My plate on Thanksgiving always seems have a little turkey and a TON of sides and my plate at a summertime barbeque is the same. If you are a side dish lover as well, than I’ve got you covered today! Below you will find a roundup of some of my favorite (mostly) healthy side dish recipes to serve at a summertime cookout. They’re a little different from the typical baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob and potato salads you often see at a cookout, but I hope you love them and find something below to make for your next get-together! Also, like nearly every recipe you see on PBF, all of the summer side dish recipes below are simple and easy to throw together so if you’re stressing over hosting a group for a cookout, I hope they help make your life a little easier!
Simple Sides For Your Summertime BBQ
This is the salad I’ve been making on repeat this summer! It can be a main dish or a side dish and is the perfect recipe to make if you’re in the mood for a produce-packed salad with a Mediterranean flare. It’s also beautifully vibrant thanks to lots of colorful vegetables and extra filling thanks to the fibrous chickpeas and protein-packed chicken. A bigtime bonus: It tastes great as leftovers the next day, as it’s a salad that does not have any lettuce in the recipe so it stays nice and crunchy!
Aka the salad my aunt made for my baby shower that had all of the guests requesting the recipe! It’s the kind of salad you can easily make at home that you swear would also fly off the menu if it was served at a restaurant. It’s that good. Plus, it incorporates fresh berries to make it feel extra summery when it appears on your summer cookout menu!
You know those salad/side dish recipes that can double as a dip? Well, this is a dip that can double as a side! If you’re looking for a flavorful dip to make for a summer party, I’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for a dip to make that is ridiculously easy, I’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for a dip you can throw together the day before a party so you can check one more thing off your list, I’ve got you covered. Basically, what I’m saying is I’ve got you covered with this incredibly easy black bean dip!
Each bite of this ceviche inspired shrimp and edamame salad is a flavor and texture explosion thanks to vibrant veggies, protein-packed edamame, succulent shrimp, tangy citrus and creamy avocado. Seafood lovers will enjoy this chopped salad that can also double as a delicious dip.
If we are hosting a summertime cookout, you can guarantee this simple summer pasta salad will be on the menu. Made with a homemade Italian dressing and tri-color rotini pasta for a pop of color, it’s easy to whip up in no time at all. Note: You’ll get zero judgment from me if you opt to use your favorite bottle of store-bought Italian dressing to make this side dish even easier!
A flavorful, crisp and refreshing recipe for sesame cucumber salad, this side dish is fantastic paired with so many different entrees from grilled salmon or chicken to shrimp and veggie skewers.
Something about hosting a summertime barbeque simply calls for sweet, perfectly in-season summer corn. Though I love corn on the cob and think that’s a wonderfully simple side in its own right, if you’re looking to change things up but still want to incorporate corn into your cookout menu, this corn salad is fresh and bright but also slightly creamy and a touch spicy!
This quinoa tabbouleh salad incorporates all of the flavors of traditional tabbouleh — parsley, mint, lemon, olive oil and onion — but use quinoa as the base of the recipe in place of the bulgur typically featured in tabbouleh. It’s the kind of side dish that can easily double as a main course, especially when topped with grilled salmon or crispy tofu. It’s also a great one to prep ahead before a summertime cookout or a pool party!
How much do we all love recipes we can prep ahead? If you’re anything like me, the answer is A LOT. If we’re hosting a bunch of people in our home, the last thing I want to be doing in the minutes before everyone arrives is scrambling to put the finishing touches on various recipes. If you fall into a similar boat, keep this black bean and brown rice salad in your back pocket because it’s one you can make in advance to help eliminate same-day hosting stress! More importantly though, it’s absolutely delicious and bursting with color, texture, flavor, nutrient-dense veggies and whole grains!
This salad is a go-to side dish in our house. It is always a hit and also serves as a great vegetarian option for those looking for a naturally protein-packed side dish. It also works well as a healthy dip paired with crunchy tortilla chips.
Chopped salads are my favorite kind of salads because every bite packs so much flavor! This chopped broccoli and brussels sprouts salad has so many different textures and flavors that it’s sure to be a hit. No bland, boring salads here!
If you haven’t made watermelon salad yet, please promise me you will give it a try this summer. It’s cold and refreshing and the ingredients in this salad — feta, cucumber, watermelon, mint, lime, basil — pair so well together.
A bright, refreshing quinoa salad made with cucumber, pineapple and cilantro, this recipe feels like summer in a bowl! Top it with grilled chicken or shrimp for a delicious and nutritious lunch or dinner or serve it on the side with any of your summertime cookout favorites.
Question of the Day
- What is your favorite side dish to bring to a summertime barbeque?
Feel free to share links to your favorite recipes so we can all check them out!!
