suggested video
suggested video

Summer Side Dishes: 20+ fresh, seasonal recipes for your next BBQ party

But what if you have little time or it's too hot? Don't worry, we have selected 20+ side dishes among pasta salad, coleslaw, potato salad and cornbread.

83
Image

With the arrival of summer, hunger is always there, yet with the hot weather you don't feel like cooking and spending time in the kitchen is minimal! What you need to pair with your steak or pork main dishes is to prepare recipes that are quick, fresh and easy to make.

Today we bring you 20+ easy, tasty summer side dish ideas to serve both cold or warm, you'll love them from the first bite. Whether you're planning a barbecue party with friends and family or want to enjoy a healthy outdoor potluck, you can't miss these crowd-pleaser dishes we've selected for you.

Summer side dishes that you absolutely must make should always include macaroni and pasta salad, grilled corn, and creamy potato salad. Make sure you also prepare baked beans and a crisp coleslaw to complete your BBQ meal.

What's better than a dinner with friends with simple dishes and light side dishes? But what if you have little time or it's too hot? Don't worry, we have chosen for you the best side dish recipes for every occasion. Try them all and tell us what you think!

1. Grilled Corn on the Cob: the amazing summer side dish
Image
Grilled corn on the cob is one of the ultimate summer side dishes. It's a perfect way to make the most out of that fresh, in-season sweet corn and requires virtually zero prep to make.
Read the recipe
2. Cornbread: the best recipe for tender, moist homemade cornbread
Image
Cornbread is a classic Southern quick bread you can serve it as a side dish during barbecues. Fluffy and moist, it's buttery, rich in corn flavor.
Read the recipe
3. Broccoli Bacon Salad: the phenomenal recipe for an easy healthy side dish
Image
Creamy broccoli salad with bacon is a sensationally tasty dish that everyone will love. This is a brilliant recipe to serve for the broccoli skeptic in your life: it's a combo of savory bacon, red onion, sweet raisins and a red wine vinegar-mayonnaise dressing that make this salad hard to resist.
Read the recipe
4. Potato Salad: the best-ever recipe for a beloved Southern side dish
Image
Potato salad is an easy, classic side dish recipe. It's made with tender boiled potatoes, crunchy raw vegetables and hard-boiled eggs coated in a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
Read the recipe
5. Italian Pasta Salad: a fresh, delicious recipe for cold pasta salad
Image
When you're looking for an easy, tasty summer salad to serve at your picnics or backyard barbecues, there's nothing quite like an Italian pasta salad. This cold pasta salad is full of fresh ingredients like tomatoes, red onions, olives, which are complemented by savory chopped salami and mozzarella, to make a hearty, yet fresh salad.
Read the recipe
6. Mexican Street Corn Salad: the simple, delicious recipe for Esquites
Image
Spicy, smoky, and a little bit sweet (thanks to the fresh sweet corn), Mexican street corn salad, or esquites, is a fantastic summer side dish that's ready to eat in under 20 minutes. This ultra-flavorful Mexican street food recipe is the off the cob version of elote, Mexican grilled corn. It sounds so delicious!
Read the recipe
7. Boston Baked Beans: the classic recipe everyone should try
Image
Boston Baked Beans is a recipe of small white beans original of the city of Boston. It is one of the oldest American dish that dates back to Colonial period, then Boston was a trade center for rum imported from Caribbean.
Read the recipe
8. Creamy Cucumber Salad: an old-fashioned potluck recipe packed with flavor
Image
Creamy cucumber salad is an old-fashioned recipe to serve at picnics or barbecues. It's made with cucumbers and red onions tossed in a richly creamy sour cream dressing.
Read the recipe
9. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries: the tasty side dish ready in no time
Image
Whether you’re preparing burgers, steaks chicken, or more, these crispy baked sweet potato fries are the perfect side no matter the dish! This baked sweet potato fry recipe is incredibly tasty all while being healthy.
Read the recipe
10. Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad: a Recipe Full of Nutrients
Image
Sometimes all you need for a side dish is a fresh salad, chock full of nutrients. This Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad is an easy, quick, and light salad recipe you can enjoy in the spring and summer months. The avocado makes it slightly creamy, while the onion and cucumber make it slightly crunchy. Tomatoes and cilantro add tons of flavor, together with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.
Read the recipe
11. Zucchini Fritters: the easy, low-carb appetizer recipe for your summer
Image
Zucchini fritters are an easy, low-carb appetizer recipe you can make in no time during summer. With a creamy, light center, they're crispy, golden brown on the outside.
Read the recipe
12. Caesar Pasta Salad: the mouthwatering recipe for an effortless main dish
Image
Caesar pasta salad is an easy main recipe inspired by classic Caesar salad. It's packed with juicy, tender chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons and creamy Caesar dressing.
Read the recipe
13. Panzanella salad: the traditional salad from Tuscany
Image
This is a fairly light and filling salad, which dates back to the 16th century.
Read the recipe
14. Caponata: the vegetarian Sicilian side dish recipe for making sweet-sour eggplant caponata
Image
Caponata is a classic, vegetarian Sicilian side dish recipe, perfect to serve with a bruschetta during summer. It's a relish made of eggplants, tomatoes, onions, celeries, olives, capers flavored in a sweet-sour sauce.
Read the recipe
15. Tomato Confit: the gluten-free, vegan side recipe for making tasty cherry tomato confit
Image
Cherry tomato confit is an easy, gluten-free, vegan side dish recipe perfect for summer. Tomatoes are slow cooked in oil at a low temperature for a long period.
Read the recipe
16. Fried Zucchini: the quick, easy side dish recipe for super crispy fried zucchini
Image
Fried zucchini are a quick, easy recipe you can serve as side dish or appetizer in summer. Zucchini are sliced, coated with flour, fried until crispy and golden brown.
Read the recipe
17. Watermelon Feta Salad: a bright, summery salad to refresh your taste buds
Image
Watermelon feta salad is a quick, sweet-savory side recipe. It's made of sweet watermelon, avocado, red onions, cucumber tossed with a garlic-lime dressing and topped with salty feta.
Read the recipe
Image
Every dish has a story
Find out more on Cookist social networks
api url views