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The 33 Best Side Salad Recipes For Summer Barbecues

Whether you serve our warm Greek potato salad, classic macaroni salad or homemade coleslaw, these sides won't last long.
Turkish salad recipe with lentils, mint and feta

Recipe by Jennifer Pallian. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photography by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.

Side salads are the backbone of a great summer barbecue—they add colour, variety and fresh flavour to the main table, breaking up heavy servings of grilled meat. So for your next weekend meal, go all out and load up a plate or two with salads that celebrate the best of the season. Tip: Don't be afraid to make extra—many of these salads will keep well in the fridge (hello leftovers!).

Scroll through our favourite summer side salad recipes:

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Toss saucy Buffalo chicken with fresh veggies and a tangy blue-cheese dressing for a spicy-creamy combination that’s hard to beat. Get Jennifer Pallian's Buffalo chicken pasta salad recipe.

Chimichurri Grilled Potato Salad

If you’re not grilling your potatoes for potato salad, you’re doing it wrong. Pair with our reverse-sear steak. Get this chimichurri grilled potato salad.

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side salad recipes: grilled potato salad on a green platePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Classic Pasta Salad

This summer staple combines chilled rotini, crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, fresh parsley and a bright vinaigrette. Get Jennifer Pallian's classic pasta salad recipe.

A bowl of Classic Pasta Salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and parsleyRecipe by Jennifer Pallian. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photography by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.

Thai Basil And Cilantro Salad

You won’t be able to stop picking at this refreshing salad filled with lightly pickled veggies. Pair with our grilled satay tofu skewers. Get this Thai basil and cilantro salad recipe.

cucumber, carrot and onion Thai basil saladPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Grilled Caesar Salad

Grill halved heads of romaine for a crisp and creamy caesar salad to start off your weekend BBQ. Get our grilled Caesar salad recipe.

A grilled Caesar salad on a blue and white serving platter on a barbecue table; the salad is made with grilled heads of romaine lettuce and grilled bacon and the dressing is made with vegetable oil; parmesan; lemon juice; garlic; mayonnaise; anchovies; sugar and Worcestershire sauce for a post on an easy grilled Caesar salad recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Watermelon Kimchi

A quick, high-summer recipe that should be eaten as soon as it’s made, this salad makes a great side dish for a barbecue. Ice-cold watermelon is tossed with gochugaru (Korean dried chili flakes), fish sauce, garlic, scallions, ginger and lime juice for an instant sweet, sour, savoury and umami kimchi—no fermentation required. Get Melanie Kwan's watermelon kimchi recipe.

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Slices of watermelon kimchi with sliced green onions, cucumber and lime on a plateWatermelon kimchi. (Recipes by Melanie Kwan. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photographed by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon)

Coconut Rice Salad

Inspired by Afro-Caribbean flavours, this recipe pairs perfectly cooked rice with a medley of vegetables, fruit and toasted cashews and coconut. The zesty vinaigrette brings everything together superbly, leaving you to daydream about a white sandy beach in the Caribbean in the middle of lunch. Get Suzanne Barr's coconut rice salad recipe.

A top view of coconut rice salad served on a purple plate.Produced by Chantal Braganza and Stephanie Han Kim; photography by Christie Vuong; food styling by Haley Polinsky; prop styling by Cailen Speers. Dusen Dusen Pattern Napkin - Net, 313designmarket.com.

Chive And Napa Cabbage Salad

You’ll love this take on a classic coleslaw. Pair with our teriyaki chicken wings. Get this chive and napa cabbage salad recipe.

Cabbage in a wooden bowlPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Antipasto Salad

The test of a good picnic salad is whether it can make it to the main event without getting soggy. This one gets tossed right before it’s served, but the ingredients are safe to hang out in the cooler for hours. Packed with marinated vegetables, salami and cheese, it’s basically a meal in a bowl. Get Michelle Rabin's antipasto salad recipe.

A plate of antipasto salad on a picnic blanketRecipes and text by Michelle Rabin. Produced by Aimee Nishitoba. Photography by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.

Okra & Tomato Salad (Ensaladang Okra at Kamatis)

Okra is well-used and requested all year round in the Philippines: it can be tossed in salad, stewed, or braised. Rich tomatoes and bright okra are a perfect pair for this delicious dish, plus our cooking method gets rid of the slimy texture. Get this okra & tomato salad recipe.

