Grilled Vegetable Board

When I think about summer cooking, I think about the grill, not just for burgers or ribs, but for vegetables. In fact, summer vegetables are some of the most rewarding ingredients you can put over the grill's fire. Their textures transform, their sugars caramelize, and their flavors intensify in far more exciting ways than when they're tossed into a salad raw or even roasted in the oven. This grilled vegetable board is one of my favorite ways to showcase that transformation.

It’s also one of my favorite ways to feed a group. Built from the ground up to be shareable and versatile, this board is more than just a side dish—it’s centerpiece-worthy. There's an old chef’s saying that “if it grows together, it goes together,” and I’ve applied that thinking here. I’ve selected a colorful medley of summer vegetables, including tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, eggplant, and zucchini, with flavors—sweet, earthy, bitter, grassy, tangy—that balance and play off one another in all the right ways, especially when paired with a lively herbaceous lemon vinaigrette. They also look gorgeous together. 

It works beautifully as a light main course, especially when served with burrata or fresh mozzarella and plenty of grilled bread. I make some version of this board nearly every time I have guests over in the summer. It’s easy to scale up, infinitely riffable, and just as fitting for a backyard cookout as it is for dinner with food-savvy friends. You can prepare almost all of it up to a few hours ahead of time and serve it warm or at room temperature, making it one of the most versatile dishes I grill.

But what makes this recipe more than just a pile of grilled produce is the level of attention each vegetable gets. Grilling vegetables well isn’t about tossing them on the grill and flipping them once they char. It’s about understanding what each one needs—how it behaves over heat, how much oil or seasoning it wants, and when to pull it off for peak texture and flavor. This recipe gives each component its moment on the grill—and in doing so, transforms simple ingredients into something vibrant, structured, and much greater than the sum of its parts.

Here’s how I break it down, one ingredient at a time.

Managing the Grill: Timing and Strategy

Before we get into the vegetables themselves, let’s talk about how to actually manage your grill. This is the kind of recipe that requires you to be deliberate. Each vegetable cooks at a different speed, and some benefit from resting or steaming after grilling. The key to success is a game plan: controlling your heat zones, working in batches, and having a way to track what’s done and what’s still cooking. 

If you’re using a charcoal grill, I recommend spreading the coals in an even layer across the bottom of the grill for even, steady heat distribution. For a gas grill, turn the burners to high and always preheat with the lid down, which helps the grill heat more quickly.

Additionally, for both charcoal and gas grills, be sure to clean and oil your grates just before cooking. To oil the grill grates, pour about a tablespoon of neutral oil with a higher smoke point (such as vegetable or canola oil) onto a wad of paper towels or a kitchen rag. Then use your grill tongs to maneuver the oiled towels or rag across the grill grate. This is a critical step to ensure the delicate vegetable won't stick to the grates and fall apart, so don't skip it!

I also like to have a couple of large sheet trays ready—one or two for raw vegetables and one for the cooked ones as they come off the grill. As things finish, I group them by type to season and dress them while they’re hot. 

As for timing, start with the vegetables that require the longest cooking time—onions, bell peppers, and eggplant—and work toward the faster-cooking ingredients, such as zucchini, tomatoes, and bread. Don’t overload your grill—working in batches will give you better browning and more control. Plus, if you try to cook everything at once, it's tougher to monitor, and you'll likely either burn the delicate stuff or undercook the hearty vegetables. 

The beauty of this recipe is that most vegetables are just fine when served warm or even at room temperature, so you don’t need to stress about perfect synchronization. So it's OK if some vegetables are sitting and waiting while others are still cooking.

The Tomatoes: Juicy, Sweet, and Just Barely Charred

Tomatoes might not be the first vegetable you think of grilling, but they absolutely belong here. The trick is to grill them just long enough to concentrate their juices and give their natural sugars a chance to shine without them collapsing into a mushy mess.

Use firm but ripe tomatoes that are vibrantly colored and have a slight give when pressed. If they’re too soft going in, they’ll fall apart on the grill. I halve them lengthwise to create a flat grilling surface and salt them for about 15 minutes before they hit the grill. Presalting the tomatoes does two things: It draws out some moisture, which helps with browning, and it seasons them from within.

Grill them cut-side down on the hot, oiled grate, and don’t walk away—they only need a minute or two per side. The goal is a little char and just slight softening, not total collapse. You’re not trying to fully cook them—just get some browning on the cut surface while keeping their shape and juiciness intact. A hot, well-oiled grill and a bit of vigilance go a long way here. 

