20 Summer Side Dishes for Your Next Backyard BBQ

These delicious side dishes are perfect for serving with dinner, your next backyard BBQ, or taking to a summer potluck. Full of fresh ingredients and tons of flavor they will definitely please a crowd.

Street Corn Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with corn, jalapeno, feta and cilantro in a bowl. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This Elote-inspired pasta salad is made with cooked pasta, sweet corn, cotija cheese, fresh jalapeno and cilantro tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. It is bursting with fresh flavors and goes well with any meal.

Get the Recipe: Street Corn Pasta Salad

Red Skin Potato Salad

Potato salad in a serving bowl. — Image Credit: Fresh Coast Eats

Made with baby red-skinned potatoes, bacon, and dill tossed in a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing, this potato salad is a classic dish that goes well with chicken and steak or other grilled favorites such as hamburgers and hotdogs.

Get the Recipe: Red Skin Potato Salad

Blackstone Griddle Garlic Bread

Slices of garlic bread on a cutting board. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

A side of garlic bread is quick and easy on the Blackstone griddle. With butter, garlic, and herbs, this toasty bread is ready in just a few minutes and is a great side with any meal.

Get the Recipe: Blackstone Griddle Garlic Bread

Grilled Veggie Skewers

Grilled vegetable skewers on a plate. — Image Credit: The Forked Spoon

These tasty veggie skewers are made with red onion, summer zucchini, and bell peppers and are drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze and fresh garlic and herbs. Serve these up as a vegetarian option or a side with grilled steak or chicken.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Veggie Skewers

Mango Habanero Salsa

Salsa with mango, tomato, peppers, and cilantro in a bowl. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

A fresh summer salsa made with tropical mango, bell peppers, and spicy habanero peppers. The sweet and spicy combo of this dish makes a tasty addition to chicken, beef, or tacos, or serve as a side with tortilla or pita chips.

Get the Recipe: Mango Habanero Salsa

Tortellini Pasta Salad

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Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar salad with pasta and chicken. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This hearty Caesar salad, with the addition of grilled chicken and cooked pasta, works well as a meal or side dish. With crispy bacon and fresh parmesan cheese, this salad is full of flavor and will be a crowd favorite.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Baked sweet potato with butter. — Image Credit: Smoked Meat Sunday

With crispy skin, a soft and fluffy middle, and a slightly smoky flavor, smoked sweet potatoes just may become your new favourite side dish. Coated in a delicious hot honey butter, you’ve never had sweet potatoes this good.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Elote Dip

Corn dip with cilantro and feta cheese. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This elote dip is made with sweet corn, fresh jalapenos and cilantro, cotija cheese, and a creamy, tangy dressing. It is a great side dish with a bowl of tortilla chips but also works well as a topping for tacos, wraps, and grilled chicken. A versatile side that everyone will love.

Get the Recipe: Elote Dip

Sauteed Summer Veggies

Sautéed zucchini, and tomatoes on a sheet pan with a spoon. — Image Credit: Two Healthy Kitchens

This dish of sauteed fresh veggies is a great way to use up your summer squash and fresh-picked cherry tomatoes. Toss in some sweet corn, savoury red onion, goat cheese and fresh herbs, and you have the ideal summer side dish to complement any meal.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Summer Veggies

Corn and Black Bean Salad

Corn, black beans, peppers, tomatoes and avocado in a bowl. — Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This dish of diced tomatoes, peppers, and avocados mixed with black beans, corn and fresh herbs is tossed in a tangy dressing of red wine vinegar and lime. It can be served as a salad, topping for tacos, or as a tasty dip with chips or crackers.

Get the Recipe: Corn and Black Bean Salad

Cajun Coleslaw

Coleslaw in a serving bowl. — Image Credit: Deb’s Daily Dish

A fresh and crunchy salad with a creamy dressing, cajun coleslaw is spiced up with fresh jalapenos and cajun seasoning, bringing a unique flavor to this popular side. The perfect dish with BBQ favorites such as pulled pork or chicken.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Coleslaw

Blackstone Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice with veggies in a bowl. — Image Credit: The Feathered Nester

This teppanyaki-style chicken fried rice is easy to make at home on the Blackstone Griddle. With Chicken, veggies, and scrambled egg, it is a delicious meal or side dish to enjoy outside during the summer months.

Get the Recipe: Blackstone Chicken Fried Rice

Elotes Mexican Street Corn

Grilled corn with seasonings and cheese. — Image Credit: Learning to Smoke

Elotes takes the classic summer side dish, corn on the cob, and transforms it by adding spices, mayo, lime and cotija cheese. This grilled corn on the cob has plump, juicy kernels that are slightly toasted and, when combined with the additional toppings, create a side dish that will have everyone coming back for more.

Get the Recipe: Elote Mexican Street Corn

Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with cucumbers and Tzatziki sauce. — Image Credit: The Herbeevore

A simple side dish of cooked pasta, crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs tossed in a creamy, garlicky dressing. Tzatziki pasta salad is tasty and refreshing side dish perfect for summer.

Get the Recipe: Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Watermelon Goat Cheese Salad

Watermelon chunks with goat cheese drizzled with balsamic in a bowl. — Image Credit: Dish by Dish

Nothing says summer like sweet, juicy watermelon. This simple salad of watermelon and creamy goat cheese drizzled in balsamic glaze is sweet and savoury and perfect for hot summer days.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon Goat Cheese Salad

Grinder Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with salami and tomatoes. — Image Credit: Butter Your Biscuit

If you like the popular grinder sub, you will love this salad. Made with al dente pasta, fresh veggies, chopped pepperoni and salami, this salad is coated in a creamy dressing of mayo, parmesan cheese, and garlic. The savory flavors in this hearty salad make it great for a lunch or side.

Get the Recipe: Grinder Pasta Salad

Spicy Watermelon Salad with Jalapeños

Watermelon slices with jalapeños. — Image Credit: XOXO Bella

Fresh juicy watermelon slices, spicy jalapeno peppers, drizzled in honey and lime and sprinkled with feta, this is a simple salad that comes together in minutes. Sprinkled with Tajin seasoning, it is a bit salty, a bit spicy, and super refreshing.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Watermelon Salad with Jalapenos

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and chickpeas in a bowl. — Image Credit: Tasty Oven

Fresh, crunchy cucumbers, sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes, protein-rich chickpeas and creamy mozzarella, this salad is perfect for a hot summer day. The balsamic and herb dressing adds a nice acidity, making this a side dish that will pair well with anything.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber Tomato Salad

Lemon Orzo Salad

Orzo pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumber. — Image Credit: Fresh Coast Eats

Fresh and flavorful lemon orzo salad is made with orzo pasta, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber, then tossed in a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette. Great as a summer side dish for your next picnic, BBQ, or family gathering.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Orzo Salad