25+ Classic BBQ Sides Recipes

BBQ Sides are one of the most important parts of any barbecue! These recipes and ideas are perfect sides for BBQ; chicken, ribs, pulled pork, burgers, hotdogs, brisket, and more!

You’ll find healthy BBQ sides, classic BBQ sides, and easy BBQ sides! These are the best summer side dish recipes ever!

Summers were made for BBQs.

Since we’re carnivores we’re ALL about the meat! Sides are the hardest part of creating a menu. I always go back to easy side dishes.

What goes good with BBQ chicken, pork, or beef? All the recipes in this collection would be amazing!

Little Dairy on the Prairie Pro Tip:

1. When you’re choosing sides choose one healthy side (think fruit salad or vegetable), a carb (hello pasta salad), and bread.
2. I also try and add one crunchy side dish, a cold side dish, and a warm side dish.
3. If you choose a sweet side dish like BBQ baked beans you’ll want to choose something more savory to compliment it.

Sides for BBQ

Whether you’re looking for sides to serve with chicken, ribs, burgers, or steak…you’re going to find the perfect recipe!

You need these pasta salads, potato salads, baked beans, and more if you’re looking for fun new ideas of what to serve at BBQs.

How do you keep salad cold at BBQs? I like to add ice to a large bowl, then set the bowl of salad on top of the ice. You’ll still want to set it in the shade and not let it sit out for over an hour. But, it will keep the salad cold for a little while!

Salads for BBQs

Salads are classic. Most of them can be made ahead of time and they don’t require any effort once you arrive!

Choose from a carb-y salad (pasta, rice, potato), a creamy fruit salad, and a vinegary salad to balance the flavors out.

All of these recipes will be great with any grilled or smoked meat.

Greek Yogurt Potato Salad

This creamy and easy no mayo Healthy Potato Salad is everything you love about a traditional potato salad recipe, except it’s lighter! Greek yogurt makes it creamy. Pickles and fresh herbs give it the best flavor!

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Grape Salad Recipe (healthy/lightened up with Greek yogurt)

Grape Salad with Greek Yogurt only takes about 5 minutes to make and has a handful of simple ingredients; cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sugar, vanilla, and grapes. Top it off with a walnut brown sugar streusel for extra yumminess! You are going to fall in love with how easy and how dreamy this salad is!

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Almost Cheesecake Salad

Almost Cheesecake Salad is so good my brother wants them to start serving it at the Cheesecake Factory.

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KFC Copycat Coleslaw

My friend who shared this coleslaw recipe said it was a copycat KFC recipe; I think it’s even better! It’s crunchy, creamy, a little tangy and packed with flavor!

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Southwest Pasta Salad

This Southwest Pasta Salad with creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing is the perfect way to enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

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Frito Corn Salad

Frito Corn Salad – Perfect make-ahead side dish made with Chili Cheese Fritos!

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Cucumber Tomato Salad

The best of summer produce comes together to make this simple and delicious Cucumber Tomato Salad. This season, don’t let lettuce steal all the credit for good salads! This Cucumber Tomato Salad recipe holds up without any of the leafy green stuff.

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Strawberry Fluff Jello Salad

Light and fluffy, this Strawberry Fluff Jell-o Salad is made of simple ingredients and is so easy to make. It’s the perfect light dessert or even side dish at your potluck party.

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Watergate Salad

Watergate Salad is an easy potluck go-to recipe straight from Grandma’s era. Pistachio pudding with folded in whipped toppings and chopped pecan nuts take me right back to being 10 years old again with this traditional fruit salad recipe.

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FROG EYE FRUIT SALAD

Serve Frog Eye Fruit Salad at your next barbecue for a yummy, sweet, fruit-filled side dish that will be the talk of the party.

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Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries

Watermelon Salad is a gorgeous AND healthy summer salad! It has juicy watermelon, salty feta cheese, and sweet blueberries! You can add crunchy cucumbers and fresh mint for amazing flavor. Toss the whole thing in lime dressing and it will sing!

