50 Best BBQ Sides

Summer cookout season is here! And to celebrate, we're rounding up 50 of the best BBQ sides.

These BBQ side dishes are perfect for any backyard BBQ cookout, big or small. From potato salads and pasta salads to grilled corn and fruit salads, there's a side dish to go with every main.

CORN SIDES:

Basil Parmesan Grilled Corn - Take your grilled corn up a notch or 10 with this Basil Parmesan Grilled Corn!! 

Avocado Corn Salad - A bright herby Avocado Corn Salad with plenty of lime juice and a hint of garlic! This makes for the perfect summer dish!

Mexican Corn and Quinoa Salad - If you've ever had Esquites or Elote and you're a fan… imagine it with quinoa and avocado! It's true perfection.

Roasted Pepper and Corn Salad - When corn is coming out of your ears during the summer months, this Roasted Pepper and Corn Salad is exactly what you need to make! 

Grilled Corn and Stone Fruit Salad - It’s the perfect combo of flavors. It’s got a little bit of Southwestern / Mexican flare with the chili powder and cotija, but a bright zip from the lemon and herbs and then pops of flavor from the corn and stone fruit. It’s truly one of the best salads for the season.

Mexican Grilled Corn – Grilled corn brushed with mayo and then dusted with spices, lime juice, and crumbled cheese… what’s not to love?

Havarti Quinoa Salad with Corn and Cilantro Vinaigrette - Big chunks of creamy Havarti, the most addictive cilantro vinaigrette, plus quinoa and veggies! It's the perfect side dish for some BBQ chicken.

Chili Lime Creamed Corn - Traditional creamed corn, but with a kick! A little bit of spice and a hint of lime take it to the next level. It’s especially great served along with grilled chicken or steak.

PASTA SALADS:

Castelvetrano Greek Pasta Salad - This is my go-to summer pasta salad. It's got cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, castelvetrano olives, red onions, and really good feta. You can eat it at room temp, warm, or cold!

Artichoke Pasta Salad - This Artichoke Pasta Salad with a basil vinaigrette, plenty of fresh mozzarella, some sun dried tomatoes, and corn is truly SUMMER in a bowl. 

Tomato Confit Pasta Salad – This is no boring pasta salad by any means, and it’s SO MUCH better than any mayo-based pasta salads! 

Pesto Pasta Salad - It's light, fresh, bright, and so flavorful. Basil, Chives, Dill, the works. Plus bacon to give it a little zip.

Basil Vinaigrette Pasta - It's simple but so delicious! You'll be obsessed!

POTATO SALADS + FRIES:

German Potato Salad - My mom’s famous German Potato Salad!! No mayo here – just bright flavors to compliment any main course! Equal parts gorgeous and tasty!

Greek Potato Salad - If creamy potato salads are more of your speed, then this one is for you.

Roasted Potato Fries with Avocado Aioli - The perfect side for some burgers. It's a combo of two of my favorite foods, potatoes and avocados!

Herb Roasted Baby Potatoes - These baby potatoes are doused with tons of fresh herbs, which adds a pop of brightness and some extra flavor! They’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Serve ’em up with grilled chicken, steak, you name it!

Sumac Fries with Garlic Feta Labneh - In its simplest form, it’s Labneh blended with garlic, feta and a little salt and pepper and voila… the most delicious salty garlic dip you’ll ever have. I like to serve it alongside these fresh outta the oven Sumac Fries and let me tell you – MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN!!

Garlic Wedge Fries - These are drizzled with olive oil and garlic and then topped with herbs after being roasted!

Tzatziki Greek Fries - These Greek fries are loaded with tzatziki, fresh oregano, feta cheese, and a little salt… it’s perfection!

FRUIT SALADS:

Watermelon Peach Salad - Peak summer vibes with this Watermelon Peach Salad with feta, cucumbers and fresh mint + a simple vinaigrette!! 

Melon and Prosciutto Salad - A simple and refreshing Melon and Prosciutto Salad that takes almost no time to whip up.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad - You’ve got a little salty bite from the feta, a touch of sweetness from the watermelon, some brightness from the cukes, a little zip from the onions, and a crunch and richness from the pistachios.

Cherry and Peach Panzanella - Peaches, cherries, freshly made croutons, burrata cheese, basil, and lemon champagne vinaigrette. It’s quite simple, but that’s the beauty of it! When you’re dealing with the freshest seasonal produce available, you don’t need much to really make a statement.

Peach Tomato Caprese - It's the quintessential summer side dish that works for every occasion under the sun! 

