20 Easy Summer Sides That Come Together in Under 30 Minutes
Less time cooking means more time soaking up the sunshine.
Spending all afternoon in the sunshine means you’re probably worn out and peckish when dinnertime rolls around. Without the time, energy, or patience to follow a complicated, multi-step recipe at the end of a long day, fast family meals are key. Maybe you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or attending a summer potluck, and you’re in desperate need of a crowd-pleasing dish that comes together quickly and effortlessly. Whatever the occasion, efficiency is crucial on lazy summer nights.
Enter these easy summer side dishes! From hearty pasta salads to crunchy coleslaws, these dishes will be ready to eat in under 30 minutes. While many of these recipes come together in half an hour, some take as little as 20 minutes, 15 minutes, and even 10 minutes to whip up. And if you need to get a jump on dinner prep, there are several sides you can make days in advance.
Below, you’ll find summer sides for every kind of gathering. Of course, there are plenty of coleslaws, pasta salads, and potato salads for your next cookout. And while you’re grilling up burgers and steaks, you can toss sweet potatoes and tomatoes on there, too. A peach and burrata salad will look so beautiful at the center of your dinner party, and fried summer veggies will win over your kids during any family dinner. There are even fruit salads that’ll add a pop of sweetness to an otherwise savory spread. Regardless of your preferences, these summer sides take no more than 30 minutes to get on the table—and they won’t disappoint!
Watermelon, Tomato, and Mozzarella Salad
A Caprese salad is so tasty in the summer, but adding juicy watermelon gives it a fruity, refreshing upgrade without increasing the prep time—it’ll be ready in 20 minutes!
French Potato Salad With Mustard Vinaigrette
If you’re on the hunt for a mayo-free potato salad, this tangy alternative is made with a mustard vinaigrette that’ll brighten up any dinner in 30 minutes.
Get Ree’s French Potato Salad With Mustard Vinaigrette recipe.
Dill Pickle Slaw
This easy summer side is packed with briny pickles, crunchy cabbage, and fresh herbs. Best of all, it only takes 10 minutes to throw together for your next burger night.
Get Ree’s Dill Pickle Slaw recipe.
Italian Pasta Salad
With salami, mozzarella, olives, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese in every bite, you’d never guess this hearty summer side comes together in 15 minutes flat!
Get the Italian Pasta Salad recipe.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
The perfect mix of creamy and crunchy, this summer side is a satisfying addition to dinner. Since the cucumbers sit for up to 20 minutes, this recipe requires very little hands-on work.
Get Ree’s Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe.
Peach and Burrata Salad
While this side dish looks impressive, it’s such a breeze to pull together in 30 minutes. Juicy peaches in a honey-Dijon vinaigrette are piled onto a platter with creamy burrata, salty prosciutto, and fresh basil.
Get the Peach and Burrata Salad recipe.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
In under 20 minutes, thick rounds of sweet potatoes turn charred and caramelized on the grill. This summer side will taste amazing with chicken kebabs, seared steak, or juicy burgers.
Get the Grilled Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Fried Zucchini
For a quick summer side that might just outshine the main course, coat sliced zucchini in breadcrumbs and parmesan before frying them in hot oil. The golden, crispy dish will be ready to devour in 30 minutes.
Get the Fried Zucchini recipe.
Caprese Pasta Salad
To give a classic Caprese salad a little more staying power, turn it into a flavorful pasta salad in 25 minutes tops. This dish has all the key ingredients (plus pasta, of course), and a simple dressing keeps it light and fresh.
Get the Caprese Pasta Salad recipe.
Grilled Corn with Hot Honey Butter
These’s nothing like sweet corn on the cob in the summer, especially when it’s drenched in hot honey butter and takes 15 minutes to churn out.
Get Ree’s Grilled Corn with Hot Honey Butter recipe.
Ramen Noodle Salad
Toasted ramen noodles, sweet mandarin oranges, and chopped cashews liven up a classic coleslaw mix in under 30 minutes. Prep this summer side up to two days ahead, and serve it at your next backyard BBQ.
Get the Ramen Noodle Salad recipe.
Southern Fried Okra
For a little taste of the South, plate up some fried okra for your next summer meal. This side is crispy, comforting, and so quick to whip up in 20 minutes.
Get the Southern Fried Okra recipe.
Chickpea Salad
Use up that can of chickpeas in your pantry by tossing the beans with feta, avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, and a citrusy, garlicky dressing. You can prep this easy summer side in 20 minutes up to two days ahead.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Mango Salad
A hefty scoop of this 20-minute mango salad will give any summer meal a burst of sweet, tangy, slightly spicy flavors without the effort.
Get the Mango Salad recipe.
Steakhouse Slaw
Bacon, blue cheese, and a silky dressing make this summer side totally restaurant-worthy. Crank out the 30-minute recipe the night before, and serve it with a sizzling steak for dinner.
Esquites
All you need is 30 minutes to transform sweet summer corn into a fusion of zesty, creamy, spicy, cheesy flavors. It’s a summer side that feels right at home next to tacos.
Get the Esquites recipe.
Grilled Tomatoes
In a few minutes on the grill, ripe summer tomatoes become sweeter, juicier, and smokier than you could ever imagine. A sprinkle of fresh herbs and red pepper flakes balances out the flavors beautifully.
Get Ree’s Grilled Tomatoes recipe.
BLT Pasta Salad
Why not convert the ultimate summer sandwich into a 25-minute dish that’s so easy to serve and share? BLT pasta salad is full of the essentials, but it’s the ranch-flavored dressing that really takes it up a notch.
Get the BLT Pasta Salad recipe.
Fajita Vegetables
Make the most of seasonal bell peppers by coating them in a spicy, garlicky mix and cooking them until tender and charred. Shrimp, chicken, or steak is the perfect accompaniment to this 30-minute summer side.
Get Ree’s Fajita Vegetables recipe.
Green Bean Salad
To switch up your go-to summer salad, toss fresh green beans with goat cheese, almonds, olives, tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette. While this side is loaded with fresh flavor, it comes together in 20 minutes.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
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