25 BBQ Side Dishes For This Summer
Summer is in full swing, and everyone is rushing for outdoor grilling and BBQ. Meanwhile, it’s the best time to collect some of the best BBQ side dishes for your next parties, gatherings, or family chit-chat.
I’ve listed around 25 of the best BBQ sides you need this summer.
Summer is all about outdoor cooking and grilling; complimentary side dishes make this experience even better. So whether you’re going out for a picnic or inviting your buddies at home, these sides are enough to impress the crowd.
This list covered some of the most in-demand and delicious siders, from refreshing sales and potatoes to Coleslaw and pasta. Many of these side dishes are flexible and versatile, making them perfect for picnics.
Tips For Making The BBQ Side Dishes
1- Simple & Easy Recipes
Grilling and BBQ is not an easy job! That’s why always opt for easy-to-make siders.
Salads are the breeze side dishes for BBQ, offering a refreshing contrast to the heat. They’re quick and easy to prepare, providing a refreshing respite from the BBQ’s warmth.
Or you can try some easy desserts to stratify your craving for a sweet dish after savoring the BBQs.
2- Use Refreshing Ingredients
The first thing I always consider when making siders for BBQ is using refreshing ingredients that make you chill.
You can use cucumbers, watermelons, mint, lemon juices, refreshing syrups, pineapple or avocados to make your siders.
Avoid overpowering or spicy ingredients that can even boost the heat on your tongue.
3- Plan Ahead
If you’re going to make a side for the outdoors or picnics, always choose those options that you can make ahead.
Having fridge-friendly side dishes removes the stress of meal prep, allowing you to focus on crafting your tangy BBQs and spending quality time with friends.
4- Use Seasonal Items
You know seasonal items during the summer days are always fresh, and you can make some refreshing cider with them.
I like corn on the cob, fresh cherry tomatoes, peaches, watermelons, mangos, berries, green beans, eggplants, and cucumbers to make quintessential siders.
These seasonal items will add freshness and flavour to your BBQ side dishes, perfect for enjoying during the summer months.
5- Make Versatile Dishes
I always preach about versatile side dishes because they can complement a wide range of BBQ meats and be served with any main course meal.
Like salads or pasta, you don’t need to reheat them on a stove, and they can be used as a side with any main course. Also, you can prepare such dishes in advance and spend less time in the kitchen.
1- ROMAINE SALAD
Do you like veggies with BBQs? Try this Romaine Lettuce salad.
The fresh, crunchy veggies and lemon dressing make it a refreshing side dish. It’s also a gluten-free and pure vegetarian salad, perfect for diet-conscious persons.
2- Gluten-Free Broccoli Salad
This Gluten-Free Broccoli salad with Greek yogurt gives a balanced flavor of creaminess and crunch.
This salad feels like a refreshing dessert that beats the heat during scorching summer days.
3- SWEET CREAMY COLESLAW
Hands down! This sweet, creamy coleslaw salad is the best I’ve tasted.
The creamy taste with a hint of sweet and tangy nodes makes it the best dinner sider for hot summer days.
4- Creamy Coleslaw
This Creamy Coleslaw salad is the ultimate side dish, offering crunchy and creamy flavors.
It’s super easy to whip, and you need a few ordinary ingredients to make this salad. I love its vibrant, colorful and appealing texture, which never fails to garner compliments wherever I serve it.
5- Chickpea Avocado Salad
This chickpea avocado salad is the best bet if you want something more filling and flavorful.
Because of the lemon juice dressing, this salad has an incredible tart flavor. Plus, it’s so easy to make that you can whip it up in 10 minutes.
6- Spaghetti Pasta Salad
This Spaghetti pasta salad is an easy to make ahead recipe, a light and comfortable sider to serve with barbecue or any overpowering grilling recipe.
Season with avocado oil and red vinegar. You can also use lemon juice as a substitute.
7- CORN AND TOMATO PASTA SALAD
Tomatoes fan! This easy pasta salad is what makes you feel happy during busy summer nights. You need minimal ingredients to make this hearty and delicious salad.
8- CUCUMBER AND BEETROOT SALAD
No BBQ is complete without the crunchy cucumber salad. This healthy cucumber and beetroot salad with lemon vinaigrette dressing quenches your cravings for a refreshing sider.
