24 Easy Side Dishes for Your Next Grill-Out

Make them ahead or throw them on the grill alongside your main.

By
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus is a food writer and editor, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in New England. Her work appears in print and online for America's Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, The Kitchn, King Arthur Baking Company, and cookbooks for Ten Speed Press, in addition to her work for Simply Recipes.
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Published May 21, 2025
Afton Cyrus
Sicilian potato salad in a bowl with serving utensils and next to a glass of water

Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

After a long, dark, cold winter, I love hosting grill-outs in the summer to make the most of warm evenings that stay light out until 9:00 p.m. And while I love grilling up burgers, steaks, and glazy BBQ chicken, my true fondness is for the side dishes at any summer backyard gathering. I love the colorful array of things that end up on my plate and the mixing and matching of glorious textures and fresh flavors.

This collection of easy side dish recipes is perfect for your next grill-out and features options that can be made well ahead of time or quickly thrown onto the grill alongside your main. Make the most of peak summer produce and try some twists on classic recipes (looking at you, potato salad) for tons of options that will delight your summertime guests.

  • Pesto Green Beans

    A plate of green beans garnished with a seasoning or sauce, arranged neatly with a bright and clean presentation

    Simply Recipes / Danielle Campbell

    "These 3-ingredient green beans come together in less than 20 minutes and are the perfect springtime and early summer side dish. They’re served at room temperature, so they’re great to make ahead to take to a barbecue or to tuck into a picnic basket." —Danielle Campbell, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Grilled Peppers

    Platter of Grilled Peppers Surrounded by Olives, Capers, Olive Oil, and Toast

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Bell peppers on the grill are one of summer’s pleasures, and they’re so easy it’s almost a crime not to throw them on the barbie along with shrimp, chicken, burgers or whatever else you’re cooking up outside." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Cowboy Pasta Salad

    A bowl of pasta salad with tomatoes, beans, cheese, green onions, and bacon bits, on a table

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "This salad gets its 'cowboy' name because of its bold Tex-Mex flavors and hearty serving of creamy black beans alongside the pasta. A combination of mayo spiked with store-bought barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, taco seasoning, and hot sauce creates a smoky, spicy flavor bomb of a dressing." —Afton Cyrus, Recipe Editor

  • Sicilian Potato Salad

    Sicilian potato salad in a bowl with serving utensils and next to a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "This Sicilian-inspired version isn’t your creamy classic. Instead, it’s bright and colorful, thanks to a combination of baby potatoes, green beans, and cherry tomatoes. A simple oregano vinaigrette ties it together, and quick-pickled red onion and lots of briny olives ensure it’s extra vibrant." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

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  • Kachumber Salad

    kachumber salad in a blue bowl

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "This kachumber salad is not only fresh and juicy but also an oil-free recipe. Most salads require oil to create a dressing, but in this recipe the juices from the onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers are released with the addition of salt and lime juice, creating a very slurpy salad." —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

    A platter of grilled Mexican street corn (elotes)

    Simply Recipes / Megan Keno

    "When we are far away from the lively celebrations of his hometown, my husband and I can relive the fun by grilling corn and making our own version of Mexican street corn in just a few minutes. The charred kernels and the tangy sauce really make this different from your everyday corn on the cob." —Megan Keno, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Minute Cucumber Salad

    cucumber salad in a bowl at a table setting with a bowl of slcied scallions, serving utensils on a table napkin, and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "My go-to cuke salad is dead simple. Just toss together sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, along with a few sliced scallions. I’d call it a fresh pickle, but you don’t need to wait for it to soften. I love making this salad because it’s so quick and of the moment, and it goes with everything." —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Tzatziki Potato Salad

    tzatziki potato salad in a bowl with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

    "I love the combination of cooling yogurt clinging to the creamy, waxy potatoes. Yukon golds stay relatively firm and hold up well to the sauce. A handful of dill and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice keep it refreshing for summertime." —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

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  • Grilled Okra

    Platter of Grilled Okra Next to a Small Bowl of Sauce

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

    "The high heat of the grill gives okra a lightly charred exterior and a tender (not slimy) interior... The vegetable’s mild flavor is crowd pleasing and perfect for grilling, taking on the smokiness of the grill." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 5-Minute Chili Crisp Tomato Salad

    5-ingredient chili crisp tomato salad on a plate (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Micah Siva, RD

    "I serve this five-minute salad as a side to my backyard BBQs, whether I’m serving grilled fish, hot dogs, or burgers. Feel free to toss it with a handful of fresh chopped cilantro or a sprinkling of sesame seeds." —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

  • Grinder Pasta Salad

    ginder pasta salad in a bowl with serving utensils at a table setting with glasses of water, a table napkin, and a stack of plates (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "A grinder is an Italian-style sub sandwich that can take on many forms and include a number of ingredients... While I love the portable nature of a good grinder sandwich, the flavors are also perfect for pasta salad adaptation, making it easier to share." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Grilled Potatoes

