No barbecue feast is complete without a spread of side dishes. Here’s a round-up of our favorite BBQ side dish recipes from mac and cheese and coleslaw to salad and vegetables.
A grilled veggie platter is a beautiful and efficient BBQ side dish.
This collection of make-ahead, traditional summer side dish dishes for BBQ includes all of the old standbys. While it’s great to flaunt your delightfully imaginative culinary inventions, sometimes it’s wise to stick to the classics that you know everyone will enjoy.
When you think of barbecue you probably think of Pulled Pork, Smoked Brisket, or other meat. But what really elevates a cookout from good to great is the sides. Some sweet Kansas City ribs pair perfectly with a crisp and tangy coleslaw. Your perfectly cooked beef will taste even better alongside creamy macaroni and cheese. We’ve even got a healthy assortment of veggies and greens to make mom happy.
I’ll be serving these BBQ side dishes at my dining table for the summer, and I hope you will as well. Dig in!
Coleslaw Recipes
Coleslaw is great for sandwiches or as a salad. And they belong in a category of their own. From no mayo to smoked and pickled – these are great coleslaw recipes for your summer BBQ.
Easy No Mayo Coleslaw
A super simple mayo free coleslaw made with shredded cabbage, sliced carrots and onions, salt and pepper, cumin and apple cider vinegar. Easy and delicious, with no mayo.
This no mayo coleslaw is made with smoked pickled onions and is fantastic loaded onto pulled pork or chicken sandwiches or as a great side dish for your next backyard BBQ. Fresh and completely mayo free!
This is the easiest coleslaw recipe that works for any occasion. It's great on everything, from a salad to a topping for a great sandwich or slider. This is the best coleslaw recipe you want in your recipe box.
Cold salads during hot summer months are refreshing and a perfect pairing for rich dishes off the BBQ. These summer salad recipes are going to make any crowd excited.
5 from 1 vote
Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic Vinegar
A simple, delicious, and savory watermelon salad tossed with basil and white balsamic vinegar.
A simple and delicious grilled romaine Caesar salad elevated with some smoky crispy pancetta (or bacon), grilled lemon, and grilled baguette slices to sub for croutons, and instructions on how to grill romaine lettuce.
Grilled Beet Salad with Rosé Infused Cranberries and Bacon
Beets are incredible cooked on the grill, and even better topped with rosé wine infused cranberries and smoked bacon. This will be your favorite salad all summer long!
These vegetable dishes are perfect sides for your backyard BBQ this summer. From the simple to elegant there are options for anyone.
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5 from 1 vote
Grilled Asparagus Recipe with BBQ Hollandaise
An easy grilled asparagus recipe finished with a buttery BBQ inspired hollandaise sauce. Grill the asparagus over direct heat and serve with the BBQ hollandaise sauce.
Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe with Compound Butter
This easy recipe is a great option and a summer staple as a side dish. Grilling the corn in the husk is a great way to get moist corn and a blackened husk for the perfect summer corn recipe.
Grilled Brussels Sprouts Recipe With Bacon and Balsamic
Grilled Brussels Sprouts are the ultimate vegetable side dish! When you add bacon and balsamic to your Brussels this grilled side dish is over-the-top.
Grilled Carrots with a Honey Brown Sugar Glaze are a fantastic side dish to any holiday or casual meal. Perfect side dish for Easter or Christmas dinner or summer grilling season.
Grilled Broccolini Recipe with Grilled Lemon and Parmesan
Grilled Broccolini is tender and delicious and grills fast and easy. Broccolini is so much better than broccoli on the grill and may just become your new go-to side dish for summer cookouts or holiday dinners!
These steakhouse mushrooms are even better than a restaurant! Sautéed mushrooms coated with some balsamic and garlic are incredible and so easy to make and are an impressive side dish for any steak dinner.
Any type of potato recipe is a great option for summer BBQ season. From fries to roasted potatoes.
4.63 from 8 votes
Grilled Sweet Potato Recipe with Smoked Honey Butter
A grilled sweet potato with savory dry rub. Soft, flavorful, and easy to make on any grill. This is a great alternative cooking method for a baked sweet potato.
Learn the secret to restaurant quality roasted potatoes. From which potatoes to use, to how to par boil them to get them creamy, and finish in a hot oven.
Slowly roasted potatoes tossed in delicious duck fat and finished with freshly shaved parmesan and fresh thyme. Soft on the inside and crispy exterior as the perfect side for a roast of brunch.
Thank you for being part of our community. If you make any of our dishes we’d love to see them on social media using the hashtag #vindulge and give it a 5 star review.
About Vindulge
Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.
Now on 2nd edition
Fire + Wine Cookbook
“This book is a one-stop guide for anyone truly interested in elevating their BBQ experience into a culinary work of art.” 5 out of 5 Stars San Francisco Book Review
I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!
