5 Easy Summer BBQ Side Dishes Everyone Will Love
Simple sides that hold up outdoors and don't need last-minute attention.
Five easy, crowd-pleasing side dishes for a summer barbecue, all simple enough to make ahead and built to hold up well outdoors.
The main event at a barbecue usually gets all the attention, but good sides are what round out the plate. These five are simple, crowd-pleasing, and mostly make-ahead friendly.
1. Grilled Corn With Lime and Cotija
Grill corn on the cob until lightly charred, then brush with a little mayo or butter and sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese, chili powder, and a squeeze of lime.
2. Classic Potato Salad
A reliable, make-ahead favorite. Boiled potatoes tossed with mayo, mustard, celery, and a little pickle brine hold up well sitting out for a few hours.
3. Watermelon Feta Salad
Cubed watermelon, crumbled feta, and fresh mint tossed with a little lime juice make a refreshing, no-cook side that's perfect for hot weather.
4. Baked Beans
Canned beans doctored up with brown sugar, mustard, and a bit of bacon and baked until thick and bubbly is a classic that always disappears fast.
5. Simple Coleslaw
Shredded cabbage and carrot tossed in a light vinegar or mayo-based dressing cuts through richer grilled meats and actually improves after sitting for an hour.
Make-Ahead Tips
Potato salad and coleslaw both taste better after a few hours in the fridge, so they're genuinely easier to make the day before. Save grilled corn for closer to serving time so it stays warm, and keep watermelon feta salad chilled until right before you set it out.