A good cookout is not just about what is on the grill. The side dishes are what round out the meal and often end up being what people remember most. Having a few solid options ready to go makes putting together a summer spread a lot easier.
This list has a good mix of recipes that have become regulars in our house for a reason. Some are light and refreshing for a hot day, and others are a little more filling for when you want something heartier on the plate. Pick a few that sound good and your cookout spread will come together without much stress at all.
Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Feta
No cookout at our house feels complete without a big bowl of tomato and cucumber salad with feta sitting on the table. It is cool, crisp, and refreshing in a way that balances out all the heavier grilled food really well. The feta adds just the right amount of salty flavor without taking over, and the whole thing comes together in about ten minutes flat. I make a big batch because it always goes fast once people start serving themselves.
It needs zero cooking, which is exactly what you want on a hot day when the oven and grill are already busy. Made ahead, it actually tastes even better after sitting for a bit. A salad this easy and this good is hard not to make every single time.
Get the Recipe: Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Feta
Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower
Oven baked riced cauliflower is light, fluffy, and works as a great substitute for regular rice in almost any meal. Baking it in the oven gives it a slightly toasted flavor that you don’t get from steaming or sautéing. It’s a simple side that pairs well with just about anything you put next to it.
I make this one when I want something that feels a little lighter but still satisfying as a side. It comes together with very little effort, so it’s an easy addition to a busy weeknight dinner. Once you’ve made this a few times, you’ll find yourself reaching for it often.
Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower
Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Skewered brussels sprouts with bacon are one of those appetizers that go fast no matter where you set them out. The bacon wraps around each sprout and crisps up nicely, while the sprout underneath turns soft and flavorful. Because they’re on a skewer, they’re easy to grab and just as easy to keep eating.
I bring these to gatherings often, and they always go over well, even with people who say they don’t like brussels sprouts. Once someone tries one, they usually come back for another. Make plenty, because they disappear fast and nobody wants to be left without one.
Get the Recipe: Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Breaded Cauliflower
Breaded cauliflower has a crispy outside and a tender bite underneath, which makes it a really fun way to eat a vegetable that’s usually pretty plain. The breading adds a lot of crunch and flavor, so even people who aren’t big cauliflower fans tend to enjoy it. It works as a snack, a side, or even a main if you make a big enough batch.
I make this one when I want something crunchy that still feels a little lighter than a regular fried snack. The cauliflower holds up well under the breading, so you get a satisfying crunch in every bite. Once you’ve tried breaded cauliflower done right, you’ll want to keep making it.
Get the Recipe: Breaded Cauliflower
Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Garlic mashed cauliflower is creamy, smooth, and has just enough garlic to make every bite interesting. It mimics the texture of a regular mash really well, so it works as a side dish for almost anything. Because cauliflower has a mild flavor on its own, the garlic gets to really shine through.
I make this one when I want a side that feels comforting but a little lighter than usual. It comes together quickly, and the texture is so smooth that it’s hard to believe it’s not a potato. Once you’ve tried this version, you might find yourself reaching for it more than you expect.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Zesty Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
A salad with a great blue cheese dressing turns a simple bowl of greens into something people actually look forward to eating. The dressing is bold and creamy, so it adds a ton of flavor without much extra work. Paired with the right toppings, it becomes a salad that feels like a real dish instead of just a side.
I make this one whenever I want a salad that actually gets me excited to eat it. Blue cheese dressing has a flavor that not many other dressings can match, so it stands out every time. Once you try a salad built around it, you’ll want to make it a regular thing.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Fried Rice from Cauliflower
Cauliflower fried rice gives you all the flavor of a classic fried rice dish, but with a lighter texture that makes it really easy to eat a big bowl. The cauliflower picks up the seasoning well, so it ends up tasting bold and satisfying despite being a much lighter base. It comes together fast, which makes it a great option on a busy night.
I started making this when I wanted a quicker side that still had a lot of flavor, and it’s become a regular in my kitchen. It pairs well with so many different dishes, so it’s a great one to have ready to go. Once you’ve made it a couple of times, you’ll see how easy it is to keep in your weekly rotation.
Get the Recipe: Fried Rice from Cauliflower
Whole Baked Onions with Filling
Whole baked onions with filling turn a simple vegetable into something that looks and tastes like a real dish. The onion gets soft and sweet as it bakes, so it becomes the perfect base for whatever you stuff inside it. Every bite mixes that tender onion with a savory filling, and the two work really well together.
I make these when I want something that feels a little different from the usual side dish lineup. They take some time in the oven, but the prep itself is simple, so it’s not as much work as it looks. Once you’ve made these, they earn a spot in your regular rotation pretty fast.
Get the Recipe: Whole Baked Onions with Filling
Kale Salad with Parmesan Cheese
Kale salad with parmesan cheese turns a green that some people avoid into something people genuinely enjoy eating. The parmesan adds a salty, sharp flavor that pairs really well with the kale, and a little massage on the leaves helps soften everything up. Each bite has a good balance of crunch and richness that keeps you going back for more.
I wasn’t always a kale person until I tried it this way, and now it’s one of my regular salads. The parmesan does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of flavor, so the kale doesn’t taste tough or bitter at all. Once you’ve made it this way, it earns a permanent spot in your weekly rotation.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad with Parmesan Cheese
Zucchini Patties with Chicken
Zucchini patties with chicken are filling and full of flavor, and the texture makes them really easy to enjoy. The chicken adds protein while the zucchini keeps things light, so the two balance each other out well. They cook up with a golden crust outside and a soft center, which makes every bite good.
I make these on nights when I want something a little different but still simple to pull off. They work well on their own or with a dipping sauce, and they’re filling enough to be a full meal. Once you’ve made these a few times, you’ll keep coming back to them.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Patties with Chicken
Crispy Oven Baked Zucchini
Crispy oven baked zucchini is one of those sides that gets requested every single time we fire up the grill. The edges go golden and a little crunchy while the inside stays soft, which makes it way more interesting than a plain vegetable side has any right to be. I started making this because I wanted something easy to throw in the oven while everything else was cooking outside, and it just stuck around as a regular. Even the kids go back for more, which says a lot.
It barely needs any attention once it is in the oven, so you can focus on everything else going on at the cookout. Set it out next to whatever is coming off the grill and it disappears fast. Simple and reliable always wins at a summer cookout.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Oven Baked Zucchini
