40+ Light Vegan Summer Recipes for Hot Days | The Green Loot (2024)

These light Vegan Summer Recipes and Ideas are perfect for those hot days when you just want to stay out of the kitchen. Make these healthy and easy Summer meals in no time.

Vegan Summer Recipes

Vegan Summer Dinners

1. Israeli Couscous Salad

Here’s a perfectly balanced light Summer salad. Couscous acts as a stage for the tomatoes, cucumbers and kalamata olives. When basil bursts onto the scene, that extra kick of freshness finishes the show with a bang.

2. BBQ Tofu Burger

I call this the converter burger — one bite of this tofu burger drenched in bbq sauce, piled high with tomatoes, lettuce and garlic aioli and even the hardest core carnivores will rethink their entire dietary existence.

3. Zucchini Corn Fritters

Rustle up a bowl, skillet and eight simple ingredients and whoo hoo! You’ve got yourself an irresistible light supper that is healthy as all get out, gluten-free and vegan to boot. These fritters will be a new family favorite, for sure.

4. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Craving a light, but super healthy and high-protein meal? This is it! The tasty Mediterranean flavors make this easy salad an instant favorite! A must-have for BBQ parties, too!

5. Tomato Basil Soup

It’s comfort food gone vegan, folks. Craving a hot bowl of tomato soup on a lazy summer night? You got it! The fresh basil and tortellini ups this dish’s ante, transforming this soup from an appetizer to a hearty meal.

6. Grilled Zucchini Hummus Wrap

This is one of those recipes that make simple ingredients sing. Zucchini, ripe tomatoes, red onions, kale and hummus in a grilled tortilla come together and form a choir of utter deliciousness.

7. Basil Pesto Pasta

On your mark, get set, go! In five minutes you can be twirling a restaurant-quality pasta around your fork and savoring every last bite. This pasta is so fresh-basil-good, it’s worthy of setting the table and opening a bottle of wine.

8. Eggplant Roll Ups

So light, so veggie-tastic — this dish has everything. Think perfectly grilled eggplant rolled up and stuffed with a combo of healthy delights and then plunged into a pool of zesty marinara sauce. This meal is destined to be a favorite of grown-ups and kids alike.

9. White Bean, Basil, & Avocado Sandwich

Beans on a sandwich? Oh yes you can. This stellar avocado and bean combo is a fresh take on the classic veggie salad sandwich. Add a few fresh basil leaves and some multigrain bread and you’ll be well on your way to yummy.

10. Bean Wrap

Life is a whirlwind, so what to do when you need a quick bite to eat? Throw together this vegan bean wrap and all of your mealtime questions will be answered. It’s a satisfying protein spike with juicy tomatoes and a green leaf crunch.

11. Green Pesto Vegetable Soup

Who says it’s not easy being green? This has all the herbal goodness of pesto pasta with the additional comfort and coziness of a soup. It’s a winner a million times over and will warm the heart and nourish the soul.

12. Zucchini Pizza Boats

Pizza anyone? Being vegan doesn’t mean giving up delicious. Savor the flavors of pizza but in a ridiculously healthy, no-guilt zucchini boat. Nutritional yeast provides the cheesy and the tomatoes, olives and red onions deliver that pizza topping zing.

13. Grilled Summer Squash Sandwiches with Pesto

Who’s up for some squash? Me! (Waves arms wildly) But only if it’s grilled to perfection and slapped on a sandwich. Never fear, the rockin’ Summer squash sandwich is here. This fun, filling and healthy sandwich will hit anyone’s sandwich spot.

14. Easy Balsamic Bean Salad

Scan that pantry. With ingredients you probably already have, you can throw together this delicious balsamic bean salad in just a few minutes. It’s the ideal creation to take to your Summer picnic or to enjoy as a protein-packed main dish.

15. Roasted Stuffed Tomatoes

Nothing says Summer like ripe and juicy tomatoes. Celebrate them in all their glory with this wholesome dish that will leave you feeling nourished but not overstuffed. The basil in the quinoa pesto brings the perfect balance to this easy-to-make tomato extravaganza.

16. Almond Butter Tofu Bowl with Summer Squash

Bowls are such a trendy way to eat these days and why not? They’re the best method to get all of your protein, veggies and carbs in one go. Try this almond butter tofu bowl and find out what all the fuss is about.

