Summer cookouts call for more than just sizzling main courses – they demand show-stopping sides that can stand up to those juicy burgers and smoky BBQ ribs! Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash or bringing a dish to share, the perfect accompaniment can elevate your entire meal from basic to brilliant.
From cool, crisp salads to hot, hearty classics with unexpected twists, these crowd-pleasing sides will have everyone reaching for seconds before they’ve finished their first helping.
1. Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Forget everything you thought you knew about potato salad! This rebellious reinvention marries two picnic legends – the humble baked potato and classic potato salad – into one mind-blowing side.
Chunks of red potatoes get tossed with sour cream, mayo, and all the fixings you’d pile onto a steaming spud: crispy bacon bits, sharp cheddar, chives, and a hit of ranch seasoning. The warm potatoes soak up all that creamy goodness.
2. Grilled Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
Sweet summer corn transforms into something otherworldly once it hits the grill. Charred kernels develop a smoky sweetness that’s the perfect canvas for the tangy, spicy, creamy madness that follows.
Slathered with mayo, dusted with cotija cheese, sprinkled with chili powder, and finished with a squeeze of lime – this is corn that demands to be noticed. The contrasting flavors explode with each bite: sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy all dancing together.
3. Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
Hot summer day, meet your cooling nemesis! This salad’s genius lies in its outrageous contrasts – juicy watermelon chunks collide with briny feta crumbles in a flavor explosion that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
Torn mint leaves add aromatic freshness while a drizzle of balsamic glaze brings surprising depth. The salt from the cheese magically intensifies the watermelon’s sweetness, creating a taste sensation that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
4. Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins
These aren’t your grandma’s cornbread muffins! Golden-crusted bombs of sweet cornmeal get a fiery kick from diced jalapeños – just enough heat to wake up your taste buds without setting them ablaze.
Studded with sweet corn kernels and cheddar cheese that creates irresistible melty pockets, each bite delivers the perfect sweet-spicy-savory balance. The crispy exterior gives way to a tender, moist center that practically begs to soak up BBQ sauce or burger juices.
5. Rainbow Slaw With Honey-Lime Dressing
Cabbage slaw gets a technicolor makeover that’s as beautiful as it is delicious! Purple cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and mango strips create an eye-popping rainbow that’ll make your Instagram followers drool with envy.
The real magic happens when you toss this vibrant veggie confetti with a zingy honey-lime dressing. Sweet, tangy, and with just enough bite from fresh ginger, it transforms humble vegetables into something extraordinary. No mayo means this slaw stays crisp for hours in the summer heat.
6. Smoky Baked Beans With Bacon
These are NOT the bland beans from a can! Slow-cooked to sticky, sweet perfection, these beans develop complex layers of flavor that’ll make your guests wonder if you’ve been tending them since dawn (your secret’s safe with me).
Bacon adds smoky depth while molasses, brown sugar, and a splash of bourbon create a rich sauce that clings to every bean. A hint of chipotle brings subtle heat that builds with each spoonful. The magic happens when the top layer caramelizes in the oven, creating irresistible chewy edges.
7. Charred Brussels Sprout Caesar
Brussels sprouts haters, prepare to eat your words – literally! These miniature cabbages undergo a miraculous transformation when halved and charred until their edges turn crispy and caramelized while their centers remain tender.
Tossed in a punchy garlic-anchovy dressing that clings to all those delicious nooks and crannies, these sprouts become utterly addictive. Shaved parmesan and homemade sourdough croutons add salty crunch, while a squeeze of lemon brightens everything up.
8. Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad
When the thermometer climbs, this cool-as-a-cucumber salad brings the temperature down! Paper-thin cucumber slices soak up a tangy dressing of Greek yogurt, fresh dill, and a splash of vinegar – creating the perfect cooling counterpoint to spicy BBQ.
The secret is salting the cucumbers first to draw out excess water, ensuring your salad stays crisp instead of soggy. Red onion adds gentle bite while the creamy dressing brings everything together without the heaviness of mayo.
9. Grilled Vegetable Antipasto Platter
Vegetables undergo a magical transformation on the grill! Zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, and asparagus develop smoky char marks and caramelized sweetness that elevate them from simple to spectacular.
Arranged artfully on a platter with marinated mozzarella balls, olives, and prosciutto, these grilled gems create a stunning display that doubles as appetizer and side dish. A drizzle of balsamic glaze and scattered fresh herbs add finishing touches that make this platter Instagram-worthy.
10. Jalapeño Popper Mac And Cheese
Comfort food gets a spicy upgrade in this outrageous mashup! Classic mac and cheese collides with jalapeño poppers to create a side dish so good it threatens to upstage your burgers.
