How do I know when grilled vegetables are done?

Grilled vegetables are typically done when they are tender crisp and have developed a nice char or grill marks. The cooking time varies depending on the vegetable and its size, so keep a close eye on them and test for doneness with a fork or skewer.

Are grilled vegetables good for you?

It’s hard to think of a way that vegetables can really be bad for you. Unless, of course, you’re covering them in mountains of oil or throwing them in a deep fryer. Grilled vegetables are a great way to get more of those cancer-fighting, heart-disease lowering, free-radical eliminating, fiber-full foods into your diet. Grilling is also one of the best ways to cook your vegetables, as boiling them can cause many of the nutrients to seep into the water, and frying them, well, just adds a lot of unnecessary fat. When you grill your vegetables you can put them in a simple marinade beforehand, use a grill basket, skewer them, or put them in a foil pouch to be cooked all together. All of these ways help retain the natural compounds found in vegetables, which means more of that goodness gets to you.

Is It better to use a gas or a charcoal grill for vegetables?

Is a charcoal grill healthier than grilling over propane or vice-versa? Studies show that when grilling meat, more of the cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) drip onto the charcoals, thus creating more smoke that gets infused back into your meat when cooking with a charcoal grill. In propane grills, the PAH content is less simply because there are no coals to catch the drippings -- however, there are still some of the chemicals present when cooking with propane. How does this affect cooking vegetables? Well, I guess that depends on whether or not you’re cooking meat with your vegetables or your vegetables alone. These PAHs can drip onto the bottom of your grill and come back up in the smoke in either grill form. If you are grilling meat with your vegetables, then it’s best to choose lean cuts of meat or to trim the fat off your meat first before grilling. As for grilling vegetables on their own, it doesn’t really matter which kind of grill you use because grilling vegetables doesn’t unleash the PAHs you find in meat. However, if you are used to grilling only meats, you might want to take some time to clean the bottom of your grill before adding vegetables -- just to be on the safe side. One other factor to consider when grilling with charcoal versus gas is the smoky flavor you get from grilling with charcoal. If that’s a flavor you love, then charcoal it is!

The Best Grilled Vegetables: Tips, Techniques, and 25 Recipes

By Kristen McCaffrey Updated on May 26, 2023

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Grilled vegetables are the perfect summer side dish! Learn how to grill almost any vegetable from asparagus to zucchini to corn, onions, peppers, potatoes, mushrooms, and more. Delicious recipes, seasoning options, serving ideas, and more.

Grilled vegetables including carrots, zucchini, asparagus, corn, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and red onion.

Grilled Vegetable Recipe

If you want to level up your summer grilling, the best place to start is learning how to grill vegetables. The grill is for so much more than meat.

Trust me, grilling vegetables is one of the best techniques for making delicious, crave-worthy veggies. The edges get caramelized and sweet. The vegetables pick up the perfect amount of smoky flavor. They maintain some texture and crunch.

Whether it's zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, corn, broccoli, onions, or even butternut squash and potatoes - almost all your favorite veggies become even more delicious on the grill.

Grilled vegetables are also incredibly versatile. Use them as an easy side dish, in hearty salads, layered in sandwiches and burgers, added to pasta and pasta salads, and even as plant-based main dishes. These vegetables can be used in so many ways.

No more running from the kitchen to the grill, use this guide to learn how to grill almost any vegetable. All the recipes, cooking techniques, seasoning ideas, and marinades you need to grill fresh veggies all summer long.

The Recipe

Grilled Vegetables

PREP TIME: 5 Min

COOK TIME: 10 Min

TOTAL TIME: 15 Min

Side Dish

Ingredients

SERVINGS:

UNITS: US METRICS

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4 cups fresh vegetables
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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1/2 teaspoon pepper
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2 tbsp parsley, chopped (optional, more for serving)

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Nutritional Information

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Instructions

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Wash, dry, and prepare the vegetables. Chop them into larger pieces (or leave them whole for items like mini bell peppers or mushrooms) so they don't fall through the grill grates. If you are using a grill basket, you can slice it smaller.

Chopped fresh vegetables in a cutting board before being grilled.

Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic cloves, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley if using. Brush the mixture on the vegetables or toss them together in a large bowl. Save the marinade to drizzle on the vegetables after cooking.

Vegetables brushed with marinade on a cutting board before being grilled.

Place in a grill basket or directly on the grill. If grilling directly. Grill for about 5 minutes (adjust according to cooking times above) and either shake the grill basket or flip the veggies. Grill 4-5 minutes longer until tender. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs, or cheese.

Carrots, tomatoes, corn, asparagus, onions, and potatoes on the grill.

Diets:

Nutritional Facts

Serving Size: 1 cup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 184

Calories from Fat 61

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 7g

11%

Saturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 593mg

26%

Total Carbohydrate 15g

Dietary Fiber 4g

15%

Sugars 1g

Protein 2g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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Table of Contents

Grilled Vegetables

Ingredients

Instructions

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