Looking for some tasty side dishes to go with BBQ chicken? This recipe collection of BBQ Chicken Sides has 30+ recipes that would pair perfectly with your barbecue chicken meal!
Summertime is the perfect time to fire up the grill for some tasty BBQ chicken!
Whether you're making sweet and savory Hawaiian BBQ chicken or Thai lemongrass chicken, you're gonna want some equally tasty sides for BBQ chicken.
In this recipe collection, you'll find simple side dishes to pair with your BBQ chicken dinner. These are simple recipes that add pops of color, bursts of flavor, and refreshing counterpoints to all that smoky goodness.
From crisp green beans to sweet potatoes and cucumber salad, from fresh corn and cherry tomatoes to crispy bacon, lettuce, and tomato pasta salads. You'll find a variety of vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free tasty BBQ sides in this great recipe collection.
So everyone can find the perfect side dish to enjoy!
[feast_advanced_jump_to]Tips to choosing the best BBQ chicken sides
- Consider your menu – Think about the main course you'll be grilling. Combine the smoky flavor of a grilled chicken dinner with sweet potato fries or sweet potato wedges to balance smoky and sweet. If you're going for big umami flavors with worcestershire sauce, consider a fresh salad for the perfect balance of heavy and light flavors and textures.
- Variety is the spice of life – Offer a mix of hot and cold dishes, light and hearty options. Cater to different dietary needs with vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
- Make-ahead magic: Many side dishes for BBQ can be prepared in advance, saving you precious time on the day of your summer cookout. Pre-chop vegetables, cook pasta for salads, or prep casseroles the night before.
- Go beyond the basics – While classic side dishes like crispy potatoes, garden salad, and creamy coleslaw are always welcome, explore new flavor combinations! Try a buttery corn salad with avocado and lime, Mexican street corn dip, or a refreshing watermelon and feta salad.
BBQ chicken recipes to go with these sides
For the main dish, try serving our Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe. It's perfect for summer entertaining!
You can also make our Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers or Peach Bourbon Grilled Chicken.
Don't forget to make this tasty homemade BBQ seasoning to add tasty flavor to any grilled chicken dish!
BBQ CHICKEN SIDES
BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad is a longtime FAVE recipe mashup. It combines the savory crunchy bites of BLT sandwiches with the creaminess of a summertime pasta salad.
This is truly the ultimate summertime comfort food. This creamy BLT pasta salad is the perfect side for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, and any al fresco dining experience!
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comFilipino Macaroni Salad
Filipino Macaroni Salad is a classic traditional side dish that is often prepared for almost any Filipino gathering. This sweet pasta salad with crunchy vegetables is simple to make and a great make-ahead dish.
Filipino macaroni salad is great for BBQs, large gatherings, special occasions, or during the Christmas season. It's versatile - it works both as a side dish and a main dish.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comBroccoli Crunch Salad
If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing side dish that's perfect for BBQ dinners and for parties, try this simple broccoli crunch salad recipe. It's packed with nourishing, healthy vegetables and satisfying crunch with every bite.
It's a great way to get some essential vitamins and minerals into your day. And, to enjoy every tasty bite of it while doing so!
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comAvocado salad with tomatoes and corn
Need a summery pasta salad? This avocado pasta salad with tomatoes and corn is an simple, 30-minute recipe. Perfect for all of your summer BBQs, picnics, and family dinners!
If you're looking for a tasty vegetarian option, this Avocado Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Corn is an amazing one to try!
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comPineapple Mango Salsa Recipe - A Tasty Summery DIsh
Summer is here, and it's time to celebrate the fresh fruits and vegetables of the season! Add some tropical flavors to your summer BBQs, picnics, and al fresco dinners with this simple, tasty pineapple mango salsa recipe!
It has simply 7 ingredients plus salt and pepper. You can make this salsa in about 15 minutes. It's a great make-ahead party dish for your BBQs, picnics, and other summer gatherings.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comElote Dip (Mexican street corn dip)
Simple Elote Dip is a flavorful Mexican street corn recipe that is simple to make in simply 15 minutes. Perfect as a side dish or appetizer! It will be the talk of every summer BBQ, picnic, and potluck!
It's made with simply a few simple ingredients you can easily find in most grocery stores. This is a quite simple recipe that anyone can make, even beginning cooks!
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comAir Fryer Pineapple
If you're looking for a simple, fast, sweet treat that is relatively healthy, try Air Fryer Pineapple. Enjoy these caramelized fruit slices on their own, or use the pineapple as part of other desserts and snacks!
Air frying pineapple brings out the rich flavors of pineapple. Whereas fresh pineapple has a light, one-note tasty flavor. Gotta love recipes that are fast, simple, AND only require 3 ingredients!
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comPressure-cooker Broccoli
Looking for a quick side dish for dinner tonight? Making Pressure-cooker broccoli is a breeze and you'll have a nutritious side dish that is the perfect addition to any meal in minutes!
If you want tender broccoli that has the texture of steamed vegetables with more of a hands-off approach, then definitely try this Pressure-cooker Broccoli recipe.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comMelon and Prosciutto Caprese Salad
Melon & Prosciutto Caprese Salad is perfect for summer picnics, barbecues, and dinners al fresco on the patio enjoying the summer sun! It's the perfect balance of flavors: you get the salt from the prosciutto and the sweet from the melon.
This is a super EASY salad to put together. You can also make it ahead of time. It's so refreshing and light. Perfect for hot summer days.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comGrilled Asparagus in Foil
Grilled Asparagus in Foil is a healthy, tasty summer side dish that goes well with any BBQ, picnic, lunch or dinner! The asparagus cooks up in 10 minutes.
If you're looking for a healthy, tasty summer side dish to go along with any of those mains, you'll love making Grilled Asparagus in Foil! You simply need a few basic ingredients to make this dish.
Photo Credit:
urbanblisslife.com
Baby Potato Salad with Bacon
Baby Potato Salad with Bacon is a tangy, tasty side dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, and any weeknight dinner. It's simple to make in under 30 minutes!
This potato salad with bacon is great for parties, or Sunday night family suppers. It is insanely fantastic to saute and serve up with breakfast the next day.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comThe best and easiest fruit salad!
This simple fruit salad is simple to make and delivers tasty fresh flavors. This is a bright and light side dish to serve at any gathering, but especially at picnics, barbecues, and potlucks!
This fruit salad is quick to make, a great make-ahead dish for parties and gatherings, and it's so versatile and forgiving. It's a great clean-out-the-fridge recipe.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comSummer Slaw with Corn, Peaches, Tomatoes
Summer Slaw with Corn, Peaches, and Tomatoes is the perfect summer side dish! The best fruits and vegetables of the season come together in this colorful, crunchy slaw.
Making this summer slaw couldn't be easier! The majority of the work is simply in chopping up the veggies.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comPressure-cooker Green Beans
Looking for a fast and simple side dish? These Pressure-cooker Green Beans are the perfect, flavorful side dish to go along with almost any meal! It's a great way to cook green beans!
The recipe is so simple to follow. You get crispy, tender, perfectly cooked green beans in a fraction of the time. This is a healthy vegetable side dish full of Vitamin K, calcium, protein, and fiber.
Photo Credit: urbanblisslife.comAsian Carrot Cucumber Salad
This simple Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad is simple to make in 15 minutes and is a great side dish for any meal! This Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad recipe is inspired by the authentic Thai cucumber salad in Thailand.
You simply need two main ingredients -- crunchy carrots and crisp cucumber -- plus ingredients to make the sauce. It's truly a super simple recipe with quite simple steps. Anyone can make this!
Photo Credit: jcpeats.comClassic Waldorf Salad
This a welcome break from heavier BBQ fare, the Waldorf Salad's creamy dressing and crisp fruits offer a refreshing counterpoint to grilled meats.
