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From fries and mango salsa to pasta salads and spicy grilled potatoes, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite side dishes that are sure to be the perfect finishing touch for a BBQ!
Tomato & Cucumber Pasta Salad
This Whole Wheat Pasta Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh summer vegetables like cucumber and tomatoes and is coated in a deliciously zesty Italian dressing. Made with whole wheat pasta, it is a filling summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: Tomato & Cucumber Pasta Salad
Southern Style Coleslaw
This Creamy Southern Coleslaw recipe is one of my favorite side dishes. The sweet, tangy dressing combined with the fresh, crunchy cabbage is so simple yet so flavorful. It reminds me of the coleslaw from Raising Cane’s or KFC!
Get the Recipe: Coleslaw Recipe
Southern Potato Salad
This Southern Potato Salad is made with Hard-Boiled Eggs and Pickles and is a summertime favorite. It has a creamy, flavorful mayonnaise dressing and is topped with Creole Seasoning for a perfect finishing touch. It’s the star of every cookout.
Get the Recipe: Southern Potato Salad
Southern Fried Squash
Southern Fried Squash is a summer delicacy. Fresh yellow squash and zucchini are dredged in buttermilk, breaded with flour and cornmeal, and fried until they are golden brown and crispy. It is such a delicious way to cook summer squash and is the perfect summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Squash
Zucchini Cornbread
Zucchini Cornbread is a delightful twist on a classic cornbread recipe. Made with cornmeal and shredded zucchini, it is moist, fluffy, and slightly sweet.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Cornbread Recipe
Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar is a Southern Dip and Side Dish made with fresh vegetables, flavorful beans, & a delicious vinegar dressing. It’s the perfect dish to bring to a party because it can sit out at room temperature (at least for a little while) without spoiling.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
This Pasta Salad is a bite from my childhood. It is overflowing with vegetables and reminds me of summer and grilling with my parents. It is light enough for a hot day, goes great with burgers, and is bursting with so much flavor.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad Recipe
Deviled Eggs with Diced Pickles
With fluffy, tangy, and creamy filling in perfectly-cooked hard-boiled eggs, this Easy Deviled Egg Recipe will be your new favorite side or appetizer. Perfect for a party, these deviled eggs are quick and easy to make and are a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Diced Pickles
Blue Cheese & Bacon Salad
With crispy romaine lettuce, crunchy bacon, and blue cheese in a flavorful, zesty homemade dressing, this Royal Street Salad is a perfect summer side dish!
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese & Bacon Salad
Crispy Fried Okra
This Fried Okra is dredged in buttermilk and breaded in a flour & cornmeal coating that’s loaded with flavor. This Southern Popcorn is fried until crispy in peanut oil to make an addictive Southern appetizer, snack, or side dish.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Fried Okra
Fried Corn on the Cob
Deep-Fried Corn on the Cob is a delicious twist on a classic summer favorite. This Southern-style dish is made by coating fresh corn on the cob in a Cajun-seasoned batter and then deep-frying it to golden perfection.
Get the Recipe: Fried Corn on the Cob
Classic Pimento Cheese
This creamy, peppery, Homemade Pimento Cheese is a classic Southern recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. With its blend of shredded cheddar cheese, mayo, and diced pimentos, this versatile spread is not only a delicious sandwich filling but it’s also a crowd-pleasing dip for crackers and veggies or a flavorful topping for burgers.
Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheese
Favorite Pasta Salad
This is our family’s Favorite Pasta Salad because it has it all! It has a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tart flavors in each and every bite. It has a mouthwatering homemade dressing and bacon – what’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Favorite Pasta Salad
Southern Cornbread
This Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe combines simple yellow cornmeal and buttermilk, bringing out the naturally sweet flavor of corn – without adding sugar. Cooked in a cast iron skillet with bacon drippings or butter – it will please even the toughest critics.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread Recipe
Ranch Chex Party Mix
Ranchy Chex Party Mix is a delicious twist on a family favorite called “Crack Pretzels” that covers all the bases – salty, crunchy, cheesy – and addicting. It’s the perfect party snack so bring a bowl to your next picnic.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Chex Party Mix
Pasta Salad with Corn and Tomatoes
This easy Pasta Salad with Corn and Tomatoes is perfect for summer! Fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and cilantro are mixed with cavatappi and a fresh lemon dressing.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad with Corn and Tomatoes
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Do you love dill pickles, too? Here’s a Dill Pickle Pasta Salad with a creamy dressing that pops with a tangy, sweet, and sour balance. This zesty salad is loaded with flavor and crunch and it is heartier enough to enjoy as a main dish. It’s a creamy dill pickle salad recipe that you can make ahead of time making it perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and picnics.
Get the Recipe: Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Bowtie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Loaded with fresh veggies, al dente pasta, and your favorite Italian Salad Dressing, this Bowtie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is the perfect, easy salad! It’s great to have in the refrigerator throughout the week or at your next gathering!
Get the Recipe: Bowtie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Dill Pasta Salad
This Dill Pasta Salad is a healthy pasta salad that is made in less than 20 minutes! If you are looking for an easy side dish with fresh dill, cheese, and fresh lemon flavors, this recipe is perfect for you.
Get the Recipe: Dill Pasta Salad
Instant Pot Pasta Salad
Pasta salad in the Instant Pot? Believe it! This one has tender bites of pasta in a tangy vinaigrette. It all comes together in the Instant Pot without any need for draining.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pasta Salad
20 Minute Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
This 20-Minute Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta is perfect for summer entertaining! It is packed with crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs, salty feta, and coated in a rich lemon dressing.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
Bourbon Candied Pecans
Sweet and Spicy Candied Bourbon Pecans are salty, sweet, and, well, just a little bit spicy. The taste of bourbon is very subtle, but it gives these pecans the perfect amount of something extra to make them so delicious and addicting. I bring them to every party!
