If you’re planning to spend Memorial Day weekend barbecuing with friends and family, we have one piece of advice: don’t neglect the sides. Seriously, these underrated dishes can make or break a cookout.
Fortunately, we’ve rounded up some of our absolute favorite plant-based sides for summer barbecues here, so you’re totally covered (we’ll be making number 12 on repeat all summer long, and that’s a promise).
When it’s time for dessert—perhaps some homemade ice cream? If that sounds delicious to you but you’re not sure exactly how to make it, don’t worry, we asked a vegan ice cream expert for all of their tips and tricks here.
But before you head to the kitchen to whip up a holiday weekend spread, it’s time for this week’s food news—and we have to admit, it’s a good one. We’ve got the lowdown on new cookies, dairy-free pasta launches, and even a Q&A on a new Slim Jim–style vegan meat stick that’s about to hit the market.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has joined a growing number of coffee chains by dropping its dairy-free milk charge. | The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf drops the dairy-free milk upcharge
If you’re heading to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf this summer for your go-to iced latte or matcha, there’s good news: Starting June 3, the coffee chain will eliminate extra charges for dairy-free milk.
The move puts The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf alongside a growing list of coffee chains that have dropped surcharges for dairy-free milk in recent years, including Peet’s Coffee, Starbucks, and Dunkin’.
The new Maya’s Cookies collection features popular, nostalgic cake flavors. | Maya’s Cookies
Maya’s Cookies launches new vegan Cake Shop collection
We can always count on Maya’s Cookies to deliver delicious sweet treats without animal products, and its new Cake Shop Collection is no exception. Unique, cake-inspired cookie flavors include Texas Sheet Cake, Lemon Blueberry Crumb Cake, and Carrot Cake. Better yet, the collection ships nationwide—so you can have a box delivered straight to your door.
Daiya’s new mac and cheese is taco-shaped. | Daiya
The new taco mac and cheese from Daiya is at Walmart now
Earlier this year, we reported that Daiya Foods was set to launch vegan taco-flavored mac and cheese at Walmart. Now, the day has finally arrived: the new Tex-Mex-inspired product is officially hitting shelves. And yes, even the macaroni is taco-shaped.
Shire’s Naturals’ dairy-free ravioli is ‘one of the best we’ve ever tasted.’ | VegNews
Award-winning vegan ravioli launches at Wegmans across the Northeast
It’s a big month for vegan pasta. Shire’s Naturals’ dairy-free ravioli—winner of our Best New Vegan Product at Expo West this year, and one of our most anticipated products of 2026—has hit Wegmans stores. Back in March, our team called this ravioli, filled with creamy fermented cashew cheese, “one of the best we’ve ever tasted.” There’s only one way to find out if you agree—it’s available now at Wegmans locations across the Northeast.
“Launching at Wegmans is an exciting milestone for our company,” said Joshua Velasquez, Founder and CEO of Shire’s Naturals. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring our products to their customers. They’ve built a strong reputation for quality and trust, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Louisville Jerky Co’s new vegan jerky is just like Slim Jim. | Louisville Jerky Co.
Louisville Jerky Co. launches new Slim Jim-style vegan jerky sticks
If you grew up eating Slim Jim, Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. has got the perfect snack for you: Road Stick, a meaty-style jerky stick made entirely with plant-based ingredients. It’s dropping this June, and we caught up with founder Stanley Chase III to learn more about why—and how—this savory vegan snack came to be. Spoiler alert: it’s been in the works for six years, so you know it’s going to be good.
VegNews: What inspired Louisville Jerky Co to create a plant-based meat stick format?
Stanley Chase III: A lot of the products that the jerky company has put out over the years have been things that I selfishly wanted for myself. I kept seeing things like chomps at the register while checking out, and one day in 2019, I thought I’m gonna exhaust myself trying to find a good vegan alternative. It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been working on this stick for about 6 years, and I really wanted it to be above the other brands I’d tried.
