35+ Side Dishes to Go with Whatever You Grilled for Dinner

Kristin Appenbrink

updated Jul 31, 2023

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Corn on the Cob — Credit: Joe Lingeman
Corn on the Cob

Summer is right around the corner, which means it’s time to get the grill cranked up. If you’re just dusting it off for the year, give the grill a good cleaning. (Here’s how to clean a gas grill, and how to clean a charcoal one.) Then brush up on your techniques and get going!

One thing is for sure, no matter what you’re cooking up for dinner, you’re going to need sides for grilled chicken breast, burgers, salmon, or that juicy steak. Chopped salads and fresh fruit are wonderful partners for many grilled dishes, but sometimes you need heartier sides to round out the meal. We recommend balancing a few simple fresh sides with a cooked or grilled side dish or two. Here are more than 35 of our favorite sides — including everything from summery favorites, rice, potato sides, and easy low-carb sides — that play well with dinner from the grill.

Summer Sides

1 / 12

Hot Honey Butter Bath Corn

Butter bath corn is not only delicious (and one-pot simple) but it's also an easy way to prepare corn in advance. Basic butter-bath corn is just boiled in water seasoned with milk, butter, and salt. After that, you can a variety of seasonings. The spice and honey in this recipe pairs especially nice with smoky grilled food, though.

2 / 12

Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a staple of summer cookouts. While you can grill it, we sometimes prefer it prepared on the stovetop. Dealer's choice! Either way, make sure you include plenty of butter and salt when you bring it to the table.

3 / 12

Hawaiian Plate Lunch Mac Salad

This Hawaiian-style mac salad is creamy, with just the right amount of tang (thanks to pickle juice and apple cider vinegar!).

4 / 12

Summer Squash Succotash

When you're overloaded with zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes, this light and fresh mix is how to serve them up with supper.

5 / 12

It wouldn't be a cookout without beans. This updated baked beans recipe might take a bit longer to make than opening a can, but we guarantee the results will be worth it. Bring them to your next cookout or potluck, and you'll be the hero of the party.

6 / 12

Three Bean Salad

Few things spell summer more than a classic three-bean salad. The combination of textures and flavors all in a sweet-tart vinegar dressing is enough to complete any summer meal. We recommend making enough so you'll be able to enjoy leftovers with lunch the next day.

7 / 12

Baked Summer Squash

When your backyard garden or CSA supplies an abundance of zucchini and summer squash, this baked dish is the perfect answer. Plus, since you'll be outside grilling, you won't have to worry about the kitchen being hot from the oven.

8 / 12

Summer Farro Salad with Tomato, Cucumber & Basil

If you have all of these herbs and veggies growing in your backyard, this salad will be your new summer favorite. It also has the added benefit of being a great vegetarian main dish.

9 / 12

Greek Pasta Salad

Inspired by a chopped salad, this crunchy Greek number starts by prepping the veggies into bite-sized pieces to match the small noodles. You'll thank us when you're eating this off a wobbly paper plate in the backyard.

10 / 12

The Ultimate Grilled Zucchini Salad

While you've got the grill fired up, toss on a bunch of zucchini to make this easy salad. The warm slices soak up a savory oregano dressing and feta adds a dose of salty goodness.

11 / 12

Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad

Skip your normal pasta salad recipe in favor of this updated one. It's chock-full of sautéed broccoli, crumbly feta, and salty olives. It's great with burgers or grilled chicken.

12 / 12

Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad

As a bonus, this salad will leave you with plenty of leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.

Rice and Potatoes

1 / 10

Buttery baked rice is an easy, foolproof side.

2 / 10

Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes

Turn to your air fryer for this impossibly crispy and easy side dish.

3 / 10

Grilled Potatoes

They're lightly charred and crispy on the outside, tender and creamy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned all over.

4 / 10

Easy Grilled Sweet Potatoes

You really should slice and grill sweet potatoes — especially if you like to have extra sweet potatoes for meal prep. They are just as tasty as they are gorgeous.

5 / 10

Easy Buttery Garlic Rice

Wondering what your white rice has been missing? We have the answer: A heap of butter and thin shavings of perfectly roasted garlic. One bite of this simple side and you'll see for yourself.

6 / 10

Crispy Salt & Vinegar Fingerling Potatoes

For anyone who likes salt-and-vinegar potato chips, this recipe is the upgraded, appropriate-for-company version. Use fingerling potatoes if you can, and try not to eat them all before they hit the dinner table.

