Grilled Veggie Salad, a summer superstar!
Most of my summertime hobbies involve seeking out the best seasonal goodies that I can get my hands on. I love perusing local farmer’s markets & unpacking my CSA basket every couple of weeks. This year I’m even trying my hand at a humble little herb & veggie garden on our deck (wish me luck!).
With this bounty of amazing fresh produce, cooking during the warm months always slows to a relaxed & low-maintenance pace at my house. Produce at the peak of its season is so beautiful on its own that you don’t need to do much to it to make really delicious meals.
That’s exactly what’s at the heart of this Chopped Grilled Vegetable Salad. The veggies are totally front & center – lightly seasoned, grilled to perfection, & finished with a light + bright vinaigrette. It’s a low-maintenance meal with very little prep & clean up involved (the grill does all the work!) & it’s the kind of thing you can whip up using whatever you happen to have on hand (ICYMI, you can grill pretty much every veggie!). I could seriously make it every single day from now ’til September!
Craveable Bowls & Salads for Easy Weekday Cooking
Get 25+ of my favorite low-effort recipes for a satisfying, veggie-loaded lunch or dinner.
How to Grill Vegetables – An Overview.
The star of this grilled veggie salad show is, of course, the grilled vegetables! Grilled vegetables are my favorite thing to both make & eat during the summer months. The grill brings out the natural sweetness of veggies at the peak of their season, adding rich & smoky char that’s pretty hard to beat!
Full Recipe Directions with step-by-step photos provided in the Recipe Card, below.
Which vegetables are best for grilling? ⇢ When I make this grilled vegetable salad, I like to use bell pepper, zucchini, onion, & asparagus. Mushrooms also add nice meaty texture & summer tomatoes add acidity & sweetness. You can grill just about any vegetable, so feel free to use whatever you love most or happen to have on hand already – I have some suggested variations listed below!
Once the grilled vegetables are cool enough to handle, simply use your favorite chef’s knife to chop them into bite-sized pieces – pretty simple!
Other Grilled Vegetable Tips:
- Grilled vegetable prep ⇢ Slice the vegetables into flat pieces that sit nicely atop the grill. This both maximizes the surface area that comes into contact with the grill grates & prevents them from falling through the grates as you grill.
- For large vegetables like bell peppers & zucchini, flat planks are great!
- For small vegetables, like tomatoes & mushrooms, threading them on to skewers is the best bet.
- Grilled vegetable seasoning ⇢ Since these grilled veggies end up in a salad with a flavor-forward vinaigrette, season them very simply. Brush them with a little bit of avocado oil (or another neutral oil with a high smoke point) & sprinkle with S&P. Easy!
- Grill temperature & grill times ⇢ Medium-high heat, about 450-500 degrees F, is ideal for all of the veggies used in this grilled vegetable salad. Grill times vary veggie to veggie, so start by grilling the hearty veggies first (e.g. onions, bell pepper) & finish with the most delicate veggies (e.g. tomatoes, asparagus).
- Learn all about How to Grill Vegetables!
Lemon Basil Vinaigrette – Tangy + Bright Summer Flavor!
Because grilled veggies take on such a rich, smoky flavor from the grill, I like pairing them with a bright & light Lemon Basil Vinaigrette made with loads of basil, lemon, garlic, & a little champagne vinegar for brightness. It’s perfect if you have an overflowing summer herb garden & it comes together in 10 minutes or less thanks to a high-speed blender!
Full Recipe Directions with step-by-step photos provided in the Recipe Card, below.
How to make lemon basil vinaigrette ⇢ Simple! Add basil, lemon zest & juice, shallot, garlic, champagne vinegar & extra virgin olive oil to a blender, blending until smooth & creamy.
Storage ⇢ This lemon basil vinaigrette stores beautifully! Prep it up to 1 week in advance & store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready for use. It also freezes really well! Check the Recipe Notes, below, for more storage & freezing guidance.
