57 Best Summer Salad Side Dishes for a BBQ Cookout Party
Summer salads for BBQ cookouts! These cold, make ahead summer picnic salads are fun to make and serve at cookouts, summer parties, potlucks, and family reunions.
Nothing beats a refreshing cold summer salad at a BBQ cookout.
The potato salads, coleslaws, and pasta salads just pair so perfectly with grilled meat!
They balance the rich, smoky flavor, and add some much needed crunch and brightness.
There are so many unique cold summer salads recipes out there …
… so don’t feel like you need to pick up a tub of bland potato salad from the store anymore.
I put together a list of the very best BBQ summer salads, so you have tons of ideas to choose from!
There are so many fun and unique dishes here (like, have you ever heard of cornbread salad?!).
Most of them can be made ahead of time, which makes summer entertaining even easier!
Bring them to your next potluck, picnic, or summer holiday party – and watch everyone go back for seconds and thirds.
Okay, let’s dive into these amazing summer salads!
(☀️ Looking for more delicious summer recipes? Check out these unique kabob recipes, easy and quick summer dinners, summer veggie side dishes, and super easy summer dump cakes!)
Cookout Salad Side Dishes
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad comes together quickly and easily!
The flavors of deviled eggs and pasta salad come together perfectly in this recipe, making it an ideal summer party dish.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Mexican Street Corn Salad is an off-the-cob version of the popular Mexican street food, Elotes.
With roasted corn, fresh vegetables and herbs, creamy mayonnaise, and Mexican-style spices is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
Easy Creamy Coleslaw
This Easy Coleslaw recipe is THE quick, creamy, delicious side dish you will be taking to every party, potluck or picnic this summer.
It uses honey rather than sugar to balance the vinegar, and gives the dressing a bit of thickness without being overly sweet.
Cowboy Caviar
This easy Cowboy Caviar is a colorful bean salad made with a mix of black beans, black-eyed peas, fresh veggies, and a tangy lime dressing.
Eat it with a spoon or scoop it onto a chip for the perfect bite!
Ultimate Potato Salad
Ultimate Potato Salad is a classic potato salad that includes hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery, onion, and more tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing.
Prepare for everyone to ask you for the recipe, because it might just be the best potato salad they’ve ever had.
Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad
Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that combines the flavors of Mexican cuisine with the small, rice-shaped pasta called orzo.
The small pasta is mixed with corn, onion, avocado, and tomatoes in a light vinaigrette sauce for a perfect pasta grilling side.
Spicy Watermelon Jalapeno Salad
This spicy take on Watermelon Salad includes juicy chunks of fresh watermelon, charred corn, lots of herbs, and a spicy jalapeño-lime dressing.
It's a quick, fresh, and flavorful side dish on a hot summer day.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is an easy-to-make authentic Hawaiian side dish that’s cool and creamy with a tangy and subtly sweet taste!
It takes just 20 minutes of hands-on time to prep and is perfect for BBQs.
Olivier Salad
Olivier Salad is a delicious and easy potato salad with meat to serve at your summer BBQ!
This Russian salad is made with ham (or chicken, or sausage), hard boiled eggs, peas, potatoes, carrots, and pickles, tossed in a simple mayo dressing with dill.
Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian Pasta Salad is the best homemade pasta salad recipe!
It takes simple ingredients like vegetables, cheese, and pepperoni, and a homemade Italian dressing and turns them into the perfect hot weather side dish.
Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado
Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado is bright, tangy and filled with fresh summer vegetables.
It’s a delicious way to serve a healthy and colorful, light side dish to a crowd.
Dill Pickle Chopped Salad
Dill Pickle Chopped Salad is the perfect healthy dish to satisfy those pickle cravings.
It's briny, citrusy, and bursting with pickle flavor! The secret is the light & refreshing dill pickle dressing.
Cornbread Salad
Cornbread Salad has crumbled jalapeno cheddar cornbread layered with bacon, beans, and veggies for a delicious southern favorite.
With just simple, easy-to-find ingredients, this crowd-pleasing salad is a no brainer. It looks impressive, and tastes even better.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Pure summer in every bite, this Strawberry Spinach Salad is a classic you might make on repeat throughout the summer months.
It’s perfect paired with simple proteins like grilled chicken or pork chops, and the Strawberry Vinaigrette gives you a double strawberry hit.
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Easy 5-ingredient Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make and is totally packed with flavor.
With minimal cooking time, it keeps well in the fridge, so you can even make it ahead of time.
Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula
Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula is a light refreshing salad with delightful contrasts in shape and texture.
The peppery flavor of the arugula offsets the crunchy, sweet flavor of the carrots and the sliced almonds with the creaminess of the goat cheese.
No Mayo Potato Salad with Bacon
If you're not a fan of mayo or just want an alternative, this No Mayo Potato Salad with Bacon is for you.
It has bacon and a tangy mustard dressing, so you won't miss the mayonnaise.
