Whenever you’re grilling, throwing a cookout, or simply sitting down for a quiet dinner at home with your pals, one thing is certain: the essential goodies to go with that summer meal are the side dishes!
These are fresh vegetables and seasonal flavors, the accompaniments to toss together with burgers, hot dogs, ribs, or whatever else you have on the plan for those hot summer days.
This collection represents 21 of my favored summer side dish recipes, so consider it your instant go-to when barbecue season or a party is at hand. From classic balsamic grilled veggies to Spanish-style patatas bravas, you will find vibrant salads, and more out-of-the-box sides that will start all the discussions-ever heard of Caprese stuffed foccacia?
Or my marinated mini mozzarella balls with their bright citrus and fragrant fresh herbs? You’ll want to keep this post open for the summer!
Balsamic Grilled Vegetable
Summer wouldn’t be summer without balsamic grilled vegetables! The sweet tannin-rich tang of balsamic glaze perfectly complements the high smoky char of anything coming off the grill, making each mouthful sing. A hodgepodge of all your preferred vegetables – zucchini, peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, and so on – makes for a colorful and healthy recipe, fitting with just about anything.
So easy to make and adapt, it’s perfect for throwing things on the BBQ during summer Sundays or low-stress weeknight dinners. Leftovers taste amazing the next day. Toss them into salads or pasta. Truly, everyone will be back for more after tasting this summer goodness.
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Spanish Patatas Bravas
Give your summer spread the real Spanish patatas bravas touch! These potatoes, fried to golden crispiness, offer a well-deserved bite. Pour on some smoky paprika tomato sauce and creamy aioli for complete indulgence. It redefines comfort food for side or even as a good appetizer.
Patatas bravas are an overpowering crunchy treat with an exciting heat added to the balance. It’s a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, fresh salads, or just a cool drink on a hot afternoon. Plus very much a crowd-pleaser because everyone loves a good crispy potato, right?
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Summer Orzo Salad
This is meat-free, light, bright, and totally refreshing summer orzo salad when hot days make you want to fill up without weighing down. Little pasta pearls absorbing the concentrated flavors of lemony dressings, crisp vegetables, and a sprinkling of herbs make this an ideal dish that can be prepared ahead of time for picnics, potlucks, or simple lunches.
Vegetarian: last-minute throw-in of grilled chicken or shrimp to have it much heartier. This salad is all about texture and balance, hence one of those summertime staples you’ll crave again and again.
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Mexican Elotes (Street Corn)
Taste it, and you will understand what it’s like to eat an elote–nothing else that comes close to their creamy, tangy, and somewhat spicy presence. Elote basically means the finished product of grilled corn on the cob, dirty, covered with mayo, sprinkling lime, cheesy, and topping off with some chili.
It is very bold, bringing a lot of fun to the locality, and ridiculously mouth-watering–definitely a favorite at all summer cookouts or taco nights out.
Every juicy bite dribbles all over the place, and contrasting flavors simply scream summer in your face. If you have never tasted elotes before, this is your sign! So easy to make, and so much fun to serve to guests.
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Blueberry, Grape & Avocado Salad
This salad in a bowl is just so refreshing; it is sweet and creamy. Juicy blueberries and grapes lend just the right fruity sweetness, while the creaminess of the avocado brings in the thick, smooth texture.
It’s a beautiful balance, and although somewhat unexpected, it certainly wins the heart of many and proves not so hard to make in not so many minutes. It seems to me that it is good for lunch, a nice start to your brunch, or as a nice, light summer salad to accompany some summery meal.
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Cold Sesame Noodle Salad
On any hot, lazy summer day, cold sesame sesame salad will deliver a punch of delicious flavor, perfect, and the slurp-worthy. It’s basically cool, creamy, and fragrant with wonderful sesame dressing. Smash in some nuts and slip some crunchy veggies for nice and unique texture.
The salad can be transformed into a gratifying light meal. If you are looking for any meal prep recipe or quick crowd-pleaser, this is for you. Furthermore, it stays long in the fridge; so by the time you remember it, it stays ready for you. The recipe is always a sure and big hit!
