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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Published: Jun 20, 2023 by Petranka · This post may contain affiliate links.

    30 Cold Vegan Side Dishes (Easy and Delicious)

    These Cold Vegan Side Dishes are great for any season and holiday, including BBQs, picnics, and potlucks! They're fresh, delicious, and comforting, and can be made ahead of time for a stress-free dinner!

    A collage of four photos of vegan cold side dishes.

    No more stressing over reheating side dishes, friends! Cold side dishes are not for summer only, they can be served all year round!

    We've included recipes for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas.

    Whatever the occasion, we've got a recipe for you that your friends and family will love, and probably won't recognize it's vegan!

    Jump to:
    • Why Serve Cold Side Dishes?
    • Tips for Serving Cold Vegan Side Dishes
    • Cold Vegan Side Dishes Recipes
    • Salads and Roasted Vegetables
    • Pasta and Noodle Recipes
    • Dips and Sauces

    Why Serve Cold Side Dishes?

    • It makes things so much easier! We all know how hard it is at Thanksgiving, trying to serve everything warm and on time. Well, serving cold side dishes makes putting on a delicious table so much easier.
    • Less stress and effort. Instead of worrying if everything is warm enough and reheating things a couple of times, you can focus more on other things like enjoying the company of the people you've invited and making conversations (which is a big part of hosting a gathering).
    • Easy to transport. Since these are cold vegan side dishes, you can easily take them with you on a picnic, potluck, or over at a friend's house, without worrying if the dish will still be warm when you get there.
    • Delicious and flavorful. Even though these recipes are not served warm, they're still so yummy and don't compromise on flavor. Some of them are real crowd-pleasers!
    • They bring freshness to heavier main dishes. Have you ever had a rich meat dish like lasagna or Shepard's pie and found yourself reaching for the salad more than once? That's because cold side dishes cleanse the palate with their freshness and acidity, helping you to taste better whatever is the star of the show.

    Tips for Serving Cold Vegan Side Dishes

    • Prepare the day before. Some recipes like macaroni salad, coleslaw, and cucumber salad can be made beforehand. This is such a great helper if you're busy doing other things for your holiday/party like decorating or cleaning.
    • Serve some dishes at room temperature. Yes, these are cold side dishes, but some of them are best enjoyed at room temperature. Like this savory vegan tart and this white bean dip. I recommend removing those dishes from the fridge at least 2 hours before serving.
    • Ask your friends to bring something over! You can ask a friend or family member to prepare something the day before and bring it over. No need to worry if the dish will arrive at the table warm!

    Cold Vegan Side Dishes Recipes

    Readers Favorites

    Here's what our readers have been making on repeat this summer. My personal favorite is the corn fritters!

    Avocado Pico De Gallo

    Avocado Pico de Gallo is vibrant and fresh, with zesty and bold flavors! This 15-minute recipe is a crowd-pleaser perfect for any time of the year. Enjoy with pita chips, or top over tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Avocado pico de gallo served in a white bowl. Tortilla chips placed around the bowl.

    Vegan Zucchini Boats with Lentils

    Vegan Stuffed Zucchini Boats are an easy summer dinner that the whole family will enjoy! Stuffed with lentils, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, and topped off with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Zucchini boats arranged in a plate, topped with chopped parsley

    Savory Fried Leeks & Kale Tart

    The best healthy savory pie stuffed with veggies and creamy tofu filling. It is so easy to make, requiring simple and easy-to-find ingredients that you probably have at home!
    MAKE THE RECIPE

    Cucumber Avocado Gazpacho

    This Cucumber avocado gazpacho recipe is rich in flavor and comes together in under 30 minutes! It is creamy from the avocados, refreshing from the mint, and spicy from the jalapenos! Perfect for a light summer dinner.
    MAKE THE RECIPE

    Easy Gazpacho Recipe

    The ultimate summer side dish refresher, this deliciously easy Gazpacho Recipe is made with garden fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. Learn all about how to make this healthy and traditional Gazpacho Andaluz (Chilled Spanish Tomato Soup) and enjoy it as a side dish all summer long.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Bowls of gazpacho topped with diced cucumber, tomato, red onion, and bell pepper.

