When the weather gets warmer, relaxed summer dinners are a must. Grilling dinner becomes a weekly activity. But what to serve with your burgers, chicken, fish, or steak? Easy side dishes like grilled vegetables and lots of salads. Everything from grilled corn salad to fresh watermelon and cucumber tomato salad. Don’t worry… we’re sharing delicious pasta and potato salads too. All of these side dishes are perfect for hot weather. They’ll be delicious for any summer BBQ you may host and easy enough to work their way into your weeknight meal.
Cucumber & Tomato Salad
“Perfect salad for cookouts and summer meals. Put that veggie and herb garden to work.” – Lorene
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
“This recipe comes close to a macaroni salad that is served at a Hawaiian restaurant close by.” – Melissa
Zucchini or Summer Squash Fritters
“We all have an abundance of both yellow summer squash and zucchini. Here’s a recipe that allows you to have your squash and save it too.” – Rose
Millie’s Holy Guacamole Pasta Salad
“I do a lot of cooking for the hospitality team at my church, and I was trying to mix things up and create something new! This pasta salad was a huge hit at the event I took it to. So, don’t knock it until you try it.” – Amelia
Grilled Corn and Fresh Pepper Salad
“Very simple to make and simply yummy!” – Angela
Watermelon Summer Salad
“A light, refreshing side dish for the heat of the summer! Goes great with chicken salad croissants.” – Sheri
Mango Black Bean Salad
“This mango black bean salad is the perfect summer side dish. It is fresh and fruity with a slight Mexican flair that will dazzle your taste buds.” – Debbie
Fruit, Nut, and Seed Salad
“Good for you and endlessly adaptable! I love having a salad like this for lunch… it’s satisfying all on its own.” – cindy
Grandma Wells’ Tuna Macaroni Salad
“For decades I called this my birthday salad. Every year for as long as I can remember that is when we served it. My mother’s recipe was enough different than mine that I can call it my own, but I can’t make this without thinking of her. Thanks, mama!” – Katrina
Summer Spaghetti Salad
“This is one of my favorite summer dishes!” – Rhonda
Momma’s German Potato Salad
“This dish was handed down by my great-grandmother. I still make it for family and friends. At potlucks, I always get asked for the recipe.” – Melanie
Spring Salad With Orange Dressing
“This delightful salad is excellent for large gatherings.” – Tammi
Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
“Veggies marinated in balsamic vinegar and soy sauce and cooked in a grill basket until smoky, slightly charred, and tender-crisp. A healthy and tasty side dish! Try it with whatever veggies you prefer – asparagus, eggplant, green beans, etc!” – Susan
Roasted Corn With Garlic and Olive Oil
“My husband is a corn lover and loves it when I make him this! If you don’t want to use butter in the mixture, it still turns out great. Just use enough olive oil to coat it. I use a lot of pepper, too. This corn is super yummy!” – Shannon
Family Favorite Panzanella Salad
“Italian Panzanella Salad or Bread Salad is an awesome way to use up any day-old dinner rolls or bakery hamburger buns you may have. Serve as a side salad or lay sliced, grilled chicken breasts or grilled jumbo shrimp on top for a quick and delicious meal.” – Family Favorites
Sweet & Spicy Cucumber Salad
“I started making these for cookouts. By request, I now make them year-around. Some people prefer them crispy (short marinade period). After a couple of days, they’re more akin to pickles (great on burgers).” – Rhea
Fried Zucchini
“My grammie used to make this all the time. We always had zucchini growing in the garden. 2 things you could plan on eating were fried zucchini and zucchini bread. When making this recipe, it always reminds me of my Gram and how she was always in the kitchen cooking something good.” – Kim
Pami’s Chunky Chopped Salad
“I’ve lost about 60 lbs eating this. It’s delicious, filling and I look forward to making it. It’s fun… I make about 4 portions and try not to have too much leftover. It’s crispier if you make it fresh each time. The tomatoes get a bit soft, but the dressing is very flavorful a day later too.” – Pami
Zucchini and Tomatoes Foil Packets
“My second favorite after zucchini boats. Something about squash is so satisfying I wish it were around a lot longer. But toward the end of gardening, after you’ve eaten zucchini bread, batter dipped sticks and sauteed they are great in soup. Simple simple side dish a little cheese and the little ones are sure to at least try these green treasures.” – Natalie
Creamy Cranberry Coleslaw w/Raspberry Vinaigrette
“This is a quickie.” – Sandy
BBQ Asparagus With Parmesan and Lemon Zest
“Another easy, dish-free, veggie side ‘pouch’ often used at our house. The lemon zest adds a great finish.” – Brad
Greek Pasta Salad
“A nice twist on a pasta salad. Something different and super easy.” – Patti
Greek Asparagus Salad
“It’s such a simple and easy recipe with huge flavors.” – Nick
Grilled Asparagus in a Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Sauce Recipe
“Smoky grilled asparagus topped with a creamy mushroom sauce with a hit of tangy balsamic vinegar!” – Kevin