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25 BBQ Side Dishes: Because We Can’t Live On Meat Alone

Last Updated on June 15, 2023

Bored of the same old BBQ side dishes you’ve eaten a thousand times already? Here are 25 tasty options that will take your cookout to the next level.

A collage of the best bbq side dishes listed in the article below.
Where to begin??

I mean sure, you could just pick up a few tubs of premade coleslaw and macaroni salad from the supermarket and call it a day.

But that’s boring and lazy. With just a little bit of effort you can prepare some simple side dishes that will have your guests thinking you hired a professional caterer for your barbecue.

Of course, they don’t need to know how easy it was for you to make these sides. That will be our little secret! 🙂

Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

A delicious plate of corn on the cob with a creamy sauce, fresh cilantro, and feta cheese.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Water Peaches

Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elote, is a delicious way to enjoy grilled corn all spring and summer long! The sweet corn is grilled in the husk and topped with a creamy homemade sauce, fresh cilantro, and feta cheese.

Dairy-free Mexican Street Corn

Strawberry And Spinach Salad With Feta

A white bowl with sliced fresh strawberries, baby spinach, and feta cheese topped with balsamic dressing.,
Photo courtesy of me!

This super fresh strawberry and spinach salad is the perfect side dish for family dinner, a backyard barbecue, or a healthy lunch option. With just 4 ingredients (ripe strawberries, baby spinach, crumbly feta cheese and balsamic dressing) this healthy and refreshing salad comes together in no time.

Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese

Burrata Caprese

A white plate with freshly sliced tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese and garnished with basil.
Photo courtesy of Nibble and Dine

This burrata caprese is so easy to make in only about 15 minutes! Ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy burrata cheese are drizzled with a flavorful balsamic dressing. A lovely summer side dish you can make with only 8 ingredients!

Burrata Caprese

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

A bowl of bacon ranch pasta salad
Photo courtesy of Everyday Family Cooking

Bacon and ranch lovers, I have a recipe for you! This bacon ranch pasta salad is a delicious update on a classic. A hit at barbecues, you can also make it for lunch at home!

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

A bowl of couscous with cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber
Photo courtesy of Herbs and Flour

This Mediterranean Couscous Salad is packed with fresh vegetables and herbs and tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette. This healthy salad is easy to make and works great for meal prepping!

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Potato Salad With Bacon Egg And Cheese

Photo courtesy of Savor the Best

No picnic is complete without a delicious potato salad and this one is a dream! Full of flavor from the egg, bacon, and savory dressing, this amazing potato salad with bacon egg and cheese is sure to be everyone’s favorite side dish at your next summer cookout.

Potato Salad with Bacon Egg and Cheese

Grilled BBQ Pineapple With Cinnamon Glaze

A white plate with several skewers of grilled pineapple and some slime slices on the side.
Photo courtesy of Alekas Get Together

These Grilled BBQ Pineapple With Cinnamon Glaze are grilled to perfection with a spicy cinnamon glaze! They are an easy and super healthy summer cookout idea that everyone will LOVE! Best of all, you can serve them as an appetizer, a BBQ side dish OR as a dessert!

Grilled BBQ Pineapple With Cinnamon Glaze

Tomato And Avocado Salad With Grilled Corn

A bowl of tomato and avocado salad with grilled corn
Photo courtesy of Fit Mama Real Food

Welcome to this fresh and perfect for summertime tomato and avocado salad with grilled corn!  It is a healthy and flavor-packed side dish to take along to an outdoor BBQ, or to simply enjoy any night of the week at home! A light herby dressing brings the whole dish together.  Once the corn is grilled, it’s ready in minutes!

Tomato And Avocado Salad With Grilled Corn

Garlic Parmesan Fries

Garlic parmesan fries on a plate with a small dish of ketchup.
Photo courtesy of me!

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love French fries. Frankly, I don’t want to know anyone who doesn’t love fries! Crispy and golden brown on the outside and light and fluffy inside, fries are pretty much the perfect BBQ side dish. These Garlic Parmesan Fries are easy to make at home in your oven or air fryer and they’re so good you’ll think you’re in a fancy steakhouse.

Garlic Parmesan Fries

Southwest 3 Bean Salad

A white bowl full of 3 bean salad with beans, corn, onions, red peppers, and slices of lime.
Photo courtesy of Plant Power Couple

This vegan Southwest 3-bean salad is the perfect side dish to bring with you to any summer party. It’s easy to make and tasty to eat! Packed with healthy fiber-rich and protein-packed ingredients like black beans, white beans, kidney beans, corn, red onions, and peppers. Finish it with a zesty lime dressing to bring it all together!

Southwest 3 Bean Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad With Sundried Tomatoes

A rustic bowl full of pesto pasta salad with sundried tomatoes
Photo Courtesy of Sugar and Snap Peas

Pesto Pasta Salad with Sundried Tomatoes starts with fusilli pasta, and is tossed with fresh basil, creamy pesto and juicy cherry tomatoes. Walnut pieces are added for crunch and the pasta salad is finished off with grated parmesan cheese. This easy pasta salad is an excellent side dish for your next cookout or family gathering!

Pesto Pasta Salad With Sundried Tomatoes

BLT Coleslaw

A bowl of BLT coleslaw
Photo courtesy of Served From Scratch

Take that cookout classic to the next level! This BLT Coleslaw is a creamy coleslaw recipe that has all the bacon, lettuce, and tomato you love from that staple sandwich and combines it into one unique and delicious summer side dish!

