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Best Summer Side Dishes

by Laura Fuentes

May 30, 2017
updated Jun 26, 2023
5 from 37 votes
You'll love these delicious summer side dishes that make an easy fix for BBQs, cookouts, and lazy nights!
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All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Looking for fresh and delicious recipes to serve at the next BBQ or cookout? I’ve got you covered with these fresh and easy summer side dishes!

In this post, you’ll find classic summery dishes like grilled vegetable kabobs, pasta salads, and a few recreated classics such as my sweet potato salad and creamy hummus party platter.

No matter the recipe you choose, it will be the first to disappear at any gathering. So grab a glass of iced tea, and let’s get to recipe browsing.

BBQ Side Dishes

These BBQ side dish ideas are perfect for serving alongside your favorite grilled meats. Most of the recipes can be prepped or fully prepared beforehand, so come grilling time, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time outdoors!

Grilled Vegetable Skewers
5 from 33 votes
This recipe shows you how to mix and match your favorite veggies onto skewers and grill them to perfection.
Make This Recipe
sweet potato salad in a bowl
Sweet Potato Salad
5 from 34 votes
A healthier potato salad made with sweet potato, fresh veggies, and light, creamy dressing! 
Make This Recipe
italian baked beans in a bowl
Italian Baked Beans
5 from 23 votes
Is it really a BBQ without baked beans? These Italian baked beans amp up the traditional recipe with fresh garlic, Italian seasonings, and Parmesan cheese. One bite, and you’ll be a convert. 
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Loaded Baked Potato Deviled Eggs
5 from 18 votes
All the loaded baked potato toppings we love but in the center of a deviled egg! 
Make This Recipe
Hummus Antipasto Platter
5 from 9 votes
The easiest way to look like the most sophisticated guest? This hummus platter. You can’t go wrong with fresh veggies, crackers, and Italian deli cuts with Greek Hummus. 
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Baked Spinach Balls
5 from 16 votes
Spinach, breadcrumbs, cheese, and garlic butter all rolled up and baked to perfection, what’s not to love?
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Summer Side Salads

These summer side salads aren’t your ordinary lettuce and tomato combination. We’re taking salads up a notch with the fresh ingredients and flavors of watermelon, cucumber, avocado, and the best vinaigrettes you’ve tasted! Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu:

watermelon feta salad in a large bowl
Watermelon & Feta Salad
4.85 from 100 votes
Sweet watermelon with tangy feta cheese tossed in a citrusy dressing is a combination you want to try! 
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panzanella chopped salad with croutons
Greek Panzanella Salad
5 from 43 votes
A simple dressing, fresh garden tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, a little feta, wow! These are all the Mediterranean flavors we love in one delicious salad. 
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Southwest Quinoa Salad
5 from 27 votes
Cooked quinoa replaces chopped lettuce and gets tossed with southwest flavors of black beans, corn, salsa, and chili spices. 
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Asian Kale Salad
5 from 17 votes
A super color and delicious salad made with fresh kale, steamed edamame, crunchy carrots, and cabbage in a tangy-sweet sesame ginger dressing. 
Make This Recipe
Carrot & Raisin Salad
5 from 27 votes
The tangy yogurt-based dressing with fresh pineapple, sweet raisins, and crunchy carrots make this salad one you’ll want to enjoy again and again. 
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closeup look at a large bowl of avocado salsa
Avocado Salsa
5 from 15 votes
A delicious and beautiful salsa that will remind you of guacamole. You can top it over your favorite grilled protein or serve it with tortilla chips! 
Make This Recipe

Summer Vegetable Side Dishes

Have summer veggies you need to use up? Turn your favorite seasonal produce into one of these delicious summer vegetable side dishes.