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Crunchy Cauliflower and Cashew Salad

I love the textures as much as the flavors in this fresh salad. It’s crunchy, salty, creamy and even a little bit healthy!

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BBQ Beans Recipes

Beans are a MUST if you’re smoking meat!

All of these recipes are easy and will complement ribs, pulled pork, chicken, etc. Plus, they are about as easy as opening a few cans and stirring in a few ingredients!

Smoked Baked Beans

Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar is the best BBQ side dish recipe ever! They're easy to make since they use canned beans, and bake right along with whatever meat you already smoking!

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Easy Three Bean Salad

This Three Bean Salad is the best BBQ side dish or summer salad for any potluck! It’s made with simple pantry ingredients (green beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans) and is even better as a make-ahead salad! You’ll only need about 10 minutes to make this salad!

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Slow Cooker Baked Beans

I think baked beans belong at every barbecue. The only problem is that I also think it’s too hot to turn the oven on. Slow Cooker Baked Beans are the perfect flavorful solution to the problem!

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SLOW COOKER SMOKY BAKED BEANS

These eight ingredient Slow Cooker Smoky Baked Beans take just 10 minutes and are the perfect side dish to any barbecue or cookout.

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Pasta & Potato Side Dishes for BBQ

Side dishes that are loaded with carbs perfectly balance the tangy flavors of BBQ. Potatoes! Pasta! I’m in!

Add these sides for BBQ to your next get together! I promise they’ll be a hit!

Loaded Crash Potatoes

Easy enough for a weeknight, pretty enough for company!

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Baked Rosemary Potato Chips

These chips are addicting! Great served next to sandwiches or hamburgers!

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Slow Cooker Loaded Potatoes

Slow Cooker Loaded Potatoes – An easy side dish recipe filled with all the yummy baked potato toppings and perfect for any time of year!

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Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe

After years of searching, I finally found the best creamy mac and cheese recipe around. Super cheddary, rich, and easily made on the stove top in under 30 minutes; This is going to be making many more appearances on our family table.

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Vegetable Barbecue Sides

Looking for healthy Grilled sides? Here you go!

These side dishes can be made ahead of time! Some of them are even better made a day or two before! Even better!

Easiest Ever Grilled Zucchini Packet

My favorite savory way to eat zucchini! Put the packet on the grill with your meat and they will be done at the same time. Tastes great and there’s no cleanup!!

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Marinaded Cucumbers

You will love the freshness of these Marinaded Cucumbers!! They have a tangy sweet combination that makes you want more!!

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Cowboy Caviar

This Cowboy Caviar recipe is the ultimate summer side dish that comes with easy homemade dressing. Use Greek or Italian Dressing for a quick shortcut and make it a day ahead of time!

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Grilled Corn Salad With Tomato And Avocado

When fresh corn and tomatoes are at their summer best, this easy salad with creamy avocados that’s simply dressed with a hint of Mexican jalapeño, lime juice, and garlic, is a healthy recipe that’s sure to become the star side dish of every potluck and barbecue you make it for.

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Bread to serve with BBQ

I’m totally in love with serving bread with BBQ. I really like white bread with brisket.

And cornbread and honey butter go hand in hand with BBQ pork.

Marie Callender’s Cornbread

Marie Callendar’s Cornbread is easy to make into muffins or in a pan! Check out my post for my trick for making these the sweetest, softest, most incredible cornbread in the world! You’ll find yourself serving it with everything!

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Parmesan Garlic Knots Recipe

Parmesan Garlic Knots are chewy on the inside and golden brown on the outside! They're brushed with garlic butter and have plenty of cheese to make them addicting! And they only take about 20 minutes of hands-on time to make!

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CHEESY GRILLED GARLIC BREAD

Delicious Cheesy Grilled Garlic Bread is made right on your grill! You are going to love this perfectly toasty, crunchy garlic bread with cheese! The perfect side dish for your meal on the grill!

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