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Any of these BBQ side dishes will make everyone at your cookout happy! There are some incredibly tasty options like smoked asparagus spears, Korean cucumber salad, and Caribbean rice and peas, just to name a few. If you’re expecting a crowd, consider making several of these. A few well-chosen sides can elevate the whole meal and add a real wow factor!
Smoked Asparagus
Elevate your asparagus game with this simple and flavorful smoked asparagus recipe, perfect as a side dish for any occasion. With a buttery lemon taste and smoky aroma, it’s sure to be a hit at your next BBQ!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Asparagus
Garden Veggie Macaroni Salad
For a colorful and healthy lunch or side dish, try this garden veggie macaroni salad with a creamy avocado dressing. The garlic, horseradish, and avocado dressing pairs perfectly with the pasta and veggies, creating a fresh and flavorful salad that is sure to impress. Elevate your next pasta meal with this fresh vegetable salad recipe that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Get the Recipe: Garden Veggie Macaroni Salad
Smoked Elote
Mexican street corn, also known as elote, is a popular corn on the cob dish served with lime juice, chili lime powder, herbs, and cheese in Mexico. This simple recipe is perfect as a side dish with any grilled protein, and the smoky flavor of the corn adds a delicious touch.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Elote
Smoked Cream Cheese
Get ready for a brand new flavour experience with this recipe for smoked cream cheese. Perfect for a pellet grill or Traeger smoker, this jalapeno and cheese appetizer dip is a must-try.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cream Cheese
Smoked Italian Pasta Salad
Add some smoky flavour to your favorite pasta salad with this delicious smoked Italian pasta salad recipe. Packed with pepperoni, salami, mozzarella cheese, and a pepperoncini dressing, it’s the perfect dish for your summer BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Italian Pasta Salad
Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad
Try this Tex Mex chicken pasta salad that combines the best of all worlds – a southwest pasta salad with chicken. Bursting with color and flavor, this salad is perfect for a BBQ or as a flavorful dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad
Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad
This authentic Italian burrata caprese salad is a delicious side dish or appetizer that features heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese, with balsamic vinegar and truffle salt for added flavor. With every bite, you’ll savor the delicious flavors of this simple yet impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad
Elote Street Corn Kale Salad
This Mexican inspired Elote Street Corn Kale Salad is a delicious and refreshing salad inspired by the flavors of street corn. With a mix of colorful and textured ingredients, and a spicy yogurt lime dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next meal.
Get the Recipe: Elote Street Corn Kale Salad
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
Loaded deviled eggs such as these Bloody Mary eggs are always a welcome part of the BBQ, cookout, or picnic table. They’re also a handy snack at any time since you can make these unique gourmet deviled eggs ahead.
Get the Recipe: Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
Smoked Potato Salad with Bacon
This recipe for smoked potato salad with bacon combines the smoky flavors of potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, making it an ideal dish for summer gatherings and barbecues that will surely impress your guests.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Potato Salad with Bacon
Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
This refreshing watermelon feta cucumber salad is a colorful and easy-to-make side dish that brings together sweet, savory, and tangy flavors inspired by Greek cuisine. With only 4 ingredients for the salad and 3 for the dressing, this easy salad recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for a last-minute addition to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
Hot Girl Summer Salad
This Hot Girl Summer Salad is made with cucumbers, green pepper, red onion, eggs, Italian dressing, and more for a quick, easy, and refreshing lunch or snack!
Get the Recipe: Hot Girl Summer Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw
If you’re searching for an alternative to coleslaw, consider trying this Brussels sprout slaw. Made with a combination of shaved Brussels sprouts and cabbage, and dressed with a tangy lemon apple cider vinaigrette, this salad is the perfect side dish for BBQs and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw
Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
Simple ingredients combine to make this Tuscan classic. Juicy fresh tuna pairs with beans for a Tuscan tuna white bean salad everyone will enjoy. It makes a tasty meal, whatever the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
Antipasto Board
Make the Italian antipasto board or holiday antipasto wreath your new appetizer tradition – a delicious party platter featuring a variety of cheeses, deli meats, vegetables, and a flavorful garlicky herb dressing that’s sure to please every palate.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Board
7 Layer Salad
Looking for a make-ahead salad or side dish for the holidays or a party? This traditional 7 Layer Salad is what you need. With layers of chopped lettuce, peas, celery, onions, bacon, cheese and a dressing this is always a favorite recipe!