Ridiculously creamy cheese sauce (with THREE types of cheese) gets spiked with roasted jalapeños for heat that builds without overwhelming. The genius touch? A topping of crispy panko mixed with crumbled bacon and more cheese that forms an irresistible crust when baked.
11. Sweet And Spicy Baked Beans
Hold onto your taste buds! These aren’t your average baked beans – they’re a flavor explosion that balances sticky sweetness with a kick that sneaks up on you.
Navy beans simmer with molasses, brown sugar, and a secret weapon: chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. The smokiness infuses every bean while bacon adds hearty depth. As they slow-bake, the sauce reduces to a glossy coating that clings to each tender bean.
12. Pesto Pasta Salad With Roasted Vegetables
Pasta salad gets a glow-up that’ll make those sad deli versions hang their heads in shame! Al dente pasta spirals capture basil pesto in their twists and turns, creating flavor pockets in every bite.
The game-changer? Roasted vegetables that bring sweet caramelized notes – cherry tomatoes that burst with concentrated flavor, zucchini with delicious browned edges, and red onions that turn mellow and sweet. Fresh mozzarella pearls add creamy richness while pine nuts bring essential crunch.
13. Grilled Peach And Burrata Salad
Summer’s most perfect fruit gets the VIP treatment! Peach halves caramelize on the grill, their natural sugars transforming into complex sweetness with smoky undertones that’ll make you weak in the knees.
These warm, juicy gems nestle against torn burrata cheese that oozes creamy goodness when broken open. A handful of peppery arugula and toasted pistachios adds texture, while a drizzle of honey-balsamic reduction ties everything together with sweet-tangy brilliance.
14. Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Herb Aioli
These aren’t just potatoes – they’re a textural masterpiece! Baby potatoes get boiled until tender, smashed flat, then roasted until their edges transform into shatteringly crisp golden shards while their centers remain fluffy potato perfection.
A generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt and rosemary creates flavor-packed crevices. But the real magic happens with the dipping sauce – a garlicky herb aioli that’ll have you licking your fingers shamelessly.
15. Corn And Black Bean Salsa Salad
Somewhere between salsa and salad, this colorful concoction brings serious Southwestern swagger to your cookout spread! Sweet corn kernels (charred if you’re feeling fancy) mingle with black beans, creating a hearty base with satisfying texture.
Bell peppers add crunch and color while jalapeños bring gentle heat that builds with each bite. The dressing – lime juice, olive oil, and a hint of honey – keeps everything bright and zingy. Cilantro and green onions provide fresh, herbal notes that cut through rich BBQ flavors.
16. Garlic Parmesan Grilled Zucchini
Summer’s most prolific vegetable transforms from garden afterthought to cookout star with this dead-simple preparation! Thick zucchini planks soak up a quick marinade of olive oil, garlic, and Italian herbs before hitting the grill.
The high heat caramelizes their natural sugars while creating beautiful crosshatch grill marks that scream “summer!” A shower of freshly grated Parmesan melts slightly into the hot surface, creating an umami crust that’ll convert even the most dedicated veggie skeptics.
17. Honey Lime Fruit Salad
Summer’s juiciest fruits unite in a bowl that’s practically sunshine incarnate! Watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries create a rainbow of natural sweetness that needs almost no embellishment.
The game-changing twist? A light dressing of honey, lime zest, and mint that amplifies the fruits’ natural flavors without drowning them. The honey creates a glossy sheen while the lime provides zippy contrast that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying.
18. Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Potato salad gets a flavor explosion makeover that’ll make grandma’s version seem like a distant memory! Red potatoes maintain their shape while soaking up a creamy ranch dressing spiked with fresh herbs and garlic.
Crispy bacon bits (the real deal, not those sad jarred imposters) add smoky crunch while green onions bring sharp freshness. The secret weapon? A splash of pickle juice that cuts through the richness with tangy brilliance.
19. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This protein-packed powerhouse brings Mediterranean sunshine to your cookout spread! Chickpeas provide hearty satisfaction while cucumber and cherry tomatoes add juicy freshness that pops between your teeth.
Briny kalamata olives and feta cheese deliver salty punches that contrast beautifully with the nutty legumes. The dressing – a simple mix of lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano – transports your taste buds straight to a Greek island without overwhelming the delicate flavors.
20. Spicy Pickled Vegetables
Move over, boring pickle spears! This colorful jar of tangy, crunchy veggies brings palate-awakening zing to your cookout spread. Cauliflower florets, carrot sticks, radishes, and jalapeño slices transform overnight in a vibrant brine spiked with garlic and crushed red pepper.
The quick-pickling process creates vegetables that maintain their crunch while developing complex tangy-spicy flavor. These aren’t your grandma’s pickles – they’re a modern, Instagram-worthy condiment that cuts through fatty burgers and ribs brilliantly.