Cooking with the seasons
Summer BBQ Sides Recipes
Easy dishes to serve next to burgers, ribs, and grilled chicken. These are cool salads, tangy slaws, and hearty sides that travel well to any cookout.
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About Summer BBQ Sides
BBQ sides are the dishes that fill the plate beside the grill. Classic choices include potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, and watermelon. Many are made ahead and served cold, which frees you up to tend the grill. Common ingredients are mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, fresh corn, cabbage, and crisp vegetables.
Compared with the wider Summer section, this group focuses only on side dishes that pair with grilled or smoked meat. It is different from Spring Salads, which tend to be lighter and leafy. BBQ sides are often heartier and made in bigger batches for a crowd. Most are easy to carry to a potluck or a family gathering.
Questions folks ask
What sides go well with BBQ?
Coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, corn on the cob, and cornbread are favorites. A fresh fruit salad or sliced tomatoes adds a bright touch.
How long can BBQ sides sit out?
Cold dishes should not sit out for more than two hours, or one hour if it is very hot outside. Keep them chilled until you serve.
Which BBQ sides can I make ahead?
Potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, and baked beans all do well made ahead. Store them covered in the fridge until the party.
Kitchen tips
- Make potato salad, slaw, and pasta salad a few hours ahead. The flavors blend as they chill.
- Keep mayonnaise-based dishes in a cooler with ice until it is time to eat.
- Salt cabbage a little and let it sit, then drain it. This keeps coleslaw from getting watery.
- Grill corn in the husk for easy cleanup and sweet flavor.
- Plan one creamy side, one tangy side, and one fresh side for a balanced plate.