Summer cookouts aren’t just about the smoky ribs or juicy burgers. Let’s be honest, the sides are where the magic really happens. This collection of 40 Flavorful BBQ side dishes is all about bringing the flavor, color, and fun to your next backyard gathering. From crisp, refreshing greens to cheesy baked favorites and vibrant veggie salads, these sides aren’t just filler, they’re the real stars of the meal.
You’ll find roasted corn and colorful corn salad bursting with summer sweetness, crisp zucchini chips that disappear fast, and a rainbow of salads. From refreshing tabouli and herby pasta salad to a juicy peach salad that tastes like sunshine. There are hearty favorites like roasted potato wedges and sweet potato fries, plus homemade focaccia and soft breadsticks or pretzel bites that are perfect for soaking up every last bit of sauce or dressing.
Dips like creamy guacamole, cool tzatziki, and smoky salmon dip add variety and richness, perfect for scooping with veggies, crackers, or fluffy focaccia.
These dishes are easy to make, designed to travel well, and pair beautifully with whatever you’re throwing on the grill. They’re light, flavorful, and built for sharing.
Summer Corn Salad
This Summer Corn Salad salad is a great summer dish made with fresh corn, fresh vegetables, Feta cheese, fresh herbs and a flavorful salad dressing. This salad is simply bursting with summer flavor and makes a perfect side dish for family or friend gatherings.
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Mediterranean Summer Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean Summer Pasta Salad is a really flavorful summer salad perfect for family or friend gatherings. As everybody loves pasta, this fresh salad will definitely be a crowd pleaser.
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Peach Salad
This Peach Salad is a refreshing and easy dish that highlights the sweet and juicy flavor of ripe peaches. It is perfect as a light lunch, a side dish, a stunning addition to any summer gathering or a starter for any meal. The combination of sweet peaches, crunchy nuts, creamy cheese, and fresh greens makes this salad a delightful and healthy choice.
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Oven Roasted Corn
Oven roasted corn is so much better than boiled. The flavor is enhanced. The husks create steam, the corn is cooked entirely, not soggy, not dry, just PERFECT.
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Mango Avocado Salsa
This Mango Avocado Salsa is a vibrant and refreshing dish that combines the tropical sweetness of ripe mango with the creamy texture of avocado. This salsa with mango and avocado and an assortment of fresh vegetables and herbs bursts of flavors in every bite.
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Strawberry Pasta Salad with Feta
This Strawberry Pasta Salad with Feta is a flavorful dish perfect for spring and summer gatherings when you want something fresh and tasty to share. Twirly pasta are mingling with juicy strawberries, creamy feta, and a mix of fresh herbs. Toss in some crispy red onion and walnuts for texture, then elevate it with cherry tomatoes and cucumber for an extra burst of freshness.
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The Best Roasted Potatoes
These crispy and flavorful Roasted Potatoes are a true masterpiece of flavor and texture. They have a crispy outer layer and a soft, fluffy inside that will leave you wanting more.
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Greek Salad – Horiatiki Recipe
I love this Greek Salad, known as Horiatiki in Greece as it bursts with fresh flavors and vibrant colors. This salad, a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, highlights simplicity and quality ingredients. It's a perfect appetizer or side dish, but it can also stand alone as a light, refreshing meal.
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a delectable fusion of classic Caesar salad and savory chicken pasta, creating a mouthwatering dish that tantalizes both pasta and salad lovers.
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Bean and Corn Salsa
This Bean and Corn Salsa is the kind of recipe that makes you wonder how something so simple can taste this good. It’s colorful, fresh, and full of flavor, like summer in a bowl.
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Perfect Guacamole
Guacamole is one of the most popular Mexican dish, known worldwide, that is very easy to prepare and is suitable for any occasion. It is a perfect appetizer that can be served with tortilla chips for a great texture.
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Tabouli Salad
Tabouli is a healthy, light salad made with bulgur wheat, ripe tomatoes, fresh parsley, fresh mint, green onions and drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. The main role is played by fresh flat parsley.
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Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This Broccoli and cauliflower salad is a perfect choice among your other Thanksgiving side dishes. It can be made well in advance, travels easy and if you end up with leftovers (which is unlikely) it can easily be stored for a later meal.
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Homemade Breadsticks
These homemade breadsticks are a classic snack that is perfect for any occasion. Made with simple ingredients like bread flour, olive oil, and a variety of herbs and spices, these delicious treats are easy to make and sure to please.
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Spicy Greek Feta Dip – Tirokafteri
This Spicy Greek Feta Dip, known as Tirokafteri or Htipiti is a creamy, spicy, feta cheese spread that perfectly complements nearly any dish. This simple yet flavorful recipe combines feta cheese, roasted red peppers, and a touch of garlic to create a mouthwatering dip that's perfect for any occasion.
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Chicken, Avocado and Orange Salad
When you're craving something light, healthy, yet still delicious, this Chicken, Avocado, and Orange Salad is an exceptional choice. It's one of the best chicken salads you'll ever taste.
