56 Memorial Day Side Dishes Perfect For BBQs, Picnics & More

Elote and pasta salad are two classic cookout sides for good reason. Elote gives that grilled, charred flavor that every grill out needs, while pasta salad is the easy, reliable side dish that everyone thanks you for. We love both of these summer sides so much, we decided to combine them for the ultimate potluck dish.

Get the Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad recipe.

A classic, staple side dish to rely on, coleslaw is a must when it comes to summer BBQs, potlucks, and picnics. Whether you’re hungry for a last-minute side dish or the perfect topping to your meal (we’re looking at you, chicken burgers), follow our top tips to ace this dish.

Get the Classic Coleslaw recipe.

If Caesar salad took a vacation to the Midwest, she would become this broccoli Caesar pasta salad. Bright green crisp-tender 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.

Step aside, guacamole—this avocado salsa is my new favorite dip. Creamy, just-ripe avocados are tossed with chopped tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, sweet corn, and tons of chopped fresh cilantro to create this refreshing hybrid dip that your tortilla chips will thank you for. Serve this at your summer party with some chips and margs.

Get the Avocado Salsa recipe.

Baked beans are sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make—they’re a one-pot wonder! Throw in the fact that one batch feeds a small crowd and that most of the cooking is done unattended in the oven, and you have a winning dish.

Get the Baked Beans recipe.

This side is bright green with a zesty, super-fresh green goddess dressing and some extra veggies mixed in to make it feel more like a hearty salad than a pasta dish. Don’t worry though—there’s still plenty of pasta. Whether you’re a green goddess super fan or just love fresh summer sides, this pasta salad is here to shake up your potluck game.

Get the Green Goddess Pasta Salad recipe.

Elote is an unbelievably popular Mexican antojito (little craving) that you can find sold on the street in Mexico. It's often served on a stick, though you could skip the skewer and make it the same way you'd boil or oven bake regular corn on the cob.

Get the Elote: Mexican Street Corn recipe.

This time around, pasta salad gets a Mediterranean twist, showcasing some of my favorite flavors from that corner of the globe. And the best part—although pasta salad is usually thought of as a side, the added protein from the chickpeas will make this easy to turn into a main.

Get the Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe.

If you love our viral recipe for potato au gratin stacks, these cheesy, crispy zucchini stacks need to be next on your list. They’ve got layers of tender zucchini roasted with Parmesan and Gruyère, garlic, and fresh thyme, then topped with crispy panko bread crumbs and baked until golden brown.

Get the Crispy Zucchini Stacks recipe.

You might say to-may-to and you might say to-mah-to, but no matter how you say it, a tomato salad is a summertime classic. With juicy tomatoes, a simple red wine vinaigrette, thinly sliced red onion, herbs, and crumbled feta, this salad is like the little black dress of the season.

Get the Tomato Salad recipe.

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.

This easy tortellini salad is the only pasta salad we bring to potlucks. It's quick and simple with an easy homemade vinaigrette that will make it stand out among a sea of basic macaroni salads. Plus, you just can't beat cheesy tortellini.

Get the Tuscan Tortellini Salad recipe.

Hail, Caesar—ahem—salad! Wildly popular and extremely simple to make, the classic Caesar salad gets a glow grill up in this recipe. The idea of grilled lettuce may leave you scratching your head, but trust us, it’s a game-changer.

Get the Grilled Romaine Wedge recipe.

Macaroni salad is one of our favorite things to pair with pulled pork or ribs, which is why it's such a disappointment when it's too dry or soggy. Not to fear—this recipe guarantees perfection ever time.

Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.

Gooey oven-baked brie will always be one of my favorite apps, but in the summertime, we really can't be bothered to fuss with puff pastry or even turn on my oven. Enter: this grilled brie appetizer that might just outshine its inspiration. To give this classic appetizer a summery twist, you'll cook it on the grill.

Get the Grilled Brie With Wine recipe.

Sure, gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had nicely browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill? We’re here to tell you that the crispy-chewy texture is something that you simply have to try.

Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.

Panzanella is a salad 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.

Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.

Summer is here, and for me, that means one thing: I'm grilling everything. From potluck sides to grilled fruit (yes, really!), I bring the grill out for anything and everything. One of my favorite crowd-pleasing side dishes to almost any summer dinner? Grilled broccoli. Seasoned with a spicy-sweet sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, this charred veggie shines.

Get the Grilled Broccoli recipe.

This dip is not just mozzarella: ricotta and heavy cream join in to make an epic base for the juicy cherry tomatoes and dollops of pesto too. Bonus: This summer-y dip goes with all your favorite Memorial Day mains (try it on top of a burger, mmm).

Get the Whipped Mozzarella Dip with Burst Cherry Tomatoes recipe.

With so much juiciness and just a hint of acidity, peaches—like their summery friend the tomato—are amazing in all sorts of salads. Next up on our peach salad agenda? This summery spin on the iconic wedge salad.

Get the Grilled Peach Salad recipe.