Serving Your Chopped Veggie Salad + a couple other tips…
Once the grilled veggies are chopped & the lemon basil vinaigrette is prepped, all that’s left is tossing together your chopped veggie salad! Add the chopped grilled veggies to a large bowl with your favorite spring mix, drizzle the vinaigrette over top, & toss to combine. Pretty simple! I like finishing this grilled vegetable salad off with some crumbled goat cheese, though you can omit to keep your salad completely dairy-free/vegan.
Serving Suggestions
Chopped veggie salad is the perfect easy side dish for any of your favorite warm weather dinners! Try pairing it with my go-to grilled lemon chicken for an amazing light & easy meal. It’s a fab side dish for turkey burgers & grilled sausage.
Because it’s great served warm or at room temperature, this grilled vegetable salad is also the perfect app or dish to share for summer potlucks & backyard BBQs. Pair with some grilled bread & it’s a salad that totally steals the show!
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
While this grilled veggie salad is best served immediately, the lemon basil vinaigrette can be prepped up to 1 week in advance. You can also prep the vegetables for grilling up to 5 days in advance – check out the Recipe Notes, below, for more storage & meal prep guidance!
Easy Grilled Veggie Salad Variations
The best part about grilled vegetable salad is that it’s totally versatile. You can customize it a billion different ways, based on your preferences & what ingredients you happen to have on hand. A few ideas to get you started…
- VEGGIES: Use whatever veggies you love or happen to have on hand! Swap asparagus for broccolini, add sweetness with grilled corn, or add substance with grilled cauliflower or sweet potatoes. Sky’s the limit! Have fun with it.
- VINAIGRETTE: You can dress your grilled vegetable salad with any vinaigrette or salad dressing you love! Try the PWWB All-Purpose Vinaigrette (tangy, mustardy goodness!), PWWB Chimichurri Sauce (bright + herbaceous!) or my personal favorite Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette (perfectly sweet + savory).
- MAKE IT A MEAL: To make it a satisfying plant-powered main, add some chickpeas or white beans to your grilled veggie salad. I also love the thought of adding quinoa or farro for nice texture & grain bowl-vibes. If you want to add animal protein, grilled chicken or grilled steak is always a delish bet!
I can’t wait for you to try this grilled vegetable salad! It’s summertime in a bowl & I know you’ll love it as much as we do! If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
Print
Chopped Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Entree Salads & Bowls Recipes, Main Dishes, Side Dishes
- Method: Grilling & Smoking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Fresh summer veggies are grilled until perfectly charred & smoky & tossed into greens with bright & light homemade lemon basil vinaigrette. This Grilled Vegetable Salad is simple to prepare & boasts all of the best fresh flavors of summer. Perfect for fresh weeknight eats & summer entertaining!
Naturally vegetarian & gluten-free, easily dairy-free & vegan.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 bunch asparagus, woody ends trimmed
- 1 medium bell pepper, sliced into 4–5 flat planks
- 1 medium zucchini, ends trimmed & quartered lengthwise
- 1 large sweet or red onion, peeled & quartered lengthwise with ends in tact
- 8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, skewered for grilling
- 8 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes, skewered for grilling
- 6 ounces spring mix or greens of choice
- optional: 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese or feta
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
for the lemon basil vinaigrette:
- 2 cups packed basil leaves & tender stems
- 2 lemons, zested & juiced
- 1/2 small shallot, peeled & roughly chopped (about 1/4 cup roughly chopped)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Prepare your grill for medium-high direct heat grilling, about 450-500 degrees F.
- Prepare the vegetables for the grill: Prep asparagus, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, mushrooms & tomatoes as described above. Place vegetables on a large plate or small baking sheet. Drizzle avocado oil over top, tossing to coat evenly. Generously season with kosher salt & ground black pepper. (Be sure to check out this A-Z Grilled Veggie Guide for veggie-specific prep tips!)