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad
Cranberry Fluff Salad
Quick and easy Cranberry Fluff Salad is a hit side dish recipe for Thanksgiving! Cranberries, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows in Cool Whip make a sweet and tangy salad that no one can resist.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Fluff Salad
Italian Pasta Salad
a summertime staple that’s filled with deliciously crisp and fresh flavors that’s made with a homemade zesty dressing! The perfect side dish to bring to BBQs and picnics!
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
Loaded Zucchini Boats (Potato Skins)
These Loaded Keto Zucchini Boats (aka low-carb potato skins) are a perfect appetizer for parties, game days, holidays, or any time you want a flavorful and filling snack. You can have this baked zucchini appetizer prepped, baked, and ready to enjoy in less than 1 hour!
Get the Recipe: Loaded Zucchini Boats (Potato Skins)
Corn Ribs
Dad might make a meal of these corn ribs, but just in case, you might want to serve something alongside of them, like burgers and hot dogs.
Get the Recipe: Corn Ribs
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Prepare a crowd-pleasing BBQ side dish with this flavorful recipe for baked beans with ground beef. Infused with delicious spices and enhanced by the addition of ground beef, these southern-style baked beans are a hit at any gathering, earning you requests for the recipe. Whether it’s a cookout, family reunion, holiday party, or any occasion, these easy-to-make baked beans can be enjoyed as a side and need to be on your list of the best BBQ side dish recipes.
Get the Recipe: Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado
If you’re a seafood lover, you have to give Mexican shrimp ceviche a try. With its fresh ingredients and tangy flavors, it’s a dish that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado
Parmesan Truffle Polenta Fries
These crispy polenta fries, flavored with parmesan and truffle, are perfect as a side dish or appetizer and can be paired with a delicious truffle mayo dipping sauce. If you serve them at your next gathering, your guests are sure to ask for the recipe!
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Truffle Polenta Fries
Giardiniera
An authentic Italian giardiniera recipe consists of Italian pickled vegetables, making it the perfect condiment for Italian sandwiches, cured meats, cheese, grilled meats, pasta salads, and charcuterie boards. With fresh peppers and veggies, it adds a burst of flavor to any dish.
Get the Recipe: Giardiniera
Loaded Poutine
Indulge in Canada’s most beloved dish, the delicious poutine, perfect for satisfying any comfort food cravings. Smothered with cheese curds, bacon, and gravy, this tasty dish is a must-try for fry lovers.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Poutine
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Pancetta
Elbow noodles pair up with gouda cheese, white cheddar, garlic, pancetta or bacon, shallots, and more, to create this seriously impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Pancetta
One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn
The combination of gouda, cream cheese and heavy cream gives this cheesy corn casserole recipe a rich taste and it’s a cozy, comforting side dish the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn
PF Chang’s Fried Rice
PF Chang’s fried rice is so good but it isn’t always convenient to go there when you crave your fried rice recipe fix. For that reason, a copycat recipe for homemade fried rice is well worth knowing.
