Food and Recipes Side Dishes The Best Summer Side Dishes to Complement Any Cookout By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Summer is finally in sight, and we can't wait. From backyard cookouts to church potlucks and Fourth of July celebrations, summer is full of opportunities to show off your cooking skills using the season's freshest produce. These side dishes showcase farm-fresh tomatoes, squash, zucchini, corn, peaches, and more of your favorite fruits and veggies. Whether you need a quick coleslaw recipe to bring to a last-minute neighborhood block party or you want to have the most beautiful summer salad at the Labor Day cookout, these are our best recipes to show off. From extra-indulgent Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese to quite possibly the best Baked Beans we've ever tasted, these recipes have something for everyone. With plenty of no-cook and five-ingredient options, these are also the easiest ideas ever. So go ahead and send out the invites for your annual cookout—these are our favorite summer side dishes that use the most of the season's bounty. 01 of 62 Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad Alison Miksch Recipe: Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad Your guests will love this updated version of a classic tomato-cucumber salad. 02 of 62 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Use those tomatoes fresh from the farmers' market for this fun grown-up mac and cheese recipe. 03 of 62 Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Kick up the cookout with this Mexican street corn-inspired salad. 04 of 62 Strawberry-Tomato Salad Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Strawberry-Tomato Salad The only instructions required for this beautiful side dish? "Stir together all ingredients." We call that a last-minute party win. 05 of 62 Spicy Pineapple Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Spicy Pineapple Slaw Spicy jalapenos and sweet pineapple are a match made in side dish heaven with this crunchy slaw that will liven up any cookout. 06 of 62 Field Pea and Pasta Salad Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Julia Levy Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad No summer cookout is complete without pasta salad on the lineup, and this one with fresh veggies is perfect for the season. 07 of 62 Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad This light, fresh salad will be your summer party go-to. 08 of 62 South Carolina Slaw Will Dickey Recipe: South Carolina Slaw Traditional Carolina slaws use vinegar, not mayo, for their slaw dressing. This one has a bit of sugar and two types of mustard to up the tartness factor. 09 of 62 Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad Photo: Oxmoor House Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad This no-cook salad is delicious in its simplicity. 10 of 62 Southern-Style Potato Salad Southern Living Recipe: Southern-Style Potato Salad It isn't a potluck without a bowl of potato salad, and this recipe is our most classic version of the dish. 11 of 62 Classic Fresh Field Peas Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas You only need five ingredients for this timeless Southern side, but ham hocks are the most important one for that smoky, home-style flavor. 12 of 62 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad This refreshing salad can be served with French baguette slices or over arugula or mixed greens for serving options to last you through every summer party. 13 of 62 Baked Beans Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Baked Beans No backyard barbecue is complete without baked beans, and you only need a handful of ingredients to make this crowd-pleasing side. 14 of 62 Permanent Slaw Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Permanent Slaw This make-ahead coleslaw recipe is permanently on our go-to potluck dish list. 15 of 62 Street Corn Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Street Corn Salad If you're in a last-minute bind but don't want to show up with something store-bought, this colorful corn salad is your rescue. 16 of 62 Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad Greg DuPree Recipe: Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad This Greek-inspired salad is full of fresh herbs that complement the timeless tomato-cucumber combo. 17 of 62 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread This spoonbread is one of our favorite vintage casserole recipes, and summer is the best time to make it fresh. 18 of 62 Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Alison Miksch Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette If you're serving a crowd, you might want to double this pasta salad recipe because it will go fast. 19 of 62 Fried Green Tomatoes Jennifer Davick Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes Fried green tomatoes are a true Southern summer staple that everyone should learn how to make at home. 20 of 62 Potatoes Patio Iain Bagwell Recipe: Potatoes Patio Every Southern cook needs an easy, cheesy potato casserole recipe up his or her sleeve, and this will be your new favorite. 21 of 62 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad This simple fruit salad will brighten up any summer spread. 22 of 62 Best-Ever Succotash Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash If you don't have at trusty succotash recipe to use summer after summer, meet the only one you'll ever use from now on. 23 of 62 Hush Puppies Photo: Ian Bagwell; Prop Styling: Annette Joseph; Food Styling: Cynthia Groseclose Recipe: Hush Puppies Who wouldn't want to enjoy a shrimp po'boy or plate of fried catfish with a few hush puppies on the side? 24 of 62 Sautéed Squash and Zucchini Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro Recipe: Sautéed Squash and Zucchini Sometimes, getting fresh veggies on the table can be daunting, but this super-quick side proves you can get a little veg on the table even on the busiest nights. 25 of 62 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Picnic Egg Salad This no-fuss egg salad recipe is delicious served on toasted French baguette slices or as finger sandwiches, Masters-style. 26 of 62 Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta Sweet, juicy summer peaches take on a richer flavor when tossed on the grill (plus, they look really pretty). 27 of 62 Field Pea, Corn and Bacon Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad This four-ingredient salad is drizzled with our famous Summer Sauce that you'll want to put on everything once you try it. 28 of 62 Quick Pickled Slaw Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Quick Pickled Slaw Don't go for the bagged stuff—with this easy slaw recipe, you'll never go store-bought again. 29 of 62 Golden Corn Fritters Southern Living Recipe: Golden Corn Fritters This 1980s recipe has stood the test of time—it's remained a consistent favorite for summer get-togethers. 