VN: Who is the target consumer for Road Stick? Longtime vegans, flexitarians, road trippers, or mainstream snack buyers?
SCIII: I think at the end of the day, I really wanted to make this for anyone who wants the old Slim Jim vibe but can’t get behind the industries putting those things out. It’s also cool that it’s not only meat-free, it’s also soy-free and gluten-free.
VN: What does this launch say about where the plant-based snack category is heading?
SCIII: It’s a delicate time, but I believe the pendulum will swing back. I already see small signs of it happening now. With that said, I’m hoping the Road Stick has its moment. It’s gotta make a splash, or it may not have a future. I really believe in it, though. It’s a super cool product that’s got a good snap, smoked in a real smoke house, and the flavor is fantastic.
GoNanas new vegan mini muffins are available from Target now. | GoNanas
GoNanas launches new on-the-go vegan banana bread muffins
When you’re in the mood to bake, GoNanas is a solid go-to. Its mixes are vegan, gluten-free, and made with wholesome ingredients like oat flour and bananas. But sometimes there’s no time to bake—there’s only time to eat.
That’s why the brand has just launched its new pre-made mini banana bread muffins (in Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Roll, and Blueberry), available now at Target. According to the brand, you’ll want to act fast, as some stores are already selling out.
For those who still prefer baking from scratch, the brand has also introduced a new mix for vegan Banana Cream Pie muffins.
Papa John’s signature garlic sauce is dairy-free. | Papa John’s
Papa John’s vegan garlic sauce rolling out to grocery stores
Papa John’s might not have vegan cheese yet (well, not in the US anyway), but it still has some decent plant-based options. You can order its veggie-laden options without the cheese, and then dip them into its signature garlic sauce, which is dairy-free by default (yes, really). If you just want the garlic sauce, though, you will soon have that option, as the chain has just revealed that its Special Garlic Dipping Sauce will be launching in grocery stores across the US this summer.
“Our Special Garlic Dipping Sauce is one of the most iconic flavors in our brand, and our fans have a deep connection to it,” said Mark Gabrovic, vice president of culinary for Papa John’s. “Our goal was to take that bold, buttery garlic flavor fans love and reimagine it for life beyond pizza night.”
Bob’s Red Mill has had a fresh makeover. | Bob’s Red Mill
Bob’s Red Mill has a whole new look
Bob’s Red Mill, a longtime favorite among plant-based bakers everywhere, is getting a refresh. The nearly 50-year-old brand is rolling out a new modern packaging design that still honors its roots, featuring an updated logo, new typeface, refreshed color palette, and a new seal of quality with founder Bob Moore at the center.
Why the refresh? We got in touch to ask Daniel Barba, VP of Marketing, just that.
VegNews: What prompted Bob’s Red Mill to undertake a full brand redesign at this point in the company’s evolution?
Daniel Barba: After nearly 50 years, we saw an opportunity to modernize the brand, while staying grounded in our commitment to high-quality ingredients and bringing people together through homemade food. The packaging transformation supports our next phase of growth, helping us reach new consumers and stand out more clearly across the store.
VN: Why was it important to feature the mill illustration as a central visual element across packaging?
DB: The mill has always been one of the most recognizable and meaningful parts of the Bob’s Mill story, so it was important that it remained central to the new design. We anchored all design elements in our history, reflecting the values that have defined the brand for nearly 50 years. Inspired by the original 1978 mill site, the illustration reinforces our history and sense of place.
VN: How do you see this redesign helping differentiate Bob’s Red Mill in an increasingly crowded natural foods category?
DB: The color families, consistent layouts, and clearer hierarchy help unify the portfolio while still giving individual products room to stand apart. At the same time, the redesign reinforces the quality and authenticity that have always set Bob’s Red Mill apart. In a crowded natural foods space, that combination of strong recognition and consumer trust is incredibly important.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
