Clean, Mean, Grilling Machine: The 8 Best BBQ Cookbooks For Vegans

* BBQs are a classic summer event
* Get that great BBQ flavor while still keeping it vegan
* These eight cookbooks are packed with creative recipes everyone will enjoy

Few things are more classically summer than a barbecue. Getting everyone together in the backyard, cooking burgers and drinking beer as the sun sets is what makes this time of year so enjoyable. But barbecues are traditionally all about wings and ribs and hot dogs. What if you’ve sworn off meat?

Well, just because you’re a vegan doesn’t mean you should miss out. SPY has found eight great cookbooks that can help you keep the grill going without compromising.

1. VBQ―The Ultimate Vegan Barbecue Cookbook

This book of entirely plant-based barbecue fare includes delicious favorites like eggplant hot dogs, and peppered tofu steak. With 80 recipes (and 100 drool-worthy photos), this book even includes tips on how to get the perfect char on your tofu and asparagus.

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2. Grilling Vegan Style

For the full BBQ experience, this cookbook promises to give you “125 Fired-Up Recipes to Turn Every Bite into a Backyard BBQ.” The book encompasses everything from appetizers, to sides, mains and even desserts. Make your summer cooking carry on all year long.

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3. Great Vegan BBQ Without a Grill

Mother and daughter team Linda and Alex Meyer, inspired by their family road trips to South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas, show you how to recreate classic BBQ flavors with a vegan twist. You’ll learn to make plant-based ribs, burgers, steaks, kabobs and more smokey favorites. You don’t even need a grill — these dishes can all be made in a grill pan or a cast iron skillet.

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4. Grills Gone Vegan

Starting from the ground up, this cookbook gives you great advice such as what type of grill to buy, equipment, techniques and menu suggestions. Filled with 125 recipes, you can get that smoky flavor without any of the meat.

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5. 101 Vegetarian Grill & Barbecue Recipes

It’s all in the title. Expanding fare a little to include your vegetarian friends, this book includes flavors inspired from around the world, including Caribbean Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Hallumi and Fresh Tomato Salsa.

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6. American Vegan BBQ 

Just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to enjoy the best of American BBQ and comfort foods. This book is packed with healthy recipes to feed you and your guests — a great book to get for Fourth of July too.

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7. Vegan BBQ

Finding expert substitutes that aren’t lacking in flavor, this book is packed with recipes like Quinoa and Chickpea Burgers, Stuffed Peppers and Aubergine Gyros. The beautifully presented book wouldn’t look out of place on your kitchen counter or coffee table either.

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8. Mouthwatering Vegan Burgers

Toni Rodriguez presents a delicious set of burgers that won’t skimp on flavor, made of everything from Black Olives to Vegan Chorizo. Along with those mains, there’s also a list of hefty sides, including sweet potato fries and hazelnut ice cream for dessert.

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