20 Summer Side Dishes You Can’t Afford to Miss This Season
Suitable side dishes can improve your summer dining experience. This season is all about bright colors, fresh vegetables, and herbs that bring your dishes to life. From zesty salads and grilled vegetables to simple pasta creations, these side dishes aren’t just add-ons; they can be the show’s stars. With so many BBQs in the summer, you need an extensive repertoire of side dish recipes to pair with the day’s protein.
Tomato Cucumber Salad
This Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad takes 10 minutes to make. It is a beautiful, healthy, fresh salad to serve at your next summer BBQ; the whole family will love it. Get the Recipe: Tomato Cucumber Salad.
Southwestern Garbanzo Salad
With garbanzos and topped with a chipotle, lime, and roasted garlic dressing, Southwestern Salad has a kick from the chipotle in the dressing. Load it with fresh veggies and a colorful, delicious summer salad! Get the Recipe: Southwestern Garbanzo Salad.
Bacon and Egg Potato Salad
This potato salad with bacon and eggs is straightforward. It’s one of my most requested salads for potlucks—creamy potatoes with many vegetables, crispy bacon, and hard-boiled eggs with a creamy dressing. Read on to find out my secret ingredient. Get the Recipe: Bacon and Egg Potato Salad.
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Macaroni Salad with Tuna is an easy salad that everyone will love. Use fresh spices, lots of vegetables, and perfectly al dente pasta to put this easy salad together when it takes to cook the pasta. Garnish it with edible flowers for a special touch. These are nasturtiums. Get the Recipe: Tuna Macaroni Salad.
BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad is an easy, delicious side dish for summer picnics and cookouts on the patio or for a dish to pass at your next gathering! It can be finished when it takes a while to boil the pasta, and everyone will love it! Use fresh cherry tomatoes from your garden in this recipe. Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad
What is the secret to making fresh fruit salad? Why fresh fruit, of course. Learn all of my secrets to having perfectly ripe fruit salad year-round. We’ll also give you step-by-step directions for making it. Get the Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad.
Pea Salad
Pea Salad is a classic spring salad. This pea salad recipe is perfect for when my mom comes because it is gluten—and dairy-free. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to assemble. It’s so much easier than potato salad. Get the Recipe: Pea Salad.
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad with Raisins is a fresh, easy side salad for your next BBQ or potluck. It only takes less than 30 minutes to make. We have made This vintage potluck side dish for many years. It is crispy, fruity, creamy, and oh-so-very-good! Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad.
Spicy Coleslaw
Spicy coleslaw is a zesty twist on the classic side dish, perfect for those who love a little extra kick in their meals. This recipe combines crisp vegetables with a fiery dressing, creating a deliciously bold and refreshing salad. Buy a pre-cut coleslaw mix; you don’t have to cut up cabbage. Get the Recipe: Spicy Coleslaw.
Pineapple Coleslaw
Whether you need a dish to pass for a potluck or you are enjoying some delicious seafood tacos, this Pineapple slaw is just what you need. It’s delicious with ham, seafood, and pork. It’s effortless and will be a hit every time. Get the Recipe: Pineapple Coleslaw.
Patriotic Jello Mold
Add a burst of red, white, and blue to your summer holiday celebrations with a delicious and patriotic Jello salad! This colorful and refreshing treat is the perfect addition to your Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day festivities, and it’s sure to impress your guests with its vibrant layers and sweet flavors. Get the Recipe: Patriotic Jello Mold
Four Bean Baked Beans
Everyone who tries these Easy Baked Beans agrees they are the best they have ever had. They are one of the most requested side dishes for summer picnics and potlucks. Creamy, flavorful, and delicious, these beans are never dry. Get the Recipe: Four Bean Baked Beans.
Foil Packet Grilled Potatoes
These Foil-Packet Grilled Potatoes are spiced up with roasted garlic and herbs of your choice. They are an easy, delicious summer dish with zero beef, pork, or poultry cleanup. Get the Recipe:Foil Packet Grilled Potatoes.
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Asparagus is one of the easiest side dishes to make in the summer. It’s simple and delicious and takes only about 5 minutes to prepare. Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus.
Smoked Baked Beans
Today, we’re elevating the classic flavors of baked beans with a smoky twist. Smoked baked beans will elevate these flavors to new heights. Smoking these delicious four-bean baked beans adds a whole new dimension of flavor. Get the Recipe: Smoked Baked Beans.
Smoked Baked Potato
Today, we’re elevating the classic flavors of baked beans with a smoky twist. Smoked baked beans will elevate these flavors to new heights. Smoking these delicious four-bean baked beans adds a whole new dimension of flavor. Get the Recipe: Smoked Baked Potato.
Smoked Sweet Potato
Smoked sweet potatoes combine the rustic allure of smoking with this root vegetable’s rich sweetness. These pair well with beef, poultry, and pork dishes. Smoke them next to your protein of choice. Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Potato.
Smoked Pineapple
This Smoked Pineapple with brown sugar rub is excellent for sweet desserts and as a side for your favorite smoked proteins. Serve it alongside chicken or seafood, or make a dessert with a simple pound cake and ice cream. Get the Recipe: Smoked Pineapple.
Smoked Potatoe Wedges
These Smoked Potatoes are an effortless side dish you can put in the smoker when you smoke your main dish. Get the Recipe: Smoked Potato Wedges
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Smoked mac and cheese is a delicious twist on classic comfort food that incorporates added smokiness’s rich and savory flavor. It boasts three cheeses, including Velveeta, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese, to make it extra creamy and tasty. Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac and Cheese.
17 Creative Sausage Recipes That Are Bursting with Flavor
Imagine a world where every meal promises excitement yet comfort, where simple ingredients transform into unforgettable meals. That’s the power of sausage! From smoky breakfast links to spicy Italian delights, sausages offer a versatile foundation for many dishes that are easy to make and impossible to resist. Check out our collection of sausage recipes and discover how each dish brings everyone to your table. Get the Recipes: Sausage Recipes.
15 Meals That Maximize Budgets and Appetites
If you want to dine well without draining your wallet, our 15 budget-friendly dinner ideas are your ultimate guide to keeping your meals exciting and your finances in check. Discover how to whip up delicious dinners that won’t break the bank but will always leave your family asking for seconds. Say goodbye to bland meals and hello to flavors that thrill, all while keeping your budget happily intact. Take advantage of these wallet-friendly wonders! Get the Recipes: Budget-Friendly Recipes.
