Food and Recipes Side Dishes The Best Side Dishes to Pair With Hot Dogs at Your Next Cookout By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Whether you're at the ballpark enjoying a game or hosting a backyard party, a hot dog is always a summertime crowd-pleaser. But the side dishes are just as important as the main course. Craving something with a little kick to pair with your hot dog? Try our Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw. Looking for a healthy side dish for the kids? We've got Summer Fruit Skewers on deck. No matter your hot dog side dish approach—salty, sweet, or tangy —we've got you covered. Of course, sometimes the best side dish for hot dogs is a classic one like our Southern-Style Potato Salad. If you're not a relish and hot dog fan, but love a good pickle, try our Fried Pickle Chips. We're sure there's a side dish in this round-up to go with your next hot dog. 01 of 30 Baked Beans Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Baked Beans No backyard cookout is complete without a side of baked beans. We've even cut down the recipe time so that you can spend less time over the stovetop and more time with guests outdoors. 02 of 30 Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad This is the salty-sweet combo you need for summer. Watermelon and cucumber add delicious crunch to the salad, while feta cheese brings plenty of salty flavor. 03 of 30 Southern-Style Potato Salad Southern Living Recipe: Southern-Style Potato Salad Go big, or go home, right? This classic potato salad is the quintessential side dish for your next cookout hot dog. 04 of 30 Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Hold the mustard and mayo. Sneak a vegetable to your next cookout with this Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad. 05 of 30 Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad The creaminess of pasta salad meets your favorite broccoli salad in this fan-favorite dish. This make-ahead side is a staple in any Southern hostess' recipe book. 06 of 30 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Micah A. Leal Recipe: Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Fresh cherry tomatoes shine even brighter with the magic duo of bacon and ranch. We won't blame you for hiding the leftovers of this dish. 07 of 30 Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw Coleslaw is a must-have side dish at any cookout. We've added just a bit of heat to this recipe. 08 of 30 Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad Greg DuPree Recipe: Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad This Greek-inspired side dish goes with just about anything and will be the unforgettable addition to your backyard barbecue lineup. 09 of 30 Grilled Peach Salad with Chipotle-Raspberry Vinaigrette Courtesy Regina Charboneau Recipe: Grilled Peach Salad with Chipotle-Raspberry Vinaigrette This grilled summer salad will tone down the char flavor from your hot dog. Sweet peaches meet a little bit of kick from the chipotle vinaigrette. 10 of 30 Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad Prep this salad as an appetizer or side dish for your backyard cookout. Be sure to add the dressing and herbs right before serving for ultimate taste. 11 of 30 Curried Okra Shoestring Fries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Curried Okra Shoestring Fries A mixture of curry powder, salt, and cornstarch make these Curried Okra Shoestring Fries irresistible. Prepare them for your next cookout as the ultimate crunchy side dish. 12 of 30 Hush Puppies Southern Living Recipe: Hush Puppies Nothing beats a classic hush puppy recipe. Pop a basket of these puppies on the table, and we promise they'll be gone in no time. 13 of 30 Southern-Style Collard Greens Photo: Jim Franco Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens If you're really looking to turn your next cookout into a feast, prepare a heaping portion of collards to sneak in something green on guests' plates. 14 of 30 Grilled Sweet Potato Fries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato Fries Of course, you need a crispy accessory for your hot dog. These Grilled Sweet Potato Fries can be made while you're grilling up your hot dogs. Pro tip: Microwave the sweet potato wedges before popping them on the grill to ensure they're nice and tender. 15 of 30 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Grilled Corn on the Cob was made for days in the sun. Pair this bright veggie with your next hot dog cookout. 16 of 30 Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing This salad makes a refreshing side to pair with your favorite style of hot dog. In this summer dish, creamy ranch dressing meets smoky okra pods. 17 of 30 Fried Okra Southern Living Recipe: Fried Okra Crispy, poppable, and oh-so-delicious! This side dish is a no-brainer for Southern gatherings. 18 of 30 Summer Fruit Skewers Southern Living Recipe: Summer Fruit Skewers Festive and fun, these fruit skewers are a sweet side dish. Enlist the help of little ones for cutting and skewering the fruit as a fun project before guests come over. 19 of 30 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad This is the kind of salad you can make in a big batch and then enjoy leftovers all week. 20 of 30 Fried Pickle Chips Alison Miksch Recipe: Fried Pickle Chips You won't need any relish to top your hot dog when you add these Fried Pickle Chips as a side. Crispy and tangy, they'll pair well with any hot dog topping combination. 21 of 30 Slow-Cooker Caramelized Onions Recipe: Slow-Cooker Caramelized Onions Drop the relish. You really, really need these caramelized Vidalia onions instead. 22 of 30 Tangy Rainbow Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Tangy Rainbow Slaw If you love cabbage, try our Tangy Rainbow Slaw, which calls for happy purple cabbage, vibrant orange carrots, and green cilantro. Pile it high on your hot dog or save it for the side. Either way, load up. 23 of 30 Dad's Mac and Cheese Anisha Sisodia Recipe: Dad's Mac and Cheese If you never ate mac and cheese and hot dogs together as a kid, you may have missed out on a classic childhood experience. Rectify that by serving this crowd-favorite dish alongside hot dogs fresh off the grill. 24 of 30 Kimchi-Sesame Slaw Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Recipe: Kimchi-Sesame Slaw Give your slaw a little Korean spin with some kimchi, sesame oil, and ginger. A creamy mayo binding adds the familiar richness we all love, making it perfect to accompany your hot dog. 25 of 30 Creamed Silver Queen Corn Jennifer Davick Recipe: Creamed Silver Queen Corn If you've never had Silver Queen corn before, now's your chance to try it. Known for its milky, creamy kernels, it instantly elevates a humble corn side dish. 26 of 30 Caesar Salad with Garlicky Croutons Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Caesar Salad with Garlicky Croutons This modern take on what might be one of the most popular side salads is totally deserving of a spot on the picnic table. 27 of 30 Homemade Potato Chips with Fried Herbs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Homemade Potato Chips with Fried Herbs There's nothing like a homemade potato chip. Watch guests pile their plates high—there will be barely any room left for their hot dog. 28 of 30 Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips Cheesy, crispy, salty—what more could you want? Sure, it may be a vegetable, but you definitely won't be able to eat just one. 29 of 30 Lobster Mac and Cheese Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rachael Burrow; Recipe: Darcy Lenz Recipe: Lobster Mac and Cheese Make it surf and turf when you serve this nautical mac and cheese alongside hot dogs straight off the grill. 30 of 30 Shrimp-and-Corn Succotash Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Shrimp-and-Corn Succotash Succotash is a ubiquitous Southern side dish, and we spruced up the usual recipe with some juicy shrimp and a host of veggies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit