Plant-Based Recipes for Hot Summer Days

Sharing some fave Plant-Based Recipes for Hot Summer Days. With the days heating up and sunshine beckoning (whether you’re poolside, beach-bound, or just lounging in your happy place at home), I’ve gathered some of my absolute favorite cooling, plant-powered recipes that bring big flavor without turning on the stove. These bright, no-heat dishes—plus a few easy skillet meals—are perfect for lazy summer days, hot picnics, and outdoor entertaining.

All of these are entirely vegan. All are fresh, simple, and centered around seasonal goodness. And yes — I absolutely had to include a few smoothies because I did write a smoothie cookbook, and summer is smoothie season.

🍦 Top 10 Frozen Frosty Treats (to get you started with plant-based summer recipes..)

1. Vegan Rocky Road Ice Cream – rich chocolate cashew base with marshmallows & almonds
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream – dreamy choc‑PB swirl
3. Fresh Strawberry Cashew Ice Cream – velvety strawberry‑road bliss
4. Cake Ice Cream – vanilla cashew soft‑serve meets vegan cake chunks

5. Coconut Water Smoothie – hydrating, light, pure summer sunshine
6. Rainbow-Colored Smoothie Recipes – vibrant, plant-based rainbow blends
7. 5 Easy Smoothies I Make on Repeat – my personal favorites here!
8. The Best Strawberry Banana Smoothie – simple, creamy summertime staple
9. My 7 Go‑To Smoothies for Summer – includes watermelon frosty, matcha shake..
10. Strawberry Satsuma Smoothie – citrus‑burst morning sipper

🥗 Cool, Crunchy Salads & Bowls

Salads are a must for plant-based summer recipes. Entree salads are something to master if you want to eat more plants but feel satisfied!

Try this first salad… FOREVER FAVE: MANGO ARUGULA

1. Simple Summer Tomato Salad

Bright cherry tomatoes tossed with fresh basil, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper—so quick, so vibrant, and bursting with sweet, summery goodness.

2. Chili‑Lime Mango‑Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

Juicy mango, creamy avocado, protein-packed quinoa, and zesty lime chili—a perfect balance of fresh and filling.

3. Freshly Picked Salad in a Jar

Peaches, corn, collard greens, crunchy seeds, and maple-mustard dressing layered in a jar—ideal for beach days or an easy picnic lunch.

🧊 Slushes, Smoothies & Frozen Treats

The best part of summer – frozen treats and sips! Here are my plant-based summer recipes for smoothies, ice creams and frosties..

4. Lazy Agua Frescas

Just puree fruit and water (and a bit of lime and mint, if you like!). Pour over ice—Hydration = ✔️

5. Watermelon Frosty (plus a Chia-Boosted Version) — FAN FAVE

Blend watermelon ice cubes, lime, and optional chia seeds for a cooling slush with a boost of omega-3.

6. Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

Creamy, rich and full of fresh berry flavor.

7. Acai Smoothie – or Smoothie Bowl

Antioxidant-rich acai blended into a thick, icy smoothie—perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up. (Low vsync. Just kidding—high vs yum. 😉) Also shown: blueberry smoothie

FAVE MENTION: STRAWBERRY BANANA CLASSIC SMOOTHIE

Curious about more smoothie ideas? Check out my Smoothie Book: 365 Vegan Smoothies

🥙 No-Fuss Sandwiches & Wraps

Love a sandwich in summertime! Add a side of lemoade and your fave crunchy chip or snack and your sunny day lunch or early dinner is served.

8. Cucumber + Mint Tea Sandwiches

Tiny rounds of cucumber on soft bread with refreshing mint cream—tea-party cute without the fuss.

9. California Avo‑Cheese Sourdough Sandwich

Creamy avocado, melty plant-based cheese (or dairy if you like), on hearty sourdough—great handheld happiness.

