37 Sides For The Best Father's Day BBQ Ever
Don't let the meat stand alone.
It just wouldn't be a Father’s Day to remember without a legendary BBQ to really make all dad's dreams come true. If your dad is anything like ours, as soon as summer hits, that means burgers, hot dogs, and other grilled meats on the grill pronto. Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of serving them without accompaniments! No matter if you’re firing up the grill or cooking for your dad indoors this year, we’ve got all the BBQ side dish recipes for you that will pair perfectly with all those grilled MVPs. Spoiler alert: These 37 flavorful summer salads and side dishes are ready to stand by (if not outshine) those must-have BBQ dishes.
Is your dad the grill-master of your family? Fire up the grill and show him you can handle the heat too. Try one of our many dinners on the grill for main dish ideas outside burgers and dogs (or go wild with something truly impressive like grilled lobster tail or grilled ribs), then make one of our top grilled side dishes to pair alongside it. You can’t go wrong with grilled corn on the cob (or turn it into grilled creamed corn maybe?), but other veggies are great too, like grilled balsamic mushrooms or grilled ranch potatoes.
Cooking dinner indoors this year? We’ve got you. With your full kitchen at your disposal, you could go with a classic burger side in the oven, like our oven-baked fries or oven-fried pickles. Or maybe get out your air fryer for sides that comes together fast, like our Buffalo cauliflower wings or buttermilk onion rings.
Want more Father’s Day and grilling ideas? Check out our Father’s Day dinner recipes, our top grilling recipes, and our top summer dinner recipes to keep that grill hot all season long.
Blueberry Peach Feta Salad
Blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, AND feta? You’ll be amazed by how well this combination comes together in salad form. This might become the most vibrant, elegant salad you’ll bring to a picnic in the park or a summer BBQ dinner.
Get the Blueberry Peach Feta Salad recipe.
Best Baked Beans
When it comes to year-round American cuisine, baked beans could quite possibly be looked at as one of the most classic side dishes. They’re sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder! Throw in the fact that one batch feeds a small crowd and that most of the cooking is done unattended in the oven, and you have a winning dish that’ll be a staple for all your family gatherings for years to come.
Get the Best Baked Beans recipe.
French Fry Board
Forget charcuterie, our newest obsession: French fry boards. You can fill them with whatever type of fries you like best. We just recommend a good variety. As for sauces, you can do better than just ketchup. Think: peri peri sauce, mango chutney, spicy mayo, and honey mustard!
Get the French Fry Board recipe.
Grilled Green Beans
Green beans are an iconic side, and now they're getting their summer update If you're cooking over an actual grill, just be sure to place a heavy-duty piece of foil over the grates before adding the green beans. It'll prevent all the veg from falling through the cracks. No grill or grill pan? A cast-iron skillet works well too!
Get the Grilled Green Beans recipe.
Vinegar Coleslaw
To make this a truly vegan-friendly slaw, there is neither mayonnaise nor honey in the mix. We use maple to bring out the veggies’ natural sweetness and Dijon mustard helps emulsify the oil and vinegar while adding a bit of a kick in the back of your throat. Letting the dressed slaw rest for 30 minutes before eating will give you a more flavor-packed bite.
Get the Vinegar Coleslaw recipe.
Antipasto Potato Salad
Potato salad is about as classic a summer side as it gets, and we love experimenting with different flavor combinations, like our tzatziki or loaded baked potato salad. Though a traditional creamy dressing is delicious, it can sometimes be heavy and leave too little room for the main event. If you’re looking to lighten up your usual potato salad, look no further—this version is bursting with all the flavors of your favorite antipasto.
Get the Antipasto Potato Salad recipe.
Grilled Asparagus
Few veggies grill up as nicely as asparagus. Thin stalks get crispy while thicker ones get tender. Finish with a bit of lemon or Parm and you'll have the perfect summer side dish in under 5 minutes.
Get the Grilled Asparagus recipe.
Smoky Pinto Beans
It seems all too often black beans steal the spotlight from the slightly less popular pinto bean. We're here to say: Give pintos a chance! They're ultra-creamy, a little smoky, and super-versatile. This bacon-infused recipe works wonders on both canned and dried beans, so you can make them in under 30 minutes if you're short on time.
Get the Smoky Pinto Beans recipe.
Greek Chickpea Salad
We’re no strangers to a great chickpea salad, so coming up with a Greek-inspired one was a no-brainer. It’s got all the flavors you love from Greek salad, turned into something more substantial and filling that pairs well with almost anything.
Get the Greek Chickpea Salad recipe.
Classic Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and BBQ. This one is creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles.
Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
This is our simplest, easiest recipe, but the flavor combo options are endless—check out the rest of our grilled corn ideas too.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Summer Couscous Salad
Here we're using couscous as the base for a confetti of colored vegetables (cucumbers! bell peppers! red onion!), doused in a creamy lemon Dijon dressing. We’ve also added tangy feta and sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy toasted almonds, and nutty, earthy chickpeas to give it a little added oomph. It’s simple and light, but still special enough for a celebration.
Get the Summer Couscous Salad recipe.
Buttermilk Onion Rings
Cornstarch and seltzer help to keep the batter light, while the fine cornmeal and paprika give each bite a little more crunch and flavor. Dip them in some mayo (Kewpie is highly recommended) and ketchup, and get ready for the freshest onion rings you've ever tasted.
Get the Buttermilk Onion Rings recipe.
Sheet-Pan Panzanella
Rather than toast the bread cubes on their own, you'll roast them alongside tomatoes, onion, and garlic. The tomatoes burst as they roast, mixing their juices with the bread and fresh arugula. The combination of roasted tomatoes, toasted bread coated with Parmesan, fragrant garlic, and mozzarella basically tastes like pizza!
Get the Sheet-Pan Panzanella recipe.
Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins
The flavor squad is here to provide standard corn muffins with a mega boost. The result is pimiento cheese corn muffins, which take their cues from the classic Southern cheese dip. Packed with shredded cheddar, diced pimiento peppers, garlic powder, and a generous amount of cayenne, the result is a savory delight. Top the baked muffins with more pimiento cheese for a decadent snack.
Get the Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins recipe.
Classic Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad works well with most anything you want to add in. We love adding broccoli, pimento peppers, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and bacon!
Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.
Green Bean Salad
Fresh garden green beans are one of summer’s most perfect gifts, so if your family cookout doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad beside the platter of grilled steak, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
Roasted Chickpea & Avocado Salad
Summer Panzanella
Panzanella is one of those summer recipes that truly tastes like summer. It's one that you want to make in peak season—when the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.
Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.
French Fries
Recipes that require frying are often super specific. The temperature of the oil must be just so. Not so with this method! Turns out you can put *unsoaked* potatoes in a big deep skillet (or Dutch oven), pour cold oil on top until they’re just covered, then bring the whole thing to a boil. The exact temperature doesn’t really matter so long as it’s hot and bubbling.
Get the French Fries recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
