55 Delicious Side Dishes To Make All Summer Long

You know how it is – Memorial Day kicks off the summer season and you want to impress with your cooking skills. Well, have no fear because we’ve put together 55 seriously delicious side dishes and salads that are going to knock everyone’s socks off. We’ve got all the bases covered for amazing sides that’ll have your guests begging for the recipes. And these aren’t just for Memorial Day – they’re perfect for keeping things fresh and exciting all summer long. Trust me, with Memorial Day sides like these, you’re going to be the MVP of the BBQ.

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.
Get the Recipe: Garden Veggie Macaroni Salad

Spicy Watermelon Jalapeño Salad

A spicy watermelon jalapeño salad with serious personality; think feta cheese, tajin and a sweet lime dressing with fresh herbs.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Watermelon Jalapeño Salad

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Slow cooker cowboy beans are a great option for a tailgate party, cookout or cozy family dinner. Slow cooking coaxes out all the flavor of the meat and the beans come out so tasty.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

BLT Pasta Salad

Make this BLT pasta salad recipe and enjoy the salty bacon, cheddar, and tomatoes, tossed together with salad, pasta, and a creamy dressing.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad

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

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

Italian Panzanella Salad

Panzanella salad is a refreshing summer side dish that combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and chunks of crusty bread, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It’s the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats and a delightful way to enjoy the flavors of the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Panzanella Salad

Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

This colourful, flavourful Italian rice salad is perfect for a picnic, potluck, summer BBQ, or as a versatile side dish for a simple lunch or dinner. Every mouthful of this Mediterranean brown rice salad is bursting with fresh ingredients such as tasty salad vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

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. Go ahead and add this to your list of the best summer side dish recipes!
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.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad

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

Juicy Grilled Pineapple

Juicy grilled pineapple coated in an amazing mixture of cinnamon and sugar make for the perfect side dish that everyone is going to go crazy over!
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Pineapple

Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Creamy bacon pea salad is an amazing and creamy side dish that is perfect for this summers cookouts! Packed with crunchy peas, loads of crispy bacon and cheese- all tossed in an incredible dressing!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Corn Salad

Easily assemble this zesty Mexican street corn salad with fresh, flavorful ingredients. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a midday snack!
Get the Recipe: Corn Salad

Creamy Broccoli With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This creamy broccoli with sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious stovetop broccoli side dish that can be made in only 25 minutes! Simply cook up broccoli florets and sun-dried tomatoes with spices before prepping an easy cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Watergate Salad

Watergate salad is the classic side salad that’s light, sweet, fluffy, and creamy! Made with just 6 ingredients including pineapple, pistachio pudding mix, marshmallows, maraschino cherries, pecans, and whipped topping!
Get the Recipe: Watergate Salad

Layered Loaded Chicken Taco Salad

Layered chicken taco salad is made with juicy chicken, avocado, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla chips, and more in this LOADED salad that’s EASY and ready in 15 minutes!! A creamy lime-cilantro dressing adds tons of FLAVOR!!
Get the Recipe: Layered Loaded Chicken Taco Salad

Best Ever Wedge Salad

This is the best ever wedge salad! With iceberg wedges, blue cheese, and crunchy bacon, it’s classic steakhouse fare, but our recipe includes a secret ingredient that gives it an extra delicious burst of flavor. Pair this super simple wedge salad with your favorite burger or steak for a simple, tasty meal.
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Wedge Salad

Caprese Garlic Bread with Arugula Pesto

Whether you pair it with your favorite pasta dish or call it dinner by itself, this Caprese garlic bread with arugula pesto will please the palate of any lover of Italian cuisine!
Get the Recipe: Caprese Garlic Bread with Arugula Pesto

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 side dish option. You will agree this one of the best summer side dish recipes!
Get the Recipe: Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad

Summer Farro Salad

This is sure to become one of your favourite summer side salad recipes. It’s a summer farro salad which is a beautiful rainbow salad filled with veggies, farro and a spicy peanut sauce.
Get the Recipe: Summer Farro 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

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

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.
Get the Recipe: Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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 summer side dish recipes.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Gouda

Whipped Cottage Cheese with Balsamic Strawberries

This whipped cottage cheese recipe with balsamic strawberries is an easy side dish that is perfect for the summer season. Loaded with hidden protein from the cottage cheese, combined with the combo of sweet and savory, this is a delicious and unique dip for the next time you’re hosting.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Cottage Cheese with Balsamic Strawberries

Vegan Ceviche with Watermelon

This vegan ceviche will make it possible. I’ve swapped out raw fish with watermelon and it’s made this ceviche perfect for the summer.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Ceviche with Watermelon

Radicchio Endive Salad

This radicchio endive chicken salad with creamy honey mustard dressing is a fresh and delicious option for a filling summer meal as the weather gets warmer. Its unique combination of flavors and textures, including tender chicken and crisp veggies, is a must-try salad recipe.
Get the Recipe: Radicchio Endive Salad

Cobb Salad

This homemade Cobb salad 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 salad recipe.
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.
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Baked Potatoes

Baked Potato Salad

Potato salad gets an upgrade with this tasty recipe. It has tender potatoes, creamy dressing and plenty of bacon crumbles for the perfect summer side dish recipe.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Salad

Strawberry Salad with Chicken

Bring the best flavors of summer like leafy greens and juicy berries to the table with this fresh and tasty salad. You are going to love the dressing on this paired with sweet and savory ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Salad with Chicken

Cucumber Dill Salad

You only need 3 ingredients to make this fresh and flavorful summer side. If you like cucumbers, you are sure to love this dish.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Dill Salad

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Tangy goat cheese is so delicious with walnuts, strawberries and greens. This vibrant salad is great for lunch, or pair it with grilled chicken for a great summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Avocado Coleslaw

This coleslaw brings two classics into one tasty summer side. Coleslaw meets guacamole in this option that doesn’t use mayo. Enjoy it on the side of a summer meal, or on top of a grilled hot dog.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Coleslaw

Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers

Baby eggplants are a perfect summer side. Roast these with garlic for a high fiber, low calorie side that is so good you might want to make it every week.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This simple side salad packs a lot of delicious Mediterranean flavors into one dish for the best summer side. Serve this with a vaariety of proteins for a really tasty addition to summer meals.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Pesto Cavatappi

If you like pesto, then this is the perfect pasta salad for summer. Make a big batch and serve it all week long. It is so tasty you won’t mind repeating side dishes.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Cavatappi

Bruschetta with Mozzarella

This easy bruschetta with mozzarella cheese makes for the best summer side or starter. Use fresh ingredients from the garden for the ultimate flavor.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Mozzarella

Best Macaroni Salad

Classic Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish for summer! Tender elbow macaroni is tossed in a creamy dressing and loaded with veggies and seasoning!
Get the Recipe: Best Macaroni Salad

Broccoli Salad

This Broccoli Salad is an easy, crunchy, and lightly sweetened side salad that’s perfect for BBQs and more! Made with fresh broccoli, grapes, cheese, sunflower seeds, bacon, and a delightful dressing!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad

Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad

Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad is a quick and easy salad that has a homemade cajun caesar dressing that makes this salad delicious!
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad

Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a delicious and healthy end of summer salad! This fig salad will be sure to WOW your tastebuds!
Get the Recipe: Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

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

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 a scotch bonnet or habanero pepper kick.
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 perfectly matches everything.
Get the Recipe: House Salad

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

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.
Get the Recipe: Canned Corn, Black Bean and Avocado Salad