13 Vegan Fourth Of July Recipes

It's finally Fourth of July weekend, the time of year where you can shamelessly flaunt your American flag T-shirt collection, blast Bruce Springsteen from your backyard, and stock up on all of your favorite traditional cookout foods. But while everyone else is filling up on burgers and mystery dogs, try serving up some of these vegan Fourth of July recipes for a healthy, food restriction-friendly alternative.

When it comes to summer parties, there are certain staple foods everyone expects to be served. If you're an animal-product eater, then you probably look forward to juicy burgers, traditional hot dogs, and creamy potato and pasta salads, but if you're a vegan? You dread the words "barbecue" on the party invitation, because you know everything there will have meat, cheese, mayo, or some other food item you can't eat. So what's a vegan to do? Believe it or not, there's still a way to enjoy all of the classic cookout foods without compromising your diet or the taste of the food.

Since there has never been a true cookout without burgers, dogs, and kabobs, here are 13 vegan Fourth of July recipes to satisfy all of your summer food cravings and your dietary requirements:

1. Tamale Burgers

There are a million ways to make vegan burgers, but Fo Reals Life gives them a unique and spicy twist. Made of fresh ingredients including peppers, onions, and corn, this burger brings the heat.

2. Portobello Pups

If you thought being vegan meant you couldn't eat a hot dog, you thought wrong. Instead of cooking mystery meat, Love & Lemons uses fresh portobello mushrooms and a homemade mustard marinade to create a brand new and vegan-friendly twist on an American classic.

3. Herby Picnic Potato Salad

Green Kitchen Stories takes the potato salad game to the next level. Seasoned with fresh herbs and olive oil, the diced apples add a nice, juicy crunch to an already mouthwatering salad.

4. Vegan Chili with Homemade Vegan Sour Cream

It may be hot outside, but it's never too hot for a spicy bowl of chili, especially when it's as tasty as this one from Oh She Glows. Overflowing with amazing beans, vegetables, and spices, this 100 percent vegan chili even comes complete with homemade "sour cream." Vegan eating doesn't get much better than this.

5. Simply Seedy Slaw

Any good summer cookout serves up good old-fashioned slaw, but instead of serving up a mayo-heavy recipe, try Cookie and Kate's vegan alternative. Cheap and easy to make, it's a garlic-filled, crunchy side everyone will want seconds of.

6. Grilled Turnips

You've grilled peppers and onions, pineapple and tomatoes, but have you ever tried a turnip? Naturally Ella did, and even made a delicious dill olive oil with it. A creative cookout idea, you've never had kabobs like these.

7. Buffalo Chickpea Burgers

Though they require a delicate hand to make, Fo Reals Life's buffalo chickpea burgers are well worth the extra effort. Hot, spicy, and surprisingly juicy, these bold burgers will be a big hit.

8. Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad

Is it really a cookout if there is no pasta salad? If you're looking for a vegan version of the Fourth of July staple, Love & Lemons' broccoli tahini one may be perfect for you. Loaded with fresh vegetables tossed in a tangy dressing, it has everything a good pasta salad should: crunch, cream, and incredible taste.

9. Curried Vegetable Polenta Kabobs

Anyone can throw together a vegetable kabob, but Naturally Ella takes it a step further by adding polenta to the skewer. Fresh, juicy, and distinctively flavorful, these are not your average kabobs.

10. Green Garden Hummus

It might be all about the red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July, but this year, add a little green to the table in the form of Cookie + Kate's garden hummus. Creamy, rich, and loaded with healthy ingredients, this is one dish you'll want to make again.

11. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

If you're looking for a break from traditional pasta and potato salads, try Naturally Ella's Mediterranean chickpea salad. Made with chickpeas, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, almonds, and more, this dish also has optional add-ins like grilled zucchini and roasted red peppers, so the sky is the limit.

12. Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Vegan Sliders

Small but packed with flavor, burger sliders are the perfect party food. To kick them up a notch, Fo Reals Life added caramelized onion and mushrooms to the inside of the burger. Is that genius or what?

13. Curried Chickpea Salad Slider

Speaking of sliders, Love & Lemons' curried chickpea ones are a fun alternative to the traditional burger versions. Creamy and just the right amount of spicy, everyone will be clamoring for these little bites of flavor.

Images: Fo Reals Life (7); Love & Lemons (3); Cookie and Kate (2); Naturally Ella (2); Green Kitchen Stories