Need summer side dish recipes for a bbq party or backyard cookout? Here are some tried and true salads and sides that we’ve been making for years, and they always get rave reviews. Add these to your menu for summer parties and outdoor gatherings.
I have to admit, the sides are my favorite part of the meal and I know I’m not alone. For get-togethers I like for them to be easy to make, have texture, and be flavorful.
With that in mind I put together this roundup of summer party recipes that will have guests begging for more.
20 Best Easy Summer Side Dishes
Pick one, two or more of these simple recipes that you can make-and-take to a potluck, or serve at home to guests.
Hearty baked beans with ground beef are always a hit at cookouts and bbq’s. This recipe has 3 types of beans, hamburger meat, and savory Tex Mex seasoning.
My classic potato salad recipe is as good as it gets and it’s a nice hearty option that men go for. This recipe has a creamy base with bacon, and a subtle crunch from celery and onion.
Just as potato salad is a summer staple, pasta salad always makes an appearance as well! My classic pasta salad with hard boiled eggs is one of my absolute favorites! It’s creamy, crunchy, flavorful, and reminds me of my childhood.
Research shows that the acidic ingredients (vinegar, lemon juice) in store-bought mayonnaise brands actually help inhibit harmful food bacteria. So you don’t have to be overly worried about letting creamy salads sit. Just don’t leave them out in the sun.
Delicious deviled eggs with bacon are welcome at any gathering all year long and this recipe is simply the best! These have several ingredients that add TONS of flavor.
This spinach and orzo salad is a great combination between a green salad and a grain salad. The orzo adds a hearty element and you can adjust it to be more greens or more orzo depending on your needs.
Being from the South, I grew up eating fresh produce from the garden and cucumber salad was a summer staple. This creamy crunchy cucumber salad with bacon is actually made with Greek yogurt and light sour cream so it’s guilt-free.
Another great way to lighten up the sides and get some fiber in the meal is to include this crunchy broccoli salad WITHOUT mayonnaise. When I make this one with tomatoes, raisins and crispy noodles, I always bring home an empty dish.
You can’t have a cookout without baked beans can you? My sweet & spicy baked beans with bacon and sausage are full of traditional flavor. This recipe is always a hit!
Add some Asian flavor with this crowd pleasing cold Thai noodle salad full of fresh veggies and peanuts. Toss in cooked shrimp, chicken, edamame, or serve without if you wish.
This Mediterranean-style chickpea salad can double as an entrée for vegetarians. Garbanzo beans give it a protein boost while fresh vegetables add crunch and freshness.
Serve a refreshing watermelon salad with feta cheese and fresh basil. This all-purpose dish can be served in individual cups for an appetizer, or as a light dessert.
Our Asian-style peanut noodle salad is always a fan favorite, and adds a twist of flavor to the table with a peanut butter sauce and a hint of heat. Cucumbers, carrots and peanuts add crunch.
This Greek style couscous salad is easy to make ahead, and also adds something different to the table. It’s got roasted red peppers, black olives, feta and pine nuts.
Everyone’s favorite side dish for a bbq is grilled corn. It’s easy to make and when you serve it with my Parmesan flavored butter, it’s next level good!
Most outdoor parties I’ve hosted or been a guest at, always seem to have a Southwestern element whether it’s chips and salsa, margaritas, or a side salad. My easy bean and corn cowboy salsa gets rave reviews and it’s hearty enough to be served as a salad too.
One delicious side dish option requires no recipe at all. A fresh summer fruit platter looks beautiful when it’s presented en masse. Add sliced watermelon and cherries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries for a colorful arrangement.
So which one of these summer side dishes do you want to try first?
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You have a great blog, I had a problem downloading the pdf reader, I will try again later.
This the first time I have come onto a blog with so many great recipes and interesting articles on in one, I love it
I will be coming back again to visit. !
Holy cow. I pinned this side dish posting and it’s a hit on Pinterest.
I love your ideas. I just wanted to tell you how incredibly talented you are in case you needed reminding!
Wow, Christina, that is always nice to hear. Thank You!
These pictures really make me want to make some of these! They look delicious. Since we have become vegans, picnic food has changed a little for us. But we still have potato salad (I make my own “mayonnaise” and baked beans (no meat of course.) It’s very doable and we really enjoy the tastes and flavors of what we eat.
Thanks for sharing!
I love side dishes & salads along with trying new recipes. I love a good potato salad, but that creamy cucumber looks amazing & cucumbers are my daughter’s fav. I did a round up of BBQ sauces & my fav. make ahead salad dressing. Drop by sometime & link yours up if you like.
I always struggle to come up with side dishes! Thanks for the ideas!
You have a great blog, I had a problem downloading the pdf reader, I will try again later.
This the first time I have come onto a blog with so many great recipes and interesting articles on in one, I love it
I will be coming back again to visit. !
Holy cow. I pinned this side dish posting and it’s a hit on Pinterest.
I love your ideas. I just wanted to tell you how incredibly talented you are in case you needed reminding!
Wow, Christina, that is always nice to hear. Thank You!
These pictures really make me want to make some of these! They look delicious. Since we have become vegans, picnic food has changed a little for us. But we still have potato salad (I make my own “mayonnaise” and baked beans (no meat of course.) It’s very doable and we really enjoy the tastes and flavors of what we eat.
Thanks for sharing!
I love side dishes & salads along with trying new recipes. I love a good potato salad, but that creamy cucumber looks amazing & cucumbers are my daughter’s fav. I did a round up of BBQ sauces & my fav. make ahead salad dressing. Drop by sometime & link yours up if you like.
I always struggle to come up with side dishes! Thanks for the ideas!