30 of 62 Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Watermelon and feta might be an expected salad combo, but orzo, arugula, and a homemade Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette take this dish to unchartered, delicious territory. 31 of 62 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole We're partial to old-fashioned squash casserole, but this cheesy dish manages to pack in even more summer flavor with fresh zucchini and corn. 32 of 62 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad This five-ingredient salad has classic caprese flavor with cherry tomatoes instead of larger varieties for fun party presentation. 33 of 62 Lady Pea-and-Corn Patties Alison Miksch Recipe: Lady Pea-and-Corn Patties These fresh little patties come together in your skillet for an easy-to-serve side dish. 34 of 62 Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad This broccoli salad recipe is just how your guests will love it—with bacon and cheese. 35 of 62 Squash Ribbon Salad Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Squash Ribbon Salad This no-cook side dish will save you time but won't lack on presentation. 36 of 62 Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob Jennifer Davick Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob Humble corn on the cob gets a zesty Tex Mex makeover with jalapeño peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. 37 of 62 Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad You can read the majority of the ingredients needed for this pretty salad in its name, and all you have to do with them is combine in a bowl and top with vinaigrette. Done! 38 of 62 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Squash casserole is a staple dish found at meat-and-three diners and at church covered-dish suppers. 39 of 62 Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob If a summer afternoon shower ruined your grilling plans, don't let that corn go to waste. This oven-roasted method is the easiest, no-mess way to get a fresh summer side dish on your plate. 40 of 62 Baked Zucchini Fries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Zucchini Fries "I genuinely could not stop reaching for one after another of these fries!" one editor wrote about these Baked Zucchini Fries in her review of the recipe. 41 of 62 Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad This old-fashioned cucumber salad is the light, bright side dish that can accompany any summertime meal. 42 of 62 One-Pot Fresh Corn Mac and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: One-Pot Fresh Corn Mac and Cheese This incredible side dish is like a mix of creamed corn and mac and cheese, so yes, you're going to want seconds. 43 of 62 Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal This recipe shows simple summer okra doesn't need any bells and whistles to shine. 44 of 62 Summer Squash Gratin Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Summer Squash Gratin Instead of covering your fresh summer squash in mayonnaise or sour cream, try this fresh gratin that has just a couple of ingredients. 45 of 62 Heirloom Tomato Salad with Herbs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Herbs Any combination of fresh summer herbs like basil, parsley, and chives will taste beautiful with juicy heirloom tomatoes. 46 of 62 Grilled Bell Pepper Caprese Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Grilled Bell Pepper Caprese Hear us out on this one: This summer, swap the tomatoes in your caprese for fresh, vibrant bell peppers on the grill. 47 of 62 Scalloped Corn Casserole Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Scalloped Corn Casserole We're never ones to turn down a cheesy casserole with a buttery cracker topping. 48 of 62 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas This is our Test Kitchen's latest and greatest pasta salad recipe, and we know it'll be a hit at every potluck. 49 of 62 Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips These homemade zucchini chips are a healthy summer snack alternative to something out of a bag. 50 of 62 Field Pea Fattoush Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Field Pea Fattoush Salad If you love Panzanella, you're going to fall for this summery salad. If you want to take it from a side to a main, add roasted chicken or fish. 51 of 62 Smoky Pole Beans and Tomatoes Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Smoky Pole Beans and Tomatoes What goes with fresh summer produce deliciously? Bacon, of course. 52 of 62 Grilled Yellow Squash Roll-Ups Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Grilled Yellow Squash Roll-Ups We should all be grilling our summer veggies, and this bite-size recipe is proof. 53 of 62 Simple Roasted Okra Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Simple Roasted Okra You might think of okra as a fried side, but once you try it roasted, it's the only way you'll be making it at home. 54 of 62 Southern Fried Corn Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Southern Fried Corn This classic Southern side comes together in just your skillet and 15 minutes. 55 of 62 Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta Field peas are a Southern summer gift, and this recipe is our Test Kitchen's new go-to way to prepare them. 56 of 62 Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad If you find baby zucchini at the grocery store or farmers' market this summer, buy it! It's adorable size and delicate flavor bring something new to summer sides like this colorful salad. 57 of 62 Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce Okra and tomatoes are a classic Southern pair for summer, and chickpeas add extra protein to this hearty but healthy side. 58 of 62 Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers These peppers are stuffed to the brim y'all! All they're missing is an ice-cold margarita or beer for a summertime fiesta. 59 of 62 Lady Pea Salad Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Lady Pea Salad This light and bright salad will complement any main dish off the grill. 60 of 62 Tomato-Herb Panzanella Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Tomato-Herb Panzanella This colorful Panzanella is a gorgeous way to show off your fresh farmers' market haul. 61 of 62 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad "This salad was amazing! I made it for lunch with the girls and we inhaled it!" wrote one five-star reviewer. "We all went back for seconds and thirds. Will definitely make it again and again." 62 of 62 Marinated Tomato-and-Herb Salad Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Marinated Tomato-and-Herb Salad The marinated tomatoes we use in this salad are also delicious in a pasta, if you're looking for a heartier dish. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit