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Firing up the grill is one of the easiest ways to get dinner on the table during the hot summer months. It’s quick and flavorful—and makes cleanup easy! And if you really want to keep things simple, you’ll put our favorite kebab recipes to good use. Whether they’re stacked with hearty pieces of steak, pork, or even grilled veggies, the skewered dishes are always a hit. They even make for a fun addition to a big backyard cookout or 4th of July spread. But you can’t just serve up skewers on their own—you’ll need these tasty side dishes for kebabs to make the menu complete.
Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best BBQ sides, like Ree Drummond’s skillet cornbread, baked beans, and creamy ranch slaw. All of these dishes would be perfect for feeding a crowd, but we’ve also made sure to include some ideas that work for easy weeknights, too. For instance, Greek chicken kebabs would be delicious with a side of Greek lemon potatoes and herby tabbouleh. Or, try placing a couple of shrimp kebabs over the Southwestern salad for a light and heathy family meal. You can even serve your favorite beef kebabs over an orzo salad or a pile of fluffy rice and beans. There’s something for everyone on this list!
Ranch Slaw
A creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is the key to this colorful slaw. It only takes 15 minutes to make so it's practically a no brainer for any cookout.
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad
The combination of sweet watermelon and salty feta is so unique! It's one of the best ways to serve up a summery orzo salad.
Get Ree's Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad recipe.
Tabbouleh
This Middle Eastern grain salad is loaded with fresh herbs. Whether you grow them in your garden or buy them at the store, you don't want to be shy with the parsley and mint.
Get the Tabbouleh recipe.
Cucumber Salad
If you're serving up meaty kebabs made with beef, chicken, or pork, then you might want to keep things light with this cucumber salad. It's the perfect balance of refreshing and crisp.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Skillet Cornbread
You can't go wrong with a slice of cornbread! This one gets golden and crisp thanks to the cast iron skillet.
Get Ree's Skillet Cornbread recipe.
Black Beans and Rice
Any fluffy pile of plain white rice can work as a side for kebabs, but why not take things up a notch? This recipe is packed with flavor thanks to garlic, cumin and cayenne, black beans, lime juice, and fresh cilantro.
Get the Black Beans and Rice recipe.
Corn Salad
This fresh corn salad is cheesy and smoky with a pop of spice from the jalapeño. Don't forget to serve it up with lime wedges for even more flavor.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Southwestern Salad
This big bowl of greens is packed with mix-ins, like beans, veggies, avocado, and cheese. The only thing that could make it heartier would be a few skewers of shrimp, chicken, or even beef.
Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.
Red Potato Salad
This creamy potato salad is anything but boring thanks to the crunchy celery, bits of crispy bacon, and fresh dill. It'll have everyone coming back for a second scoop.
Get the Red Potato Salad recipe.
Couscous Salad
Grains are a great side dish for any kebab recipe and this couscous salad is no exception! It's colorful and bright with sweet pomegranate seeds and toasted walnuts throughout.
Get the Couscous Salad recipe.
Baked Beans
Once you try this method for making baked beans, you'll never look back! They're smoky, sweet, tangy, but it's really all about that layer of bacon on top.
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Southwestern Pasta Salad
Any chicken, beef, or even vegetable kebabs would pair well with this Southern-inspired pasta salad. It's packed with corn, avocado, pinto beans, and a smoky chipotle dressing.
Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.
Greek Lemon Potatoes
Salad isn't the only side dish for kebabs. You can also go with something heartier like lemony roasted potatoes.
Get the Greek Lemon Potatoes recipe.
Caprese Pasta Salad
This dish is everything you love about a caprese salad—including the juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil—with the addition of noodles!
Get the Caprese Pasta Salad recipe.
Chickpea Salad
This salad is a celebration of fresh veggies, including cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, and bell peppers. The chickpeas and feta cheese help bulk it up, too.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
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