- Prep the lemon basil vinaigrette: Add basil, lemon zest & juice, shallot, garlic, champagne vinegar, & olive oil to jar of a high-speed blender. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt & ground black pepper as desired. Blend until vinaigrette is emulsified & as smooth as you’d like. Taste & adjust seasoning as desired – season with additional salt to taste, drizzle in a little extra vinegar for a tangier vinaigrette, splash in a few tablespoons of water for a thinner vinaigrette, etc. Set aside or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Grill the vegetables: Place the seasoned vegetables directly on the grill grates. For long, thin vegetables & skewers, like asparagus & zucchini, it’s best to place them on the grill such that they’re positioned perpendicular to the grill grates, which prevents them from slipping through as they grill or as you handle them. Grill vegetables until as softened & charred as desired. Tomatoes will grill in about 2 minutes per side. Asparagus, bell pepper, zucchini, & mushroom skewers will grill in 3-4 minutes per side. Onions will grill in 4-5 minutes per side. (Be sure to check out this A-Z Grilled Veggie Guide for veggie-specific grilling tips!)
- Chop & toss the grilled vegetable salad! Once grilled vegetables are cool enough to handle, use a chef’s knife to chop into uniform bite-sized pieces. Add the chopped vegetables to a large bowl with salad greens & cheese, if using. Pour the lemon basil vinaigrette over top. Toss to combine. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make-Ahead & Storage:
- Make-Ahead Grilled Vegetable Salad: If you’re prepping for a backyard BBQ or dinner party, you can grill the vegetables according to Steps 2 & 4 up to 1 day in advance. Store the grilled vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator, & toss the chopped salad just before serving.
- Storage: Once tossed, this grilled vegetable salad is best enjoyed immediately, though leftovers will keep for 1-2 days. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy leftovers cold or at room temperature.
- 20-Minute Meal Prep: Nearly all of the active prep work for this grilled vegetable salad comes from slicing the veggies & prepping the lemon basil vinaigrette. Prep either or both in advance for a great head start on your grilled veggie salad – it’ll take 20 minutes, tops:
- Prep the veggies for grilling as noted in the Ingredients List, above. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. (10 minutes active prep)
- Prep the lemon basil vinaigrette according to Step 3 of Recipe Directions above. Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. (10 minutes active prep)
Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!
This recipe is absolutely amazing. Seriously- top shelf and I am a MAJOR foodie so I do not say that lightly. Thank you for such a stunning addition to our regular rotation! Serve with a steak and you might be truly insane if you find the dinner disappointing!
Thank you so much for the rave review, Meghan!! So thrilled that you loved this salad as much as we do!
Can this be made by roasting the vegetables in the oven instead?
Definitely!! Roasting works great here too 🙂
My dressing did not thicken what did I do wrong
Hi Lea, the thickness of the dressing can vary based on the amount of lemon juice in your lemons – you can always add more basil to thicken things up, or add lemon juice gradually until your preferred consistency is reached. Hope that helps!
This recipe caught my eye as I love veggies and grilling. Your grilled buffalo wings are my family’s favorite. This one is fabulous and so easy! Although the veggies are delicious grilled the addition of the basil lemon dressing took them to another level. I used dairy free feta in place of goat as that is what I had on hand. I have tried so many of your recipes and they are all great. Thanks!
Hi Carol, we’re so glad to hear you loved the salad, and that you enjoy PWWB! Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
Loved this recipe! This was my first time grilling veggies and they came out great! Thanks for this recipe and your grilling 101 email series.
Absolutely love to hear it, Katie! So glad you found both of these resources helpful, it means so much! 🙂
I had never considered making a salad out of grilled veggies and didn’t know how this would turn out, but I trust Jess, so I gave it a try and I’m SO GLAD I did. Delicious, tender crisp, soo easy. The dressing is bright and zingy and pairs perfectly with the veggies. 10/10 would recommend
I’m so, so glad you enjoyed the salad, Anna! Thanks for trusting PWWB recipes, & for sharing how it went! xx