27 Easy Side Dishes For A Barbecue

Published: May 5, 2022 · Modified: Nov 18, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 737 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

Today I'm sharing with you my favorite easy side dishes for a barbecue. Easy, homemade side dishes that can be taken to your next barbecue, picnic, summer party, or cookout.

Collage of side dishes for a summer barbecue.

Who doesn't love a good summer picnic side dish? Often, the side dishes are the true stars of the show - from pasta salad and coleslaw, to corn on the cob, there's a ton of variety and something for everyone.

You're sure to find a new favorite on this list. We've got easy and portable cold sides, and oven roasted hot sides to add to your backyard barbecue at home.

Summer parties

Where can you take these easy summer side dishes? Here's a few ideas:

Barbecues
Pool parties
Work potlucks
Picnics
Fourth of July
Backyard cookout
Summer birthdays

Cold side dishes

Cold picnic side dishes are perfect for hauling to a barbecue across town, or toting to work for a potluck party. Plus, they're easy to make ahead and store until it's time to go.

Classic Pasta Salad

Classic pasta salad is made with a tri-color rotini, filled with vegetables and cheeses, and coated in a homemade vinaigrette. The perfect recipe to feed a crowd!

And overhead look at a bowl of classic pasta salad in a bowl.

Sweet and Tangy No Mayo Coleslaw

by Bowl of Delicious

This sweet and tangy no mayo coleslaw is made with an oil and vinegar dressing. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free - perfect for pleasing a crowd!

Coleslaw in a white bowl with a blue towel.

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Make a batch of tortellini pasta salad for your next barbecue or summer get-together. This easy side dish is filled with cheese tortellini, fresh vegetables, and a homemade vinaigrette salad dressing.

Glass bowl filled with tortellini pasta salad.

Southern Macaroni Salad

Southern macaroni salad is a classic side dish that's perfect for your next picnic. This cold side dish is filled with macaroni, diced vegetables, and eggs, coated in a creamy and flavorful dressing.

Glass bowl of macaroni salad with a wooden spoon.

Easy Southern Coleslaw

by Recipes from a Pantry

A classic coleslaw recipe that's tangy and crunchy, with just a hint of sweetness. A staple for all your summer barbecues and parties!

Blueberry Corn Feta Salad

by Recipe Runner

Filled with sweet corn, fresh blueberries, feta cheese, and basil, tossed in a honey lime dressing. This summer salad is the perfect side dish for your next barbecue.

Southern Potato Salad

Southern potato salad is an easy cold side dish for your next barbecue or picnic. This classic potato salad is filled with potatoes, eggs, celery, red onion, and relish that's coated in a creamy dressing.

Southern potato salad with a wooden serving spoon.

Broccoli Salad

by Sugar Spun Run

Filled with chopped broccoli, cranberries, cheddar cheese, bacon, and sunflower seeds, tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. Refreshing and crowd-pleasing, this salad comes together with only 15 minutes of prep work!

Dill Potato Salad

Dill potato salad is an easy and flavorful side dish for your next summer barbecue. Red potatoes, celery, and onions are coated in a creamy homemade dill dressing.

Close up of dill potato salad in a serving bowl.

Easy Italian Caprese Salad

by Little Sunny Kitchen

A simple classic, this caprese salad is easy to whip up in minutes for your next summer party. Slices of juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves are layered and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Mozzarella and tomato slices with basil leaves, drizzled in balsamic glaze.

Pineapple Kiwi Salad

Make a bowl of pineapple kiwi salad for your next summer picnic. Fresh juicy pineapple and kiwi are coated in a sweet honey lime dressing and topped with crunchy toasted coconut.

Blue bowl filled with fruit salad.

Summer Chopped Veggie Salad

by Maple & Mango

This eye catching veggie salad is filled with fresh chopped cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and feta cheese, tossed in a quick homemade dressing. So refreshing on the hottest summer days!

Chopped veggies in a bowl with two gold spoons.

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy caviar is a flavor packed mix between a salad and a salsa. Filled with black beans, black eyed peas, avocado, corn, tomatoes, jalapenos, and more - this cold salad is the perfect party appetizer.

A person scooping cowboy caviar from a bowl with a tortilla chip.

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

by Joyous Apron

A refreshing bowl of summer fruits, like strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and peaches, drizzled with a simple honey lime dressing. Perfect for those summer parties by the pool.

Cucumber Blueberry Salad

Cucumber blueberry salad is a refreshing summer side dish that's filled with fresh seasonal ingredients. Cucumber, blueberries, almonds, and fresh mint are tossed in a homemade lemon-honey vinaigrette dressing.

Pouring salad dressing over salad ingredients in a bowl.

Bacon Deviled Eggs

Bacon deviled eggs are a crowd-favorite appetizer for your next party. These deviled eggs have just a pinch of cayenne pepper for a hint of warmth and are topped with plenty of crumbled bacon.

Deviled egg topped with crumbled bacon on a white plate.

Kale Apple Slaw

Kale apple slaw is a simple side dish recipe that's light and flavorful. Chopped kale is tossed with sliced apple and red onion, then coated in a tangy poppy seed dressing.

A white scalloped edge bowl filled with salad.

Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries

by Cooking For My Soul

What's more summer than fresh, juicy watermelon? This salad is made with fresh cubed watermelon, blueberries, feta cheese and mint, tossed in a honey lime dressing.

Cubed watermelon, blueberries, and feta in a white bowl.

Hot side dishes

Hot picnic side dishes are perfect for pairing with hot off the grill ribs and burgers in the backyard, or your next neighborhood Fourth of July bash.

Boston Baked Beans

by Crayons & Cravings

Sweet and savory Boston baked beans are the perfect comfort food side dish for your next barbecue or potluck.

Serving spoon full of boston baked beans.

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

Oven roasted corn on the cob is a fresh and flavorful side dish to add to your next meal. Corn cobs are oven roasted in their husks and coated in a lightly seasoned butter.

Spreading seasoned butter on an oven roasted corn cob.

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

This creamy baked mac and cheese is a crowd pleasing side dish to serve at your next holiday meal. Macaroni is coated in a rich, creamy cheese sauce and topped with a crunchy panko crust.

A scoop of macaroni and cheese sitting in a casserole dish.

Easy Grilled Veggie Skewers

by The Forked Spoon

These easy grilled veggie skewers are made with bell peppers, onion, and zucchini, brushed in balsamic vinegar and drizzled with a homemade garlic herb sauce.

Grilled veggies on skewers.

Creamy Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

by Razzle Dazzle Life

Creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes are topped with cheese, bacon, and green onions. A hearty, crowd pleasing side dish for your next family meal!

Glass casserole dish filled with mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon.

Elote (Mexican Grilled Corn)

by All Ways Delicious

Sweet corn is topped with lime juice and mayonnaise, seasoned with chili powder, and sprinkled with cotija cheese. A total crowd pleaser!

Grilled corn in a baking pan with grilled limes.

Cajun Sweet Potato Wedges

Cajun sweet potato wedges make an easy and flavorful side dish for your next backyard barbecue. Sweet potatoes are drizzled in olive oil, sprinkled in spicy seasoning, then roasted in the oven.

Sweet potato wedges on a white plate.

Dr. Pepper Baked Beans

by Foxes Love Lemons

Dr. Pepper baked beans are made with canned beans that are doctored up with flavorful ingredients to make the perfect salty & sweet side dish for your next barbecue.

Baked beans in a cast iron skillet next to several cans of Dr. Pepper soda.

Hash Brown Potato Casserole

Hash brown potato casserole is made with cheesy potatoes and a crunchy panko bread crumb topping. The cheese sauce is made entirely from scratch - no canned soups needed! Perfect for serving at your next holiday gathering like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

A wooden serving spoon scooping hash brown potato casserole from a white casserole dish.

See more side dish recipes →

More Side Dish Recipes

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