Best Summer Side Dishes

As the sun shines and the grill heats up, it’s time to think beyond the main course. I’m talking vibrant, creative, refreshing, and delicious sides that round out the meal—and might steal the spotlight away from your mains. I’ve compiled a list of the BEST summer sides that use the freshest produce of the season and keep you coming back for more.

We love a smoky, charred piece of delicious protein off the grill, but let’s talk about what we are serving it with. I won’t be as dramatic as saying that summer side dishes make or break your gathering, but they sure bring everything together, adding refreshment and nourishment!

You won’t find any boring potato or pasta salads here—from vibrant, fruity salads to grilled veggies, these summer side dishes are not just an afterthought. Bring on the season of fresh vegetables, greens, fruit, and herbs!

Summer dips

Start your summer gatherings on the right foot with some summery dips! Don’t you love arriving at a dinner party and having something refreshing and delicious right there waiting for you?!

This vibrant summer peach salsa celebrates peach season and is packed with zesty flavors. Or impress your guests with a chunky grilled guacamole infused with smoky flavors. Pair your guac with a refreshing Mexican corn dip for all the summer celebration vibes.

Summer Peach Salsa Recipe

Fresh Peach Salsa is a breeze to make and so delicious. We love it spooned over grilled chicken or fish but it’s just as good served as an appetizer with some tortilla chips. It’s one of the best ways to eat sweet summer peaches!

4.97 stars (32 ratings)

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Grilled Guacamole Recipe

There is an abundance of guacamole recipes on the internet – but THIS grilled guacamole recipe takes it to the next level. The subtly smoky flavor of the grilled veggies meld with the zesty, creamy avocados. While the smoky flavor of the grilled veggies is subtle, it changes everything about the guac – in the best possible way!

5 stars (31 ratings)

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Mexican Corn Dip Recipe

This Mexican corn dip is everything we love about Mexican street corn in a tasty corn-filled dip! It's charred corn mixed with a creamy chili-lime yogurt sauce, chunks of ripe avocado, and salty cotija (or feta) cheese. It's a quick and easy snack or appetizer, and it's ready in just 15 minutes!

4.98 stars (45 ratings)

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Fruity summer salads

No summer side dish spread is complete without a crisp and refreshing salad to keep you cool. But if you’re not putting fruit in your salad at this time of year, is it even summertime?! I love leafy greens studded with bits of juicy, sweet fruit. Summer fruits aren’t just delicious; they have a high water content, so this trick helps keep you hydrated when it’s hot outside.

Berries and cherries are just so good in summer. This fresh cherry salad will rock your world, and this strawberry spinach salad is a classic I serve every year. Mangos and oranges meld into this Thai chopped salad – it’s just bursting with flavor!

While the grill is on, throw down some peaches for this grilled peach salad. Or serve up this broccoli and kale salad with blueberries and coconut, which is a delicious option!

Fresh Cherry Salad Recipe

Fall in love with this fresh cherry salad: it's light, fresh, and full of contrasting flavors and textures. Sweet cherries, peppery arugula, spicy candied pecans, and either goat cheese or avocado are tossed in an easy-to-make fresh cherry vinaigrette. It's a celebration of all things summer!

4.96 stars (24 ratings)

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Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Strawberry spinach salad is one salad recipe that you won't be able to stop eating. It's a spinach salad loaded with sweet strawberries, toasted pecans, feta cheese, a little red onion, and dressed in a delicious strawberry vinaigrette.

4.98 stars (37 ratings)

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Thai Chopped Salad with Sweet Sesame Mango Dressing

This Thai chopped salad is bursting with an array of fresh, colorful ingredients then dressed with a sweet sesame mango dressing and finished with crispy wontons. It's refreshing and packed with flavor.

5 stars (24 ratings)

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Grilled Peach Salad with Curry Pecans & Honey Vinaigrette

Life's about to get a whole lot peachier thanks to this summery grilled peach salad! Have you tried grilling peaches before? The natural sugars caramelize, making the peaches smoky and extra sweet. They meld with peppery arugula, bursting blueberries, candied curry pecans, and a honey vinaigrette. Add some goat cheese or diced avocado, and you'll be counting down until peach season all year long!

4.86 stars (48 ratings)

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Broccoli and Kale Salad with Blueberries and Coconut Recipe

This broccoli kale salad is our summertime favorite. The greens are dressed in a sweet coconut salad dressing and tossed with fresh blueberries, crunchy almonds, and a little coconut. It’s delicious!

4.98 stars (43 ratings)

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Coleslaw

Is cool and crisp coleslaw a summertime classic for you, too? Whether it’s a picnic, potluck, or cookout, it’s not complete without a refreshing, crunchy coleslaw on the menu.

This vibrant Asian slaw is packed with colorful veggies, perfect for warmer days! This blueberry coleslaw offers a burst of fruity goodness amid the crunch, and this blue cheese coleslaw is perfect for serving with burgers, meaty dishes, or buffalo flavors.