Best of all, it can be made ahead and served cold, at room temperature, or warm.
Pickled Watermelon Rind
Transform your watermelon rinds into pickles!
This unique, fun, and healthy recipe looks so colorful, and will definitely be a conversation starter at your gathering.
Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad
This easy Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad has fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and cilantro mixed with cavatappi pasta and a fresh lemon dressing.
It lends the perfect pop of summertime to any potluck or picnic.
Mango Corn Salsa
Quick and easy Mango Corn Salsa is a flavorful, fresh, and healthy salsa that is the perfect combination of sweet and savory with a little kick.
You get crunch from the corn and red onion, and softness from the ripe mango.
Use it as a dip with tortilla chips, a topping for grilled meats, or a side dish.
Greek Yogurt Potato Salad
Nothing says summer like a creamy, hearty potato salad, and when you're looking for a healthier potato salad option this quick Greek yogurt dressing is it.
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
With a beautiful medley of sweet and savory flavors, Strawberry Cucumber Salad is a fresh take on traditional BBQ sides.
The addition of pickled onions and fresh dill really make for a robust flavor!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is made with pasta, dill pickles, and a bright creamy dressing.
The tangy flavor of the dill pickles pairs perfectly with the creamy dressing - it’s always a crowd favorite!
Old Fashioned Creamy Fruit Salad
Old-fashioned Fruit Salad with Cool Whip has fresh sweet and juicy fruit folded with creamy whipped topping.
It’s so easy that you’ll be making it all season long. And trust me, no one will complain about that!
House Salad
Everyone needs a good House Salad recipe in their back pocket.
You know when you go to a restaurant and enjoy a delicious tossed salad that you devour because it is so good?
This is that easy salad recipe to make in your own home.
Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad
Get your taste buds ready for a flavor burst with this quick, easy and delicious Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad.
Made with plump, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny black olives, tender orzo pasta, red onions, feta cheese, cucumber and pesto, this salad is always a crowd-pleaser!
Mango Avocado Salad
This beautiful chopped Mango Avocado Salad is healthy, incredibly satisfying, and ready in 15 minutes.
Sweet and salty, with a touch of heat and citrusy flavors, all come together with a creamy and crisp texture. It's mouthwatering!
Amish Potato Salad
Liven up your picnic side dishes with sweet and creamy Amish Potato Salad.
Better than Walmart’s Amish Potato Salad, it has a deliciously tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and smoked paprika.
Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad
Roasted vegetables and pasta salad become the perfect union in this Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad.
It tastes healthy and fresh, is a great way to use up extra summer produce, and can be made ahead of time for easy serving.
TexMex Cucumber and Corn Salad
This simple and refreshing TexMex Cucumber Corn Salad is so easy to prepare and packed with flavor!
A refreshing twist on a Mexican elote corn salad, this dish combines cucumbers and corn with jalapenos, red onion, cilantro and a sour cream dressing you will love.
Honey Lime Coleslaw
Whether you are team creamy or team vinegar coleslaw, this Honey Lime Coleslaw is sure to be a hit.
This coleslaw is the perfect balance of tang and sweetness. Ditch the pre-made coleslaw dressing, and have this on your table in under 10 minutes!
Green Bean Potato Salad with Sundried Tomato Pesto
Easy Green Bean Potato Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto makes an outstanding side dish to take to a summer picnic or potluck because it has no mayo and only 5 ingredients.
Plus, it has amazing, bold flavor compared to traditional potato salad.
4 Bean Salad
4 Bean Salad is a fresh, easy, and nutritious salad that is perfect for summer potlucks or barbecues.
It is filled with a variety of fiber filled beans, crunchy vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
Crack Corn Salad
Crack Corn Salad is crunchy, creamy, sweet, sour, and savory all at the same time!
Make it with fresh or frozen corn, Ranch dressing, bacon, and cheddar cheese, it’s ready to serve in just about 15 minutes.
Ambrosia Salad
Old Fashioned Ambrosia Salad is a vintage marshmallow fruit salad made with Cool Whip, coconut, and canned fruit.
It’s sweet, creamy, light, and fluffy, just like Grandma used to make!
Broccoli Salad
Crunchy, tangy, and subtly sweet, the lovely thing about this Broccoli Salad is how easy it is to throw together.
Four main ingredients, a quick dressing, toss it in the fridge, and you're ready to serve!
Crudaiola Barese Pasta Salad
An authentic Southern Italian pasta salad, Crudaiola Barese combines the flavors of a caprese salad into a delicious cold pasta side dish.
It’s the perfect way to eat your favorite Italian pasta dish flavors on hot days.
Cajun Coleslaw
Cajun Coleslaw is fresh and crunchy with a creamy dressing. It has lots of bold flavor with jalapeños and a sweet and spicy cajun seasoning.
It is so easy to make and is a unique and unexpected side dish to serve at your barbecue or summer potluck.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan Salad
Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad is so fresh and crunchy.