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Summer Pesto Pasta Salad
A fresh and herby pesto makes this pasta salad, turning it into a sweet and savory summer delight. It’s tossed with softly cooked pasta and fresh vegetables as a fresh, full-flavored side. Make a generous quantity and serve cold to delight with day-offs on the beach or easy packed lunches.
Whether basil pesto or arugula or spinach, it will not fail: this one is a nifty twist to the regular pasta salad. Yummi-licous and worth a lot of moan!
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Loaded Cottage Cheese Potato Salad
Cottage cheese creates a special light finish to a summer potato saladwhile it combines the two condiments. This goes hand-in-hand with soft potatoes, except for some crunchy vegetables and herbs. Fresh and delicious, one will love this for any BBQ or a quickie side for a busy night.
Pretty light and tangy, and somewhat adventurous as a contrast to the traditional mayo-heavy potato salad. Go ahead and make it much more customizable; always add what you desire.
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Mediterranean Rice Salad
This seemingly simple rice salad packs in the bright, sunny flavor of the Mediterranean, with olives, herbs, lemon, crunchy vegetables: light, refreshing, and best-served chilled or at room temperature. It would be great tossed with grilled meats or served with wraps, but it can also hold its own as a light meal.
It is very easy to prepare in advance, so a natural for meal prepping or parties. Really, it is the kind of dish everyone keeps making all summer long just because it is that good.
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Roasted Tomatoes with Whipped Feta
Maybe a dip would fall somewhere between the sweet, cloying melted feta, and melted amounts of sweet roasted tomatoes? About that heavy, creamy, salty, and tangy. And right now, screaming Mediterranean-fresh crusty bread and fresh veggie scoops. Warm, city-tomato burst just tempts with cool, creamy cheese.
One of those easy-cool-but-not-so-common-type of dishes you’ll want to share at a party or would be a very elegant side dish on the dinner table. Take our word, once you try it once, you’ll keep making it.
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Chickpea, Cucumber, and Feta Salad
Crunchy and refreshing, that’s how this addictively summery salad works its charm! Chickpeas are the base, while cucumber gives the salad that refreshing-crunchy taste. The feta adds the salty, creamy note that completes everything.
It’s super quick to throw together, light enough that it can fill you up without heavying you down, and just makes perfect sense for a hot summer day’s meal. Serve it with grilled chicken, scoop it up on a pita, or grab a fork and dive right in-the fact is, it is just that good. One of those salads that taste so much better the next day gives it the number-one spot in the fridge.
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Tortellini Pasta Salad
Tortellini makes this pasta salad even more fun and satisfying! Each piece of cheesy goodness gets coated with the tangy herbaceous dressing, tossed with crunchy colorful veggies. It has enough heft to be a light meal in its own right, but equally good as a side at barbecues and picnics.
This salad is adjustable; throw in some olives, some chokeartichokes, maybe even a sliver or two of salami, and it will never taste the same twice. It is a super simple recipe that you can throw together one minute and then eat the other- it goes down that well! So you must keep it in the summer rotation!
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Gnocchi Antipasto Salad
A soft pillow-like gnocchi infused with all those good antipasto ingredients create an interesting upturn on a classic pasta salad. Marinated vegetables, cured meats, bold cheeses-all these should have a zingy dressing that binds this inconsistency into one heavenly dish.
It will be a hit with a myriad of textures and strong Italian vibes. And the best part? Warm or cold serving is acceptable, putting this on every single occasion. Filling but pays consideration not to be overwhelming; a sure head-turner for salads. This is for when the glory has to be there but will not be stressful.
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Caprese Loaded Focaccia
A heavenly summer side in which a Caprese salad is converted into fresh-laid bread. Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil sit on fluffy golden focaccia that is equally palate-pleasing as it is visually enticing, all drizzled with balsamic glaze.
