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The summer is filled with barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. Whether you’re cooking for a few or a crowd, our attention often narrows in on the main course. But the sides are just as important! If you need pairings for your entrée that come together without much fuss, try out some of these easy summer side dish recipes. The list includes everything from grilled greens to salads dotted with the season’s freshest produce.
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Jamie’s Sweet and Easy Corn on the Cob
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Corn on the cob is cooked in boiled water with a little sugar and lemon juice for the sweetest, tastiest corn,” says Allrecipes member heatherjane. “My mother-in-law gave me this easy recipe. Top the cooked corn with butter and a pinch of salt for the best summer side dish there is!”
Easy Fried Eggplant
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This is the simplest tastiest recipe for eggplant,” says one reviewer. “I love it. I added some salt and coarsely ground black pepper to the egg mixture and used Italian bread crumbs for more flavor. EXCELLENT!”
Grandma’s Carrot Salad
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This carrot salad is quick and easy to make with just five ingredients,” says Allrecipes member Mrs Wynkoop. “My grandma made it all the time, and I loved it. Now I make it to honor her, and it’s almost as good.”
Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad)
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
“This is a staple in our fridge when the cucumbers start growing in like mad,” says reviewer ANGELA97303. “Kids love to snack on it. We also add sweet onion. One tip is to pay attention if you are using ‘Seasoned’ Rice vinegar. This already contains sugar and I just cut out adding additional sugar or just add the tiniest bit.”
Garlic Dill New Potatoes
lutzflcat
“Absolutely delicious. I served this with steak and it was excellent,” says reviewer Jen. “The fresh dill gave it a nice fresh flavor. I wouldn’t change anything about this recipe. I’ll be serving this all summer!”
Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This was a perfect veggie side to the dinner I cooked,” says reviewer CrystalT. “It was quick and easy, and tasted wonderful. I added sliced zucchini to mine, along with fresh basil and garlic.”
Baked Zucchini Chips
“These were wonderful! Mine turned out really crispy. I sliced them thin and baked at a higher temp (450 degrees F) and watched them closely so they wouldn’t burn,” says reviewer luv 2 cook. “I also mixed in some parmesan with the bread crumbs before coating the zucchini. I’ll definitely make these again!”
Grilled Tomatoes
“Simple and delicious! This is perfect for those warm summer months when tomatoes from the garden are so abundant,” says reviewer Jillian. “It’s not only vibrant in color but also in taste.”
Fresh Corn and Zucchini Sauté
“This zucchini and corn sauté is a great way to use two of the season’s most bountiful crops,” says Allrecipes member Sara B. “Kernels of corn fresh from the cob and tender zucchini are put to wonderful use in this simple and satisfying summer side dish.”
Summer Strawberry Salad
Brittney Cottrell / Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling / Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
“I came up with this strawberry salad which combines features of several different recipes when I was asked to bring a summer salad to a backyard get-together,” says Allrecipes member Janna. “It’s delicious! A balsamic vinaigrette or the creamy orange-soy dressing on this site are excellent with this salad.”
Air Fryer Roasted Okra
“This is one of those recipes you will use weekly. I’ve made it four times and loved it each time,” says Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen. “I even used pickled okra and it was out of this world delicious. No slime at all!! Add hot pepper flakes, sriracha salt, or whatever spices you like. I even used bacon grease once. Just awesome! You can’t go wrong.”
Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad
“Yum, Yum, Yum—we thoroughly enjoyed this pasta salad made with tomatoes and basil from our garden,” says reviewer Molly. “I mixed this up in the morning to give the flavors time to marry, with the exception of the basil. I added the basil about 30 minutes before serving so that it would be fresh. This is an outstanding salad with lots of flavor.”
Creamed Corn with Tomatoes
“This is the PERFECT use for leftover corn on the cob,” says reviewer Stephanie Towery-Haines. ” I will definitely make this again. It was delicious!”
Watermelon Salad
ALLRECIPES / QI AI
“This watermelon salad is a surprising yet delicious combination of sweet watermelon, red onion, cucumber, and salty feta cheese,” says Allrecipes member CHICA3578. “It makes the perfect summer party side dish.”
Avocado Salad
Allrecipes / Diana Chistruga
“This avocado salad is a delicious combination of ripe avocados, sweet onions, fresh tomatoes, and cilantro,” says Allrecipes member John Endresen. “This recipe is so easy to make and very colorful—I think you’ll like it!”
Perfect Grilled Zucchini
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“I love grilled zucchini in the summertime,” says Allrecipes member LashGal. “This simple recipe seasons the zucchini with garlic and Italian seasoning, then brushes it with balsamic for amazing flavor and lovely caramelization. It cooks perfectly on the grill in a matter of minutes!”
Grilled Green Beans
“These grilled green beans with olive oil and garlic are great and an easy way to use up those garden green beans while grilling on warm summer evenings,” says Allrecipes member Kassie Calvin Caminiti. “Incredibly tasty and simple!”
Grilled Romaine
Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck
“This grilled romaine is simple to make and a great way to transform lettuce into something crisp, smoky, and delicious,” says Allrecipes member Cambry. “Serve as-is for an easy side dish, or chop and use to make a warm Caesar salad.”