30 Cookout Sides for Your Next Summer Gathering

Scene-stealing salads, slaws, breads, and grilled vegetables turn even a casual menu into a memorable meal.

grilled vegetable platter with cheese — Credit:
Ryan Liebe

Everyone knows the side dishes are the real stars of a summer meal: A perfectly cooked steak or fish filet may look like the centerpiece of your menu, but the right vegetables, salads, breads, and slaws steal the show every time.

We're sharing our secrets to a perfectly grilled ear of corn, delicious riffs on coleslaw, and savory-sweet cornbread to round up your summer menu. For a speedy approach, toss any in-season fruit or vegetable, charred over an open flame, with an easy vinaigrette for a quick and tasty side. Or, you can also opt for more elaborate dishes that elevate flavor profiles or provide complementary textures. Whether you're grilling an entire rack of barbecue ribs for a crowd or throwing marinated chicken thighs on a hot grill for a weeknight dinner, find a side that pairs well with your main.

01 of 30

Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad

Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad — Ren Fuller

There are a few key steps to our food editors' favorite potato salad: evenly cutting your potatoes so they cook at the same rate; placing the potatoes in cold water, then boiling; and using a starchy, creamy spud like russets or Yukon golds. The result is a creamy, flavorful potato salad.

02 of 30

Three-Pepper Corn Casserole

Mike Krautter

Chipotle chiles and pepper jack cheese bring up the perfect amount of heat in this creamy side. Save time by using good-quality frozen corn, and serve with salsa, cilantro, and sour cream for a Mexican-inspired flavor.

03 of 30

Watercress, Strawberry, and Toasted-Sesame Salad

Watercress, Strawberry, and Toasted-Sesame Salad — Gentl and Hyers

If you think greens are boring, this side dish will make you think again. Peppered watercress and slightly sweet strawberries collide to create a unanimous hit—and to wow your guests even more, don't forget to add feta cheese, toasted sesame seeds, and roasted tamari almonds for a savory crunch.

04 of 30

Celery-and-Cucumber Salad With Herbs

Celery-and-Cucumber Salad with Herbs

This make-ahead green salad offers freshness and crunch to lighten up heavy steaks or tenderloins. Toss together cucumbers, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and fresh tender herbs for a breezy side dish.

05 of 30

Mexican Street Corn

Mexican Corn — David E. Steele

Summer is the only time we want to eat fresh corn on the cob. However, this elote recipe (also known as Mexican Street Corn) takes it to a new level. The flavor combo from the mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, and queso fresco will be like no other, and its zesty bite is the perfect complement to any grilled meat.

06 of 30

Pomegranate-Bulgur Salad

Golden raisins, parsley leaves, and pomegranate seeds add flavor, color, and crunchiness to this bulgur salad. You can serve it as is, hot, or make it ahead and offer it cold for a refreshing side dish.

07 of 30

Harissa-Roasted Green Beans

harissa-roasted green beans topped with sesame seeds — Kate Sears

In this 30-minute recipe, roasted green beans are tossed with harissa paste and topped with toasted sesame seeds.

08 of 30

Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil

Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Basil — Ren Fuller

This fresh, veggie-packed pasta salad is just what you want to go alongside your grilled brats, burgers, and chicken at the next summer cookout. Make it a day ahead of time to save time before your party.

09 of 30

White Bean-and-Tomato Salad

This simple side dish recipe uses canned white beans to make preparation even easier. Pair them with one of summer's best, tomatoes, and scallions for a tasty, immune-boosting, fiber-rich salad.

10 of 30

Green Bean, Shell Bean, and Sweet Onion Fattoush

NGOC MINH NGO

How beautiful is this array of veggies? Our refreshing Middle Eastern bread-and-vegetable salad has a crunch thanks to the green beans and shell beans, while the sweet onion and the feta cheese simply round up the flavor combo.

11 of 30

Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad

Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad recipe — Chris Simpson

Bring flavor to your backyard barbecue with this light and bright side dish recipe. Asparagus is grilled, then mixed with farro, salty-sweet Marcona almonds, lemon juice, and feta cheese.

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Braised Green Beans

braised green beans

Simmered in chicken broth, these braised green beans are simple enough to make in minutes, yet flavorful enough to make the best companion to any chicken, steak, or shrimp.

13 of 30

Green Salad With Pickled-Shallot Vinaigrette

close up of green salad with pickled-shallot vinaigrette — Paola + Murray

When summer comes, we're all about embracing vibrant colors and flavors—so this big-batch salad, featuring pink watermelon radishes, sliced carrots, and mixed greens, is just the right recipe.