Get the Recipe: Candied Bourbon Pecans
Crispy Dill Fridge Pickles
These Dill Pickles are salty, crunchy, and perfectly delicious. They are quick to make and are stored in the fridge, so there’s no canning required. They are perfect to bring to a barbeque for everyone to add to their burgers!
Get the Recipe: Dill Fridge Pickles
Zesty Quinoa Salad
Zesty Quinoa Salad is perfect for a hot summer day. It’s cool and refreshing, not to mention it is full of healthy ingredients! You can make it as a vegetarian salad or add chicken for extra protein.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Quinoa Salad
Antipasto Pasta Salad
Antipasto Pasta Salad combines all of our favorite antipasto ingredients – meats, cheese, and peppers – with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette, some pasta, and some fresh greens to make a perfect summer salad.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Pasta Salad
Chicken Garden Pasta Salad
This Chicken Garden Pasta Salad is loaded with cheese, chicken, veggies, and pasta. It’s the perfect summer dinner! Get the Recipe: Chicken Garden Pasta Salad
Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad
This Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad makes an amazing cold pasta side dish recipe, perfect for a summer BBQ or grilling dinner! It’s loaded with fresh flavors from tomatoes, corn, avocado, and herbs.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad
Hot Honey Pasta Salad Recipe
Give your summer meals a fun twist with this tasty Hot Honey Pasta Salad Recipe. The star of this dish is the easy sweet and spicy dressing that gets tossed together with tender pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, and peppery arugula, and finished with pepperoni slices. A light and tasty addition to picnics, barbecues, and potlucks that’s ready in just about 20 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Pasta Salad Recipe
Corn Pico de Gallo
This Sweet Corn Pico de Gallo Recipe is the perfect dip to bring to a party. Grilled or roasted corn adds a tasty twist to this corn salsa! Get the Recipe: Corn Pico de Gallo
Orzo Pasta Salad
This Orzo Pasta Salad is fresh, healthy, and flavorful, easy to put together, and perfect for making ahead.
Get the Recipe: Orzo Pasta Salad
Quick, Easy Vegan Pasta Salad
This Quick, Easy Vegan Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh, bright, vibrant Mediterranean vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette. A fresh, crowd-pleasing summery Mediterranean pasta salad for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and mid-week meals!
Get the Recipe: Quick, Easy Vegan Pasta Salad
Sweet Cornbread
Sweet Cornbread made in a cast iron skillet is the perfect accompaniment to any summer meal. This cornbread is sweet, crumbly, buttery, and has a perfect crisp to the edges – it is the perfect side for a picnic.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Cornbread
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sesame Poppyseed Dressing
This Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh summer strawberries and is topped with a delicious Sesame Poppyseed dressing. It is perfect for a healthy lunch or a side salad for dinner. It also makes a great salad to take to a party.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad
Cherry Tomato Salsa
Cherry Tomato Salsa is naturally sweet with tons of fresh garden flavors. With fresh tomatoes and cilantro, it’s perfect for serving with tacos and tortilla chips, and it could not be easier to make.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Tomato Salsa
Mango and Avocado Salsa
Made with juicy ripe mangoes, creamy avocados, and a little bit of bell pepper crunch – this Mango & Avocado Salsa is sweet, tangy, and so refreshing. It is a great dip for tortilla chips, a perfect topping on salads, or a filling in burritos.
Get the Recipe: Mango Avocado Salsa
Easy Oven Baked French Fries
Easy Oven Baked French Fries are coated in olive oil, tossed in delicious seasoning, and baked until crispy. They are so easy to make, and when served with a burger and delicious dipping sauce – they are so good.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Baked French Fries
Cucumber Salad
This Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe is a frequent summer side dish at our house and is one of our favorite recipes. Thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion are quickly pickled to make an easy salad that is a little sweet and a little tangy.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Quick Korean Pickles
Spicy Korean Pickles are the perfect crunchy side dish and are a quick way to add a kick to any meal! Korean Cucumber Pickles are crisp and zesty.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Korean Pickles
Orzo Caprese Salad
This Orzo Caprese Salad is a delicious twist on a classic caprese salad! Cooked orzo pasta is combined with juicy tomatoes, cucumber, and creamy mozzarella. Ready on the table in less than 30 minutes! Serve it for lunch, light dinner, or as a side dish.
Get the Recipe: Orzo Caprese Salad
Strawberry Cucumber Salad with Feta and Fresh Mint
What says fresh and flavorful like a Strawberry Cucumber Salad? Sweet, juicy strawberries, cool cucumber slices, tangy red onion, and zesty feta crumbles are all made even more flavorful with a hint of fresh mint. This salad recipe is everything you love about summer in one beautiful bowl.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
If you’re a fan of pimento cheese but want to add a little kick to your traditional recipe, then you’ll love this Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Recipe! Not only is it a super easy recipe to make, but it’s also really, really delicious. It’s a Southern favorite and an easy dip to serve as an appetizer or a snack.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa
This Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa Recipe is packed with fire-roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, and a hint of smoky jalapeño heat. It’s ready in minutes and is the perfect summer snack!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa
Pickle de Gallo Recipe
Homemade salsa meets garlicky dill pickles with this unique Pickle de Gallo Recipe. You’ll want to eat this flavorful dip with a spoon. And you can if you want because it’s chock full of healthy veggies and yummy seasonings.
Get the Recipe: Pickle de Gallo Recipe
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