No complicated steps involved! Simply chop, mix, and chill. It's perfect for busy BBQ prep days. Despite its simplicity, the Waldorf Salad adds a touch of elegance to your BBQ spread. It's a side dish that feels both festive and satisfying
Photo Credit: veganhuggs.comMediterranean Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean Pasta Salad will be a hit and your next summertime gathering. It's light, refreshing, and chock-full of fresh vegetables. Plus, it'll be ready in 30 minutes or less!
It's simply not summer, without a zesty, veggie-packed pasta salad to serve at backyard barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. It's a crowd favorite and goes well with simply about everything.
Photo Credit: heavenlyspiced.comProtein Pasta Salad [Chicken and Lemon Herb Vinaigrette]
This Protein Pasta Salad with Chicken features Barilla Protein pasta, seasoned chicken breast, crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy marinated artichokes, and creamy sharp cheddar cheese.
Toss the pasta salad with the homemade, bright, flavorful lemon herb vinaigrette, or use your favorite bottled dressing. Keep reading for helpful tips and suggestions about the recipe.
Photo Credit: www.acedarspoon.comMediterranean Bean Salad
Mediterranean Bean Salad packs chickpeas, white beans, your favorite Mediterranean vegetables and feta cheese into one healthy salad and is topped with a light lemony dressing.
This works perfectly as a side dish to a meal or even as lunch with pita bread and hummus. There is something about those flavors that truly take those healthy recipes to the next level.
Photo Credit: www.acedarspoon.comCucumber Onion Salad
This Cucumber Onion Salad is a simple salad mixing together crisp cucumbers, thinly sliced red onion and tossed in a light tangy dressing with fresh dill.
It makes a great side dish to bring to a get-together, bbq or picnic. It pairs nicely with grilled meats and seafood!
Photo Credit: www.modernhoney.comCrispy Smashed Potatoes
These Smashed Potatoes are the new favorite way to eat potatoes! These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are perfectly crispy on the outside while the inside of the potato simply melts in your mouth.
These roasted smashed potatoes are so flavorful because they are cooked in both salted butter and extra virgin olive oil.
Photo Credit: nibbleanddine.comPesto Orzo Salad
This orzo salad with pesto is simple to make with 7 main ingredients, and in only about 20 minutes! It's filled to the brim with fresh flavors from tomatoes, cucumbers, and torn basil.
A pop of lemon brightens the flavor of the pesto and brings a summary note to this tasty pasta salad.
Photo Credit: www.plantbasedredhead.comAustrian Potato Salad
This simple yet creamy, flavorful, tasty, and hearty Austrian potato salad is simple, quick, and simple to make. It is a potato salad made with vinegar and oil(i.e. without mayo) that plays all the bits.
It is a vegan (vegetarian) potato salad, a classic potato salad, a warm potato salad, a Viennese potato salad (ergo a Kartoffelsalat as we call it in German, or Erdäpfelsalat as it is mostly called in Austria), a healthy potato salad and the best potato salad in terms of taste.
Photo Credit: www.binkysculinarycarnival.comFoil Packet Grilled Potatoes
These Foil Packet Grilled Potatoes are all spiced up with roasted garlic and herbs of your choice! Simple, tasty summer side dish with zero cleanup.
This is the perfect side to do with whatever you are grilling! You can use baby, new potatoes, or cut up regular white, red or yellow potatoes! Even sweet potatoes are great cooked like this.
Photo Credit: alittleandalot.comCrispy Carrot Fries Recipe {Oven Baked}
These irresistible carrot fries are crispy, a little bit cheesy, baked to golden perfection, and ready to eat in about 30 minutes.
The crispy, panko and parmesan covered carrot fries are a perfect match for spoonfuls of creamy, tangy Za'atar Labneh
Photo Credit: afarmgirlskitchen.comSouthern Potato Salad
This Classic Potato salad recipe is made with Yukon gold or russet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, creamy dressing made with mayonnaise, mustard, pickles and basic pantry ingredients.