Corn & Tomato Salad
5 from 15 votes
The fresh flavors of corn and tomato salad with creamy avocado and a sweet and tangy basil dressing make this veggie side dish one your family will love. 
Make This Recipe
Spiralized Zucchini & Tomatoes
5 from 32 votes
A perfect way to use up the abundance of summer zucchini! The spiralized veggies go great with grilled chicken and shrimp, or you could swap it for regular spaghetti in your favorite recipes. 
Make This Recipe
parmesan green bean fries on a plate
Parmesan Green Beans
4.83 from 137 votes
Crispy baked green beans with Parmesan cheese and a side of ranch- this hits the spot! 
Make This Recipe
The Ultimate Guacamole Bar
4.98 from 38 votes
The perfect creamy guacamole does exist, and you’ll find it in this recipe along with countless ways to serve it to a crowd or all by yourself. 
Make This Recipe
baked broccoli tots on a cooling rack
Broccoli Tots
5 from 17 votes
These Parmesan Broccoli Tater Tots are baked to perfection with a crispy outside and soft, cheesy middle. Serve them with my Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing or ketchup! 
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hummus cups
Bacon & Tomato Hummus Cups
5 from 10 votes
You can fill endive leaves or romaine lettuce with creamy hummus, fresh tomato, and crispy bacon. One bite, and you’ll know why these make a regular appearance at my dinner table. 
Make This Recipe
Zucchini and Parmesan Savory Waffle on napkins with parmesan on the side
Parmesan Zucchini Waffles
4.96 from 23 votes
Fire up your waffle irons because these cheesy Zucchini Waffles are a hit! Dunk them with more ranch dressing or marinara sauce, and you’ve got a good thing going. 
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Summer Pasta Salad Sides

What’s summer without a good pasta salad? And I’ve got some delicious ideas for you to try out! These recipes are easy to assemble and can be made the day before for a quick side dish or main entrée.

Cobb Pasta Salad
5 from 17 votes
Everything you love in a cobb salad but tossed with pasta instead of lettuce. Be prepared to share the recipe with everyone you know. 
Make This Recipe
dish of Jambalalya pasta salad on a plate
Jambalaya Pasta Salad
5 from 18 votes
A little Creole seasoning in the dressing goes a long way to give this simple pasta salad a New Orleans flair. Feel free to add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein. 
Make This Recipe
Pizza Pasta Salad
5 from 16 votes
You’ll want to double this recipe because pepperoni pizza toppings with pasta and a zippy vinaigrette will disappear quick!
Make This Recipe
Thai Chicken Pasta Salad
5 from 50 votes
Crunchy veggies, tender chicken, and pasta in a tangy peanut sauce- love at first bite! 
Make This Recipe

No-Fuss Summer Sides

Laura Fuentes
You'll love these delicious summer side dishes that make an easy fix for BBQs, cookouts, and lazy nights!
5 from 37 votes
Servings 4
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup minced fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 14 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 14 ounce can corn, drained and rinsed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber
  • 1 to 2 avocados, peeled and diced
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 1 Boston bibb lettuce, washed, leaves separated

Instructions
 

  • Add the basil, olive oil, lime juice, honey, salt, and black pepper to a lidded jar. Seal the lid and shake to combine. 
  • In a large bowl, add the corn, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and shallot. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. 
  • Layer one lettuce leaf over another to create a ‘cup’.
  • Serve the corn and tomato salad in the lettuce cups. 

Equipment

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Meal Prep’d

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gSodium: 602mgPotassium: 986mgFiber: 9gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 2235IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 3mg
Love this Recipe?Rate & leave a comment below

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Eliana

    June 19, 2017 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    I made this over the weekend for Father’s Day and it was SO FRESH AND DELICIOUS!

    Reply
  2. Sue

    June 15, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious for dinner. I used leftover of the salad to top a bed of salad greens the next day.

    Reply
  3. Toby

    June 15, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    5 stars
    this was great!

    Reply
  4. Marie

    June 15, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    5 stars
    This was THE BEST summer meal I’ve had in a long time. We made our skewers with steak and peppers and they were awesome. The salad super easy and fresh!

    Reply
  5. Melissa @ Insider The Kitchen

    June 09, 2017 at 10:26 pm

    5 stars
    Very light, quick and you can add any number of things to it….I added black beans and cilantro and avocado. Enjoyed by all… Thanks Laura

    Reply
  6. Melanie Molnar

    June 08, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    My favourite way to incorporate veggies is to make veggies mandatory as a side dish, whether it is chopped fresh veggies or steamed. Also if we are having potatoes on the BBQ we like to add mushrooms, carrots, etc. to the foil pouch and throw on the BBQ. Yum!