    Grilled Fingerling Potatoes and a Grilled Halved Lemon in a Black Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

    "A hot grill grate is an ideal destination for the fingerling’s waxy flesh, as its soft buttery center is the needed partner for its crispy charred exterior. Add a touch of garlic and some grilled lemon juice, and it’s no wonder I consider these my go-to starch when grilling dinner." —Mike Lang, Recipe Developer

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  • Caprese Salad With Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzarella

    Platter of Caprese Salad With Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzarella Next to a Plate With a Serving, All on a Yellow Placemat

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Summer is tomato and basil season, and there is nothing easier to make than a fresh Caprese salad." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Sweet and Salty Grilled Watermelon

    Triangles of grilled watermelon with small bowl of spice mix, sprig of mint and lime wedges alongside

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Two things scream summer: biting into sweet, juicy watermelon and firing up the grill on any and all occasions. Have you ever combined the two? It’s surprisingly delicious." —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

  • Ambrosia Salad

    A bowl of ambrosia salad with fruit and a cherry on top

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

    "When it’s all put together, this ambrosia salad is really well balanced. If you’re looking for an ambrosia salad recipe to serve to avowed ambrosia haters, this is the one! It just might change everyone’s mind about this retro classic." —Afton Cyrus, Recipe Editor

  • Gamja Salad (Korean Potato Salad)

    Korean-style potato salad in a bowl next to a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "Gamja salad, or Korean-style potato salad, is a classic side dish. And there’s good reason—it goes with just about everything, from Korean barbecue to fried chicken to burgers." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • Grilled Broccolini with Lemon Tahini Dressing

    Grilled Broccolini with Lemon Tahini Dressing, Pomegranate Arils, and Pine Nuts on a Plate with Serving Spoon, Surrounded by Bowl of Pomegranate and Bowl of Tahini

    Ciara Kehoe / Simply Recipes

    "Broccolini is a fantastic veg for the grill. Grill it quickly over high direct heat, set right over the lit coals or burners. I use a kettle charcoal grill and find that I don’t need to light a lot of coal for this and I set the lit coals on just one side of the grill." —Genevieve Taylor, Recipe Developer

  • Stone Fruit, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

    Stone fruit and vegetable salad in a serving bowl with a linen underneath.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "If you are perpetually stuck in a salad rut, either the green or the fruit kind, try this savory stone fruit and vegetable salad... Cherries and cucumbers? Peaches and chili peppers? Celery with fruit? The answer is yes, yes, and yes!" —Virginia Willis

  • Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash with Champagne Vinaigrette

    Bowl of Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash with Champagne Vinaigrette with a Spoon Surrounded by a Drink on a Table

    Simply Recipes / Matt Armendariz

    "When summer rolls around and the farmers market is teeming with zucchini and yellow squash, there’s only one solution: grill it up! Grilled squash is one of the easiest side dishes you could possibly make." —Gaby Dalkin, Recipe Developer

  • Classic Coleslaw

    Bright and fresh Classic Coleslaw in a white bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Kelly Hamilton

    "This coleslaw recipe (our way of preparing it) is ridiculously easy with cabbage, carrot, and onions gently mixed and coated with mayonnaise, a dab of yellow mustard, vinegar, and black pepper." —Elise

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  • Ranch Potato Salad

    bowl of ranch potato salad, and in the background, a platter wtih more and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "I developed this recipe to be a crowd-pleaser (and me-pleaser), using one of the most beloved flavors—ranch—and a hefty dose of pickles plus their brine for a little puckery pizzazz. Plenty of crunchy bacon provides a savory saltiness, a handful of celery adds crunch, and dill brings its fresh, summery aroma to the party." —Megan Scott, Senior Editor

  • Cold Rice Noodle Salad

    Overhead view of an easy rice noodle salad in a serving bowl along with wooden claws.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "On warm summer days, I find myself daydreaming about the beautiful city of Kunming in southwestern China and the bright, cool noodles that I ate often when I lived there. This popular noodle salad mixes slick, bouncy rice noodles with long strips of vegetables, a vinegary dressing, and spicy chili oil." —Georgia Freedman, Recipe Developer

  • Panzanella Bread Salad

    Panzanella Bread Salad

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "You can prepare the salad a couple hours ahead of time, keeping it at room temperature, which makes panzanella an excellent make-ahead salad for outdoor picnics and potlucks." —Elise

  • Greek Pasta Salad

    A serving bowl of Greek pasta salad

    Simply Recipes / Sabrina Modelle

    "Packed with fresh tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers—not to mention Kalamata olives and feta cheese—this pasta salad has all the flavor of your favorite Greek salad! Instead of dealing with salad greens, which get soggy the longer they sit, this version holds up way better on a picnic table." —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer

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