Get the Recipe: PF Chang’s Fried Rice – Copycat Recipe
Maple Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
These oven roasted green beans with bacon are salty, sweet and buttery. They pair with pretty much anything. Try them with chicken, steak
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Gouda
Elevate a classic side dish with creamy smoked mashed potatoes, combining browned butter, sour cream, and rich Gouda for a hickory-infused flavor that complements any meal—prepare to be pleasantly hooked on this newfound favorite cooking technique. You will be adding this to your list of the best BBQ side dish recipes.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Gouda
Potstickers
Potstickers are such a wonderful treat! These bite-sized pork dumplings are simple to prepare, and they come with a delicious sesame dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Potstickers
Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Air fryer fiesta chicken stuffed poblano peppers, or Mexican chicken stuffed peppers, offer a true south of the border flavour. Chicken is flavoured with cumin, salt, pepper, and margarita mix and the recipe also includes poblanos, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cotija cheese.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad
As the weather gets warmer, this radicchio endive chicken salad with creamy honey mustard dressing is a fresh and delicious option for a filling summer meal. With its unique combination of flavors and textures, including tender chicken and crisp veggies, it’s a must-try recipe for anyone looking for a simple and satisfying dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad
Cobb Salad
This homemade Cobb salad with leftover ham is a delicious and visually stunning meal salad that’s perfect for summer. With a beautiful arrangement of ingredients including crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh veggies, it’s a must-try recipe for anyone looking for a filling and satisfying dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Cobb Salad
Best Ever Baked Potatoes
Perfect baked potato is the prep, because if you don’t prep them right, that’s it, game over. First of all, I don’t care what you (or my husband) says, a baked potato is cooked in the oven, not the microwave. You just can’t beat the oven crisped skin of a russet potato, yes, those are the best kind to use!
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Baked Potatoes
Texas Cowboy Caviar Dip
Despite its name, this Texan recipe doesn’t actually contain any fish or caviar, but it’s a delicious and colorful appetizer that’s perfect for summer barbecues, and a great option for those looking for a vegan Southwest-style dip or a bean and corn salsa.
Get the Recipe: Texas Cowboy Caviar Dip
Antipasto Skewers
Impress your guests with easy-to-make antipasto skewers, perfect for any occasion! Made with classic Italian flavors, these crowd-pleasing bites are ideal for parties, picnics, and more.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Skewers
Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Try this sweet potato kale salad, packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like sweet potatoes, kale, and crispy chickpeas, and topped with plump prunes, tangy pomegranate, and creamy feta cheese. Don’t miss the homemade pomegranate vinaigrette dressing, which adds a tangy and creamy finish to this flavorful dish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
Add a flavorful kick to your BBQ spread with these addictive honey sriracha brussels sprouts—crispy oven-roasted sprouts coated in a sweet and spicy honey and sriracha glaze. With their versatility and ability to complement a wide range of dishes, brussels sprouts are transformed into a delightful cookout side that packs both heat and sweetness, making them a fun and tasty addition to your next meal.
Get the Recipe: Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara
Ideal for any pasta lover, this delicious Italian recipe combines roasted cauliflower florets with a creamy sauce that includes bacon or pancetta and parmesan cheese. It comes out of the oven perfectly golden brown and caramelized and is sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara
Charred Corn Avocado Salad
This Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Roasted Red Onions combines all the fresh flavours of summer in a salad bowl. Sweet, smoky charred corn mixed with avocado, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions and a lemon Dijon dressing makes it a perfect side salad for any barbecue or potluck gathering.
Get the Recipe: Charred Corn Avocado Salad
Flaky Butter Biscuits
Indulge in the best-ever biscuits with this simple and foolproof recipe. With just 6 basic ingredients and easy preparation by hand, these flaky, buttery, and incredibly soft biscuits are perfect as a BBQ side dish, for breakfast with butter, or paired with clotted cream and jam for a delightful afternoon tea treat.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Butter Biscuits
Jamaican Rice and Peas
Transport your taste buds to the tropical islands with this quick and flavorful Jamaican Rice and Peas recipe, featuring coconut rice, aromatic spices, and the optional kick of a scotch bonnet or habanero pepper. Whether you’re hosting a summer gathering or simply craving a taste of the tropics, this crowd-pleasing BBQ side dish is sure to impress with its vibrant flavors and easy preparation.
