These BBQ Sides are perfect for any warm weather meal! From potatoes and pasta salads to grilled veggies and casseroles, these are the best side dish ideas for all your cookouts and potlucks this season.
Can you feel it? The chill is leaving the air. The birds are back from vacation. Slowly, but surely, my winter layers have retreated to the back of the closet. Summer barbecues are coming up quickly!
As soon as summer is here, we’re all about Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork, and any excuse to cook outdoors. We can’t forget Homemade Burgers, and even Grilled Pizza!
Cozy indoor dinners with friends are replaced with warm weather cookouts. Plus, with the grilling season also comes endless possibilities for delicious BBQ side dishes!
I like to keep things simple, which is why I’ve put together a list of the very best easy BBQ sides to try this summer. These side dishes are tasty, fuss-free, and just as great for family meals as they are for backyard entertaining.
What Makes a Side Ideal for BBQs & Potlucks?
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to BBQ and potluck sides? Let’s discuss:
- Easy to make. If you can toss a side dish on the same grill as the rest of the meal, all the better! If not, then easy casseroles, effortless salads, and slow cooker recipes are king (any excuse to minimize time spent standing next to a hot stove in the summertime!).
- Summer-inspired. If there’s ever an occasion to embrace seasonal ingredients like veggies and lighter fare, it’s at a BBQ or summer potluck.
- Crowd-pleasing. Whether I’m feeding the family or feeding a crowd, the key to a good BBQ side dish is self-service: big-batch recipes that guests and family can dish up themselves, to their hearts’ content!
What Are the Most Popular BBQ Sides?
- Potatoes. Potatoes (and sweet potatoes) go hand in hand with BBQ – potato wedges, fries, baked potatoes, grilled potatoes, potato salad. I could go on.
- Salads. Of all kinds. Green salads, coleslaw, pasta salads, you name it.
- Veggies. Grilled veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, and summer squash are all easy go-tos. Plus, we can’t forget other vegetarian sides like baked beans and corn-on-the-cob!
Tips for Making Sides in Advance
The key to making your sides ahead of time is all in the preparation:
- Choose a make-ahead recipe. Obviously, the first step to making a side in advance is choosing a recipe that can be made in advance! Depending on how far ahead you’re planning to make it, look for a dish that will last for a day or more in the fridge, or that freezes well for longer term storage.
- Prep the ingredients. Even if you’re not assembling a casserole or recipe right away, you can always get a head start by preparing your ingredients. Chop up veggies, shred cheese, prepare sauces, and then store them in containers so they’re ready to go.
- Go hands-free where you can. Some of the best make ahead side dishes are the ones that require the least intervention (not to mention less clean-up). Recipes that you can make in your slow cooker or Instant Pot, or assemble in a single bowl or casserole dish are your friend!
Grilled Potatoes in Foil
You can’t beat the convenience of wrapping up potatoes in foil and tossing them onto a grill that's already fired up. This simple grilled potato recipe packs big flavors thanks to an easy, flavorful herb butter.
Get the recipe here
German Potato Salad
It wouldn’t be a cookout without a cracking potato salad, now would it? German potato salad can be served warm or cold, loaded with bacon bits and a sweet, tangy onion and bacon dressing.
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Easy Broccoli Salad
This fresh and creamy broccoli salad recipe was made for BBQs! Hardy enough to keep in the fridge all week long, and delicious enough to devour in one sitting with zero regrets.
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Homemade Coleslaw Recipe
Sure, you could buy your coleslaw – or you could make your own in only 15 minutes! The perfect side for summer BBQ, this is the best recipe for creamy and tangy homemade slaw with a family-favorite dressing.
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Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy, and kid-friendly, a classic mac and cheese is the ideal side dish for almost any occasion or season. This recipe is made in just one pot, and only needs a handful of ingredients!
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Homemade Creamed Corn
A classic Midwestern and Southern side dish recipe that’s most welcome even North of the border! Flavorful homemade creamed corn is perfect for slapping onto a plate next to saucy BBQ.
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Easy Instant Pot Potato Salad
Let your Instant Pot do the heavy lifting with this easy potato salad! The potatoes and eggs for this recipe cook all in one pot, so all that’s left is to toss everything into a bowl, stir with creamy dressing, and serve!
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Instant Pot Baked Beans
Another classic BBQ side dish that’s full of nostalgia, not to mention loads of flavor! These simple and delicious BBQ baked beans cook up fast and easy in the Instant Pot.
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Easy Potato Salad Recipe
Red potatoes covered in a creamy homemade mayonnaise dressing makes for a tasty and easy potluck or picnic dish! This recipe is great for feeding a crowd and never falls short in the flavor department.