The Bell Peppers: Steam, Peel, and Slice for Maximum Sweetness

Bell peppers benefit from intense heat and a bit of post-grill care. I start by flattening them into wide strips so they cook evenly—trying to grill whole or quartered peppers with curved surfaces often results in uneven charring.

Grill the strips skin-side down until they’re deeply blistered and blackened in spots. Then, as soon as they come off the grill, place them in a bowl and cover them tightly with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid. This quick steam helps loosen the skins, making them easy to peel. Once the peppers are peeled, I slice them into thin, silky ribbons. The result is smoky-sweet and supple, a great textural contrast to the other vegetables on the board.

Red Onions: Structure Matters

Onions are notorious for falling apart on the grill. To avoid this, I slice them into half-inch rounds and secure each with a wooden toothpick pushed horizontally through the layers. This simple trick keeps the slices intact long enough to develop good char on both sides.

Grill them over direct heat until they’re well browned and softened through. After grilling, I remove the toothpicks and gently separate the onions into tender, charred rings. The texture is sweet and jammy, with just enough bite left.

Zucchini and Eggplant: Two Approaches, One Grill

Zucchini and eggplant often get lumped together in grilled vegetable mixes, but they behave very differently over heat. Zucchini has a high water content and a thin skin, which means it cooks quickly and is prone to becoming mushy if not handled carefully. To avoid this, I slice it lengthwise into thick planks, so it has enough surface area to brown while remaining sturdy enough to maneuver on the grill without the risk of slipping through the grates. Grilling it over direct heat, and flipping it just once, gives it the best balance of char and tenderness. The zucchini should be just tender when you remove it from the grill, but still be slightly firm with a bit of bite.

Eggplant, on the other hand, needs a bit more care. It acts like a sponge and can soak up a lot of oil. So I slice it into rounds and brush it lightly with oil (I brush it last so it doesn’t soak up all the oil meant for other vegetables) before grilling it. Don’t be afraid to let it cook longer than you’d expect—eggplant needs time to become soft and creamy. Undercooked eggplant is spongy and bitter; properly grilled eggplant is creamy and rich.

The Vinaigrette: Your Flavor Bridge

The lemon vinaigrette is what pulls the board together. It’s not just a seasoning—it’s a flavor bridge that connects the different vegetables with a hit of acid, a touch of heat, and the liveliness of fresh herbs.

It’s a simple emulsification of lemon zest and juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, and olive oil, finished with chopped chives and basil. The key is to brush it onto the vegetables while they’re still warm from the grill, when they can soak up flavor. The vinaigrette's brightness cuts through the eggplant's richness, enhances the sweetness of the peppers, and wakes up the grilled tomatoes and onions.

After brushing the cooked vegetables with the vinaigrette, serve the rest of the dressing on the side for dipping or drizzling—people always want more.

The Bread: Grill It Like a Steak

No veggie board is complete without grilled bread. I use thick-cut slices of a crusty Italian or French loaf, brushed generously with olive oil and grilled until crisp on the outside but still chewy inside. Think of it as a vehicle for the vegetables and an equal part of the experience—it adds crunch, contrast, and a smoky, charred flavor that’s hard to beat.

Make sure to use the hot grill to your advantage here. In just a couple of minutes per side, the bread will take on a beautiful crosshatch of grill marks. Don’t walk away, because bread burns quickly.

Board Assembly: Build With Intention

Once everything is grilled and dressed, it’s time to assemble. You can go rustic and freeform, or arrange each element with care. Contrast is key either way: Vary the colors, shapes, and textures so the board is visually appealing and easy to graze.

I like to add burrata or fresh mozzarella for creaminess, marinated olives for briny contrast, and maybe a few grilled lemon halves for squeezing over the top. Fresh herbs—especially basil and mint—wake up the whole board with their aroma and color.

Make-Ahead Tips and Variations

One of the reasons I return to this recipe repeatedly is that it is forgiving and make-ahead friendly. You can prep most of the elements in advance: The vinaigrette holds well for a couple of days in the fridge, and the vegetables can be grilled a few hours ahead and served at room temperature. If you want to go even further, you can store the grilled vegetables in the fridge (each in its own container) and rewarm them gently on the grill just before serving.

Feel free to play with the vegetable mixture as well—add mushrooms, fennel, or asparagus depending on the season. Or swap the burrata or mozzarella for whipped ricotta, feta, or labneh. Add nuts, pickled shallots, or a romesco sauce. The beauty of this board is that it's a framework, not a fixed formula.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd, prepping for a picnic, or just trying to make the most of peak-season produce, this grilled veggie board delivers. It’s bright, smoky, tender, and endlessly riffable. And it proves that vegetables deserve the spotlight, especially over fire.