Get the Recipe: Jamaican Rice and Peas
Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad
This Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is a light and delicious addition to your summer gatherings. No cooking required and it’s ready in just 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad
Shaved Asparagus Salad
This Shaved Asparagus Salad is made with raw asparagus ribbons, quinoa, strawberries, arugula, and shaved parmesan. It’s a beautifully fresh spring salad that can be served as a side or a full meal!
Get the Recipe: Shaved Asparagus Salad
Grilled Eggplant
This perfectly charred tender Grilled Eggplant is so delicious topped with fresh chopped mint and a garlic sauce that will knock your socks off! It’s incredibly good and a fantastic light 30-minute summer dish that is both quick and easy! Add this to your list of favourite BBQ side dish recipes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Eggplant
House Salad
Enjoy the taste of your favorite restaurant starter at home with this easy-to-make house salad. Loaded with fresh vegetables, crunchy croutons, cheese, and bacon bits, simply toss everything together and serve with your preferred dressing for a versatile BBQ side dish that pairs perfectly with just about everything.
Get the Recipe: House Salad
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Elevate your barbecue spread with the ultimate smoked mac and cheese, featuring a delectable blend of cheddar, Gouda, and Gruyère cheeses, topped with crispy panko crumbs. This irresistible cheesy pasta side dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, making it a must-have for both summer barbecues and festive holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac and Cheese
Grilled Corn Salad
Embrace the flavors of summer with this vibrant grilled corn salad that’s perfect for BBQ side dishes. Skip the heavier ingredients and indulge in the simplicity of fresh corn, making it a refreshing and versatile option for weekend camping trips, lakeside days, or casual backyard gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Salad
Big Mac Salad
Satisfy your fast food cravings while keeping it light and healthy with this guilt-free Big Mac Salad. Packed with seasoned beef, lettuce, pickles, onions, special sauce, and cheese, this salad is a satisfying option that hits the spot for a healthier indulgence. Perfect as a BBQ side or for a summer gathering.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad
Cold Green Bean Salad Recipe
Prepare this refreshing cold green bean salad, perfect as a main course or BBQ side dish throughout the summer. With fresh veggies, mozzarella cheese, and a flavorful herby vinaigrette dressing, this quick and easy green bean and tomato salad can be ready in under 15 minutes, adding a burst of freshness to your meals.
Get the Recipe: Cold Green Bean Salad Recipe
Canned Corn, Black Bean and Avocado Salad
Revitalize your BBQ spread with this flavorful canned corn, black bean, and avocado quinoa salad that will banish blandness from your plate. Packed with sweet corn, smoky black beans, creamy avocado, tangy feta, and a refreshing cilantro-lime dressing, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors. It’s a quick and easy all-rounder that can be ready in just 30 minutes, thanks to the use of canned corn.
Get the Recipe: Canned Corn, Black Bean and Avocado Salad
Pizza Zucchini Boats
Add a refreshing and tangy touch to your BBQ spread with these easy-to-make zucchini pizza boats make a delicious meal if want a healthier alternative to pizza.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Zucchini Boats
Classic Coleslaw
Whip up this quick and delicious classic coleslaw recipe in just minutes, leaving no need for store-bought versions. Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or craving a speedy weeknight dinner, this crunchy cabbage salad with its flavorful creamy dressing is the perfect side dish that can be prepared in just 10 minutes and even made ahead for up to 8 hours. It’s a delicious addition to any cookout or potluck gathering.
Get the Recipe: Classic Coleslaw
Coconut Cornbread with Sweet Lime Butter
Indulge in the tropical flavors of coconut cornbread, a delightful twist on the classic side dish that’s topped with zesty lime butter. With its sweet and nutty taste, this homemade cornbread is incredibly moist, buttery, and irresistibly delicious, making it the perfect addition to any BBQ spread or a delightful snack that will have you coming back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Cornbread with Sweet Lime Butter
Italian Couscous Salad
Italian Couscous Salad is delightfully simple and delicious featuring mozzarella, olives, salami, pepperoncinis, and a homemade dressing that you are going to love!
Get the Recipe: Italian Couscous Salad
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.