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Creamy Ranch Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe
Name a more authentic summer side dish than a good old-fashioned pasta salad! This is an easy recipe made with rich and creamy ranch dressing and tender cooked bowtie pasta.
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No Mayo Garlic Herb Potato Salad
If you’re craving a lightened-up version of potato salad sans the creaminess, this is the recipe! This simple potato salad recipe skips the mayo while still bursting with flavor thanks to garlic and herbs.
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Cheesy Grilled Potatoes with Bacon
A little bundle of bacon-infused joy, hot off the grill! These cheesy potatoes are an easy foil packet side dish, perfectly seasoned and cooked with smoky bacon pieces.
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Healthier Slow Cooker Maple Balsamic Baked Beans
These balsamic baked beans are a healthier alternative to the classic, conveniently made in the slow cooker! Toss in the ingredients and then leave them to cook into a side dish brimming with delicious hints of maple.
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Brioche Bun recipe
Whether you’re serving these wrapped around a hamburger patty, or using the moist and fluffy bread to soak up all sorts of BBQ sauces, this is an easy and versatile bun recipe to have on hand this summer!
Get the recipe here
Southwest Potato Salad
Bring Tex Mex flair to your cookout with this easy grilled potato salad idea! Tossed in a finger-licking taco spice vinaigrette, this mouthwatering medley of potatoes, peppers, corn, and tomatoes is just as easy as it is delicious.
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Baked Potato Recipe
Want to know the secret to the perfect baked potato? Look no further! This easy recipe walks you through how to make a baked potato that’s cooked to crispy, tender, buttery perfection.
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Hashbrown Casserole
Ten minutes of prep is all you need, and then you’re on your way to side dish greatness with this recipe! This easy potato casserole is full of melty cheese and so delicious to serve at BBQs!
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Fried Corn Recipe (Southern Fried Corn)
The best recipe for Southern fried corn that’s fresh off the cob! Tender sweet corn kernels are fried up to perfection with bacon drippings and sugar in a cast iron skillet. The perfect summer side to keep your cookout recipes company all season long!
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
A creamy and refreshing cucumber salad made with crisp red onions in a savory dill dressing.You’re going to love this salad at BBQs and then some.
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Pea Salad
Creamy pea salad is a classic recipe bringing together sweet green peas, crispy bacon, cheese and onion in a rich homemade mayo and sour cream dressing.
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Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
A cold tortellini salad filled with herbaceous flavors of basil pesto! Mixed with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, this Italian-inspired pasta salad recipe is easy to make in under 15 minutes.
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Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)
Strike while the grill is hot – with this Mexican-style corn on the cob side dish! Elote street corn is a traditional recipe loaded with flavor and spices that you’ll want to make for every cookout, from now until the season changes!
Get the recipe here
Chopped Kale Salad Recipe
A colorful, healthy green salad made with chopped kale and a rainbow of nutritious veggies is just what every BBQ needs! Zesty lemon dressing and fresh green leaves are the perfect way to lighten up any meal.
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Bowtie pasta salad gets a novel twist in this creamy chicken Caesar version! Finish this easy pasta salad recipe with a squeeze of lemon and enjoy all the authentic flavors of classic Caesar dressing, tender chicken, crunchy croutons, bacon crumbs and parmesan.
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Orzo Pasta Salad with Asparagus
This simple and craveable orzo pasta salad recipe is filled with snaps of asparagus and juicy sun dried tomatoes. A one-pot side dish that’s perfect for summertime entertaining!
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Southwest Quinoa Salad
Wholesome quinoa mingles with all sorts of delicious Southwest-inspired fixings in this tasty make-ahead summer salad! Black beans, red peppers, sweet corn and cilantro brush shoulders as they’re mixed with a zingy homemade lime vinaigrette.
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Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad
An effortless black bean salad recipe made with corn and creamy, seasonal avocado. So full of flavor and easy to make!
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Mexican Street Corn Salad (Elote Deconstructed)
Deconstruct your Mexican corn on the cob into this zesty, spicy, flavor-packed salad that’s begging to be the star of your next BBQ.
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Cajun Potato Salad (30 Minute Recipe!)
This Cajun potato salad recipe will have you and your guests relishing in its Southern-inspired flavors and special combination of creamy, crunchy textures.
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4-Ingredient Cucumber Salad Recipe
Make this cool cucumber salad with only four ingredients! This recipe has it all, and then some: bright and tangy flavors, crunchy veggies, and it’s ready in 15 minutes!
Get the recipe here
HOLLY BARNETT says
These recipes are so yummy looking m I found several,I MUST MAKE!!!!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Holly!