7 Side Dishes to Make Before Summer Ends

We're in the thick of summer, which means the season of potlucks and BBQs is at its peak. Whether you’re headed to a picnic or to an outdoor dinner party, it's always a good idea to have a few dependably delicious side dish recipes at the ready.

We asked our community to submit their best summer side recipes to help us out—and we have so many favorites. From a Mesa Grill-inspired potato salad to smoked trout deviled eggs, you'll find something new here to go with whatever you're grilling. And from now until the end of summer, we encourage you to try at least one of these recipes, post about them on Instagram or TikTok, and tag us @food52 with the hashtag #f52cooktogether, so we can all follow along and find out what you loved and repost our favorites. Happy cooking!

1. Green Cabbage Slaw from Sonya Gropman

Sonya Gropman’s Krautsalat, or green cabbage slaw, is a crunchy, tangy, and low-effort side that’s as impressive as its cousin, sauerkraut, with only an hour of preparation. It's perfect on a brat, dog, or Reuben, too.

2. Spicy Cucumber Fennel Salad from Bevi

A cucumber salad is always a crowd pleaser on hot summer days and Bevi’s cucumber fennel salad is no exception. Hers has an unexpected kick from red pepper flakes, plus a delightfully bright rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing.

Check out more sides to try from Bevi:

3. Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs from AntoniaJames

You’ll find deviled eggs at almost any family cookout, but when have you seen smoked fish added? Longtime Food52er AntoniaJames gives us a creative riff on the classic by adding smoked trout to the signature yolk filling for a smoky finish and coastal vibe.

Try more of AntoniaJames' summer sides here:

4. Pickled Corn Salad from Boulangere

A great corn salad recipe is a must-have for those balmy summer days that don’t seem to cool down. Boulangere pickles their corn in order to keep its signature crunch, and adds three types of peppers for extra texture and color. It’s even better the next day!

Zoe Friesen's version looks gorgeous, doesn't it?

5. Green Couscous Salad from Zoe Rose Friesen

Salad enthusiast and food writer and photographer Zoe Rose Friesen (aka @dinneratmidnite) keeps this green couscous salad on heavy rotation in the summertime for good reason. The recipe is ultra flexible—you can use any mix of sturdy greens, add your herbs of choice, and swap out the feta for a different cheese (or skip the dairy entirely). Give it a punchy squeeze of lemon and you have an easy salad that she guarantees is the "Perfect Salad for every single one of your summer needs." I believe her.

We also love these recipes from Zoe:

6. Dadinho de Tapioca (Cheesy Crispy Tapioca Cubes) from Luana Paiva

Luana Paiva’s Brazilian Dadinho de Tapiocas are crunchy on the outside and nice and chewy on the inside thanks to the addition of tapioca flour. These cheesy treats are best eaten straight out of the pan (or the Air Fryer!) and served with an irresistible guava sauce.

Check out more of Luana's sides:

7. Southwestern Potato Salad from Joseph Rousey

What’s a barbecue without potato salad? Joseph Rousey, chef (and fun fact, the partner of our Cookbook Club moderator Linsey Sowa), shares his version, adapted from a Mesa Grill recipe. It takes its inspiration from seafood boils by heavily seasoning the water for the potatoes. The addition of chipotle in adobo and jalapeño gives this salad an extra level of complexity and kick.

Do you have a favorite Food52 side dish that you make every summer? Tell us in the comments below!