Shaved Brussels sprouts tossed with parmesan cheese and a light vinaigrette make it an easy, foolproof dish with restaurant quality results.
Amish Macaroni Salad
No picnic is complete without this sweet and creamy Amish Macaroni Salad.
This Pennsylvania Dutch recipe is better than Walmart’s Amish Macaroni Salad with a tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and smoked paprika.
Panzanella Toscana Caprese
Panzanella Toscana is a Tuscan-inspired, bread and vegetable salad with a strong nod to the southern Italian island of Capri.
With fresh mozzarella, extra tomatoes and extra basil, it’s extra-delicious and just screams summer.
Dill Pickle Potato Salad
If you are a potato salad and pickle lover, this Dill Pickle Potato Salad will be right up your alley!
Red potatoes tossed in a creamy dressing, with a pleasant pop of texture from crunchy dill pickles. It might even become your new go-to potato salad recipe!
Summer Cold Green Bean Salad
No summer meal is complete without this green bean salad recipe! Each bite is filled with healthy ingredients and is bursting with flavor.
Delicious green beans drizzled in a balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard sauce paired with greens, black eyed peas, squash and walnuts.
Plus, a little bit of lemon to bring all the flavors together.
Coleslaw Pasta Salad
Coleslaw Pasta Salad has all the crunch and flavor of coleslaw in a delicious pasta salad.
With celery, green bell pepper, cucumber, and a coleslaw dressing, it creates a substantial side dish that makes enough to feed a crowd.
Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
Light and refreshing, Cucumber Pomegranate Salad is full of flavor with sweet berries paired with fragrant mint.
Equally perfect for summer BBQs and holiday celebrations, this fresh fruit salad has zero cook time and takes just 10 minutes to come together.
BLT Pasta Salad
Get ready to dig into a delicious twist on the classic pasta salad!
BLT Pasta Salad is loaded with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and tender pasta, all tossed in a creamy dressing.
Tropical Mango Coleslaw
Tropical Mango Coleslaw is a fun and fruity dish perfect for summer picnics, BBQs and potlucks.
A tasty and fun mango slaw without mayo, it uses an oil-based dressing, and comes together in just ten minutes.
Lemon Basil Orzo Salad
Lemon Basil Orzo Salad is fresh, bright, and healthy. Orzo, Northern beans, and veggies get tossed in a delicious dressing.
The combination of flavors and textures is so good!
Loaded Potato Salad
Loaded Potato Salad is made with creamy gold potatoes, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, mayonnaise, seasoned salt, and pepper.
It tastes like your favorite loaded baked potato, in summer salad form.
Mexican Quinoa Salad
Vibrant and fresh Mexican quinoa salad is essentially a party in a bowl.
Loaded with quinoa, bell peppers, red onions, black beans, and combined with a fresh cilantro lime dressing for tons of bold flavor.
Mango Cucumber Salad With Avocado
If you’re a fan of light and refreshing summer salads, you’re in for a treat with this Mango Cucumber Salad.
The simple natural flavors of ripe mangoes, crisp cucumbers, creamy avocados, and cooling mint steal the show in this colorful salad.
Avocado Black Bean Salad
This easy-to-make Avocado Black Bean Salad is loaded with fresh summer veggies and bright colors, and full of vitamins and nutrients.
It’s crisp and the best part is it couldn’t be easier to make!
Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad has it all. Quick and easy to make? Yes! Lots of fresh veggies? Yep! Tons of flavor? You bet!
It’s such a great option for potlucks, picnics, BBQs, or even as a light summer meal.
Easy Chimichurri Potato Salad
Chimichurri Potato Salad has no mayonnaise and no fuss.
Full of fresh herbs and garlic, a little bit of heat from the red pepper, it's an easy to prepare side dish that is delicious served warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad
Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad Salad is one of our favorites!
With all the fresh summer flavors, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella pearls, and a basic balsamic vinaigrette, along with orzo pasta, this is a delicious and filling salad.
Lemony Chickpea Salad
Chickpea Salad with fresh lemon is packed with fresh flavors including juicy cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, and fresh mint and parsley.
This is an easy side ready in less than 20 minutes!
Peach & Raspberry Fluff
Old-fashioned Peach & Raspberry Fluff is a fluffy jello fruit salad made with peaches, mangos, raspberry jello, shredded coconut, cottage cheese, marshmallows and whipped cream.
This simple dish takes only five minutes to make and is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and summer holidays.
Shredded Carrot Salad
Shredded Carrot Salad is not just a sidekick, but a superstar in its own right! Picture crunchy shredded carrots mingling with sweet raisins and tangy dressing.
Whip up this shredded carrot salad that’s not just good for you, but is also packed with flavor.
Ready to try some new summer cookout salads?
I hope this list of unique make ahead cold summer salads has given you tons of inspiration for what to make for your next BBQ party.
There’s truly something for everyone – and every kind of event – so it’s just a matter of deciding which to make first!
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