BLT Coleslaw

Italian Pasta Salad

A white bowl with Italian pasta salad including farfalle pasta, cherry tomatoes, salami, scallions, and black olives.
Photo courtesy of Simply Stacie

Italian Pasta Salad is the best BBQ side dish! This pasta salad recipe is made with a simple homemade Italian vinaigrette and filled with tender pasta, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and salami.

Italian Pasta Salad

Dr Pepper Baked Beans

A pot full of baked beans and bacon with a can of Dr Pepper
Photo courtesy of Sweet Tea And Thyme

With a unique and amazing flavor and how easy it is to make, these sweet and savory dr. pepper baked beans are a delicious side dish for any BBQ or tailgating party.

Dr Pepper Baked Beans

Broccoli Crunch Salad With Bacon And Raisins

Closeup of broccoli crunch salad in a white bowl.
Photo courtesy of Delicious By Design

This salad is a summer potluck classic. Crunchy raw broccoli, crisp bacon, sweet raisins, sunflower seeds, and creamy dressing are the perfect combination for this fresh tasty salad.

Broccoli Crunch Salad With Bacon And Raisins

Grilled And Stuffed Avocado

Two grilled avocado halves stuffed with pico de gallo sitting on a cutting board.
Photo courtesy of In The Kitch

Avocadoes are grilled and stuffed with a fresh, homemade pico de gallo in this grilled avocado recipe. The green color of the avocado becomes more vibrant after grilling, contrasting well with the grill marks and red filling. It’s such an easy, quick and fun way to offer up a new summer side for your guests!

Grilled And Stuffed Avocado

Mexican Street Corn Salad

A bowl of Mexican street corn
Photo courtesy of Gypsy Plate

This Mexican Street Corn Salad is going to be the new star at all of your cookouts and potlucks. When everyone else shows up with yet another pasta or potato salad, the crowd will gather around these amazing flavors that come from just a few simple ingredients. Give this easy salad a try and see why Mexican street corn is taking the world by storm.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Smoked Sweet Potatoes with Whipped Hot Honey Butter

Smoked sweet potatoes topped with a whipped honey butter
Photo courtesy of Smoked Meat Sunday

This recipe for smoked sweet potatoes with hot honey butter has a good chance of outshining any protein you might be preparing. Seriously, this is one of those side dishes that goes fast, so make sure to prepare extra if you’re cooking for a crowd.

Smoked Sweet Potatoes with Whipped Hot Honey Butter

Peach Avocado Salsa

A bowl of peach avocado salad.
Photo courtesy of Mae’s Menu

Celebrate summer produce with this fresh Peach Avocado Salsa. It’s crunchy, naturally sweet, and has a smooth, yet bright finish. For extra summer flavor, pick up your veggies at the local farmers market. From there, this recipe will be ready in under 10 minutes!

Peach Avocado Salsa

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

A blue plate with a serving of strawberry pretzel salad
Photo courtesy of The Cookin’Chicks

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is an old-fashioned treat everyone will enjoy! A perfect blend of salty and sweet. Featuring a buttery pretzel crust, followed by a light cream cheese layer, and mouthwatering strawberry Jell-O topping filled with more strawberries! This pretzel salad is a Southern, no-bake dessert that has been popular at potlucks, picnics, gatherings, and more!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Easy Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad

A bowl of deviled egg macaroni salad with paprika sprinkled on top.
Photo courtesy of Kim Schob

Whip up a batch of this deviled egg macaroni salad for an easy side dish to serve up for dinner. This macaroni salad recipe is made with pasta, hardboiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, pickle relish and more. Give this egg pasta salad a try this week.

Easy Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad

Strawberry Watermelon Salad With Feta

A white bowl full of strawberry and watermelon salad.
Photo courtesy of Flavour and Savour

Enjoy your favourite flavours of summer with this vibrant Strawberry Watermelon Salad recipe. Juicy watermelon and sweet ripe strawberries mingle with briny feta cheese and fresh mint to create the most refreshing summer salad!

Strawberry Watermelon Salad With Feta

Lemon Basil Orzo Salad

A bowl of lemon basil orzo salad
Photo courtesy of Joyful Balance

This Lemon Basil Orzo Salad is the perfect BBQ side dish or light lunch for summer! Fresh and flavorful, it’s so simple to make!

Lemon Basil Orzo Salad

Layered Bacon Cornbread Salad

A trifle dish filled with layers of cornbread, cherry tomatoes, bacon, beans, and bacon
Photo courtesy of The Savvy Mama Lifestyle

Call it a salad, or call it a meal, nobody can ever get enough of this Southern Bacon Cornbread Salad recipe! It’s a beautiful layered salad that’s served in a trifle dish and it’s hearty enough to be a meal itself or makes a stunning side dish. With layers of cornbread, cheese, salad dressing, tomato, beans & bacon – it’s a zesty flavor combination that only the South can come up with!

Layered Bacon Cornbread Salad

Pierogi Potato Salad

A plate of pierogi potato salad
Photo courtesy of Food Meanderings

Sometimes I like to make summer food even when it’s not summer. I guess if I’m eating summer food, I can pretend it’s summer for a short time or at least feel optimistic that summer will actually be here again one day. This Award-Winning Pierogi Potato Salad is perfect for summer or any time of year and a simple and unique take on potato salad.

Pierogi Potato Salad