Summer Stone Fruit Salad - This Summer Stone Fruit Salad is the perfect way to go about eating all those gorgeous peaches or nectarines! Load them up with heirloom tomatoes, some salty crumbled feta, fresh herbs, and a lemon shallot vinaigrette that you’ll want to drink by itself. It serves a crowd and is perfect on the side of some grilled steaks, chicken, salmon, burgers, or skewers!

Tropical Avocado Salad - Thinly sliced mango, pomegranate seeds, arugula, a SUPER easy vinaigrette and some baby cucumbers. It’s crunchy and smooth at the same time, with bursts of flavor and texture from the pomegranate seeds. You can’t go wrong!!

VEGETABLE BBQ SIDES:

Grilled Summer Squash with Feta - This summer side dish couldn't be easier to make. The veggies go on the grill for a quick sear, some fresh feta and fresh herbs are tossed in, and it's finished with a drizzle of lemon-champagne vinaigrette.

Charred Pepper Salad with Feta - This summery Charred Pepper Salad with Feta and a light vinaigrette is the perfect side dish for just about any main course!

Grilled Green Beans - Grilled Green Beans that taste like candy - I kid you not - these are in fact the best green beans you'll ever make!

Grilled Broccolini - There’s really not a veggie that can’t benefit from some flavorful seasoning and some time on the grill! Grilled Broccolini is so simple toss it with some oil, give it a good char, and then douse it with some lemon to boot and voila. 

Grilled Shishito Peppers - These Grilled Shishito Peppers up the ante and are the easiest appetizer of all times.

Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette - Now, these aren’t just any grilled artichokes. They are steamed first, then brushed with some oil, and then grilled/charred to perfection and served with a lemon basil vinaigrette!

SALADS:

Cucumber Feta Salad - A SUPER easy Cucumber Feta Salad is the perfect combo of bright and briny + a great way to use up all of your leftover cucumbers. It works as a side salad for basically any meal, or as a topping to grilled fish, steak, etc.

Mango Cucumber Chopped Salad - This Mango Cucumber Chop Salad is loaded with chopped spinach, cabbage, mango, cucumbers, bell peppers, tons of herbs, and topped with a peanut, lime and soy dressing. You'll be obsessed with the flavor combos here.

Heirloom Tomato and Feta Salad - Summers perfect tomatoes paired with a Mediterranean herby vinaigrette and plenty of fresh feta is the best low-lift side dish! 

Herb Caprese Salad - It’s a combo of 2 of my favorites, Fattoush and a Caprese. The acidity from the dressing paired with the creamy mozzarella is perfection and the fresh herbs on top give it this extra pop. Serve it up with some grilled bread to sop up any leftover dressing or pile high with a scoop of tomatoes.

Burrata Tomato Salad - An updated spin on the classic caprese – but with burrata, a few homemade croutons and a healthy drizzle of basil vinaigrette

Butter Lettuce Salad - A quick and easy salad that can go with literally any main course!

Antipasti Burrata Panzanella - The perfect panzanella with burrata, some pantry staples and roasted bell peppers! It’s a stunner!

Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Salad - This side salad is the perfect way to let all those incredible summer tomatoes really shine.

Grilled Summer Cobb Salad - Grilled baby heads of romaine make the perfect base for this salad and then it gets topped with everything summery! Avocados, tomatoes, corn, scallions, goat cheese and a red wine vinaigrette that you’ll want to drink. Throw it all on a big platter and divide it up when it’s time to serve.

Deconstructed Falafel Salad - All your fav flavors from a perfectly fried falafel but in salad form!

CHIPS + GUACAMOLE + SALSA:

Homemade Tortilla Chips - If you’ve never made Homemade Tortilla Chips get ready… your life is about to change for the better. They are perfectly salty, crispy, and best when served just slightly warm.

Loaded Guacamole - Creamy smashed avocados with bacon, sun dried tomatoes, cotija and a few extra mix ins… sign me up!

Best Guacamole EVER - I take my guacamole very seriously, so I compiled all of my tips and tricks for you to be on your way to the best guacamole your kitchen has ever seen! Promise!

Charred Corn Guacamole - If you're already planning to spend part of your day by the grill might as well keep it going by making this charred corn guacamole. It's incredible!

Roasted Arbol Tomatillo Salsa - Get ready for a spicy Roasted Arbol Tomatillo Salsa that will rock your world! It's not SO hot that you'll be sweating for days, but there's a subtle heat that you'll love.

Homemade Chipotle Salsa - This Homemade Chipotle Salsa is great with chips or on top of grilled fish, chicken, or steak. The best part is there are no knife skills involved - it all goes into a blender, and then you’re ready to eat!

Tomatillo Salsa - Roasted tomatillos, onions, jalapeños, cilantro – you honestly can’t go wrong!! Hand me this, a giant bowl of guacamole, perhaps a bucket or two of fresh tortilla chips, and I could die happy!