Keep it light and fresh with these easy summer side dishes. Made with seasonal ingredients, these sides are colorful, flavorful, and perfect for hot summer days!
Healthy Summer Side Dishes
When the grill’s fired up, the last thing you want is a boring side dish. These fresh and healthy summer sides are made to shine next to burgers, chicken, fish, or whatever you’re throwing on the grill. From pasta salads to grilled veggies, each recipe is easy to make, packed with seasonal flavor, and perfect for backyard BBQs, weeknight dinners, or weekend cookouts. Pick your favorites and mix and match—these sides are here to make summer meals even better.
Below you’ll find a list of over 25 summer side dishes that we keep on frequent rotation in our home. They’re light and flavorful, with all those summer fruits and veggies we just can’t get enough of this time of year. Pair the with any of my grilling recipes!
Classic Lightened-Up Summer Side Dishes
Healthier takes on BBQ staples like potato salad, slaw, and pasta salad.
Greek Orzo Salad Recipe
Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a backyard barbecue, pasta salads are a summertime staple and this Greek-inspired version is going to be your go-to. In addition to the briny olives and feta, I add garden tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers to bring in fresh summer flavors.
Homemade Coleslaw
This homemade coleslaw recipe is the perfect side to pair with anything you’re grilling this summer! Serve it as a side dish with sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and more.
My Favorite Macaroni Salad
So many macaroni salad recipes are calorie bombs, laden with mayo and sugar, but this one breaks the mold. It manages to be creamy without being heavy, and the tomatoes add some summery flavor.
Red Potato Salad Recipe
Although potatoes aren’t exactly a vegetable we associate with summer, potato salad is a summertime staple for pairing with hot dogs and burgers. This lightened up version has just enough mayo to make it creamy without overwhelming the potatoes.
Low Carb Potato Salad
A low-carb faux “potato” salad made with cauliflower instead of potatoes, perfect for Keto or if you’re just looking to eat less carbs.
Fresh Summer Veggie Summer Side Dishes
Simple grilled, roasted, or marinated vegetables that everyone loves.
Caprese Salad
This might just be THE quintessential summer salad. Tomatoes are paired with mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar to create a simple side dish with the perfect balance of sweetness, acid, and creaminess.
Grilled Corn on The Cob
Boiled corn is good, but grilled corn is even better! Adding a smoky element to sweet summer corn really takes it to the next level. Dress it up with seasonings or just enjoy it as-is for the easiest summer side dish.
Skillet Mexican Zucchini
Not every night is a grilling night! When you’re cooking inside, you’ll love this Mexican-inspired zucchini recipe. It’s livened up with some jalapeño, but don’t worry—melted cheese helps balance the heat.
Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)
Panzanella is an Italian salad that combines day-old bread with sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil, cucumbers, red onion, and olive oil. If croutons are your favorite part of a salad, this one’s for you!
Summer Pasta Salad with Baby Greens
For a pasta salad without mayo, this recipe is one of my absolute favorites. Arugula and spinach add bulk without carbs, while sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and Parmesan make it delicious without having to load it up with mayonnaise.
Veggie Kabobs
Another classic summer side dish! The thing I love about these veggie kabobs is that they’re easy enough for a weeknight, but they’re also always a hit when you’re entertaining. No one can resist all those colorful grilled vegetables!
Tomato Salad
If your garden has given you more tomatoes than you know what to do with, this tomato salad is the answer. I love making it with colorful heirloom tomatoes from the farmer’s market.
Zucchini Carpaccio
Every time I make this recipe, I remember how delicious zucchini is when it’s raw. This side is light and elegant, and it’s another that’s easy enough for a weeknight (just 5 ingredients!) but fancy enough to serve to guests.
Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe
Watermelon really shines when it’s paired with something savory: Kalamata olives, flaky salt, or, in this easy summer side dish, feta. You only need 4 ingredients to make it!
Grilled Corn Salad with Cotija
In my opinion, Mexican street corn is even tastier without the mayo—and this grilled corn salad proves my point! With sweet summer corn, Tajin, and cotija, it’s loaded with flavor.
Baked Eggplant Sticks
Eggplant is often overlooked when it comes to summer vegetables, but this easy side dish puts it in the spotlight. Serve grilled burgers with a side of these eggplant sticks instead of fries.
Ratatouille with Farro
Ratatouille is made with a bunch of summertime favorites, including tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant. Here, I pair it with farro to make a delicious side that doubles as a meatless main.
Corn Salsa Recipe
Here’s the plan: serve this corn salsa as a side dish for dinner—you can eat it with a fork like a cold salad or spoon it over grilled chicken—and then scoop up the leftovers with tortilla chips the rest of the week.
Fiesta Bean Salad Recipe
We all need that back-pocket bean salad recipe and this one is mine. The cumin-lime vinaigrette infuses the black beans and chickpeas with so much flavor.
Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad
Grilled vegetables make this orzo pasta salad something special. You can customize this recipe with whatever you pick up at the farmers’ market or the vegetables you happen to have growing in your garden.
Need Grilling Inspiration?
These summer sides were made to go with grilled mains! Find easy, flavorful ideas in my full collection of grilling recipes—everything from chicken and seafood to veggies and burgers.
