Summer

79 Summer Side Dishes That Just Might Upstage the Rest of the Meal

With all the amazing produce in season right now, we're tempted to organize our meals around the sides.
Colorful tomatoes marinated in salt pepper olive oil and fresh oregano on a white plate.
Oregano Marinated Tomato Salad recipePhoto by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson

Nothing against grilled chicken or seafood, but summer side dishes, if we’re being really honest, are the best recipes of the season. They have an advantage: all the sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, silky eggplants, and other great produce that’s easiest to find this time of year. But even great vegetables can get monotonous if you don’t shake things up. Below, you’ll find our very favorite summer side dishes, including grilled corn, cooling green rice, the best potato salads, bean salads, tomato salads, and ways to use up mountains of summer squash.

  • Photo of Grilled Sweet Corn with Basil Butter
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    1/79

    Grilled Sweet Corn With Basil Butter

    We couldn't build a collection of summer side dishes without highlighting corn on the cob. This version is even fresher and more aromatic thanks to a smear of basil-thyme butter, making it one of our go-to late summer Labor Day recipes.

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  • Cole slaw made with cabbage and carrots in a bowl with serving utensils.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
    2/79

    Creamy Coleslaw

    No matter what’s on the grill, you’re going to need a bite of something refreshing, crunchy, and creamy. We have a ton of slaw recipes on Epicurious, but this one is popular every single summer.

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  • A serving bowl of pasta salad made with orecchiette and marinated vegetables.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    5/79

    Easy Pasta Salad

    The ultimate bring-along dish for any picnic or BBQ.

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  • Photo of black eyed pea salad on a plate with a fork.
    Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo
    6/79

    Black-Eyed Pea Salad With Hot Sauce Vinaigrette

    Chef Carla Hall calls this summer side a sitting salad—meaning it can sit on the summer picnic table without wilting. The tender black-eyed peas do a great job of soaking up the honeyed hot sauce dressing.

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  • A corn casserole topped with crushed Ritz crackers one of our best cornmeal recipes in a white baking dish with a spoon.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Bill Clark
    9/79

    Mississippi Corn Pudding

    This savory corn pudding is creamy and cheesy, with fresh corn kernels, celery, and onions throughout. A topping of buttery cracker crumbles adds crunch.

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  • Quinoa cherry tomatoes avocados and cucumbers on a serving platter with a spoon.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    10/79

    Quinoa a la Mexicana

    Crispy baked quinoa builds texture in this summer salad, tossed with a charred, herbaceous scallion dressing.

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  • A casserole made with yellow squash in a baking dish.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
    11/79

    Yellow Squash Casserole

    Got a bumper crop of summer squash? This crowd-pleasing casserole is the best and highest use.

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  • A bowl of caponata being served with crusty bread and red wine.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    12/79

    Eggplant Caponata

    Pile this classic Sicilian combo on bread or serve with grilled meat or fish.

    Get This Recipe
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