17. Summer Pesto Veggie Pasta

If you love dining al fresco, imagine yourself with a plate of smoky grilled asparagus, sweet peppers and zucchini tossed in basil pesto. When served alongside a heaping helping of penne pasta, you’ve got yourself a quintessential Summer meal.

18. Cucumber Pasta Salad

This dish marries two summertime classics — creamy pasta salad and crisp cucumbers tossed with sweet onions. This vegan mélange yields the best of both side dish worlds, plus a generous hit of dill. It rivals anything Grandma used to make.

19. Sweet Corn Curry

Sweet corn and Summer go hand in hand. For something a little different, give this vegan sweet corn curry a try. Spices like garam masala and smoked paprika charge up the coconut milk and bring the whole thing together in a flavor bomb you’ll love.

20. Southwest Veggie Wraps with Ranch

Step away from the oven! These no-cook veggie wraps are cool and fresh and will please any crowd of hungry summertime guests. Set up an assembly line and make piles of them in minutes. They’ll disappear as fast as you can make them.

21. Tofu Lettuce Wraps

How about a tofu wrap? Okay, you’ve got my attention. Now you tell me that the tofu is marinated in teriyaki sauce and then topped with an avocado tzatziki sauce? That’s flavor on top of more flavor!

22. Summer Fresh Tomato and Basil Pasta

This dish is like Summer in a bowl. Ripe tomatoes and fresh basil tossed together with penne pasta and some other mouthwatering goodies creates an addictive dish, that is just simply elegant looks and flavor-wise as well.

23. BBQ Tofu Veggie Skewers

Skewers stacked with tofu cubes, bell peppers, onions, and summer squash are grilled and then glazed with vegan BBQ sauce. No utensils are needed to eat these.

24. Creamy Zucchini Pasta with Sweet Corn

What can you do with all that corn and zucchini on your kitchen counter after a trip to the farmer’s market? Make a pot of creamy spaghetti with summer vegetables. It takes just 25 minutes to pull together.

25. Marinated Teriyaki Eggplant

Skip the take-out this summer. In less than the time it takes to pick up dinner, you can have the best vegan sticky and sweet teriyaki eggplant on the table. Serve with simple white rice.

26. Panzanella Salad

Have some day-old bread that you need to use up? Try this panzanella salad with ripe heirloom tomatoes and kalamata olives.

27. BLT Pasta Salad

The next time you are at the grocery store, grab some tempeh bacon. Add it to a lightly dressed pasta salad with arugula, avocado, onions, and tomatoes. This will remind you of the best BLT sandwich, only healthier.

28. Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

One of my favorite alternatives to beef steak or chicken cutlets is cauliflower steaks. Parboiled cauliflower slices are brushed with a marinade and dipped into a gluten-free breading before roasting to crunchy perfection.

29. Cold Noodle Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Chilled Asian noodle salad is always on the menu as summer morphs into fall and colorful heads of cabbage are at their peak. Combine whole wheat noodles with red and green cabbage and a few other vegs. Toss it all in spicy peanut butter and soy dressing.

30. Easy Summer Rolls

My go-to summer busy weekday lunch or supper is fresh garden spring rolls. These are loaded with the best produce summer offers rolled up in thin rice paper wrappers and served with a simple peanut dipping sauce.

31. Tomato Gazpacho

When the heat and humidity just won’t let up, you really have to try a cooling summer gazpacho with tomatoes and cucumbers. While this is technically a soup, you can sip it from a tall glass like a savory and nutritious smoothie.

32. Pesto Pasta Salad

When your kitchen is overflowing with basil, make vegan pesto! Penne pasta with cucumbers, greens, peas, and sundried tomatoes can be tossed with either pesto for one of the best pasta salads ever.

33. Vegan Coronation Chicken Sandwich

Ready to eat like royalty this summer? A vegan version of a classic coronation sandwich is just the thing with jackfruit subbed in for chicken. It is spiced up with curry powder and sweetened with chutney and raisins.

34. Basil Cucumber Gazpacho

There are always cucumbers in my crisper drawer. To use them up, I make gazpacho, just like this recipe. I like this one because it also has avocado and basil to give it a gorgeous green hue that screams of fresh summer produce.

