Summer Side Dishes
From cookouts to backyard BBQs and picnics, these summer side dishes bring the flavor and fun. You’ll find fresh, flavorful, and easy-to-make recipes everyone will love.
I know you don’t have time to fuss with complicated recipes when you’re entertaining, especially in the summer. That’s why these summer side dish ideas are simple, crowd-pleasing, and packed with seasonal flavor.
No matter what’s on the grill—burgers, sweet and spicy ribs, or something in between—these tasty sides are the perfect match for all your summer favorites. Your next cookout is about to get a whole lot more delicious with easy recipes that are full of flavor and go way beyond just your run-of-the-mill boring pasta salad!
1. Asian Slaw
Asian Purple Cabbage Slaw from Juggling Act Mama
This slaw is my go-to summer side dish with just a handful of easy ingredients.
The carrots and cabbage are tossed with a flavorful ginger, honey, and red wine vinegar dressing and a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top.
2. Ginger Soy Grilled Corn
Ginger Soy Grilled Corn from Juggling Act Mama
This recipe starts with a quick marinade of honey, soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil for a grilled corn on the cob that’s anything but ordinary!
This is an outstanding side dish to serve with Asian Pork Kabobs or Teriyaki Chicken Skewers.
3. Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Cowboy Mushrooms from Juggling Act Mama
These cowboy mushrooms are rich, savory, and offer bold flavor from garlic, herbs, and butter. Add them to your list of summer side dish ideas for an easy recipe that goes great with grilled steak or burgers.
4. Grilled Veggie Kabobs
Rainbow Kabobs from Juggling Act Mama
Make these colorful kabobs with the kids! It’s a great opportunity to get the kids in the kitchen with you.
These veggies are a winning combo with Grilled Pork Tenderloin or Grilled Chicken Kabobs.
5. Corn on the Cob
Grilled Corn on the Cob from Juggling Act Mama
Classic corn on the cob is a must for any backyard BBQ or cookout!
This recipe takes just 25 minutes from start to finish, so it’s great for busy weeknights, too.
6. Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar from Juggling Act Mama
This smoky-sweet cowboy caviar is loaded with bold flavors and bright colors. It’s a no-fuss side that’s just right for dipping, scooping, or spooning onto chicken tacos and grilled burgers.
7. Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Asparagus Foil Pack from Juggling Act Mama
Grilled asparagus wrapped in foil with a little lemon is fresh, flavorful, and so easy to make. This bright and zesty side tastes amazing with all your summer cookout favorites.
8. Mango Salsa
Mango Salsa from Juggling Act Mama
Whether you’re scooping this with tortilla chips or spooning it over grilled fish or chicken, this salsa adds freshness to any meal.
Fresh salsa is a great way to add loads of flavor to any summer cookout. Strawberry Salsa and Strawberry Peach Salsa bring sweet heat that’s a total win with chips or grilled chicken. Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa is loaded with color and crunch, while Pineapple Mango Salsa delivers a tropical kick that is a no-brainer side dish with anything off the grill.
9. Grilled Potatoes
Grilled Potatoes from Juggling Act Mama
Cooked in foil packets, these grilled potatoes are topped with bacon, cheese, and chives for a summer side that’s as yummy with hot dogs as it is with a grilled steak.
10. Grilled Pineapple Salad
Grilled Pineapple Salad from Juggling Act Mama
While you could serve this with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream for dessert, it also makes a yummy summer side dish.
11. Mediterranean Grilled Veggies
Mediterranean Grilled Veggies from Juggling Act Mama
These vibrant veggies tossed with Mediterranean Seasoning are a tasty way to sneak in something healthy. This side dish works for just about any summer meal, from busy weeknights to backyard parties and cookouts.
12. Cheesy Tater Tots
Cheesy Tater Tots from Juggling Act Mama
Crispy, cheesy, and totally crave-worthy, these tater tots are a fun side for burgers or hot dogs. Think of them as a playful upgrade from plain old fries.
Be sure to check out this collection of Totchos Recipes for more fun summer side dish ideas.
14. Mexican Corn Pasta Salad
Mexican Corn Pasta Salad from Juggling Act Mama
Everything you love about Mexican street corn in an easy make-ahead pasta salad!
This dish starts with roasted corn and pasta and is tossed with cotija cheese and fresh cilantro for an awesome summer side dish.
13. Hush Puppies
Hushpuppies from Juggling Act Mama
These golden hushpuppies are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and peppered with summer zucchini. They’re a mouthwatering bite-sized side that’s made to impress for any backyard BBQ spread.
This is one of my favorite ways to sneak veggies into my kids! Find more Kid-Friendly Vegetable Side Dishes.
15. Cowboy Corn Casserole
Cowboy Corn Casserole from Juggling Act Mama
If you have tried our Cowboy Seasoning and like corn, then this is the side dish for you!
This cheesy summer side is rich, creamy, and loaded with bacon. It’s a comfort food side dish that always disappears fast at cookouts.