9- CUCUMBER SWEET PEPPER
This cucumber sweet pepper salad is very close to my heart. The lemon honey mustard dressing, olive oil, and fresh dills over the salad make it more appealing and glossy.
You can also use maple syrup or avocado oil instead of honey and olive oil.
10- Brown Sugar Baked Bean
If you want to try something different in your BBQ party, try this: Brown sugar baked beans with bacon.
This is a simple and easy sider, yet it boasts a flavorful and yummy taste. The baked beans inside it make it a healthy side for BBQs.
11- Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican street corn salad is another best idea to serve with your saucy BBQ. It’s a comfortable salad that you can make ahead to save your time. Top it with mayonnaise, lemon juice, black pepper, and paprika.
12- Hearts of Palm Salad
Hearts of Palm is a light and refreshing salad that offers freshness from tomatoes and creamy goodness from avocadoes. Everything in this salad is pure and organic, making it a healthy salad to serve with BBQs.
13- Ensalada de Gallina
Want to try something unique and creamy with your BBQ meal? Try this Ensalada de Gallina (Venezuelan Chicken Potato Salad), made with shredded chicken, potatoes, peas, apples, and creamy dressing.
14- Caesar Pasta Salad
This Caesar pasta salad use minimal ingredients but has a more filling taste. The crunchy fresh veggies, Caesar salad dressing, and penne are some of the prime ingredients in this salad.
15- WATERMELON FETA BASIL SALAD
Nothing is more cherished and refreshing than the first bite of this Watermelon Feta Basil salad.
It comes out in only 10 minutes and offers a balanced sweet and salty taste. You can also add blueberries or strawberries for a sweet and tangy flavor.
16- Tropical Pineapple Salad Recipe
I’ve recently tried this pineapple salad recipe and fell in love with it. The flavorful grilled pineapple Paris with peppers and creamy avocado create this fancy salad.
It’s easy to make and 100% gluten-free salad to serve on summer days.
17- Red Cabbage Coleslaw
None of the side dishes is more colorful than this Red Cabbage Coleslaw seasoned with creamy avocado, mayonnaise, and cashew yogurt. Thankfully, you just require around five minutes to combine all this dressing with the red cabbage.
18- Homemade Potato Chips
Instead of grabbing a chips packet from the grocery, try these homemade potato chips, which are salty and crisper than ordinary store-bought chips. You can also sprinkle a dash of paprika over chips for a zesty touch.
19- Tortellini Pasta Salad
This Tortellini Pasta Salad on a picnic table looks striking with the BBQ ribs.
Fresh and crunchy vegetables, soft pasta, and salty cheese give a umami taste. And this salad is the ultimate summer item.
20- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Want to consume more protein? Just whip up this deviled egg pasta salad. The crunchy bacon, eggs, elbow macaroni noodles, and creamy bacon seasoning taste so much filling and satisfying.
Serve it with your favorite BBQ ribs, grilled veggie burgers, corn on the cob, or grilled vegetable skewers.
21- Low-Calorie Potato Salad Recipe
Potato salad is a great side for BBQ or picnics. But unlike most potato salads, this one has low calories, yet it’s so yummy and creamy.
Also, this potato salad is a breeze; you can make it in just 20 minutes.
22- Green banana Salad
Another excellent option to serve with your grilling recipe is this Green Banana Salad, especially if you’re looking for something interesting and unique to complement the zesty flavor of BBQ meats or any other grilling dish.
23- Asian Cucumber Salad
This Asian Cucumber Salad blend with red chili powder has a palatable and refreshing flavor that pairs perfectly with any of your main dishes. It’s a super healthy and effortless salad you can make in 10 minutes.
24- Healthy Greek Salad
This Greek salad is a real cinch recipe; just combine a few veggies in a bowl and season it with red wine vinegar. The citrus and organic veggies taste so much better and are appetizing on the tongue.
25- Classic Pasta Salad
This classic pasta salad bowl pairs perfectly well with main dishes. The home vinegar, red chili flakes, and olive oil dressing elevate the citrus and spicy flavours and make it a perfect salad for family gatherings.