It's a family favorite and our go-to side dish for barbecues, backyard picnics and potlucks. This Southern potato salad recipe gives you two different ways to make.
Photo Credit: jenaroundtheworld.comAir Fryer Corn Ribs
These Air Fryer Corn Ribs have got to be the new favorite side dish. Tasty fresh corn that has been quartered and cooked with your favorite spices in the air fryer.
Sprinkle on the fresh parsley or cilantro on the air fried corn ribs for the perfect touch. You could even add some sour cream or Parmesan cheese to the top as well. The possibilities are endless.
Photo Credit: delectablefoodlife.comBest Broccoli Crunch Salad with Bacon and Honey Mayonnaise Dressing
This broccoli crunch salad is gluten-free with gluten-free mayonnaise and gluten-free bacon. This tasty Broccoli Crunch Salad with Bacon and Honey Mayonnaise Dressing will be on your salad recipe roster all summer.
Fresh chopped broccoli, crisp bacon, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and red onion combine with a creamy homemade dressing. This crunchy broccoli salad can act as a side or main dish.
Photo Credit: www.anediblemosaic.comCopycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad Recipe
This copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad combines crunchy vegetables with cinnamon candied nuts and blue cheese crumbles for a flavor-packed salad that will keep you coming back for more.
The flavors complement each other truly well. Spiced candied nuts, umami blue cheese, tart dried cranberries, and a tasty sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette to tie it all together.
Photo Credit: theyummybowl.comPotato Salad Recipe (No Eggs)
Potato salad recipe (no eggs) - is an simple BBQ side dish loaded with potatoes, bacon, mustard olive oil-based vinaigrette without any eggs or mayo.
This salad is made with olive oil and two types of mustard, a little bit of thyme, green onion, and vinegar which is perfect in combination with baby potatoes.
Photo Credit: www.throughthefibrofog.comRadish Slaw - Through The Fibro Fog
Fresh and bright, this fun crisp radish slaw is so colorful and packed with tasty veggies! Super simple to make as a BBQ side dish or as summer picnic food, it comes together fast in less than 15 minutes.
It's quite simple to make this recipe with shredded cabbage, carrot and diced radishes and it's perfect as a BBQ side dish or summer dinner side in the hotter weather.
Photo Credit: www.lowcarbspark.comTurnip Fries
These crispy veggie sticks are a tasty and unexpected twist on a classic side. Turnips offer a satisfying bite with a slightly sweet flavor that perfectly complements rich BBQ dishes.
Dunk them in your go-to BBQ sauce for a sweet and tangy explosion, or pair them with a creamy ranch dressing for a cooling counterpoint.
Photo Credit: recipesfromapantry.comSimple Southern Coleslaw Recipe (GF)
Coleslaw is a common side dish in the South and can be found at almost every Southern BBQ, party, get together or celebration. It is also called ColeSlaw and can be referred to as simply, Slaw.
This Simple Southern Coleslaw Recipe is tangy and crunchy with simply a hint of sweet. The perfect dish for all your summertime parties, picnics and BBQs.
Side dish FAQs
How far in advance can We prepare side dishes for a barbecue?Many side dishes can be prepped a day or two beforehand. Cook pasta for salads, chop vegetables, or mix together ingredients for dips. Simply wait to assemble or dress salads until closer to serving time to ensure freshness.
What are some tips for making the side dishes look presentable?Use beautiful serving bowls for salads. Garnish with fresh herbs, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, or chopped nuts for added visual appeal. Arrange grilled vegetables in a colorful display.
What's the best way to store leftovers?The FDA recommends that most food not stay out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Before that 2 hours is up, store food in an airtight container in the refrigerator. See each individual recipe for the appropriate storage time for each dish, as well as reheating options for each side dish.
More side dish recipes
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