    Vegan Ratatouille

    This vegan ratatouille is as delicious as it is beautiful with layers of zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant layered on a bed of red sauce. To make the recipe faster and easier, jarred pizza sauce is used instead of cooking down a tomato sauce into the right consistency. It’s perfect paired with pastas, crusty french bread, spaghetti squash or just eaten on its own.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Roasted ratatouille in a white pie dish.

    Vegan Baked Beans

    These Stove Top Baked Beans are Vegan and can be prepared in under 40 minutes. Full of flavor with wholesome ingredients.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Two small glass bowl filled with vegan baked beans.

    Vegan Corn Fritters

    These quick and easy Vegan Corn Fritters are gluten-free, eggless, and dairy-free. Crispy outside, tender inside, this simple sweet and savory corn cake recipe is perfect with fresh, frozen, or canned corn, seasoned however you'd like! A classic Southern side dish, appetizer, or snack, these healthier corn fritters will be gobbled up in seconds!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Vegan corn fritters in red basket with fresh parsley. served as a cold side dish.

    Salads and Roasted Vegetables

    Best Chickpea "Egg" Salad

    This delicious Chickpea Egg Salad is made with a few simple ingredients and is ready in 10 minutes only! It's a healthy meal-prep recipe that can be served with bread, crackers, vegan tortillas, and more!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Two chickpea egg sandwiches stacked on top of each other and placed on a white cutting board.

    Creamy Potato Salad without Eggs

    This Creamy Potato Salad without Eggs will be your new favorite summer side! All the classic flavors you love, but with a healthy twist!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    A white bowl filled with potato salad without eggs topped with chopped fresh dill.

    Easy Salad Kabobs Recipe

    Make these Easy Salad Kabobs for your next dinner party or an upcoming holiday! They are quick and simple to make, and so fun to eat! Your kids and family will love them!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Salad kabobs served in a white plate and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

    Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze

    These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze are an easy vegetable side dish for the holidays or your next weeknight dinner! Just 6 ingredients and 30 minutes are needed!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Roasted brussels sprouts served in a white platter and topped with balsamic glaze

    Green Goddess Chopped Salad

    Fresh and flavorful, this green goddess chopped salad is the side dish to serve with so many dishes! This hearty salad is a great meal prep recipe.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Green goddess chopped salad in a bowl with some of the ingredients in the background: a shallot, herbs, lemon slices.

    Easy Cannellini Bean Salad

     This quick and delicious Mediterranean-inspired Cannellini Bean Salad is made with canned beans and a few other flavorful ingredients. It only takes five minutes to make and there’s no cooking involved!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Close up side view of the finished Cannellini bean salad in a glass bowl with serving spoons.

    Cucumber and Tomato Salad with Chickpeas

    It's loaded with refreshing veggies, protein-rich chickpeas, and tossed with a light, lemony dressing. You'll want to make it all summer long for barbecues, picnics, potlucks, and more!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Tomato and cucumber salad in a white bowl with a wooden spoon inside. Lemon and oil on the side.

    Light Vegan Coleslaw without Mayo

    Our vegan coleslaw without mayo is the perfect side dish for gatherings, parties, and more. An easy to make cold side dish that is not only vegan but also top 8 allergen and gluten free it is sure to be a hit at your next dinner.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Vegan Coleslaw without mayo in a white bowl on a wood board.

    Italian Potato Salad With Green Beans & Red Onions

    This Italian Potato Salad is a delicious and easy salad to make. It is full of flavor and can be made in advance.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Italian potato salad in a white bowl.

    Panzanella (Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad)

    Panzanella is a delicious Tuscan salad that helps you to put to good use juicy tomatoes and stale bread. In my version, we’ll also add some chickpeas for an extra boost in plant-based protein!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Panzanella salad served on a white plate as a cold dish.

