10 Easy Summer Sides for Your Next Cookout
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The side dishes are what make a cookout truly memorable and I genuinely believe that. Anyone can throw a burger on the grill, but a really good spread of sides? That is what people talk about on the drive home. These are my go-to summer sides, all easy to make, most of them make-ahead friendly, and every single one of them is guaranteed to disappear fast.
Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables
Colorful grilled summer vegetables, crumbled feta, and a punchy balsamic vinaigrette tossed with pasta. This one is a total showstopper on a cookout table and the flavors get even better after a few hours in the fridge. Full recipe: Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables
Mexican Watermelon Salad
Sweet, salty, crunchy, and so refreshing. Juicy watermelon, peppery arugula, toasty pepitas, and a bright lime vinaigrette. It takes about five minutes to pull together and looks absolutely beautiful on a summer table. Full recipe: Mexican Watermelon Salad
Sauteed Corn and Zucchini
Sweet summer corn and tender zucchini cooked until lightly golden in a skillet, finished with Parmesan and fresh herbs. Ready in 15 minutes and the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show. Full recipe: Sauteed Corn and Zucchini
Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash
A little char, a simple balsamic marinade, and you have got a side that goes with everything coming off the grill. I make this on repeat all summer long because it genuinely could not be easier. Full recipe: Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash
Grilled Peach Salad
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Sweet, smoky grilled peaches over peppery arugula with creamy mozzarella, toasted pistachios, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It looks like something you would order at a fancy restaurant and comes together in about 15 minutes. Peak summer on a plate. Full recipe: Grilled Peach Salad
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Crisp raw broccoli, chewy dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and Manchego cheese in a tangy, creamy dressing. The kind of salad that actually gets better the longer it sits, which makes it perfect for prepping ahead before a cookout. Full recipe: Broccoli Crunch Salad
Curried Couscous Salad
Light, fluffy couscous tossed with feta, tart dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, and a bright lemony curry vinaigrette. It comes together so quickly and the flavors are just a little unexpected in the best way. Always a conversation starter on a cookout table. Full recipe: Curried Couscous Salad
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Sweet strawberries, creamy goat cheese, candied walnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette over fresh greens. Light, beautiful, and the kind of salad that makes people ask who brought it. Full recipe: Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Ancient Grains Salad
Hearty and fresh at the same time. Nutty farro, crisp arugula, crunchy homemade pita chips, shaved Parmesan, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette. This one holds up really well outdoors, which makes it perfect for a cookout spread. Full recipe: Ancient Grains Salad
Cucumber Watermelon Salad
Sweet watermelon, crisp cucumber, and salty feta in the most refreshing five-minute side dish you will ever make. Simple, gorgeous, and the kind of thing that disappears before you even sit down. Full recipe: Cucumber Watermelon Salad