35. Pesto Mushroom Pinwheels

Lunch can sometimes be an afterthought when we have a lot to do. Making a pinwheel or rolled-up sandwich can solve that problem. Make these 10-minute, high-protein pesto and white bean pinwheels in the morning and the mid-day meal is a snap.

Vegan Summer Desserts

36. Summer Fruit Salad with Rosewater Dressing

How about we elevate a simple fruit salad? Ripe summer peaches, watermelon, and berries are drizzled with rose water-infused dressing and topped with fresh mint leaves.

37. Mango Lime Popsicles

Popsicles are quintessentially summer. When you pair mango with lime and coconut milk, you get the creamiest bright orange popsicle to end the summer meal on a warm evening.

38. Icebox Cake

Who wants to turn on the oven in the heat of summer? I don’t. Vanilla pudding, blueberry, and cookie cake is the answer to a no-bake vegan dessert. Assemble the layers in a baking dish and place it in the fridge overnight and voila you have dessert.

39. Apricot Tart

Apricots are one of those lovely fruits that elude many home cooks. I am here to tell you that you have to try fresh apricots when they are in season. This is the perfect ingredient for making a delicate yet creamy summer tart with a shortbread or cookie crust for added texture.

40. Peach Strawberry Pie Sorbet

I have always liked sorbet as a lighter alternative to ice cream. This peach and strawberry sorbet is intriguing because it takes the best fruit that summer graces us with and adds mixes in some graham crackers for some extra body.

41. Fruit Pizza

This recipe enlightened me. I have made fruit pizza before but never thought to bake a cookie dough crust as the base. Maple-sweetened vegan cream cheese is the “sauce” and fresh fruit is layered on top for a super fresh dessert pie.

42. Strawberry Tart

This vegan strawberry tart will transport you to the pasticcerias of Italy where buttery crusts are filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with lightly macerated and glazed berries. Enjoy this for dessert or breakfast with a steaming cup of espresso.

43. Vegan Eton Mess

An Eton Mess is a British dessert supposedly served at the Eton school. It is meringue, whipped cream, and strawberries layered in a dessert glass. The contrasting white and deep red is striking. But can you make this vegan? Aquafaba is the key to the success of this confection.

44. Banana Cream Pie Parfaits

Vanilla pudding, bananas, graham crackers, and whipped cream……..need I say more? And it is all vegan. This is a must-have sweet treat for a lazy summer evening while sitting beneath a tree.

45. Mango Mousse

I honestly didn’t think dessert could get simpler until I came across this 4-ingredient mango mousse. It is rich, custardy, and floral. The best part is that there is no turning on the stove or oven.

46. Blueberry Banana Soft Serve

Plant-based soft serve banana ice cream topped with crunchy granola and berries is a stunning contrast in textures. You will want to make this all summer.

47. Melon Fries with Cherry Dip

Melon sticks with cherry yogurt dip is an ingenious riff on French fries with ranch dressing only way healthier. For me, this is the perfect way to start a steamy summer morning. Do you know those hot summer nights that have you waking up a little limp? This will snap you out of that clammy feeling.

Vegan Summer Drinks

48. Orange Mint Lemonade

I think every kid on the planet will say that lemonade is the best-ever summer beverage. This lemonade with orange and mint added is exactly what an adult summer mocktail should be. You can spike it with vodka or rum for a legit co*cktail.

49. Blueberry Soda

Why didn’t I think of this first – blueberry soda? Homemade healthy versions of soda are awesome. You only need club soda or seltzer, fruit-based simple syrup, and a garnish.

50. Raspberry Mojito

It is really hard to let the summer go by without sampling a good rum mojito. I love this version that adds raspberries to a lime and mint-based co*cktail. The color alone will have you at “hello”.

51. Lime Sherbet Punch

Lime sherbet is not just for eating out of a bowl with a spoon after dinner to settle your tummy. Why not make a frothy, fizzy, and sweet alcohol-free drink to start off a celebratory brunch? Add a little pineapple juice and ginger ale to balance the tartness of the lime.

52. Mojito Pitcher

The best way to get a summer dinner party going is with a pitcher of really simple minty mojitos. Rum, simple syrup, mint, and club soda make the perfect co*cktail to go with your best light vegan summer meal with family and friends.

More yummy vegan Summer recipes:

• vegan BBQ recipes

• vegan zucchini recipes

• vegan eggplant recipes

What are your favorite Vegan Summer Recipes?

Leave a comment below!