Perfect as a party starter, for the side at a Barbeque, or a fancy snack. Made from scratch or using store-bought focaccia for quickness. Regardless, it will disappear in a flash.
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Citrus & Herbs Marinated Mozzarella
Nothing says fresh flavor quite like this easy and elegant side. Soft mozzarella balls are marinated in a fragrant mixture of citrus juice, olive oil, and herbs so that every bite bursts with zestiness and coolness—so good on hot days.
Serve with crackers, include in salads, or simply eat straight from the bowl with a fork. So good! This no-cook dish is assembled in a matter of minutes, making it perfect for busy summer evenings or an unexpected gathering. Light, flavorful, and satisfying!
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Cheesy Asparagus Foil Packs
The simple and easy preparation of cheesy asparagus foil packs makes this an excellent summertime side-however, these packs are prepared, grilled, and served-all mess-free! Plump asparagus is immersed in melted cheese and seasoning, packed in foil, and clamped on the grill to arrive at such perfection.
Great for backyard barbecues, camping trips, or an easy weeknight meal, they may be prepped ahead of time so that all you need to do is throw them on the grill. And they go with any protein: burgers, salmon, grilled ribs-whatever. So simple, so good.
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Pineapple & Coconut Tropical Slaw
The tropical twist on a classic summer side, quite literally. Shredded raw cabbage gets a tossing with the juicy flesh of pineapple, coconut just this side of subtlety, and a light and tangy dressing. Crunchy, refreshing, and slightly sweet-just the exact contrast denominator for heavy smoky grilled dishes.
A great way to lift the spirits of your normal coleslaws game and dazzle your company with something different. Besides, it will take no time to prepare, and will hold out papers in record time for parties or picnics.
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Roasted Carrot Fries with Yogurt Harissa Dip
Healthy Fries- or Roasted Carrot Fries with Yogurt Harissa Dip. These roasted carrot fries are an addictive version of fries without the extra fat. Serve with a spicy, cool yogurt harissa dip- Perfect summer snacks or side dishes. The carrots caramelize nicely in an oven and add that creamy kick from the dip. It’s an excellent way to sneak some veggies without sacrificing flavor.
Plus, it’s imagination-inspiring brilliant colors that make this dish every bit as gorgeous as it is mouthwatering. Gorgeous for dipping and shared with others!
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Couscous with Balsamic Berries and Basil
colorful stimulate and confluence-brimming attractive dish of couscous with juicy berries giants, fresh basil, and a tangy balsamic glaze. Purely sweet and savory, totally distinctive—one side that brings something special but comes together in a snap. The couscous soaks everything up beautifully, and the berries provide little bursts of summer goodness.
Perfectly sets up for brunch, picnic fare, or a lighter dinner option. Has always gotten rave comments, plus it’s one of those recipes that you can show up with in exciting shape for putting fruit into savory dishes!
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Chili Lime Watermelon Fries
This summery philosophy of snacking comes in with a standard homemade preparation, spicy-sour twist on watermelon. These are juicy watermelon sticks, sprinkled with chili powder, lime juice, and a pinch of salt to get a burst of bright and deep flavor without waking up your taste buds. Ridiculously simple but so much satisfying, especially on those hot days.
This is a very refreshing dish for all kinds of parties or BBQs that you can serve as a light side along with grilled meats. Is totally unexpected, fun to eat, and surely a good conversation starter.
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Grilled Peach and Burrata Crostini
Summer elegance on a plate refers to this grilled peach and burrata crostini. Juicy, caramelized peaches are the toppings for creamy burrata and crisp toasted bread, topped off with a drizzle of honey or balsamic glaze. Sweet, savory, and just the right touch of indulgent.
Serve as a side, appetizer, or even a light lunch-it’s a hit every time. This dish is both beautiful and delicious, making it a favorite for special occasions or just good-feeling meals on the patio.
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There you have it: 21 summer side dishes that mean business and know how to flaunt it. Be it for grilling, picnics, or potluck-hopping, these side dishes are packing fresh flavors to keep you covered.