16. Loaded Potato Salad
Loaded Potato Salad from Juggling Act Mama
What would a backyard BBQ be without potato salad?
This one is totally loaded with bacon, cheese, and chives in a creamy sour cream dressing.
17. Baked Beans
Baked Beans from Juggling Act Mama
These baked beans are tasty with burgers but also with Grilled Top Sirloin.
They cook right on the grill, soaking up all that smoky goodness while you prep the rest of the meal. It’s a classic cookout side made even better with that chargrilled flavor.
18. Honey Lime Fruit Salad
Honey Lime Fruit Salad from Juggling Act Mama
There’s something about this dressing with lime juice and honey that really makes this simple fruit salad special!
This is a quick and easy side that’s great any night of the week.
19. Smashed Potatoes
Crispy Smashed Potatoes from Juggling Act Mama
Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, smashed potatoes are a total crowd-pleaser. They’re golden, salty, and a total win for anything from steaks to burgers.
Want a fun cookout idea? Add these potatoes to a burger board and let guests help themselves.
These potato recipes are a must for any summer cookout spread! Hasselback Potatoes are loaded with cheesy, melty goodness in every bite. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with rosemary add a touch of sweetness that pairs wonderfully with Grilled Chipotle Marinated Chicken. Crispy Fingerling Potatoes are golden, crunchy, and totally irresistible alongside grilled favorites like Steak Tips.
20. Watermelon Salad
Watermelon Salad from Juggling Act Mama
This refreshing watermelon salad one of my favorite summer side dish ideas. It’s the ultimate cool-down side on a hot summer day. Juicy melon, crisp cucumber, fresh mint, and creamy feta make every bite bright and so good you’ll want seconds.
21. Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted Beet Salad from Juggling Act Mama
With cojita or feta cheese, mint, and orange, this simple beet salad is easy to make ahead of time so you can kick back and relax with friends and family during your backyard cookout.
22. Cheddar Cornbread
Cheddar Cornbread from Juggling Act Mama
Baked in a cast iron skillet, this cheddar cornbread has crispy edges and a soft, cheesy center. It’s a hearty summer side that goes great with tender grilled ribs, BBQ chicken, or baked beans.
23. BLT Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad from Juggling Act Mama
Everything you love about a BLT, paired with pasta salad!
This easy side dish includes simple ingredients like cherry tomatoes, lettuce, bacon, and red onion, making it a flavorful summer salad that pairs well with chicken, pork, or – my husband’s favorite – Grilled Brats with Beer Cheese.
24. Green Bean Salad
Italian Green Bean Salad from Juggling Act Mama
This green bean salad is fresh, tangy, and tossed with red bell pepper and almonds for extra crunch and color. It’s a no-fuss side that’s light enough for picnics and potlucks but packed with flavor.
25. Wild Rice Salad
Wild Rice Salad from Juggling Act Mama
Hearty yet refreshing, this wild rice salad is a delightful mix of textures with sweet peas, crisp apples, and crunchy pecans. It’s a make-ahead side that holds up beautifully on the summer buffet table.
26. Deviled Eggs
Mom’s Deviled Egg Recipe from Bowl Me Over
You can’t have a picnic without deviled eggs, right? Creamy, tangy, and totally snackable, they disappear fast at every picnic and cookout.
You’ll also love these Cajun Deviled Eggs from The Cagle Diaries.
27. Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Salad from The Stay at Home Chef
Cool, crisp, and full of flavor, this cucumber salad is tossed with red onion, fresh dill, and a tangy dressing. It’s the kind of light, refreshing side you’ll want to serve at every cookout.
28. Broccoli Slaw
Broccoli Slaw Salad from Wendy Polisi
This crunchy broccoli slaw is tossed with sweet dried cranberries and sliced almonds for the well-balanced mix of textures and flavors. It’s tossed with a creamy Greek yogurt dressing for a fresh, no-cook side that adds a pop of color to any summer spread.
29. Cowboy Butter Dipping Sauce
Cowboy Butter Dipping Sauce from Juggling Act Mama
While this isn’t a side dish, this butter dipping sauce with garlic, lemon juice, mustard, and fresh parsley is an absolute must for grilled meats like chicken and steak.
It’s equally satisfying with Corn on the Cob and grilled vegetables, too.
More Buttery Goodness for your Summer Cookout
Our Favorite Summer Main Dishes
Now that you have plenty of summer side dish ideas, let’s fire up the grill and get ready for a lineup of summer main dishes that bring the heat and the flavor.
These grilled recipes are juicy, bold, and spot on for your next backyard cookout. From Spicy Grilled Chicken Breasts and Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken to Montreal-seasoned Bone-in Chicken Thighs, there’s something for every kind of chicken lover.
Steak fans will love the smoky BBQ Sirloin Steak Tips, Petite Sirloin Steak rubbed with a savory and slightly sweet Cowboy Seasoning, and tender Grilled Ribeye topped with Cowboy Butter.
And for something a little unexpected, the Grilled Pineapple Bourbon Pork Chops with Homemade Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce are sweet, savory, and totally irresistible.
