75 Summer Sides Perfect For Pairing With Burgers, BBQ & More
There's something for everyone.
Whether you're dining alfresco on the patio or are packing a picnic for the beach, summer dinners are all about the sides. Whether you're hosting a crowd or attending a potluck gathering, consider this your go-to list for the season. From pasta salads and potato salads to grilled vegetables and crisp salads, these recipes will be the star of your summer feast.
Summer ushers in all the best produce (looking at you, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini), and we see no reason not to eat our way through it all. Grab your biggest tote bag and get yourself to the farmers' market ASAP to stock up on the bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables. From there, you can pair the produce with some of our top-tier sides like this watermelon-feta salad or riffs on a classic Caprese salad featuring juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil.
As the days get longer and hotter, we're more and more in the mood for crisp, refreshing sides that help us keep our cool. A chilled pasta salad or potato salad (peep our antipasto potato salad) are light and bright. Plus, they require very little cook time (so less time standing next to a hot stove or grill). Ditto for all the summer slaws we've created over the years. They're a lovely complement to heavier, charred bites like burgers, ribs, and hot dogs.
For more warm-weather-friendly meals, check out our favorite summer vegetables, no-cook summer appetizers, and no-bake desserts.
Classic Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is one of our favorite things to pair with pulled pork or ribs. Skip the deli-counter version and make our classic recipe using celery, tomatoes, and Kalamata olives.
Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.
Grilled Potatoes
Burgers and fries might be a culinary power couple, but if you’re already using the grill for burgers, you can’t go wrong with these grilled potatoes. Cooked until lightly charred and drizzled with a bright green herb sauce, these simple spuds will make you wish every night was a cookout.
Get the Grilled Potatoes recipe.
Tuscan Tortellini Salad
This easy tortellini salad is guaranteed to impress at your next summer gathering. It's chockfull of cheese tortellini, chopped salami, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.
Get the Tuscan Tortellini 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.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Corn
Your cookout isn't complete without corn on the cob. While we love the smoky, charred flavor of grilled corn, try amping it up with a trio of shredded cheddar, bacon, and ranch dressing.
Get the Cheddar Bacon Ranch Corn recipe.
Summer Couscous Salad
A summer salad should be low effort. This couscous salad is just that, all while allowing the summer produce to really shine. Serve this with some grilled steak for a feel-good dinner that is so satisfyingly simple.
Get the Summer Couscous Salad recipe.
Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge
If you've never grilled your greens before, you're in for a treat. Grilling romaine for this salad delivers a charred flavor that goes perfectly with Caesar dressing.
Get the Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge recipe.
Watermelon Caprese
This watermelon Caprese features slices of juicy, sweet watermelon, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze. The result is a simple, sweet-salty side that's ready in 15 minutes (and isn’t that what summer is all about?).
Get the Watermelon Caprese recipe.
Greek Chickpea Salad
This protein-packed salad has all of the ingredients that you love from Greek salad—Kalamata olives, bell pepper, cucumbers, red onions, and feta cheese. It's substantial enough to be the main course or a hearty side dish.
Get the Greek Chickpea Salad recipe.
Homemade Cornbread
A good piece of cornbread should be thick, tender, just a little bit sweet, and not at all dry. Whether you’re serving it plain or with honey butter, we can guarantee that you'll return to this recipe all summer long.
Get the Homemade Cornbread recipe.
Baked Beans
It's not a cookout with baked beans. Skip the canned stuff and try our homemade version, which is equal parts sweet, tangy, and savory. Plus, it's a one-pot wonder!
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Antipasto Potato Salad
Potato salad is a classic summer side dish, but we love experimenting with different flavor combinations. Inspired by a classic antipasto, this version features artichoke hearts, mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and soppressata.
Get the Antipasto Potato Salad recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Though we love a classic, tomato-based gazpacho, the addition of watermelon gives the soup a delicious subtle sweetness that we can't get enough of. Full of bright fruits and veggies, this no-cook soup is equal parts satisfying and refreshing.
Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Panzanella Salad
Nothing says summer quite like a huge bowl of panzanella in the center of the table. Our recipe features generous golden-brown croutons, chunks of juicy tomato, shallots, and torn basil in a bright vinaigrette.
Get the Panzanella Salad recipe.
Carrot Coin Salad
This make-ahead carrot coin salad, tossed with a sweet-tangy sesame miso dressing, is a cool, crunchy side for summer. Pro tip: Slicing the carrots on a mandoline will yield the paper-thin 1/16" slices that you need here.
Get the Carrot Coin Salad recipe.
Classic Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and BBQ. Not to toot our horn, but our recipe is simply the best. It's creamy and tangy with a little bit of crunch from the addition of red onions and pickles.
Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.
Grilled Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes are beloved for more than their pretty, pale color—they have a firm texture and a slightly tart flavor. This recipe combines the slightly tangy flavor of underripe tomatoes with the smoky char of the grill and tangy goat cheese.
Get the Grilled Green Tomatoes recipe.
Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad
Bright green broccoli is tossed with cavatappi, shredded Parm, and shards of crispy croutons in a silky homemade Caesar dressing for an unforgettable spin on the classic cookout staple.
Get the Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts
This may just be the prettiest preparation of zucchini ever. Skewered and grilled zucchini planks are topped with herby whipped ricotta and crunchy toasted walnuts in this easy, healthy side dish for summer.
Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.
Vinegar Coleslaw
It's not a cookout without coleslaw. To make this vegan-friendly slaw, we use maple to enhance the natural sweetness of the vegetables and Dijon mustard to add a kick.
Get the Vinegar Coleslaw recipe.
