Thinking about easy side dishes to serve in summertime takes you a lot of time. You don’t know what the best ones to go well with your main dishes are. Suitable side dishes are always essential to raise the main dish’s flavor and increase its deliciousness level.
Usually, you cook soup, sauce, noodles, and rice to accompany the main dishes; however, repeatedly cooking and eating these things makes you easily bored. Therefore, you had better change summer side dishes for your meals now.
With the post here, I would like to share with you four main clusters of simple side dishes that are suitable to serve on hot days. You can enjoy fresh, juicy, and refreshing meals with the companions of the mentioned summer side dishes.
Let’s go with me to discover what they are and how amazing they are!
Take An Overall Look About The Easiest Summer Side Dishes
The list here is about 27 summer side dishes made with ease and convenience that I want to share with you. These summer side dishes are for BBQ, potluck, going on picnics, and general reunions.
Easy Summer Side Dishes For BBQ
- Best-Ever Grilled Zucchini
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Grilled Creamed Corn
- Coconut Rice
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Grilled Romaine Caesar
- Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad
- Antipasti Potato Salad
- Sweet Potato Fries
Easy Summer Side Dishes For Potluck
- Grilled Corn And Quinoa
- Chili-Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- Potato Salad with Dill And Horseradish Aioli
- Mango And Black Bean Salad
- Mojito Fruit Salad
Best Summer Picnic Side Dishes
- Whipped Deviled Eggs With Dill
- Southern Fried Okra
- Strawberry Butter
- Chicken Waldorf Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
- Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Cantaloupe
Other Easy Summer Side Dishes For A Crowd
- Coleslaw
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Baked Beans
- Broccolini Salad
- Creamy Grape Salad
- Watermelon Skewers
Let’s Get A Better Understanding Simple Summer Side Dishes
Continue reading the section to get a deeper grasp of these 27 easy summer side dishes. What they are made with, how they look like, what they taste, and moreover what to serve with them.
Easy Summer Side Dishes For BBQ
Summer is the perfect time to hold BBQ parties. And it goes without saying that these parties will not be complete without the perfect side dishes. So behold, here are the top sides to serve for BBQ events during the summer.
1. Best-Ever Grilled Zucchini
Grilled zucchini is ranked as one of the most popular summer side dishes because it is heavenly, nutritious, and good for your health on hot days.
Making the dish is never easier and quicker. What you need is sliced zucchini in the shape you want, season them with oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices, and then grill them until they get tender.
2. Italian Pasta Salad
One of the salads as a fabulous summer side dish for BBQ is an Italian pasta salad that is juicy, healthy, and delicious to satisfy your hunger.
What makes this salad more special than the other is Italian seasoning together with essential spices to flavor the mixture of fresh and crunchy veggies. You can add the salad with your favorite veggies instead of following precisely the recipe recommended.
3. Grilled Creamed Corn
Just grill corn with cheese; you get the super simple side dishes for BBQ on hot days. I love the juiciness, natural sweetness, and creaminess of this side dish. With grilled creamed corn, your BBQ will definitely be better and tastier.
All simple ingredients join together to create a dense, thick, and tangy texture after being grilled, making the dish a favorite option for children!
Enjoy your BBQ with the best together with this grilled creamed corn! You can see this video to know more:
4. Coconut Rice
A creamy dish with pronounced fragrance from Jasmine rice, this summer side dish is actually a dish originating from the breezy island of Hawaii. Considered a “beginner” dish, coconut rice requires little expertise, techniques, or complex ingredients. Yet, its flavor is incredibly enticing.
Nothing is easier than coconut rice to serve with your grilled meat, fish, or chicken. All you do to make the dish is boil rice, coconut milk, and some salt to add flavor to the rice.
You can serve coconut rice with BBQ, of course. Still, besides that, the coconut rice can accompany tiger prawns in garlic ginger soy sauce, pumpkin chickpea coconut curry, or Indian butter chicken.
5. Watermelon Feta Salad
The juiciness and freshness are what make watermelon feta salad one of the best summer side dishes to serve with chicken casserole. The combination of watermelon and feta sometimes makes you confused, but don’t worry, that’s amazing.
As watermelons have a thick rind, you should check if the watermelon goes bad first. Then, let your sliced watermelon chill in the fridge before using it to combine with other added ingredients to get the best flavor.
6. Grilled Romaine Caesar
Grilled romaine caesar is another elegant side dish you side with BBQ. Some pieces of bread by the side of grilled romaine lettuce with direct heat and some lemon juice will be the perfect side dish.
The side recipes can be the number one choice to go with grilled chicken, salmon, and meat because they can add the natural flavor to the main savories and make them more flavorful.
Side your main dishes with grilled romaine caesar to get the perfect flavor. You can see this video to know more:
7. Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad
I am always impressed by a side dish with the addition of strawberries because they bring the dish freshness and juiciness.
However, the combination made me confused the first time; a type of fruit and pasta, how can? But they join together and make a very typical side dish.
The crunchiness and freshness combined with the tenderness and well seasoning are what you can feel when enjoying this dish.
8. Antipasti Potato Salad
One more salad you can place by the side of grilled meat, fish, or chicken is an antipasto potato salad that includes a lot of veggies and fruits tossed by a sour, sugary and garlicky sauce.
The mixture of these mentioned components will be then dressed with a dressing of garlicky vinegar and oil to create an aromatic antipasto potato salad.
9. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries flavored with salt and pepper can also go with BBQ. They can be the easiest side dish you can make with very simple and inexpensive ingredients.
The crispy edges and natural sweetness from fries will raise the tastiness of your main savories. Besides, you can serve the dish as a joyful snack on summer days.
Easy Summer Side Dishes For Potluck
If you are concerned about what summer side dishes to go with a potluck, check the list below, I will let you know some common and easy dishes you can opt for potluck right now. Let’s go!
10. Grilled Corn And Quinoa
Let’s begin with southwest quinoa and grilled corn salad. That is an excellent idea to satisfy your hunger because grilled corn with quinoa will form a dish full of starch. Moreover, tossing the dish with honey-lime vinaigrette creates an irresistible aroma.
What you do to get it finished is mix all ingredients in a bowl and then toss the mixture with a dressing of lime juice and vegetable oil to raise the flavor of all components.
11. Chili-Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Roasting potatoes for about 45 minutes with the seasonings of chopped herbs and marinade of spices is to add a garlicky, spicy, sweet, and tangy flavor to the bland potatoes and make them appealing than ever.
Chili-garlic roasted potatoes are easy to make and comforting to enjoy, making them one of the most popular, delicious, and worth eating.
12. Potato Salad with Dill And Horseradish Aioli
If you don’t like roasted potatoes, taking them to make salad is also a good idea.
The diversification of fresh veggies will add freshness and delight, especially when the mixture is tossed with a simple dressing of horseradish to increase flavor.
Fresh and yummy ingredients will make the dish fabulous than you think, so try it if you have a chance.
Turn your potatoes into an incredible side dish with potato salad with a wonderful sauce in some simple steps. Watch this video:
13. Mango And Black Bean Salad
Set aside 15 minutes, you get a wonderful salad with mango and black beans. Mango is always considered as the symbolic fruit in the summer season. The natural flavor of mango adds a fresh, sweet, and slightly sour taste, making the salad special.
Moreover, the creaminess from other ingredients like avocado and black beans also raises this salad to a new level of deliciousness.
14. Mojito Fruit Salad
I think no one dislikes the salad with fresh fruits because of the freshness, crunchiness, and juiciness they can add to salad and increase this salad’s tastiness level.
Like many other salads, with already-prepared ingredients, it takes you around 15 minutes to assemble everything to form a mojito fruit salad that promisingly is the number one choice of almost all children as it contains the most incredible fruits with an aromatic dressing.
The salad undoubtedly is a perfect side dish on summer days!
Best Summer Picnic Side Dishes
Summer side dishes for going on a picnic must be easy, quick, and convenient with simply-prepared ingredients. Below are some highly recommended dishes you can make for a picnic this summer season.
15. Whipped Deviled Eggs With Dill
As the name suggests, the dish contains some boiled egg white stuffed with a mixture of yolks, heavy cream, and some essential spices to season the blend.
The light and fluffy mixture is topped with dill sprigs to make it more appealing and tangy. Just with some eggs and such simple components, you can get a fabulous side dish for a picnic.
Make the best whipped deviled eggs with dill to side your meal! Watch this video to know:
16. Southern Fried Okra
You have known about the easiest side dish ideas, and now I will introduce you to southern fried okra as the most inexpensive summer side dishes for just about frilled meat, fish, and chicken. And your summer is not complete without the dish!
The delicious but straightforward Southern fried okra is completed by the addition of flour and some seasoning before being fried.
17. Strawberry Butter
Nothing is simpler than preparing strawberry butter. An amazing side dish to serve during a picnic, strawberry butter can be spreaded on your flatbread with ease and served immediately. This is undoubtedly the easiest and quickest side dish for outdoor events.
The butter with creamy flavor and light pink color is an entirely wonderful side dish for pancakes, ice cream, or sandwiches.
18. Chicken Waldorf Salad
The first time introduced in Waldorf-Astoria hotel in 1896, the salad was named after the hotel’s name as a simple mixture of apples, celery, and dressing of mayo; however, going through some changes; you’ve got the best version of chicken Waldorf salad.
You can pair the salad with grilled chicken or just serve it as a whole meal full of essential nutrients.
Get the best and convenient way to make an excellent chicken Waldorf salad. Watch this video below:
19. Mediterranean Orzo Salad
The orzo salad gives you another choice for a side dish that can fill up your stomach together with the main savories.
Mediterranean orzo salad has high calories and carbohydrates, making this salad wonderful to be lunch or a fabulous side dish for almost all savories you like.
You can add whatever fruits or veggies like artichoke hearts, tomatoes, avocado, or eggplant to diversify the flavor of the salad.
20. Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Being completed with simple ingredients makes the salad one of the common options for picnic side dishes. The various ingredients make the salad a balanced meal when it contains protein, vitamins, and also essential nutrients for your body.
The crispy exterior but tender interior from grilled bread is what makes the salad different from many other salads. You can use the fresh loaves of bread or just leftover ones. That’s ok!
A timeless classic, caesar salad deserves its place in the list for best dishes to prepare for summer dinner. It might not be the most unique dish out there, but there’s a reason why caesar salad manages to maintain its popularity, and it’s because of the dish’s fantastic flavors.
21. Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Cantaloupe
The estimated time to get the side dish finished is less than half an hour, so if you want to find a side dish for a picnic or going camping, don’t forget grilled prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe.
The side dish is the magic combination of thin prosciutto slices, peeled cantaloupe, cracked pepper to flavor, and fresh chopped basil to decorate the dish.
22. Baked Beans
You also can bake beans and bacon for a potluck as a wonderful summer side dish. The recipe is the mixture of the natural sweetness of fresh beans and brown sugar and the savory flavor of bacon.
It’s always a good idea to make baked beans in large batches, as the timespan baked beans stay fresh in fridges is quite decent. If you want them to last longer, it’s also possible to put these into the freezer. This way, you’ll have delicious side dishes to enjoy through the summer.
You should marinate bacon first to add the bland bacon with tangy, salty, and spicy taste and golden brown color. This way, bacon will become the highlight of your dish and make the baked beans even more irresistible.
Let’s pair your main dishes with easy and delicious baked beans! Watch this video below:
Other Easy Summer Side Dishes
Besides summer side dishes for BBQ, a picnic, or a potluck, you have many others to serve your daily meals. However, I don’t mean a particular side dish must be served on a particular occasion; you can use whatever you love, but here are some suggestions.
23. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a kind of salad whose color always brings me a sense of comfort when eating. The salad is a combination of thinly sliced white or red cabbage. You can top the salad over the sandwiches, serve it with pulled pork to make your meals more delicious.
What makes coleslaw incredible is the dressing when it brings your salad slightly pungent, sour, sweet, and catch flavor. Besides, you can use up the leftover dressing to marinate meat or roasted vegetables
24. Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy cucumber salad is a comforting side dish for BBQ, potluck, or a picnic. I often use the side dish to accompany grilled chicken, barbecue ribs, or just grilled corn on the cob.
Creamy cucumber salad is on the list of the easiest and quickest salads. If you’ve grown the plant of fresh and crunchy cucumbers, making this salad is in your hands. You’ll get a healthy but very easy salad to serve with your fried fish.
25. Broccolini Salad
Broccoli and mushrooms are known as a good source of protein and fiber, and now together with many other added ingredients, create a salad with a delightful taste and good for health.
Broccoli salad is an insane side dish to go with any dishes made with meat, fish, and chicken. Moreover, because the salad contains its own necessary nutrients for your body, serving it as a whole meal is not striking.
26. Creamy Grape Salad
If you love grapefruits, don’t hesitate to make the creamy grape salad a good side dish for almost all main savories. The salad is juicy, slightly sour, and creamy, making it suitable to be a side dish for your meal on hot days.
You can serve the dish for both BBQ and potluck to raise the flavor of grilled meat, diversify your meals, and make it light.
Take easy and comforting creamy grape salad to serve with whatever you want. Let’s see this video to know:
27. Watermelon Skewers
If you’re worried about the proper storing ways for your watermelon, you can use it all for these skewers. With some balsamic, they are a quick side dish for any party: BBQs, picnics, drink parties, and potlucks. You can think of these watermelon skewers as a salad on a stick.
Adding your favorite fruits and veggies together with watermelon is good to diversify the flavor of watermelon skewers, making them the number one choice of almost all children.
Is There Anything I Miss?
The above article shows you the 27 most insane summer side dishes that are classified into four main categories, ranging from side recipes for BBQ, potluck, picnic to other recipes for almost all main savories.
I cannot cover all things about summer side dishes; thus, if your favorite recipes are not on the list or you have found something interesting to serve your meal in the summertime, feel free to share your ideas with me in the comment section below.
If you find my reading exciting and valuable for your life, help me share the post with your relatives.
Nutrition Facts
4 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories50
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
3.7g
5%
- Saturated Fat 0.5g 0%
- Cholesterol 306mg 102%
- Sodium 12mg 1%
- Total Carbohydrate
4.1g
2%
- Dietary Fiber 1.3g 4%
- Sugars 2.1g
- Protein 1.5g 2%
- Calcium 18%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
