50 Easy Summer Side Dishes to Serve This Season
They're the perfect way to make use of fresh produce!
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Grilled steaks, burgers, and hot dogs may be the usual stars of your summer celebrations and backyard cookouts, but let this be your reminder not to skimp out on the sides. After all, you can't have the perfect summer plate without some colorful seasonal side dishes to round it out. So, next time you fire up your grill or pull out your favorite picnic basket, make sure to whip up a few of these delicious summer side dishes, including pasta salads, potato salads, and grilled veggies galore!
With summer sides, there’s always an abundance of fresh seasonal produce to choose from. Try sweet corn recipes, juicy tomato recipes, zucchini recipes, and dishes using garden-fresh basil. Many of these sides, like the simple grilled eggplant and avocado salad, will add a healthy element to your summer dinner menu. Or, you can go the comfort food route and pick a few BBQ sides and picnic sides, like cornbread, coleslaw, and baked beans.
Either way, there are tons of options to choose from, and you can even mix-and-match to make the summer meal that's right for you. Then, serve them up with grilled chicken, pork, fish, or even as a side dish for steak. Just be sure to save some room for summer desserts and refreshing cocktails, of course! They'll round out the meal perfectly.
Cowboy Potatoes
Upgrade your summer cookouts with this hearty side! These crispy, golden potatoes are roasted to perfection with a smoky blend of paprika, garlic powder, and thyme. Then, the spuds are tossed with bacon and scallions for even more flavor.
Get Ree's Cowboy Potatoes recipe.
Asparagus Casserole
Casseroles are always a good choice! For this one, tender asparagus is enveloped in a creamy cheese sauce then topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and sliced almonds. It delivers a satisfying crunch in every bite.
Get the Asparagus Casserole recipe.
Roasted Carrots with Spring Herb Dip
Sweet and caramelized, these roasted carrots are seasoned with a smoky blend of paprika, cumin, and garlic powder for a bold, spiced kick. They perfectly pair with a creamy, tangy dip.
Get Ree's Roasted Carrots with Spring Herb Dip recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
Great as a dip with tortilla chips or as a side salad, this chunky dish is packed with crunch and versatility. It combines black-eyed peas, black beans, bell pepper, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños for a fresh, zesty kick.
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese
Requiring no boiling or baking, this comforting slow-cooker dish is a rich, creamy blend of American cheese, sharp cheddar, and smoked gouda.
Get the Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.
Ramen Noodle Salad
From picnics to potlucks, this salad will be the sunny surprise everyone craves! It combines crunchy toasted ramen noodles, cashews, and coleslaw mix with juicy mandarin orange slices. The homemade dressing adds a sweet and tangy taste, too.
Get the Ramen Noodle Salad recipe.
Ranch Slaw
While this recipe makes a delightfully refreshing side, it can also be served atop burgers! It's bursting with creamy, tangy, and herby flavors..
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Grilled Mushrooms
Slathered in a mouthwatering soy-garlic butter mixture and paired with green onions, these mushrooms are then threaded on skewers for easy grilling that gives a wonderfully smoky flavor.
Get the Grilled Mushrooms recipe.
Southern Fried Okra
Quick to make and endlessly flavorful, okra is an exceptional side for BBQ staples, grilled meats, or hearty Southern spreads. This recipe calls for coating the plant in a simple cornmeal and cayenne pepper mixture, then frying it to perfection.
Get the Southern Fried Okra recipe.
Corn Muffins
Corn muffins will complete any meal! Made tender with buttermilk and slightly sweetened with honey and sugar, they're a match made in heaven for summer cookouts. Serve them warm and slathered with creamy honey butter.
Get the Corn Muffins recipe.
Mango Salad
It hardly gets more summery than this salad that's packed with tropical sweetness and zesty flavors from a combination of juicy mango slices, crisp veggies like bell peppers and jicama, and fragrant herbs.
Get the Mango Salad recipe.
Asparagus Salad
Both light and satisfying, this seasonal salad comes together with crisp asparagus, radishes, bacon, fresh herbs, parmesan, and crunchy nuts—then it's all tossed in a lemony vinaigrette. It strikes the perfect balance of fresh flavor and unique texture.
Get the Asparagus Salad recipe.
Hushpuppies
Look no further for a golden-fried Southern treat that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Made from a savory cornmeal batter, these delightful bites pair perfectly with summer staples like fried catfish, barbecue, or coleslaw.
Get the Hushpuppies recipe.
Caprese Salad
This classic combination is the epitome of freshness. All it takes is thick slices of ripe tomatoes and creamy mozzarella that are delicately layered with fresh basil leaves and drizzled with a tangy balsamic reduction.
Get Ree's Caprese Salad recipe.
Grilled Veggie Skewers
Made with a medley of fresh zucchini, mushrooms, squash, cherry tomatoes, and more, these skewers are lightly seasoned and perfectly charred on the grill for a vibrant, healthy, and delicious side dish.
Get the Grilled Veggie Skewers recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Frilly bow tie pasta not only makes this salad super cute, but it provides plenty of pockets and ridges for the refreshing dressing to cling to. This picnic-perfect pasta salad is as colorful as it is flavorful, with loads of peas, ham, red bell pepper, green onions, and cheddar cheese.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Grilled Eggplant
This grilled eggplant is a little lighter than the fried variety but just as delicious! This recipe calls for salting the eggplant before grilling it to keep it tender on the inside and crisp on the outside.
Get the Grilled Eggplant recipe.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Creamy macaroni salad is paired with shredded carrot, crunchy celery, and onion in this easy recipe from the Aloha State. Its sweet and tangy flavor pairs perfectly with your favorite hearty BBQ mains, like ribs, pork chops, and even hot dogs!
Get the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.
Ranch Potatoes
We can all agree that potatoes are perfect on their own, but serving them up with creamy ranch takes the starch to another level! The crispy potatoes are also tossed in herby ranch seasoning mix for even more tangy ranch goodness.
Get the Ranch Potatoes recipe.
Avocado Salad
This light and delicious avocado salad makes for a cooling companion to all the smoky meats and veggies central to cookouts. Packed with creamy avocado, tomato, cucumber, green onion, and cilantro, you certainly won't miss the lettuce in this refreshing salad!
Get the Avocado Salad recipe.
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