Food and Recipes Side Dishes 12 Grilled Side Dishes To Serve At Your Next Cookout By Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on June 11, 2024 Close Photo: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Whether you're grilling chicken, burgers, steak, or fish for the cookout, you'll need side dishes to go with the star of the meal. With the grates already hot, we suggest trying one of our grilled side dishes that can come together at the same time as everything else. We've got ideas for all of the best warm weather produce, from corn to eggplant, and even peaches. These fresh side dishes showcase the power of smoke and char to elevate humble veggies and also make grilled family dinners or larger cookouts a breeze to prepare. 70 Outdoor Appetizers Perfect For Easy Summer Entertaining 01 of 12 Grilled Corn Ribs Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Daley If you're looking for a fun new way to enjoy one of the summer's best crops, look no further. By slicing corn cobs into quarters, you can create "ribs" that grill up quickly and are fun for the whole family to eat. Get The Recipe 02 of 12 Grilled Asparagus Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A quick trip to the grill keeps fresh asparagus ultra tender, and lends the spears a smoky flavor you just can't get with other cooking methods. Get The Recipe 03 of 12 Corn Salad With Sumac And Feta Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This corn salad starts on the grill by charring the cobs, and then the grilled kernels are tossed with red onion, tangy sumac, parsley, pistachios, mint, and feta for a zesty summer side dish. Get The Recipe 04 of 12 Grilled Potatoes Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Garlic and Greek seasoning take these Grilled Potatoes to the next flavor level. That said, you can easily play around with the seasonings to suit your tastes. Cajun blends, lemon pepper, and other global spice mixes like za’atar, would all taste great too. Get The Recipe 05 of 12 Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Grilled whole, fresh okra pods cook up less slimy than in other preparations where the vegetable is cut before cooking. That makes these easy kebabs a great way to get even the okra naysayers on board. Get The Recipe 06 of 12 Grilled Corn Salad Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This loaded corn salad gets its beautiful color and flavor from a variety of summer veggies, including zucchini and bell peppers. The formula is pretty flexible though, so feel free to use whatever looks best at the market, or sub in fresh veggies from your own garden. Get The Recipe 07 of 12 Grilled Baby Eggplants With Tomato-Corn Relish Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Small, round eggplants (such as Indian eggplants) are the star of this grilled dish. They're worth seeking out because they're both sweeter and more tender than the large globe eggplants commonly found in supermarkets and used for dishes like eggplant Parmigiana. Topped with a summery and colorful corn relish, nobody at the dinner table will be able to resist. Get The Recipe 08 of 12 Grilled Corn On The Cob Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Once you master the art of the perfect grilled corn with this recipe, use some of our favorite homemade condiments like Cowboy Butter or Cilantro-Lime Crema to jazz up the classic cookout side. Get The Recipe 09 of 12 Grilled Peach-And-Arugula Salad With Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke The grill is a fantastic way to cook peaches, whether for dessert or a delicious side dish like this. The sweet fruit caramelizes and chars on the grill, imparting a smoky flavor that pairs well with the peppery arugula and creamy feta in this salad. Get The Recipe 10 of 12 Pomegranate Molasses-Glazed Eggplant Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Not to be confused with Southern molasses, pomegranate molasses adds a savory, tangy gloss to spears of tender grilled eggplant in this recipe. Get The Recipe 11 of 12 Charred-Vegetable Guacamole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster If you're planning a grilled taco night, this loaded guacamole filled with charred onions, corn, and jalapeño is the perfect thing to serve alongside. Get The Recipe 12 of 12 Charred Zucchini-And-Halloumi Kebabs With Lemon-Tahini Sauce Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Veggie kebabs are often a backyard barbecue favorite, and this recipe puts a fresh spin on the format, while also helping you use up the abundance of summer squash the warm weather brings. This recipe features halloumi paired with the fresh squash ribbons, a firm cheese that can be grilled without melting. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit