BBQ side dishes are what make a summer cookout feel complete. Whether you’re hosting a backyard party, heading to a Memorial Day BBQ, planning a 4th of July cookout, or bringing a dish to a potluck, these easy BBQ sides are crowd-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and perfect next to burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, ribs, and anything else coming off the grill. From pasta salads and potato salads to bean salads and fresh summer sides, these are the recipes you’ll be excited to bring — and the ones people will ask you for again.
My Favorite BBQ Sides
This is the fun, non-traditional one.
It’s crunchy, colorful, full of flavor, and bonus — it’s gluten free, because we all have that one gluten-free friend at the BBQ.
It’s a great option when you want something fresh but still filling, and it brings a totally different flavor to the table than the usual potato salad and pasta salad lineup.
This one is a no-mayo potato salad and it has been around in my life for a long time.
It’s a variation of a recipe my bestie and I found in a magazine back in our early 20s. We’re 38 and 39 now, so let’s just say this one has earned its place at the cookout table.
It’s bright, lemony, a little smoky from the grill, and such a good option if you want something lighter than classic creamy potato salad.
This is the classic that deserves a comeback.
My mom used to make 3 bean salad from a church cookbook, and I’ve adjusted it a bit through the years, but it’s still one of those old-school recipes that just works.
I even have a friend who requests it every Memorial Day because she says it’s so good but “no one makes it anymore.”
So honestly, I dare you to make it and surprise everyone.
This one is a twist on my mom’s potato salad, but with a little extra tang.
I always preferred potato salad with eggs, so I took a version of her recipe, added eggs, leaned into the pickle flavor, and now it feels like my own.
It’s creamy, tangy, and basically the best of both worlds if you love both potato salad and pickles.
I know so many of you are deviled egg lovers, so this one had to happen.
It combines two cookout classics — deviled eggs and pasta salad — into one creamy side dish.
The best part? The yolks get mixed right into the mayo, which makes this the creamiest deviled egg pasta salad around.
This one is basically a meal in itself.
I created this recipe after falling in love with a buffalo chicken pasta salad from my local grocery store… except it cost an arm and a leg.
Now, for about the same price, I can make 2–3 tubs worth at home, and it’s always a hit with the buffalo chicken lovers.
It’s creamy, spicy, filling, and perfect if you want to bring something that feels a little more exciting than a basic side dish.
This one is creamy, zesty, a little smoky, and inspired by one of the best summer flavors ever.
I’ve had multiple husbands tell their wives they NEED to start making this one, which always makes me laugh — and of course, I’m always happy to share the recipe.
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