15 Low-calorie Summer Side Dishes

Summer is here, and during these scorching days, everyone enjoys light, low-calorie, refreshing, and easy-to-make meals. If you’re also searching for similar low-calorie recipes, this guide is perfect for you!

I love hosting BBQs in our backyard while sipping refreshing drinks by the pool to stay cool in the summertime. It’s such a relaxing way to unwind in the evenings. To balance the heat of BBQs and hot days, I prepare some light and delicious sides to round out the meal.

I often whip up salads with crunchy and seasonal veggies, lemons, cucumbers and other refreshing items. But in this guide, I’ve covered many delicious side dishes that are super light, have low calories, and are easy to make. 

1- Black Eyed Bean Salad

Nothing is simpler and easier than making this black-eyed bean salad. It features black-eye beans, cucumber, and tomatoes. Onions and lime dressing. 

This light and crunchy salad offers a delightful contrast to the smoky flavor of BBQ dishes. The black eye bean inside the salad is an amazing source of high-quality protein, fibers and other healthy minerals. 

2- Grilled Chicken Spinach Strawberry Salad

This Grilled Chicken Spinach Strawberry salad is a substantial meal for my summer lunch. The combination of strawberries, marinated chicken, feta, and avocado creates a heavenly, delicious taste that pleases your guests. 

Every bite of this salad offers bursting flavors. And this salad is perfect for those looking for gluten-free side dishes. 

3- ARUGULA SALAD WITH LEMON

You must try this Arugula Salad if you have a pure vegetarian soul. This low-caloric salad with lemon vinaigrette offers a refreshing taste that pairs perfectly with tangy recipes. 

The original version of this salad uses parmesan cheese and lemon-based seasoning, but you can also use the dressing ingredients to make it further savory. 

4- Roasted Radishes with Chimichurri

If you’re getting bored of salads and want to try something different and unique, roasted radishes with Chimichurri sauce is the best bet for you. 

This recipe has well-balanced flavors; you will experience the subtle and tangy flavor with a hint of light bitterness, making this treat more delicious.

Thankfully, this recipe needs only a few staple ingredients easily available in every pantry. 

5- CRUNCHY LEMON ROASTED CRACK BROCCOLI

I’m a Broccoli lover and have tried countless recipes, but this lemon-roasted crack broccoli recipe is very close to my heart. 

This recipe perfectly roasts the broccoli with chopped almonds and pumpkin seeds until it becomes super crunchy.

The lemon garlic sauce over the dish makes it more tangy and savory. This recipe is perfect for those who are looking for keto-friendly, vegan, and dairy-free recipes. 

6- Carrot pineapple jello salad

The carrot and pineapple make a perfectly refreshing combination that tastes super delicious. I’ve got this amazing salad from Jello Joy, and last week, I gave it a try and earned many compliments from my husband. 

This salad needs only 4 or 5 staple ingredients and requires only five minutes of preparation. Perfect option for those craving to eat something sweet along with their main BBQ meals. 

7- GREEN BEAN ALMONDINE

This Green Bean Almondine is a very light and simple recipe made with beans and butter and topped with almonds. If you have beautiful green beans in your garden, just pick them and whip up this recipe. 

It requires only 25 minutes from start to end, and gluten-free side dishes only hold around 109 calories. 

8- Crudite Platter

Say hello to this Crudite platter tray, full of vegetables and healthier than the rest of the meals. This fancy creation is the perfect option for potluck and other gatherings. 

The decorative veggies with homemade dips will impress your guests – guaranteed! Feel free to use your favorite vegetables to create the tray, and you can also choose any type of dip for the center.

9- Peach Salsa

This Peach salsa salad looks refreshing, sweet, and colorful, made with red pepper, peaches, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and seasoned with fresh lime juice.

Unlike the other salads, this one boosts a tart taste that pairs well with zesty and spicy BBQs and grilling recipes. 

10- VEGAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Last week, I tried this vegan stuffed zucchini recipe, which was delicious! I couldn’t believe how tasty it turned out.

The zucchini boats stuffed with lentils, tomatoes, and fresh herbs and topped with a sprinkle of vegan Parmesan make it the best side dish for summer. You can use canned lentils to save time. 

11- Vegetable Tempura with Chili Soy Sauce

This Japanese dish contains many crunchy vegetables, including carrots, bell peppers, eggplants, mushrooms, and zucchini, coated in tempura batter for a crispy texture. 

This version of Vegetable Tempura comes with a spicy sauce made with chili, onions, ginger, vinegar, lime, sesame oil and soy sauce. It offers an explosive taste of flavors! If you’re a spicy lover and want more heat, try this vegetable tempura dish. 

12- Microwave Asparagus

Another low-caloric recipe you can make this summer is this delicious Microwave Asparagus that comes in a few minutes. Asparagus is full of antioxidants that are very beneficial for your body. 

This asparagus recipe requires only five staple ingredients and is super light to make. It’s perfect as a side dish to accompany your hearty BBQ recipes.

13- Crockpot Spaghetti Squash

This version of Spaghetti Squash uses a slow cooking process, so the squash comes out more tender than other cooking methods. 

Also, you don’t need to chop the squash before cooking. Once the squash is done, grab the fork and shred it so it looks like spaghetti. This super easy recipe uses minimal ingredients and is the best side dish for a summer BBQ party. 

14- Healthy Macaroni Salad

Macaroni with colorful vegetables and creamy dressing look refreshing and is the perfect treat for summer. This healthy macaroni salad is best made with an ahead and low-calorie recipe that you can prepare for picnics, parties, or any other occasions. 

This dish is super versatile. You can customize it according to your taste buds and preferences. Furthermore, it requires only 15 minutes of preparation, making it a super quick and easy summer treat.

15- Lemon Pepper Chicken 

The lemon pepper chicken is a zesty, tangy, and refreshing gravy marinated with lemon juice, yogurt, and black pepper. It’s not just delicious; it’s incredibly easy to prepare, requires minimal ingredients, and never fails to impress your guests!