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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Easy summer salad made with roasted sweet potatoes. A combination of sweet, salty, crunchy salad that can be served as it is as a light meal or as a side dish.
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Greek Tzatziki Sauce
Greek Tzatziki Sauce is a classic and refreshing dip made with yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. It is a staple in Greek cuisine and is typically served as a starter or side dish. The sauce has a smooth and creamy texture, with a tangy and slightly sour taste that is perfectly balanced by the coolness of the cucumber.
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Homemade Roasted Red Peppers
These Homemade Roasted Red Peppers are a versatile and vibrant ingredient, loved for their sweet, smoky flavor and rich, velvety texture. Roasting peppers brings out their natural sweetness, creating a depth of flavor that enhances everything from sauces to salads.
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Easy No-Knead Focaccia
This Easy No-Knead Focaccia is a simple, yet flavorful bread that requires minimal effort and delivers excellent results. This recipe is perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a hands-off baking experience.
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Four Cheese Crispy Cheese Balls
These Four Cheese Crispy Cheese Balls are an easy appetizer idea, perfectly blending the irresistible flavors of Feta, Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan into golden, crispy perfection. They make for an excellent addition to your holiday table.
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Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips
These Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips are a delightful and healthy appetizer or snack option, perfect for satisfying your crunchy cravings.
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Cheddar Biscuits
Amazing cheddar biscuits – what not to like: buttery, flaky, garlicky and cheesy biscuits… one of the best combinations ever and they look really appetizing as well.
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Baked Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries
Baked Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries – One of the best fries ever, healthier, full of nutrients and guilty free. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
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Homemade Hummus
Homemade hummus is a yummy dip that comes from the Middle East. It's made with basic ingredients like chickpeas, tahini (which is a sesame paste), garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. You blend them all together until they're smooth and creamy.
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Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes
These Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes are one of the best roasted potatoes you can ever make. Potatoes never look more beautiful than this and they taste as good as they look.
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Homemade Pesto
This Homemade Pesto is a fresh and flavorful sauce made from simple ingredients. Originating from Italy, it combines fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil.
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Easy Creamed Corn
This Creamed Corn is a classic side dish that brings a touch of velvety delight to your table. This dish begins with tender corn kernels bathed in a rich, creamy sauce that's both smooth and satisfying.
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Greek Baked Feta with Tomatoes
This Greek Baked Feta with Tomatoes is a spicy mouthwatering Mediterranean dish that captures the essence of Greek cuisine. This easy recipe is a delightful combination of spicy peppers, rich tomatoes, and creamy feta cheese. It is often enjoyed as a main course accompanied by crusty bread, or it can be served as an appetizer or side dish.
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Roasted Baby Potatoes
These Roasted Baby Potatoes are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish. They go well with many main dishes, from roasted meats to grilled vegetables. They are simple to prepare and always a hit with guests.
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Soft Pretzel Bites
Savor the goodness of our Soft Pretzel Bites, a snack that's both crispy and soft, with a perfect touch of seasoning. These little golden bites offer a satisfying crunch on the outside and a soft delight inside, making each bite a tasty adventure.
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Red Lentil and Toasted Walnut Dip
This Red Lentil Walnut Dip is healthy, quick and nutritious and a great choice as appetizer, or for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Eggplant Salad
Eggplant Salad is a tasty and healthy way to cook eggplants. It is a delicious appetizer that can be made in advance, which makes it perfect for holidays or parties.
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Tomato Basil Tart
Tomato Puff Pastry Basil Tart is a delicious and visually stunning dish that is perfect for any occasion. This savory tart combines the flavors of juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and flaky puff pastry to create a mouthwatering meal that is sure to impress your guests.
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Chickpea Salad
Chickpea salad is a delicious, flavorful, healthy and easy vegetarian salad using chickpeas, fresh vegetables and seeds. Such a tasteful combination.
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Bloomin Onion Bread
This bloomin' onion bread is a great way to serve the bread to a gathering and everybody will be impressed. The melted, gooey cheese is simply irresistible.
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Roasted Potato and Cheese Tater Tots
Crispy on the outside and soft in the inside, this Roasted Potato and Cheese Tater Tots recipe is so easy to prepare yet so delicious.
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Tortilla Pinwheels
Tortilla Pinwheels – flavorful appetizer, easy to prepare, perfect for parties or holiday tables. You can even make it the evening before the day of the event.
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Roasted Cauliflower
Roasting the cauliflower intensifies the flavor and caramelizes the edges which makes it sweeter and really really irresistible. Though it is cooked in the oven it still remains a little crunchy, which makes it a great side dish or a good healthy snack.
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White Bean Crostini
Easy and quick recipe for white bean crostini, healthy delicious appetizer great for holiday tables. Best thing: you can make the white bean dip in advance.
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With 40 delicious BBQ side dishes to choose from, your next cookout is guaranteed to be a flavorful hit. If you’re craving fresh salads, crispy fries, creamy dips, or savory breads, this collection has something for everyone to enjoy.
If you try them out, share the photos with me on Instagram. I would love to see how they turn out for you.
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