7 / 10

Cheesy Grilled Potato Packets

Want a side dish that you can make on the grill and that involves very little cleanup? These cheesy potato packets are the answer. You can prepare them while your burger patties are chilling, and then grill them right alongside the meat.

8 / 10

Sumac-Dusted Oven Fries with Garlic Spread

Of course, we would never say no to French fries served alongside a burger, but we like to spice things up a bit. This oven-baked fry recipe adds a dusting of sumac, a lemony spice frequently found in Mediterranean cuisine, and swaps the ketchup for a delicious garlic spread. Your steak would be very happy with a pile of these sitting next to it.

9 / 10

Ukrainian Dill Potatoes

The dish is just four humble ingredients — potatoes, dill, garlic, and sunflower oil — but their combination is magical. With each bite of creamy boiled potato, you get a grassy hit of fresh dill and a kick from raw garlic, all brought together by the nutty aroma of virgin sunflower oil (the hallmark ingredient of Ukrainian cooking).

10 / 10

Portuguese-Style Mint Rice

Have an abundance of mint on your hands? Make this summery mint rice.

Low-Carb Sides

1 / 8

Chilled Zucchini Noodle Salad

This super fresh salad is an easy way to bring some greens to the table. It's tossed with a punchy sweet-and-spicy dressing, and is versatile enough to partner with whatever you're cooking. It's a good reason to break out (or get yourself) a spiralizer — though plenty of stores now stock pre-made zoodles.

2 / 8

Chilled Cucumber Noodles with Sesame Dressing

Another reason to put that spiralizer to good use: These cold cucumber noodles. The rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing gives it the perfect amount of kick to lighten up your meal.

3 / 8

Light & Easy Broccoli Salad

While this colorful slaw calls for currants, they aren't always the easiest ingredient to find — raisins and dried cranberries are perfect substitutions.

4 / 8

Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups with Ricotta and Herbs

If you want something a bit fancier for a cookout with friends, opt for these grilled zucchini rollups. They are a cinch to assemble, but look like you spent all afternoon on them. That's a win-win in our book.

5 / 8

Garlicky Marinated Grilled Mushrooms

Mushrooms have a sponge-like ability to soak up this buttery balsamic and garlic marinade before they're charred on the grill.

6 / 8

Oven-Roasted Frozen Broccoli

If you're not already doing this, this side dish is going to be a game-changer for your dinner routine. Just be sure to start with a screaming-hot oven.

7 / 8

Salt and Vinegar Cucumbers

These quick-pickled cucumbers are the perfect counterpoint to rich, heavy burgers and steaks. And they're a snap to make.

8 / 8

Easy Skillet Kale with Lemon & Garlic

There aren’t any big secrets to making awesome kale — you just need a large skillet and some basic pantry ingredients.

Vegetable Sides

1 / 8

Garlicky Roasted Broccoli

This broccoli takes just a few minutes to throw into the oven and emerges toasty around the edges and garlicky and a little spicy.

2 / 8

Super-Crispy, Oven-Baked Asparagus Fries

The crispiest, crunchiest, tastiest asparagus I've made to date — and folks, it's all done in the oven.

3 / 8

Crispy Crunchy Baked Avocado Fries

Asparagus isn't the only unusual veggie you can turn into a baked fry. These avocado slices are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and completely irresistible.

4 / 8

Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Spicy Lime Dressing

Putting cabbage on the grill might not be your first instinct, but believe us — you're going to want to try this recipe. The spicy, citrusy dressing complements the slightly charred wedges perfectly.

5 / 8

Roasted Shishito Peppers

Roasted or grilled shishito peppers are one of our favorite things about summer. The charred skins, the mellow flavor of most of the peppers (with a few spicy ones tossed in) — we can't get enough. Serve them as an appetizer or a side dish.

6 / 8

Snap Peas with Meyer Lemon and Mint

Admittedly, this is a bit of an unusual choice for burgers, but it's the perfect pairing for a seafood burger or any grilled fish, thanks to the lemon and mint combo.

7 / 8

Saucy Chili-Garlic Cucumber Noodles

A spiralizer turns a regular cucumber salad into something a whole lot more fun. This one is both spicy and refreshing.

8 / 8

Cabbage and Apple Slaw with Honey-Lime Dressing

This tangy, crunchy slaw is a natural partner to whatever you're pulling off the grill.

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