Let’s be honest, the meat gets all the glory at a BBQ, but the side dishes? That’s where the real magic happens. I am deeply, unashamedly particular about my BBQ sides. Over the years I’ve tested, tweaked, and perfected every single one of these recipes in my own kitchen, and I can confidently say they don’t just round out the plate… They steal it. Whether you’re headed to a backyard cookout, a neighborhood potluck, or just firing up the grill on a Tuesday night, these are the sides that will have everyone hovering around your dish first. From a creamy potato salad that hits every note just right, to a spicy sesame coleslaw I’m slightly obsessed with, to grilled corn that’s perfectly juicy and charred. These 10 recipes are the ones people will be asking about long after the burgers are gone.
1. The Best Macaroni Salad
I don’t mean to brag, but this macaroni salad is genuinely something to brag about. It’s lighter on the mayo so you can actually taste the crunchy veggies, sweet pickle relish, and fresh dill. Not just a blob of white dressing. Creamy, crunchy, and just a little cheesy, it’s the kind of salad that doesn’t just come to the party, it is the party.
2. Cilantro Ranch Pasta Salad
Cilantro ranch pasta salad is creamy, herby, and packed with fresh flavor. Tender pasta tossed in a zesty ranch dressing with plenty of cilantro makes it a bold, crowd-friendly side that goes with just about everything.
3. Mom’s Creamy Potato Salad
This is the potato salad that gets requested time and time again, and for good reason. The dressing is perfectly creamy without being overpowering, so every bite of tender potato, celery, and hard-boiled egg actually shines through. It’s a guaranteed staple at every potluck, picnic, and backyard cookout from here on out.
4. Street Corn Potato Salad
If you love Mexican street corn and you love potato salad, this recipe is basically your dream come true. It’s loaded with smoky, creamy, chili-lime flavor, finished with fresh cilantro and crumbled cotija, and it doesn’t just show up to the cookout, it shows off. This is the one everyone will be asking you about on the way home.
5. Whipped Feta Greek Pasta Salad
Creamy whipped feta meets classic Greek salad flavors in this craveable pasta salad. The dressing alone will have you making this on repeat!
6. Mom’s Classic Coleslaw
I think coleslaw is seriously underrated, and this recipe is my proof. It comes together in minutes with that perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and crunchy that makes it the ideal companion to anything coming off the grill. It’s a side dish staple for a reason. Once you make it homemade, you’ll never go back to the bag.
7. Spicy Sesame Coleslaw
I have to admit, I’m slightly obsessed with this one. Who says coleslaw has to be boring? This version is dressed in a spicy sesame vinaigrette, topped with honey-roasted peanuts, and finished with fresh cilantro and green onion for a slaw that is anything but a soggy afterthought. It’s light, crunchy, and packed with bold flavor.
8. Summer Fresh Corn Salad
Grab some corn on the cob and make one of the best side dishes of summer! The secret to our fresh corn salad is in the vinaigrette and herbs that keep things cool and refreshing for those hot summer meals.
9. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Simple, inexpensive, and absolutely essential at any backyard barbecue. This is the grilled corn recipe you need in your back pocket all summer long. I’ll walk you through exactly how to get it perfectly juicy and charred every single time, no matter how you like to grill it. It’s the taste of summer, right there on the cob.
10. The Best Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables are simple, smoky, and full of flavor with just a little char from the grill. A quick toss in oil and seasoning is all it takes to turn fresh veggies into a side that holds its own next to anything else on the plate.
Sometimes the sides are the reason we keep going back for another plate. These recipes bring the kind of flavor and variety that make the whole BBQ feel complete. Load up your plate, try a little of everything, and don’t be surprised if the sides are what everyone talks about most.
More Sides…
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