Fave mention: Chickpea Salad Sandwich

🥙 Savory Sides & Skillet Favorites

Savory plant-based summer recipes..

10. Summer Corn Fritters with Avocado‑Lime Salsa

These golden corn patties cook in a skillet in minutes, topped with a bright avocado-lime salsa—summertime bliss.

11. Corn + Lentil Sloppy Joes

Traditional flavors meet plant-based hero ingredients for a protein-packed, no-fuss meal you can whip up in 15 minutes.

🍧 Sweetly Summery Desserts

Did someone say pie and vanilla ice cream? YES.

12. Summer Peach Pie – or Cherry Pie

Layer juicy peaches into a simple crust, chill, and enjoy—wood-oven optional.

13. DIY Summer Sorbets

Blend your favorite ripe fruit, freeze, and churn (with a blender or fork)—yum!

🍔 Veggie Burgers That Bring the Heat (Without the Sweat)

There’s just something iconic about burgers in the summer — grill smoke in the air, toasted buns, juicy bites, and all your favorite toppings. But you don’t need beef (or even a grill) to enjoy that magic. These veggie burgers are full of flavor, easy to prep, and perfect for a backyard hang or quick dinner.

14. Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

A forever favorite. Hearty beans meet mashed sweet potato with smoky spices, oats, and a little crunch on the outside. Pan-fry, bake, or throw them on the grill if you’re feeling extra. Pro tip: pile high with avocado, pickled onion, and a slather of vegan mayo.

15. Summer Veggie Burger with Grilled Pineapple

A colorful burger stacked with grilled pineapple, red onion, and a homemade patty packed with quinoa, chickpeas, and fresh herbs. It’s sweet, savory, and screams summer in every bite.

16. Lazy Day Frozen Veggie Burger Glow-Up

Zero shame here — some days you just need a shortcut. Take your favorite store-bought patty (Beyond, Dr. Praeger’s, Hilary’s—whatever you love), toast up a bun, and go wild with toppings. Add arugula, spicy mustard, tomato slices, and maybe a big smear of hummus or guac. Dinner = done.

🔥 Summer Burger Tip

Skip the oven. If you’re not grilling, use a hot skillet or even an air fryer to get that crispy edge without heating the whole house. And don’t forget to toast those buns—it makes everything feel fancier.

🌿 Summer Tips from My Kitchen

• Go no-bake whenever you can—salads, smoothies, & cold desserts mean no extra heat in the house.
• Show off fresh produce—stone fruits, ripe cherry tomatoes, basil, mint—they’re the star attractions.
• Keep hydration flavorful—infuse water with mint, lime, or cucumber; batch up fruit slushes for the fridge.
• Go plant-based: beans, grains, lentils, avocado, nuts—packed with nutrients, easy to prep, and always satisfying.
• Batch whenever possible: make extra of dressings, salsas, or fritters to last a couple of meals effortlessly.

A Gentle Vegan Nudge 💫

Even if you’re not fully vegan, embracing more plant-centered summer meals is kind to your body, animals, and the planet. Plus, you’re free to experiment — swap dairy cheese for plant cheese, use aquafaba or JUST EGG instead of chicken egg, or embrace easily vegan meals like pasta, veggie tacos, veggie dogs, summer salads, falafel pitas and more.

The recipes above are vegan by nature or totally adaptable.

📚 Dive Deeper: My Cookbook Corner

• 365 vegan smoothies – 365 refreshing, creamy, plant-based smoothies (frozen, fresh, and everything in between!).
• HHVK – A collection of vibrant salads, bowls, and snackables perfect for sunny seasons.

Whether you’re sipping an icy smoothie, biting into a crispy corn fritter, or indulging in frozen watermelon bliss—you’re cooling down and glowing up. Here’s to your happiest summer yet!

What’s your go-to summer refreshment? Drop a comment or share a photo—I love seeing your happy, sunny creations!

Happiest breezy-days vibes,

Kathy