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Spicy Pineapple Slaw

Spicy Slaw with Pineapple-EDFSC5087

We can't get enough of the unique combination of pineapple, carrots, and cabbage. It's spicy, sweet, and tangy... all at once!

15 of 30

Shredded-Carrot-and-Cabbage Coleslaw

carrot cabbage slaw — Ren Fuller

A coleslaw that's as light and vinegary as we're used to but with a whole lot more color? Yes, please! Spiralized carrots and shredded cabbage are a welcome summer upgrade to a cookout staple.

16 of 30

Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad

Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad — Petrina Tinslay

Summer cookouts and potato salad go hand in hand. Here, we updated the creamy mayo version by adding pickled shallots, tangy sliced cornichons, and just a couple tablespoons of Dijon mustard. It's lighter, zestier, and more colorful than the classic.

17 of 30

Greek-Taverna Salad

Greek-Taverna Salad — Petrina Tinslay

Help yourself to this chopped, deconstructed Greek salad. By keeping the dressing on the side, you prevent the ingredients from getting too soggy. This way, no one has to pick around the ingredients they don't like. Win-win!

18 of 30

Classic Cornbread

Classic Cornbread on wood cutting board

This buttermilk cornbread recipe is made with a simple combination of butter, cornmeal, all-purpose flour, sugar, and eggs: easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

19 of 30

Cucumbers With Lemon and Basil

We could snack on crisp, raw cucumber slices all day, but they're so much better when tossed with tomatoes and basil—ingredients that are the epitome of summer goodness. Good-quality, fresh picks are essential when creating simple, tasteful salads like this one.

20 of 30

Mango and Avocado Salsa

Mango Avocado — decorvow

It's not just a salsa—this mango and avocado mix also makes a perfect topping or side dish for grilled meats at a summer cookout. Make it ahead of time to save prep work before your gathering.

21 of 30

Soba Salad With Grilled Eggplant and Tomato

Marcus Nilsson

Here's a genius way to use those summer tomatoes and eggplants: grill them and mix them with soba noodles for an unexpectedly delicious, vegetarian take on the classic pasta salads.

22 of 30

Tomato and Avocado Salad

Make an elegant and simple salad by pairing rich avocado and juicy, multicolored tomatoes. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper is all the seasoning this easy salad needs. Serve with grilled steak or chicken for a delicious summer meal.

23 of 30

Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh

This traditional Middle Eastern side dish is filling and tasty, and it comes together with easily available ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, parsley, and mint mixed with bulgur. For a summery spin, add watermelon for a burst of sweetness and goat cheese for a creamy contrast.

24 of 30

Radicchio Salad With Chopped Lemon Dressing

Radicchio Salad with chopped lemon dressing — Justin Walker

If you're looking for something beyond a green salad, try this crisp and crunchy radicchio version tossed with a tart, lemony dressing. Mint, olive oil, mustard, and sugar combine with chopped whole lemon to create a bright, flavor-packed vinaigrette.

25 of 30

Creamy Edamame Dip

edamame dip — CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

No summer cookout would be complete without a creamy dip to serve alongside crudites, crostinis, or—why not—grilled meats. The secret behind ours is shelled edamame and cottage cheese blended together to create a protein-rich velvety smooth dip, perfect to share or to eat by the spoonful.

26 of 30

Grilled Cauliflower With Spiced Yogurt Sauce

grilled cauliflower with spiced yogurt sauce — Yuki Sugiura

Olive oil seasoned with garam masala, paprika, and garlic gives this grilled head of cauliflower its rich, reddish-brown char; serve with a simple dressing of yogurt and lemon juice.

27 of 30

Grilled Zucchini With Miso

grilled zucchini with miso — Dana Gallagher

In-season zucchini, thickly sliced and grilled with a miso-soy glaze, cooks in about 15 minutes on the grill—and adds a rich, savory complement to the rest of your cookout menu.

28 of 30

California Cobb Salad

California Cobb Salad

Classics are classics for a reason. This deconstructed variation of the California Cobb Salad is colorful, nutrient-packed, and extremely tasty—not to mention that, when served this way, picky eaters can mix and match to their liking.

29 of 30

Grilled Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

grilled vegetarian stuffed peppers — Armando Rafael

Grilled bell peppers filled with raisins, couscous, or bulgur, and crumbled feta are a lighter alternative to the classic beef-filled version and make a pretty presentation alongside grilled steak or fish.

30 of 30

Grilled-Vegetable Agrodolce

grilled vegetable agrodolce — Ryan Liebe

This antipasti dish matches grilled eggplant and squash, marinated in a sweet-and-sour sauce, with cured meats, goat cheese, and burrata—plus toasted sesame bread for serving.

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