The mains get the glory, but the sides are what people pile their plates with. This is my go-to lineup for filling out a cookout table - smoky-sweet baked beans, a shrimp macaroni salad that disappears first, slow-simmered collards, and a few bright salads to balance all that grilled meat.
Most of these are make-ahead friendly, which is exactly what you want when the grill is already crowded. Mix and match a couple to round out your spread.
Baked Beans with Canned Beans (Easy Southern Recipe)
Southern baked beans made with 2 cans of canned beans, onion, maple syrup, ketchup, and mustard - baked at 425°F for one hour until sticky and caramelized. The easiest 5-ingredient BBQ side dish.
Old Bay Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe (BBQ Favorite)
Old Bay Shrimp Macaroni Salad: a creamy, lemony, one-pot pasta salad where the shrimp and elbows both cook in seasoned water. The cookout side that disappears first.
Collard Greens with Ham Hocks (Southern Slow-Simmered)
Tender, smoky collard greens simmered low and slow with ham hocks, chicken stock, and apple cider vinegar. The ultimate comfort food side dish for BBQ, Sunday dinners, and holiday tables.
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes with Whipped Goat Cheese
Crispy southern fried green tomatoes stacked over honey-whipped goat cheese with red pepper jelly - the easy appetizer that disappears first.
Roasted Vegetable Tortellini Salad
This roasted vegetable tortellini salad is loaded with caramelized bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant tossed with cheese tortellini, balsamic vinegar, Parmesan, and fresh basil. Serve it warm or cold!
Pearl Couscous Salad Recipe with Blueberries, Arugula & Feta
A fresh and colorful Pearl couscous salad with sweet blueberries, peppery arugula, salty feta, and a simple honey lemon dressing. Ready in 15 minutes!
Strawberry Salad Recipe with Homemade Balsamic Dressing
This strawberry salad recipe is the kind of dish that stops people mid-conversation. Juicy sliced strawberries, crisp cucumber, creamy crumbled gorgonzola, and toasted slivered almonds - all tossed in a homemade strawberry…
Zucchini Fritters Recipe with Yogurt Sauce - Nene's Recipe
Crispy zucchini fritters with a cool yogurt sauce - Nene's recipe, and the fastest way to use up a counter full of summer squash.
Panzanella Pasta Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes & Basil
Panzanella and pasta salad in one bowl - torn bread, ripe tomatoes, and short pasta soaking up the vinaigrette. Built for a cookout table.
Watermelon Salad Recipe with Halloumi & Mint Vinaigrette
Cold watermelon with salty cheese and fresh herbs. The salad that disappears fastest at every summer table.
Best Crock Pot Mac and Cheese (Sinfully Creamy!)
Mac and cheese that cooks in the slow cooker and never touches the stove, so the oven stays free for everything else. Sharp cheddar, evaporated milk and elbows, set-and-forget for a crowd.
Esquites Recipe (High-Protein Mexican Street Corn Salsa, No Mayo!)
Charred corn off the cob with lime, cotija and chili - all the flavor of elote without the mess of eating it on a stick. No mayo, high protein, and it doubles as a dip.
Creamy Coleslaw Recipe (Sweet, Tangy, 10 Minutes)
Equal parts vinegar and mayonnaise, so it is tangy instead of heavy. Two bags of shredded cabbage, everything in one bowl, ten minutes of work - and it gets better while it chills. Feeds 12.
Pin this one for your next cookout and pair these with a BBQ main or two. A good side is what turns a plate of barbecue into an actual meal.
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