125 Sensational Summer Sides

Updated May 31, 2012
Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Here's our biggest collection of summer side dishes that will be a hit at any backyard BBQ, park picnic, family fiesta, or fabulous fête.

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Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Credit: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Sliced heirloom tomatoes are wow-worthy on their own--a simple vinaigrette and dollops of basil-flecked ricotta take them over the top. Serve with toasted baguette slices to sop up any tomato juices.

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Summer Melon Salad

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen

Summer Melon Salad Recipe

You're just 20 minutes away from the perfect cool-me-down, fruit-filled summer side. Tip: use a small ice cream scoop to create the layers of this refreshing melon salad.

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Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad Recipe

Prepare your picnic table with a show-stopping, carrot, cucumber, and sweet onion side salad. Make this easy summer-fresh salad even easier by slicing carrot and cucumber ribbons with a spiralizer.

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Summer Melon and Ham Salad with Burrata and Chile

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Summer Melon and Ham Salad with Burrata and Chile Recipe

We love the balance of the musky fruit with the salty-sweet ham and the creaminess of the burrata cheese (you can sub fresh mozzarella). You have a lot of strong flavors at play, and the cheese sets the canvas for the whole thing.

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Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Graham Yelton

Tomato and Cucumber Salad Recipe

Sweet summer peach dressing amps up the deliciousness in this simple tomato and cucumber salad in a super-fast 25 minutes.

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New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill Recipe

Crisp potatoes and a mild creamy dressing help keep this chunky potato salad from being anything but boring.

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella Recipe

This bright and fresh Caprese-inspired pasta toss is the ultimate summer main for a busy weeknight, outdoor picnic, or lunch on the go. With just two steps, it couldn't be easier. 

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe

This hearty dish can be simplified by omitting the chicken and doubling up on the pasta. Tossing hot pasta with a few ounces of creamy Brie makes for a light, luscious, and flavorful sauce to coat this abundant bowl of fresh veggies and whole-grain noodles.

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Cherry Tomato Pasta With Proscuitto and Asiago

Credit: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Cherry Tomato Pasta With Proscuitto and Asiago Recipe

This quick pasta toss is all about the play of textures: crispy bits of prosciutto, snappy squash, and blistered cherry tomatoes.

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Charred Squash Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Charred Squash Salad Recipe

this salad is equally delicious over sliced tomatoes with burrata or crumbled Valbreso feta, or as a complement to any protein. The herbs can be swapped for any herbs of your choice. Rotating the squash on the grill before turning allows for a little more char.

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Charred Zucchini Salad

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Charred Zucchini Salad Recipe

This summery salad is easily doubled. To do so, use 2 large skillets to simultaneously cook zucchini batches so the dish is done in the same amount of time.

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Quick Summer Squash and Bell Pepper Gratin

Credit: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Quick Summer Squash and Bell Pepper Gratin Recipe

This quick summer squash side dish, bakes up in minutes. You could also layer sliced tomatoes in between the onion mixture and the squash and bake a few minutes longer.

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Sauteed Summer Squash with Thyme and Almonds

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sauteed Summer Squash with Thyme and Almonds Recipe

Cutting the squash into rather thick slices helps it retain a bit of fresh snap after it's sautéed.

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Summer Succotash

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Summer Succotash Recipe

The acidity in this dish gives your palate a great reset that lets you enjoy the different levels of richness, fruitiness, and sweetness in the vegetables.

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Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies Recipe

This raw-food dish needs planning and patience, but the payoff is a salad that pops with each crunchy bite.

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Spinach, Pistachio, and Pecorino Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Spinach, Pistachio, and Pecorino Salad Recipe

Among the many side options this summer, don't forget the greens. Serve a classic, nutty spinach salad alongside your backyard barbecue fixin's.

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Grilled Eggplant Planks with Creole Salsa

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Grilled Eggplant Planks with Creole Salsa Recipe

Grill more than meats this summer. Veggies like grilled eggplant make a simple summer side dish to accompany any cookout.

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Veggie Salad in a Jar

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Veggie Salad in a Jar Recipe

Make these salads up to a day ahead; pack them tightly with the dressing on the bottom, followed by denser ingredients that won't get soggy while they marinate.

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Marinated Field Peas

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Marinated Field Peas Recipe

Banyuls vinegar is cask aged but smoother and less oaky than sherry vinegar. Sub a milder vinegar, like Champagne or white wine, that won't compete with the earthiness of the peas.

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Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter Recipe

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. Here are a few of our favorite flavor combos for buttering them up.

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Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad Recipe

Assemble this salad the day before you plan to serve it, but toss in dressing just before serving to keep it crisp.

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Grilled Cabbage Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Grilled Cabbage Salad Recipe

Who says slaw is the only way to enjoy cabbage? This grilled summer side will stand out on your table for it's punchy color, flavor, and texture.

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Grilled Vegetables With Creamy Turmeric Sauce

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Ginny Branch

Grilled Vegetables With Creamy Turmeric Sauce Recipe

Turmeric gives this eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, and yellow squash side a zesty, peppery, slightly bitter flavor.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Field Pea and Pasta Salad Recipe

Farfalle and fresh veggies make a seriously delicious summer side.

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Grilled Tomato Bread

Credit: Buff Strickland; Stylist: Olga Naiman

Grilled Tomato Bread Recipe

This rustic side dish has a Spanish inspiration, and although it's simple to make, it's rich with the flavor of ripe tomatoes.

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Summer Vegetable Kabobs

Credit: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Summer Vegetable Kabobs Recipe

Prepare tender, slightly charred vegetables at your next barbecue with this simple recipe. The white wine marinade really adds a unique flavor to the veggies making this dish stand out.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Recipe

If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll love the combination of these colorful ingredients, including tart grapes, crunchy pecans, and bacon.

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Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs

Credit: Anna Williams; Styling: Pam Morris

Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs Recipe

These stuffed zucchini are sure to be a favorite at any gathering. Overflowing with artichoke hearts, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts these are hearty enough to be served as vegetarian main dish.

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Grilled Panzanella with Arugula, Burrata, Summer Squash, and Olives

Credit: John Kernick

Grilled Panzanella with Arugula, Burrata, Summer Squash, and Olives Recipe

In this recipe, both the squash and the bread are slightly charred on the grill. This salad pairs well with any grilled meat.

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Fried Green Tomatoes with Buttermilk-Feta Dressing

Credit: Alison Miksch

Fried Green Tomatoes with Buttermilk-Feta Dressing Recipe

Fry fresh from the garden tomatoes, in batches, until golden brown and crispy. For a more powerful flavor, substitute blue cheese for feta.

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Summer Squash Casserole

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Katherine Eckert

Summer Squash Casserole Recipe

Squash casserole is the most versatile Southern side dish. It pairs well with everything from fried chicken at a summertime Sunday lunch to roast turkey at Thanksgiving.

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Summer Grilled Peach Salad

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Joe Maer

Summer Grilled Peach Salad Recipe

Gorgonzola cheese gets gooey and delicious melted over the grilled peaches in this amazing summer salad recipe. There's a perfect balance of salty and sweet goodness.

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Grilled Summer Vegetables and Corn

Credit: Beth Galton

Grilled Summer Vegetables and Corn Recipe

Easy, healthy, and delicious, grilled summer vegetables will be your go-to side for impromptu get-togethers this summer.

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Grilled Corn on the Cob

Credit: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Angharad Bailey

Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Grilled in its husk, the corn takes on a wonderful, lightly charred flavor while its sugars caramelize and intensify. You'll wonder why you ever thought of cooking corn on the cob any other way.

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