, Red Bell Peppers and Cherry Tomatoes. Southern deliciousness.
• Couscous Salad with Feta and Chickpeas. Stuff it in a tomato, if you’re feeling fancy.
• Greek Panzanella. An unholy amount of homemade croutons tossed with peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, Kalamata olives, feta and a Greek vinaigrette. It’s like fireworks in your mouth.
• Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Citrus Dressing. It seems sophisticated without trying too hard. High-five!
• Peppery Monterey Jack Pasta Salad. Wake up your taste buds with chopped tomato, capers, red onion, banana peppers, Monterey Jack and white beans.
• Quinoa, Corn and Avocado Salad. Nutritious, and any excuse to eat more avocado is OK by me.

Sandwiches, Salads & Sides:

• Macaroni and Cheese with Summer Vegetables (shown above)
• Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Pecans. An all-time favorite.
• Asian Slaw with Roasted Peanuts
• California Sandwich. My favorite Southern tomato sandwich goes Californian with avocado, sprouts, pepper jack cheese and chive yogurt spread.
• Classic Coleslaw
• Deviled Eggs
• Fruit Salad with Limoncello. Boozy berries! A great band name.
• Grilled Zucchini Rollatini with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
• Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Guacamole
• Guacamole with Roasted Garlic, Poblano and Red Bell Pepper
• Mexican Grilled Corn. My go-to summer side.
• Pan-Fried Onion Dip
• Pimento Cheese Sandwich. A Southern summer staple.
• Potato Salad
• Seven Layer Dip. A light version with Greek yogurt.
• Smashed Potatoes with Chives
• Squash Ribbon Salad with Goat Cheese and Toasted Pine Nuts

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