Asian Coleslaw Recipe

This 20-minute Asian coleslaw will be a hit. It's colorful, vibrant, refreshing, and packed with delicious flavors. An array of veggies and mandarin oranges are tossed in the most divine orange sesame dressing.

4.98 stars (45 ratings)

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Blueberry Coleslaw Recipe

Ditch the store-bought coleslaw mix and enjoy a variety of fresh tastes and textures with this easy blueberry coleslaw! Crisp raw veggies, crunchy roasted almonds, and fresh (or frozen) blueberries are tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. It's the perfect side salad for picnic season, and it's ready in just 15 minutes!

4.96 stars (44 ratings)

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Blue Cheese Coleslaw with Creamy Dressing and Crispy Bacon

Blue cheese coleslaw made with crunchy cabbage and our favorite easy blue cheese dressing is perfection. Add some crispy bacon or almonds to take it over the top. 

4.86 stars (41 ratings)

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Summer vegetable side dishes

Bring some color to your summer spread with these vegetable side dishes. These vibrant rainbow veggie wraps are bright, fresh, and delicious, and served with a dipping sauce made with lime juice and peanut butter – kids love them! These pesto stuffed roasted tomatoes are a crowd-pleaser, and you can never go wrong with some garlic parmesan zucchini.

Rainbow Veggie Wraps Recipe

Satisfy your tummy AND your eyes with these rainbow veggie wraps – because food tastes better when it's pretty! Wrap up crisp cabbage, vibrant peppers, crunchy carrot, and asparagus and serve it next to a delicious and easy-to-make peanut dipping sauce – a flavorful finishing touch. They're versatile and work as a colorful side dish, a fun snack, an addition to a kid's party, or a perfect Pride celebration treat!

4.92 stars (24 ratings)

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Roasted Tomatoes with Pesto Recipe

Pesto Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes are a must make side dish/appetizer. The hollowed out tomato halves are stuffed with an easy-to-make, garlicky pesto then roasted until the cheese melts and the tomatoes are soft. They're delicious!

5 stars (17 ratings)

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Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Recipe

Garlic parmesan zucchini is a quick, easy, and delicious side dish that's one of our favorite ways to enjoy zucchini. A generous amount of fresh garlic and parmesan adds tons of flavor and the zucchini takes on a wonderful caramel quality as it pan-fries. It's ready in just 10 minutes and makes the perfect side for serving with a main meal.

4.87 stars (15 ratings)

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Summer side dishes for BBQ

These grilled summer side dishes are so easy to make—just throw them on the BBQ while you’re sizzling up your mains. If you’re really trying to impress, these prosciutto-wrapped peaches will do the trick every time! I love it when sweetness and savory meet.

When I think of easy summer side dishes, I think of juicy corn fresh off the grill. This honey garlic corn on the cob is so special – the honey caramelizes beautifully, so it’s sweet and smoky. And this buffalo corn on the cob is even better with blue cheese sprinkled on top. If you love the sound of flavored corn on the cobs, check out my other corn on the cob recipes.

These southwest stuffed sweet potatoes are brimming with summery flavors, or try something new with curried carrots with tandoori sauce!

Prosciutto Wrapped Peaches Recipe

Sweet Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Peaches are wrapped in salty prosciutto that turns crispy on the BBQ are an easy and delicious summer appetizer or starter. They're great in a salad, served beside some creamy burrata or on their own.

5 stars (32 ratings)

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Honey Garlic Corn on the Cob Recipe

Corn and honey are two naturally sweet ingredients, so what happens when you combine them and grill to charred, caramelized perfection? This honey corn on the cob happens! Sweet, smoky, and bursting with flavor, this honey corn on the cob is your ticket to having the most popular barbeque in town.

5 stars (14 ratings)

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Buffalo Corn on the Cob Recipe

Just TRY to stay away from this easy-to-make and delicious buffalo corn. Vibrant, juicy corn is grilled until it chars and develops a smoky flavor, then it's smothered in a buttery buffalo sauce and sprinkled with blue cheese and fresh herbs. It's the perfect BBQ side dish that everyone will love!

5 stars (29 ratings)

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Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Hearty and flavorful southwest stuffed sweet potatoes are an easy vegetarian meal or side dish. Delicious grilled sweet potatoes act as the vessel for a layer of hummus and all the fixings. They go great with anything you're grilling, and they take just 30 minutes to make!

5 stars (13 ratings)

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Curried Carrots with Tandoori Sauce Recipe

We're dressing up the humble carrot with these curried carrots in tandoori sauce! Tender grilled carrots are tossed in a creamy spiced yogurt sauce with slivered almonds, raisins, and cilantro. It's an easy and super flavorful side dish and it's ready in just 40 minutes!

5 stars (31 ratings)

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