86 Next-Level Barbecue Sides That Are Even Better Than The Main
No barbecue is complete without a side dish (or two or three).
Dust off your grill, pull out your best potluck tupperware, and get ready for outdoor BBQs and picnics—summer’s finally here! We’ve got lots of inspiration for all the best grilled mains (including hot dogs, hamburgers, and seafood), but no one can survive on meat alone (even when it’s got the perfect char marks). From summer salads, potato salads, pasta salads, and more, these easy 86 summer sides will make sure your BBQ is complete.
We kind of love how the word “salad” transforms to mean all kinds of different dishes during the summer. You’ve got your chilled pasta salads, like our macaroni salad and Italian pasta salad that are more traditional, or our lobster roll pasta salad, our creamy Asian-inspired noodle salad, or our Greek orzo salad that will bring unexpected flavors to your outdoor meal. It’s not a BBQ without potato salad, either, so we’ve got the OG classic, as well as our hot German potato salad (unlike mayo-based cold ones, this one’s served warm with bacon vinaigrette), our antipasto potato salad, our jalapeño popper potato salad, and more. There’s even lots of vegetable options that fall under the salad umbrella, like our Greek salad, our tomato salad, our bacon jalapeño corn salad, or our Caprese salad.
Looking for less effort, but still want that fresh flavor? Try one of our simple grilled vegetable sides, like grilled zucchini, grilled potatoes, or grilled green beans. Pretty much every vegetable takes well to being charred on the grill, so try out your favorites! Check our our top list of grilled vegetables for more inspiration too.
We’ve also included a number of must-make condiments here that will take your BBQ food from good to great. Try our homemade pickles, our grilled halloumi, our cheesy tomato skillet, or our grilled avocados. They’re good on… well, kind of EVERYTHING, so get creative with it.
Classic Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and BBQ, and Memorial Day is no different. Ours is the best—it's creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles. What it's not: too sweet, which is one of our potato salad pet peeves. If you’re looking for a classic, no-fuss potato salad that won’t disappoint, this is it.
Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.
Grilled Corn On The Cob
This is our simplest, easiest recipe, but the flavor combo options are endless—check out the rest of our grilled corn ideas too.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Summer Couscous Salad
Here we're using couscous as the base for a confetti of colored vegetables (cucumbers! bell peppers! red onion!), doused in a creamy lemon Dijon dressing. We’ve also added tangy feta and sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy toasted almonds, and nutty, earthy chickpeas to give it a little added oomph. It’s simple and light, but still special enough for a celebration.
Get the Summer Couscous Salad recipe.
Summer Panzanella
Panzanella is one of those recipes that truly tastes like summer. It's one that you want to make in peak season—when the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor and make it even more summery, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.
Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.
Greek Salad
When you’re looking for simple, refreshing, and reliable, you’d be hard pressed to find a dish better than classic Greek salad. Filled with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a simple dressing made of ingredients you might already have in your fridge, this bright salad only takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a perfect last-minute addition to any summer celebration.
Get the Greek Salad recipe.
Thai Chicken Peanut Pasta Salad
This pasta salad has a creamy peanut dressing and is full of fresh, crunchy veggies with no mayonnaise in sight. It’s super-simple to make and is as delicious hot as it is cold, which means you can easily make it ahead of time (and that leftovers are BOMB).
Italian Pasta Salad
In our opinion, pasta salad is a summertime must. We have plenty of beloved variations of this staple side dish, but this Italian-inspired recipe is our guaranteed go-to when we need a reliable BBQ side.
Get the Italian Pasta Salad recipe.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Watermelon + cucumbers is one of the most refreshing combos of all time. Throw in some mint, red onion, and feta and toss it all with a very simple vinaigrette (just olive oil + red wine vinegar), and you've got yourself a mean summer salad.
Get the Watermelon Feta Salad recipe.
Antipasto Potato Salad
Potato salad is about as classic a summer side as it gets, and we love experimenting with different flavor combinations. If you’re looking to lighten up your usual potato salad, look no further—this version is bursting with all the flavors of your favorite antipasto.
Get the Antipasto Potato Salad recipe.
Bacon Jalapeño Corn Salad
In the summer months, we can't get enough of grilled corn on the cob. When we don't have a grill, but still want our corn fix, this spicy, smoky salad is perfect.
Get the Bacon Jalapeño Corn Salad recipe.
Grilled Avocados
It's no secret that avocados are the best, but have you tried grilling them? Yes, seriously, avocados get even better when quickly cooked on the grill. Grilling avocados not only gives them a charred and smoky flavor, but it makes them incredibly tender and extra creamy, perfect for pairing with... well, anything!
Get the Grilled Avocados recipe.
Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins
Packed with shredded cheddar, diced pimiento peppers, garlic powder, and a generous amount of cayenne, these pimento cheese dip-inspired muffins are a savory delight.
Get the Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins recipe.
Best Homemade Coleslaw
No summer potluck is complete without a big bowl of coleslaw, and we happen to think our recipe is the absolute best. Whether you’re hungry for a last-minute side dish or the perfect topping (we’re looking at you, chicken burgers), follow our top tips to ace this dish.
Get the Best Homemade Coleslaw recipe.
Peach Burrata Caprese Salad
We changed up the classic caprese salad by switching out juicy tomatoes for plump summer peaches and replacing sliced fresh mozzarella with its creamier cousin, burrata. Surrounded by fragrant basil then topped with candied pecans and a drizzle of spicy honey, this sweet & savory salad is a STUNNER.
Get the Peach & Burrata Caprese recipe.
Gazpacho With Burrata
Creamy burrata on top of a tomato and basil gazpacho is the most refreshing no-cook summer side we can imagine. Some gazpacho has bread in it for added texture, but for this version, we liked the idea of serving toasted bread alongside to dip into the soup and spread the burrata on.
Get the Gazpacho With Burrata recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Potato Salad
We love potato salad and can't get enough of its creamy goodness during the summer. This jalapeño popper version takes things to a whole new level with a kick of heat. It's a little spicy, but 100 percent worth it! Be sure to remove the seeds if you want your bite to be milder.
Get the Jalapeño Popper Potato Salad recipe.
Hawaiian Mac Salad
Hawaiian macaroni salad is a creamy, tangy, iconic comfort food that is practically synonymous with the state. It’s very simple to prepare—you might already have all the ingredients on hand!—making it the perfect easy side to bring to any summer party.
Get the Hawaiian Mac Salad recipe.
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
The gnocchi paired with blistered grilled tomatoes and tender red onion make for a perfect summer snack. They come together in minutes and if you are really pressed for time you can skip the homemade salsa verde and opt for store-bought (though we promise it’s worth making).
Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.
Antipasto Chickpea Salad
This versatile chickpea salad is a great side dish (hello, potlucks!) but can easily be a full meal on its own. Adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to your red wine vinaigrette makes it creamier in both taste and body—consider it your secret weapon in making a classic dressing just that much better.
Get the Antipasto Chickpea Salad recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a spring and summer picnic staple, and for good reason: When tossed in a bright vinegar-based dressing and packed with thinly sliced onions, cukes can withstand warm temperatures and sit out at a sunny outdoor gathering for hours.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
The 7 Best Gas Grills You Can Buy
27 Easy Pork Loin & Tenderloin Recipes
63 Amazing Chicken Thigh Recipes
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs