Epic No-Fuss Summer Sides | Laura Fuentes

August 2024 · 6 minute read

You'll love these delicious summer side dishes that make an easy fix for BBQs, cookouts, and lazy nights!

5 from 39 votes

Looking for fresh and delicious recipes to serve at the next BBQ or cookout? I’ve got you covered with these fresh and easy summer side dishes!

In this post, you’ll find classic summery dishes like grilled vegetable kabobs, pasta salads, and a few recreated classics such as my sweet potato salad and creamy hummus party platter.

No matter the recipe you choose, it will be the first to disappear at any gathering. So grab a glass of iced tea, and let’s get to recipe browsing.

BBQ Side Dishes

These BBQ side dish ideas are perfect for serving alongside your favorite grilled meats. Most of the recipes can be prepped or fully prepared beforehand, so come grilling time, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time outdoors!

Grilled Vegetable Skewers

5 from 35 votes

This recipe shows you how to mix and match your favorite veggies onto skewers and grill them to perfection.

Make This Recipe sweet potato salad in a bowl Sweet Potato Salad

5 from 40 votes

A healthier potato salad made with sweet potato, fresh veggies, and light, creamy dressing! 

Make This Recipe a pot with Italian Baked Beans Italian Baked Beans

5 from 29 votes

Is it really a BBQ without baked beans? These Italian baked beans amp up the traditional recipe with fresh garlic, Italian seasonings, and Parmesan cheese. One bite, and you’ll be a convert. 

Make This Recipe Loaded Baked Potato Deviled Eggs

5 from 21 votes

All the loaded baked potato toppings we love but in the center of a deviled egg! 

Make This Recipe Hummus Antipasto Platter

5 from 11 votes

The easiest way to look like the most sophisticated guest? This hummus platter. You can’t go wrong with fresh veggies, crackers, and Italian deli cuts with Greek Hummus.  Make This Recipe Baked Spinach Balls

5 from 23 votes

Spinach, breadcrumbs, cheese, and garlic butter all rolled up and baked to perfection, what’s not to love?

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Summer Side Salads

These summer side salads aren’t your ordinary lettuce and tomato combination. We’re taking salads up a notch with the fresh ingredients and flavors of watermelon, cucumber, avocado, and the best vinaigrettes you’ve tasted! Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu:

watermelon feta salad in a large bowl Watermelon & Feta Salad

4.86 from 102 votes

Sweet watermelon with tangy feta cheese tossed in a citrusy dressing is a combination you want to try! 

Make This Recipe panzanella chopped salad with croutons Greek Panzanella Salad

5 from 45 votes

A simple dressing, fresh garden tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, a little feta, wow! These are all the Mediterranean flavors we love in one delicious salad. 

Make This Recipe Southwest Quinoa Salad

5 from 30 votes

Cooked quinoa replaces chopped lettuce and gets tossed with southwest flavors of black beans, corn, salsa, and chili spices. 

Make This Recipe Asian Kale Salad

5 from 20 votes

A super color and delicious salad made with fresh kale, steamed edamame, crunchy carrots, and cabbage in a tangy-sweet sesame ginger dressing. 

Make This Recipe Carrot & Raisin Salad

5 from 29 votes

The tangy yogurt-based dressing with fresh pineapple, sweet raisins, and crunchy carrots make this salad one you’ll want to enjoy again and again. 

Make This Recipe closeup look at a large bowl of avocado salsa Avocado Salsa

5 from 19 votes

A delicious and beautiful salsa that will remind you of guacamole. You can top it over your favorite grilled protein or serve it with tortilla chips! 

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Summer Vegetable Side Dishes

Have summer veggies you need to use up? Turn your favorite seasonal produce into one of these delicious summer vegetable side dishes.

Corn & Tomato Salad

5 from 18 votes

The fresh flavors of corn and tomato salad with creamy avocado and a sweet and tangy basil dressing make this veggie side dish one your family will love. 

Make This Recipe Spiralized Zucchini & Tomatoes

5 from 34 votes

A perfect way to use up the abundance of summer zucchini! The spiralized veggies go great with grilled chicken and shrimp, or you could swap it for regular spaghetti in your favorite recipes. 

Make This Recipe parmesan green bean fries on a plate Parmesan Green Beans

4.97 from 223 votes

Crispy baked green beans with Parmesan cheese and a side of ranch- this hits the spot! 

Make This Recipe The Ultimate Guacamole Bar

5 from 40 votes

The perfect creamy guacamole does exist, and you’ll find it in this recipe along with countless ways to serve it to a crowd or all by yourself. 

Make This Recipe baked broccoli tots on a cooling rack Broccoli Tots

5 from 20 votes

These Parmesan Broccoli Tater Tots are baked to perfection with a crispy outside and soft, cheesy middle. Serve them with my Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing or ketchup!  Make This Recipe Bacon & Tomato Hummus Cups

5 from 12 votes

You can fill endive leaves or romaine lettuce with creamy hummus, fresh tomato, and crispy bacon. One bite, and you’ll know why these make a regular appearance at my dinner table. 

Make This Recipe Zucchini and Parmesan Savory Waffle on napkins with parmesan on the side Parmesan Zucchini Waffles

4.97 from 29 votes

Fire up your waffle irons because these cheesy Zucchini Waffles are a hit! Dunk them with more ranch dressing or marinara sauce, and you’ve got a good thing going.  Make This Recipe

Summer Pasta Salad Sides

What’s summer without a good pasta salad? And I’ve got some delicious ideas for you to try out! These recipes are easy to assemble and can be made the day before for a quick side dish or main entrée.

Cobb Pasta Salad

5 from 19 votes

Everything you love in a cobb salad but tossed with pasta instead of lettuce. Be prepared to share the recipe with everyone you know. 

Make This Recipe dish of Jambalalya pasta salad on a plate Jambalaya Pasta Salad

5 from 21 votes

A little Creole seasoning in the dressing goes a long way to give this simple pasta salad a New Orleans flair. Feel free to add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.  Make This Recipe Pizza Pasta Salad

5 from 18 votes

You’ll want to double this recipe because pepperoni pizza toppings with pasta and a zippy vinaigrette will disappear quick!

Make This Recipe Thai Chicken Pasta Salad

5 from 55 votes

Crunchy veggies, tender chicken, and pasta in a tangy peanut sauce- love at first bite! 

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No-Fuss Summer Sides

Laura Fuentes

You'll love these delicious summer side dishes that make an easy fix for BBQs, cookouts, and lazy nights!

5 from 39 votes

Servings 4

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

Equipment

meal prep ebook displayed on a tablet

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gSodium: 602mgPotassium: 986mgFiber: 9gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 2235IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 3mg

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