    Reply
  7. Cara

    June 07, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    5 stars
    My favorite is either roasted or grilled veggies. I love grilled broccoli with a little Parmesan cheese and garlic!

    Reply
  8. Vicki day

    June 07, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    5 stars
    Love to grill them on BBQ and use as side dishes

    Reply
  9. Christian Flamman

    June 06, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    5 stars
    My favorite summer side would be grilled asparagus!

    Reply
  10. Jessica Martin

    June 06, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    5 stars
    i’ve been using the veggie pouches since your skillet chicken pot pie recipe (a family favorite) and I can’t wait to try this summer salad. thanks for another great idea!

    Reply
  11. Dorriss

    June 06, 2017 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night and it was AMAZING!

    Reply
  12. Mandy

    June 05, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    I try to always have some sort of vegetable salad or veggie tray with dinner in the summer. It helps keep my family healthy & happy!

    Reply
  13. Tina

    June 05, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves tomato based salads in the summer. My mom’s tomato and cucumber salad is a favorite. This is the first year that we our growing some of our own tomatoes! I can’t wait to make your corn and tomato salad for my family!

    Reply
  14. Lyan

    June 05, 2017 at 6:04 am

    5 stars
    My kids love steamed broccoli with grilled chicken…

    Thank you for the recipe. I will be trying it soon.

    Reply
  15. Angela Williams

    June 04, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    I love a salad or a pasta salad with grilled vegetables and a homemade avocado dressing in the Summer!

    Reply
  16. Paula Clemmer

    June 04, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    We like to add broccoli florets and kidney or black beans to a crisp romaine salad and make our own olive oil balsamic vinaigrette.

    Reply
  17. TC

    June 04, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    5 stars
    I love making beans salads that are heavy on the veggies for work lunches. It doesn’t take too much effort and I can have both veggies and some protein.

    Reply
  18. Hasan Raju

    June 02, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks Laura for the Amazing dish!
    I love every kind of salad

    I usually take cucumber and tomatoes salad with any kind of food
    But your dish make me fall in love with it!

    I wish I have it right now!

    Reply
  19. Lubelia

    June 02, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    5 stars
    I just found LIbby’s pouches at the grocery today. Thanks for introducing me to this product! I’m a fan. I’ll be making this recipe over the weekend.

    Reply
  20. Ellen

    June 02, 2017 at 11:58 am

    5 stars
    This was the perfect recipe to use up my fresh basil from my garden. Thanks Laura!

    Reply
  21. Sarah

    May 31, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    5 stars
    This looks amazing Laura!

    Reply
  22. Erin

    May 31, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    If my mom had a garden, I’d steal her tomatoes too!

    Reply
  23. Liz

    May 31, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    Love these fresh summer sides with veggies!

    Reply
  24. Melissa Trader

    May 31, 2017 at 11:40 am

    5 stars
    We incorporate veggies by designating Wednesdays as “Salad night”. Takes the guess work out of what’s for dinner and uses up any lingering veggies in the fridge.

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      June 13, 2017 at 11:49 am

      Congrats Melissa!! You are the winner of our Grill Set Giveaway! Check your inbox for an email from [email protected]

      Reply
      • Melissa Trader

        June 14, 2017 at 9:35 am

        5 stars
        Thank you so much!!!!

        Reply
  25. Erica

    May 31, 2017 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    I used Libby’s canned corn (I had no idea they had these awesome pouches!!) to make this last night. It’s super simple since I already had everything and was delicious. I served it with grilled fish.

    Reply
  26. Jessica B

    May 31, 2017 at 10:32 am

    5 stars
    I’m making this salad today for lunch. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  27. Cheryl

    May 31, 2017 at 12:05 am

    5 stars
    My favorite way to incorporate veggies into summer side dishes is bean or pasta salad.

    Reply

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