    Vegan Watermelon Salad with Feta

    This delicious and easy vegan watermelon salad uses homemade vegan feta cheese, and it is so refreshing and light. Serve this salad immediately or let it marinate in the fridge for a day for even stronger flavors. This dish is sure to be a hit at your next get together, a picnic, or light lunch.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Vegan watermelon feta salad served in a white bowl and topped with fresh chopped mint.

    Fruit Salad

    This easy fruit salad recipe has plenty of fruit tossed in a bright citrus dressing. The fruit salad makes a great side or a light dessert.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    A wooden spoon in a glass mixing bowl full of fruit salad.

    Vegan Light Cucumber Salad

    This refreshing and easy cucumber salad is whipped with the lightest chili lime salad dressing. A great side salad for BBQ, Picnics, Potlucks, and more.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Cucumber salad recipe in a bowl with a spoon.

    Vegan Caeser Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas

    This vegan Caesar Salad has a rich, garlicky, dairy-free and oil-free Caesar dressing that is just a little bit addictive! Swap the regular croutons for chickpeas for a healthier and gluten-free twist on the classic.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Caesar salad in a bowl with extra smoked tofu.

    Skillet Green Beans

    Transform your weeknight dinner into something special with this scrumptious and nutritious side dish! Toss together fresh green beans for a healthy addition to any meal, but especially holidays - making it the perfect way to bring joy at every gathering.
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Cooked green beans served in a bowl and topped with black pepper.

    Pasta and Noodle Recipes

    Tagliatelle Pesto Pasta (15 Minutes)

    This Tagliatelle Pesto Pasta is ready in just 15 minutes! It's light and healthy but packed with flavor from the homemade pesto. Serve with a generous sprinkle of parmesan and garlic bread on the side!
    MAKE THE RECIPE

    Classic Vegan Macaroni Salad

    This vegan macaroni salad recipe is everything a classic macaroni salad should be with diced onion, celery, and bell pepper along with shredded carrots and chopped pimento peppers. Only it's made vegan with vegan-friendly ingredients like vegan mayo and black salt. 
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    A bowl of vegan macaroni salad with carrots, green pepper, and celery in the background.

    Greek Pasta Salad (Gluten-free)

    A healthy Mediterranean cold side dish recipe that takes the ingredients of a classic Greek salad, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onion, green pepper, & adds pasta!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Gluten-free vegan Greek salad in a glass bowl, served as a side dish.

    Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

    This Sesame Soba Noodle Salad is a new family favorite! Not only is it ready in 15 minutes and it's great to make in advance, but it's also packed full of veggies and protein, making it the perfect hearty cold noodle salad!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Chopsticks holding up a soba noodle salad.

    Dips and Sauces

    White Bean Dip Recipe

    This recipe for white bean dip comes together in just 10 minutes, requiring 10 ingredients and 1 bowl to prepare. This recipe is great for meal prep because it's so easy to make and will last for quite some time. It's vegan and gluten-free as well.
    MAKE THE RECIPE

    Silky Lebanese Hummus

    This is the silkiest, most luxurious Lebanese hummus that's perfect as a side dish or as part of a mezze plater and is packed with protein. Plus, it's so easy to make!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Lebanese hummus in a white bowl with pitta bread, olive oil and falafels nearby.

    Cowboy Caviar

    Quick and easy cowboy caviar recipe! This recipe can be mixed up in just 10 minutes, and it makes a hearty bean side dish!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    A wooden spoon scooping up cowboy caviar.

    Vegan Cranberry Sauce

    Healthy Cranberry Sauce with 3 ingredients and a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Naturally sweetened and ready only in 10 minutes!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Healthy cranberry sauce in white bowl with orange peels and cinnamon.

    Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

    This easy copycat chipotle corn salad is the perfect side dish. Eat it with chips, or by the spoonful you can’t go wrong with this combination of flavors!
    MAKE THE RECIPE
    Corn salad in a bowl ready to be served.

    If you try any of these cold vegan side dishes, let me know in the comments below! I'm curious to know which one is your favorite. 😋

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    Sunglow Kitchen is a food blog about delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes. We share easy-to-make and budget-friendly meal ideas that anyone can make at home! Cooking is a BIG passion of mine and I am excited to show you how simple it can be! More about me...

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