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These 17 Summer Sides Are Why People Skip the Burgers

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When the grill is hot and the sun is out, no one wants heavy sides slowing things down. These cool dishes are crisp, refreshing, and just what a summer plate needs.

They’re the ones people scoop up first. From creamy classics to bright veggie blends, these recipes bring balance to smoky mains and hold their own at any backyard bash.

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Classic Pea Salad Recipe

Large bowl filled with pea salad.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Pea Salad is such a classic summer salad! This Pea Salad Recipe is perfect to make when my Mom is coming bacause it is both gluten and dairy free!
Get the Recipe: Classic Pea Salad Recipe.

Southwestern Salad

Close up of colorful Southwestern salad.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Southwestern Salad, with garbanzos, and chipotle, lime and roasted garlic dressing loaded with fresh veggies for a colorful summer salad!
Get the Recipe: Southwestern Salad.

Bacon Egg Potato Salad

Bacon, potato and egg salad in a bowl.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

This potato salad with bacon and eggs is incredibly easy. It’s one of my most requested salads for potlucks. Read on to find out my secret.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Egg Potato Salad.

Macaroni Salad with Tuna

Macaroni tuna salad in a bowl with egg.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Macaroni Salad with Tuna is a family favorite! It is so fast and easy to make Macaroni Salad with Tuna! Bring it to your next potluck!
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad with Tuna.

10 minute Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad

Colorful tomato and cucumber salad in a green bowl.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

This Cucumber Tomato Salad literally takes 10 minutes to make. Cucumber Tomato Salad is a wonderful, healthy, fresh salad to serve at your next summer BBQ!
Get the Recipe: 10 minute Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad.

Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Easy, & Delicious

Horizontal photo of broccoli salad with custom spoon.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

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.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Easy, & Delicious.

Grilled Shrimp Pasta Salad, Garlic Scape Pesto

Shrimp pasta salad on a plate.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

This Grilled Shrimp Pasta Salad with Garlic Scape Pesto is so fresh and delicious! Shrimp Pasta Salad is an easy addition to your next BBQ!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Pasta Salad, Garlic Scape Pesto.

Radish Salad

Bright Radish salad on a white plate with crumbled hard boiled eggs and shoots.Pin
Photo Credit: Cooked and Loved.

Vibrant radish salad with peas, avocado, and lemon mint dressing – fresh and perfect for spring, summer, or Easter.
Get the Recipe: Radish Salad.

Stone Fruit Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette

Colorful stone fruit salad with fresh mint leaves and crumbled cheese.Pin
Photo Credit: Chenée Today

Summer stone fruit salad with goat cheese, mint, and toasted almonds! Plus a honey-lemon stone fruit salad dressing for a peach fruit salad!
Get the Recipe: Stone Fruit Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette.

Easy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with deviled eggs.Pin
Photo Credit: Kim Schob.

Deviled egg pasta salad is a simple side dish that is made with tender pasta, mayonnaise, hard boiled eggs, relish, and more.
Get the Recipe: Easy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad.

Marry Me Pasta Salad

A bowl of pasta salad.Pin
Photo credit: Trop Rokcin’.

Marry Me Pasta Salad takes all the rich, creamy flavors you love from the famous Marry Me Chicken and turns them into a cold, hearty salad. It’s parmesan
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Pasta Salad.

Asparagus Radish Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing

Dark and moody photo of asparagus radish salad on a black plate with a grey towel.Pin
Photo Credit: Happy Kitchen Rocks.

Light and crisp asparagus radish salad with honey-mustard dressing is a perfect easy spring salad that everyone will love!
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Radish Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing.

Greek Orzo Salad

Orzo pasta salad on a plate.Pin
Photo Credit: My Everyday Table

Make your own Greek Orzo Salad with this easy recipe that includes tangy feta cheese and Kalamata olives for a tasty cold pasta dish
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Salad.

Radish Salad with Egg & Creamy Dressing (Keto, Gluten-Free)

Corn salad with radish and lime.Pin
Photo credit: Veggie Inspired.

This healthy radish and egg salad is a family favourite. Served with a creamy mayo dressing, it’s low-carb, keto and paleo friendly.
Get the Recipe: Radish Salad with Egg & Creamy Dressing (Keto, Gluten-Free).

Easy Macaroni Tuna Salad (Cold Pasta Salad Recipe)

A bowl od macaroni salad.Pin
Photo Credit: Kim Schob

Discover a delicious Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe that’s perfect for meal prep, featuring creamy dressing and fresh vegetables for a satisfying, refreshing dish.
Get the Recipe: Easy Macaroni Tuna Salad (Cold Pasta Salad Recipe).

Israeli Couscous Salad with Grilled Vegetables

A bowl of couscous salad.Pin
Photo credit: Caroline’s Cooking.

This Israeli couscous salad with grilled vegetables makes a great side or light vegetarian meal. Easy to make, adapt & can be made ahead. Great for summer.
Get the Recipe: Israeli Couscous Salad with Grilled Vegetables.

BLT Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with colorful tomatoes and leaf lettuce and cripsy bacon.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

BLT Pasta Salad is an easy side dish or a great salad to bring to a potluck! BLT Pasta Salad comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad.

The 12 Best 9×13 Cakes for When You Need Dessert Without the Fuss

A slice of black forest cake on a plate.Pin
Photo credit: The Dish Next Door.

A 9×13 cake is the perfect dessert for any occasion, offering a simple way to feed a crowd without the hassle. These cakes are easy to make and packed with flavor, making them a go-to for family gatherings, potlucks, or just because. With a variety of recipes to choose from, each one is designed to impress and satisfy every sweet craving. Get ready to enjoy the ultimate 9×13 cakes that are as delicious as they are simple.

Get the Recipes: 9×13 Cakes.

These Layer Cakes Taste Like Sunshine and Long Weekends

Carrot cake with nuts.Pin
Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

Layer cakes aren’t just dessert—they’re a full-blown event. Tall, dramatic, and packed with flavor, these cakes bring serious wow without needing bakery skills. Each slice shows off thick layers, rich fillings, and just the right amount of frosting. They’re the kind of cakes people can’t stop staring at, then ask for seconds before they finish their first bite. These recipes don’t play it safe, and that’s exactly why everyone’s obsessed.
Get the Recipes: Layer Cakes.

Dinner in 30 Minutes That Aren’t Chicken or Boring

Pork chops on a black plate with side dishes.Pin
Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

When time is tight and you’re looking for something quick, these 30-minute meals are the answer. Packed with flavor and made without chicken, these recipes offer a delicious variety of options to keep your meals exciting. Perfect for busy nights, these dishes will have you fed in no time without sacrificing taste. Enjoy simple yet satisfying meals that everyone will love!
Get the Recipes: 30-Minute Dinners That Aren’t Chicken.

Cupcakes with strawberries.Pin
Photo Credit: Chenee Today.

Cookies always show up at potlucks, but they’re not the only crowd-pleasing option. These desserts break the mold with bars, cakes, no-bake wonders, and creamy classics that keep people coming back for more. Every dish is easy to share, simple to make, and built to travel. You won’t find any cookies here. Just bold flavors, fun textures, and guaranteed clean plates.
Get the Recipes: 19 Potluck Desserts That Go Way Beyond the Cookie Tray.

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