Best Summer Side Dishes

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 38 votes

This recipe shows you how to mix and match your favorite veggies onto skewers and grill them to perfection.

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Sweet Potato Salad

5 from 50 votes

A healthier potato salad made with sweet potato, fresh veggies, and light, creamy dressing! 

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Italian Baked Beans

5 from 33 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 27 votes

All the loaded baked potato toppings we love but in the center of a deviled egg! 

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Hummus Antipasto Platter

5 from 11 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 29 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:

Simple Arugula Side Salad with Blueberries

5 from 12 votes

This simple arugula salad with blueberries is the perfect healthy side dish for any meal.

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Watermelon & Feta Salad

5 from 152 votes

Sweet watermelon with tangy feta cheese tossed in a citrusy dressing is a combination you want to try! 

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Greek Panzanella Salad

5 from 45 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 32 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 27 votes

A super color and delicious salad made with fresh kale, steamed edamame, crunchy carrots, and cabbage in a tangy-sweet sesame ginger dressing. 

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Carrot & Raisin Salad

5 from 34 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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Avocado Salsa

5 from 25 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! 

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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.

Cilantro Lime Rice

5 from 12 votes

This recipe is generous on the portions and garlic and taking one extra step separates this dish from the rest.

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Corn & Tomato Salad

5 from 25 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. 

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Spiralized Zucchini & Tomatoes

5 from 34 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. 

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Parmesan Green Beans

4.97 from 223 votes

Crispy baked green beans with Parmesan cheese and a side of ranch- this hits the spot! 

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The Ultimate Guacamole Bar

5 from 40 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. 

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Broccoli Tots

5 from 20 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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Bacon & Tomato Hummus Cups

5 from 12 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. 

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Parmesan Zucchini Waffles

4.97 from 33 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 19 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. 

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Jambalaya Pasta Salad

5 from 23 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. 

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Pizza Pasta Salad (with the BEST dressing)

5 from 22 votes

You'll want to double this recipe because pepperoni pizza toppings with pasta and a zippy vinaigrette will disappear quick!

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Thai Chicken Pasta Salad

5 from 65 votes

Crunchy veggies, tender chicken, and pasta in a tangy peanut sauce- love at first bite! 

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No-Fuss Summer Sides

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

You'll love these delicious summer side dishes that make an easy fix for BBQs, cookouts, and lazy nights!

5 from 11 votes

Print Pin

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

Meal Prep’d

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 602mg | Potassium: 986mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2235IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 3mg