Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 16 Best BBQ Sides For Your Next Cookout So many potato salads! By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 18, 2024 Close Photo: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Summer is all about barbecues and cookouts, and while the main course at a backyard shindig is easy enough to plan—think grilled meats, fish, and burgers galore—sides can be tricky. Luckily, we’ve put together this roundup of the best BBQ sides to make no matter what you’re celebrating. We’ve got plenty of classics, such as Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans and Summer Nachos piled high with the season’s best produce, as well as a few options that are twists on staples, like Grilled Romaine Salad and Niçoise-Inspired Potato Salad. So, fire up the grill while you still can and get ready to throw an epic backyard bash with some of our favorite BBQ sides! 19 Trader Joe’s Must-Haves For Summer Grilling Season 01 of 16 Kimchi Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart While potato salads can be bland and boring, this one is anything but. Here, store-bought kimchi is paired with plenty of baby red potatoes that have been seasoned with lime juice and slathered in a mayonnaise-based dressing made with gochujang and chili garlic sauce. Garnish the dish with toasted sesame seeds for the perfect amount of crunch, and serve alongside your grilled go-tos. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 16 Broccoli Slaw With Creamy Ranch Dressing Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Slaws are common at barbecues and cookouts in part because they offer a great balance to sweet and saucy wings, ribs, brisket, and other barbecued goodies. This creamy, tangy side boasts a broccoli slaw base that’s tossed with homemade ranch dressing, scallions, parsley, and sunflower seeds for a pleasant crunch. To upgrade your slaw, feel free to add chives and matchstick carrots or shredded cabbage. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 16 Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans Greg DuPree This quintessential summer side requires just 25 minutes of hands-on work and calls for three cans of pinto beans. Strips of bacon create a smoky, salty flavor base, while barbecue sauce, whole-grain mustard, and a touch of brown sugar bring plenty of flavor. The secret ingredient—fresh pineapple chunks—balances the rich, salty bacon in these saucy baked beans beautifully. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 16 Elote Jalapeño Poppers Victor Protasio For a seasonal appetizer or side that makes excellent use of fresh corn, consider these creamy, spicy, oven-baked poppers. Each one is filled with corn, cream cheese, Cotija cheese, mayonnaise, and gut-friendly Greek yogurt, while lime zest, garlic, and scallions add plenty of brightness and additional flavor. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 16 Grilled Romaine Salad With Avocado Dressing Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless If you’re already firing up the grill, why not grill your salad, too? For this dish, you’ll grill romaine hearts until they’re subtly charred, and then grill some focaccia and tear it into bite-sized pieces that’ll serve as crunchy croutons. You’ll also find briny capers, a dressing made from creamy avocado, and a dusting of savory Parmesan cheese. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 16 Caprese Pasta Salad Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart If you’re a fan of the classic Caprese salad, give this rendition a whirl. You’ll still find fresh tomatoes and delicious cheese, but in this case mozzarella is swapped out for richer, creamier burrata. Fusilli pasta also joins the party, along with a light vinegar-based dressing and toasted pine nuts for some much-needed crunch. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 16 Loaded Baked Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Two comfort food classics become one in this must-make summer side. Part potato salad, part loaded baked potato, you’ll find plenty of familiar ingredients including bacon, mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, and shredded cheese. One of our favorite things about this dish is that there’s no need to peel the potatoes before boiling (hooray!) since the skin adds texture and color. GET THE RECIPE How Long to Cook (Pretty Much) Anything on the Grill 08 of 16 Summer Nachos Greg DuPree For a lighter take on nachos that’s seasonal but doesn't skimp on flavor, give this vegetarian recipe a whirl. It tops tortilla chips with paprika-spiked corn for pops of smoky sweetness, tender bits of sautéed zucchini, and a creamy avocado-yogurt topping you’ll want to smear on everything. Serve family-style as a crowd-pleasing side or appetizer. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 16 Asian-Inspired Cabbage Slaw Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart In just 15 minutes you can whip up this fresh and vibrant coleslaw that is a BBQ must. Here, a mixture of cabbage, bell pepper, onion, carrots, and snap peas is bathed in a balanced, fragrant dressing made with rice vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey. Serve this simple yet scrumptious slaw with grilled chicken, steak, or tofu for a complete meal. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 16 Chickpea and Chorizo Salad Victor Protasio This 25-minute salad combines protein-packed chickpeas, colorful tomatoes, and smoky Spanish chorizo. This easy-to-make side or meal, which can be prepared up to a day in advance, is tossed with a sherry vinegar vinaigrette that’s been spiked with honey and smoked paprika, so the result is a dish that’s tangy, smoky, and subtly sweet. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 16 Niçoise-Inspired Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Niçoise salad and potato salad join forces in this summer side recipe that takes just one hour to make. Here, fingerling potatoes are roasted (not boiled) and joined by perfectly hard boiled eggs, haricot verts, grape tomatoes, and black olives. As if that wasn’t enough, a zesty dill and Dijon dressing coats everything and packs plenty of tangy flavor. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 16 Kale Slaw With Lemon-Tahini Dressing Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart If you’re not a fan of vinegar-based slaw, give this kale slaw a go. The star here is an aromatic oil and seed mixture made with crushed coriander and cumin seeds cooked in hot olive oil. That mixture is then drizzled on tahini-dressed kale and red cabbage slaw, and the result is a side that pairs perfectly with grilled meats or burgers. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 16 Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs Greg DuPree This summer salad pairs juicy corn kernels with a showering of fresh herbs—basil, chives, and dill—plus caramelized onions for good measure. The result is a mouthwatering savory-sweet combo you can serve alongside pretty much anything at your cookout, such as grilled fish, roast chicken, or a seared steak. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 16 Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw Greg DuPree This simple slaw swaps in crisp cabbage and raw zucchini instead of the chopped cucumber that's typical of tzatziki. Top with pepitas for some much-needed texture, and serve this slaw at your next summer barbecue or backyard party with your favorite grilled proteins. GET THE RECIPE 100 Summer Dinner Ideas That Are Healthy and Ideal for Hot Days 15 of 16 Grilled Mediterranean Salad JENNIFER CAUSEY This isn’t your mom’s pasta salad. In this refreshing take you’ll find delicious twists of campanelle pasta, tangy balsamic dressing, crispy cubes of halloumi, grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and red onion, and plenty of fragrant fresh oregano. Since you’ll need to fire up the grill for this dish, it makes sense to serve it at a BBQ or summer cookout. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 16 Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey Corn is delicious when cooked, but it’s also quite tasty raw. Case in point: this elote-inspired salad. The recipe transforms the Mexican street snack into a meal by tossing raw corn with pinto beans, herbs, jalapeño, and heaps of arugula. Serve this salad alongside grilled fish tacos for a complete meal. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit