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Heading to a barbecue or potluck this summer and looking for ideas of what to take with you? These 20 cookout side dish recipes are always a hit! Add these to your summer menu—just be prepared for your friends to ask you for the recipes.
There are a handful of things I look forward to every summer: the first afternoon by the pool, my first glass of homemade strawberry lemonade, and the first summer party with friends.
Summer food just hits different. Between the fresh fruits and summer vegetables, I am always excited to load my plate up with a burger or hot dog, some corn on the cob, and a whole assortment of yummy sides.
I’ve been collecting easy and delicious cookout sides recipes for years, so it felt like time to finally put them all in one place for you!
Don’t forget drinks and dessert
Just like with Thanksgiving dinner, the side dishes might be the thing everyone looks forward to, but don’t forget about the drinks and dessert, too.
When I’m hosting, I like making a big batch of watermelon lemonade or cherry limeade and iced tea. Put them in side-by-side drink dispensers and everyone can easily serve themselves! You could even make a batch of peach simple syrup for folks to add to their tea.
For dessert, sour cream coconut cake disappears in a flash every time I take it to a potluck. No-bake banana split cake and fruit pizza are both big hits, too!
20 perfect cookout sides recipes
Let’s dig into the sides! These are 20 of my family’s favorite bbq side recipes. A lot of them are salads—we love a variety of veggie and bean salads, pasta salads, and even some sweet salads.
But don’t worry, we don’t forget some of the other classic side dishes either! After all, what’s a cookout without a batch of deviled eggs?
Save this post and come back to it any time you need side dishes to bring to a summer gathering. You’ll be the most popular person there!
Any of the recipes marked with “hot-weather friendly!” are dishes that contain no dairy or eggs. Per the USDA, just remember to put leftovers away as soon as folks are done eating or discard any leftovers left out for more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90℉.
Bean and veggie salads
Cowboy Caviar
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Watermelon Feta Salad
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Mango & Black Bean Salsa
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German Potato Salad
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Cucumber Salad
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Easy Potato Salad
If you love a classic potato salad, this is the recipe for you. We keep this one simple, but with one important trick to add extra flavor: adding salt and a drizzle of vinegar to the potatoes right after you drain them. Trust me, it’ll change the way you make potato salad forever.
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Easy Coleslaw
Slaw is a classic cookout side dish for a reason. Whether you’re eating it on its own or piling it on top of a sandwich, this crunchy coleslaw hits the spot, and is super quick and easy to make.
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Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
Street corn salad makes the most of perfectly sweet summer corn. Enjoy it alongside grilled steak tacos or any of your classic bbq favorites. It’s guaranteed to be a hit!
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Pasta salads
Southwest Pasta Salad
Black beans, green chiles, corn, and a creamy chipotle dressing combine with pasta for a delicious southwest-inspired pasta salad. Add chicken or leave it as-is for a vegetarian version!
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Amish Macaroni Salad
This classic macaroni salad is right at home next to a grilled hot dog or burger. The dressing is tangy and just slightly sweet. It’s hard not to want a second helping of this one!
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Greek Pasta Salad
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Italian Pasta Salad
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Sweet salads
Ambrosia Salad
My ambrosia salad adds a sweet bite alongside your other favorite sides. You can eat it as a dessert, but my family loves it as a side for a fun balance of sweet and savory!
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Creamy Grape Salad
Just like ambrosia salad, this creamy grape salad can be served for dessert, but my family thinks it makes a delicious side dish! Crunchy grapes, tangy cream cheese, and toasted pecans are an unexpected but delicious combination.
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Other classic sides
Hash Brown Casserole
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Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Baked mac and cheese is one of my family’s favorite barbecue side dishes. It’s creamy, cheesy, and simple to make.
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Easy Baked Beans
Start with canned beans and add bacon, ground beef, and spices for an easy and flavorful baked bean recipe! These disappear fast from every barbecue I take them to.
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Deviled Eggs
It’s not a summer cookout if someone doesn’t bring a batch of deviled eggs! Try adding a variety of toppings to change things up: smoked paprika, crumbled bacon, fresh chives, or even fresh or pickled jalapeños.
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