• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

703-778-8000

Rocklands Catering

Rocklands Catering

Pointing finger Back to ROCKLANDS website
  • Catering Services
    • Bartending
    • Delivery
    • Food Truck
    • Full-Service
    • On-Site Grilling
    • Party Rental Supplies
    • Pig Roast
  • Events We Cater
    • Holiday Events
    • Parties and Special Occasions
    • Weddings
    • Tailgate and Big Game
    • Funeral/Wake/Memorial
    • Corporate and Office
  • Catering Menus
    • Holiday Catering Menu
    • Full-Service Catering Menu
    • Catering Favorites PDF
    • Allergen Information
  • Proposal Requests
    • Catering Proposal Request
    • Food Truck Proposal Request
  • FAQs and More
    • FAQs
    • Partners
    • Venues
    • Blog
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Join Our Team
Home » Catering Blog » Menu Ideas for Every Celebration » More Than a Side Dish: Delicious Vegan and Vegetarian BBQ Catering

More Than a Side Dish: Delicious Vegan and Vegetarian BBQ Catering

February 16, 2026 by Jenn Carter

You’ve picked the perfect caterer, the date is set, and you know you want the smoky, comforting vibe of a classic BBQ feast. But then the RSVPs start rolling in. Your cousin is vegan. The VP of Marketing is vegetarian. Suddenly, you’re panicking. Will they be stuck eating plain iceberg lettuce while everyone else enjoys the ribs?

At Rocklands Catering, we believe that BBQ is about community and that means everyone gets a seat at the table. Plant-based eaters are never an afterthought. We believe that smoke, spice, and fire belong on vegetables just as much as they belong on meat. Here’s why choosing Rocklands Catering means no guest is left feeling….left out.

Tofu vegetable kabobs

Busting the “Sad Salad” Myth

One of the biggest fears for any host? The dreaded “Side Dish Syndrome”, where vegetarian guests end up cobbling together a meal from dinner rolls and coleslaw because there’s no main course for them. Not on our watch.

  • Our Philosophy: We apply our ‘Real Food’ philosophy to every dish, meat or not.
  • Bold Flavors: Every vegetarian option gets the same wood-smoked, dry-rubbed, scratch-made treatment as our ribs. Your plant-based guests will taste the care in every bite.
Tofu bites

The Main Event: Plant-Based Proteins

You need more than just sides to fuel a wedding dance floor or a company picnic. That’s why Rocklands Catering offers robust plant-based main courses that satisfy everyone at the table. See our catering menu for all the details.

  • Vegan Sausage: Plant-based sausage grilled over real wood, served with sautéed onions, peppers, and a vegan roll.
  • Grilled Portobello Mushrooms: Showcasing the best produce, grilled over wood for that sweet, smoky char. Topped with a fresh tomato relish. It’s so good, you’ll have to slap it out of the hands of the meat-eaters.
  • Marinated Tofu with Vegetables Kabob: Grilled tofu with vegetables that have all been marinated in a tangy sauce.
Grilled Portobello mushrooms with toppings
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs from Rocklands

The Supporting Cast: Vegan and Vegetarian Sides

At a great BBQ, the sides are often the unsung heroes. Luckily, many of our scratch-made classics are naturally veggie-friendly.

  • Vegan Heavy Hitters: Grilled Portobello Mushrooms topped with tomato basil relish, and our Minted Cucumber Salad, which adds a refreshing crunch to balance the smoke.
  • Vegetarian Comforts: Texas Corn Pudding and Vegan Chili bring comfort food vibes—without the hidden meat products you find in other caterers’ sides.
  • Clear Labeling: Every dish is clearly marked, so guests can navigate the buffet with confidence. No guessing, no stress. See all allergen details.
  • Customized Sides: Yes! We do those too! Want delicious baked beans without the meat? Done! Collards without the chicken broth and bacon? We’ve got you! Just let us know!
Portobello mushrooms with tomato basil relish
Grilled vegetable tartlettes

One Vendor, Everyone Happy

The hardest part of accommodating dietary needs? The logistics. With Rocklands, it’s seamless.

  • No “Second Stop”: No need to order BBQ for 80 and salads for 10. We handle it all, in one delivery.
  • Cohesive Experience: Our plant-based options look and smell just as tempting as the brisket, making every guest feel included not singled out.

Hosting Without Compromise

Accommodating a diverse crowd doesn’t mean sacrificing the soul of your event. With Rocklands Catering, “dietary restriction” never means “flavor restriction.” We take pride in feeding every guest with the same care, quality, and wood-fired passion. Whether they’re rib-lovers or veggie burger devotees.

Ready to plan a menu that everyone will rave about? Let us handle the details. Contact our catering team today to build a custom menu with options for carnivores, vegans, and everyone in between.

No guest left hungry. That’s real BBQ.

Jenn Carter

About Jenn Carter

Meet Jenn Carter, whose love of Rocklands spans more than three decades and made her love official in 2005 when she joined the Rocklands family as a Sales Rep in their Catering Department. There she worked with the team to create events: from intimate backyard gatherings to high-profile political fundraisers. Making sure every client’s event featured both Rocklands’ legendary barbecue and impeccable service. Though life has taken her from DC to Japan, to New Mexico, Tennessee and now to Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband Michael, son Jackson, and pup Francis, you’ll still find bottles of Rocklands Barbecue Sauce making their way to her doorstep. Some loves know no distance.

Previous Post:French Kiss Cocktail with lemon and raspberriesA French Kiss Toast to You (the Host) and To Love

Sidebar

Explore the Blog

  • Catering News
  • Event Planning Essentials
  • Menu Ideas for Every Celebration

Quick Links

  • Catering Services
  • Catering Menus
  • Events We Cater
  • FAQs and More
Wedding Wire Chose awards 2022 logo
Virginia Living Top Wedding Vendors logo 2023
Rocklands round logo

Catering

25 S Quaker Ln Ste 11
Alexandria, VA 22314

703-778-8000
catering@rocklands.com

Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Quick Links

Menus

Catering Services

Events We Cater

FAQ’s and More

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

© 2026 Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company Catering · All Rights Reserved · Privacy & Security Policies