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!
Israeli Couscous Salad Recipe with Blueberries, Arugula & Feta
A fresh and colorful Israeli 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…
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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