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Overhead shot of a bowl filled with okra and tomato salad on a green leafy backgroundPhoto, Ashley Capp. Food styling, Ashley Denton. Prop styling, Rayna Marlee Schwartz.

Mint Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Finely chopped cauliflower replaces the bulgur in this classic Middle Eastern salad. Pair with our harissa and za’atar grilled lamb chops. Get this mint cauliflower tabbouleh recipe.

cauliflower tabbouleh on a green table clothPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Bread And Tomato Salad

Chili-spiced toasted bread, fresh cucumbers and plump tomatoes make this complex, flavourful salad perfect for lunch gatherings. It’s more than a bread salad; it also has a tart, sweet kick thanks to the pomegranate seeds. Get Suzanne Barr's bread and tomato salad recipe.

Bread and tomato salad served on a turquoise plate, topped with mint leaves.Produced by Chantal Braganza and Stephanie Han Kim; photography by Christie Vuong; food styling by Haley Polinsky; prop styling by Cailen Speers.

Tarragon, Grilled Fennel And Apple Salad

Tarragon leaves pair perfectly with the fruits and veggies in this salad. Pair with our grilled honey Dijon salmon fillets. Get this tarragon, grilled fennel and apple salad.

Grilled apple salad on a stoneware platePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Thai Peanut Pasta Salad

Sweet and savoury flavours come together for a scrumptious cold noodle salad. Get Jennifer Pallian's Thai peanut pasta salad recipe.

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A person picking up a forkful of Thai Peanut Pasta Salad from a bowlThai peanut pasta salad. (Recipe by Jennifer Pallian. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photography by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.)

Spiced Carrot Orange Slaw

Shredded carrots and juicy orange chunks are mixed with a spice-infused dressing and nutty toasted sesame seeds in this easy slaw, which is inspired by North African flavours. Get Melanie Kwan's spiced carrot orange slaw recipe.

Spiced carrot orange slaw garnished with mint leavesRecipes by Melanie Kwan. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photographed by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.

Mango Slaw (Atsarang Mangga)

In the Philippines, this dish is made with grated green papaya. We’ve decided to go with mango, as it's a little easier to find. Get this mango slaw recipe.

Overhead shot of a pile of mango slaw sitting on a bed of rice on a leafy green backgroundPhoto, Ashley Capp. Food styling, Ashley Denton. Prop styling, Rayna Marlee Schwartz.

Tuna Panzanella Salad

This brightly coloured salad, made with multi-grain bread, tomatoes, cucumbers and flaked tuna, will complement any barbecue table (but it can also hold its own as a main dish!). Get this tuna panzanella salad recipe.

Summer dinner recipes like this Tuna panzanella salad are irresistible. Served in large white bowl on a circular wooden platterPhoto, Erik Putz.

Carrot, Halloumi And Chickpea Salad

While halloumi cheese is great when grilled, we like to add it, uncooked, to this carrot and chickpea salad for a more muted flavour. Get this carrot, halloumi and chickpea salad recipe.

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Carrot, halloumi and chickpea salad recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Cherry Salad With Olives And Walnuts

Dark sweet cherries, salty sun-dried olives, soaked walnuts and parsley are tossed with vinegar and oil for an intense combination that can top anything from creamy ricotta to pork tenderloin or make a unique addition to a charcuterie board. Get Melanie Kwan's cherry salad with olives and walnuts recipe.

Cherry salad with olives and walnuts, served in a green bowl and topped with parsleyRecipes by Melanie Kwan. Produced by Sun Ngo. Photographed by Christie Vuong. Food Styling by Ashley Denton. Prop Styling by Christine Hanlon.

Greek Potato Salad

Give your potato salad a Mediterranean spin with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and a lemon-oregano dressing. Get this Greek potato salad recipe.

Greek potato saladPhoto, Erik Putz.

Spiced Melon Salad

This savoury melon salad is a popular offering at street-food carts in Mexico, and is sure to be a hit at your next barbecue, too. Get this spiced melon salad recipe.

Spiced melon salad recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Classic Coleslaw

This simple slaw has just the right amount of creaminess. Pair it with barbecued chicken, or add it to pulled pork sandwiches. Get this classic coleslaw recipe.

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Classic coleslaw recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Best Bean Salad

Sugar snap peas, along with fresh and canned beans, gives this salad a satisfying crunch. Get this bean salad recipe.

Best mixed bean salad recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Classic Macaroni Salad

This crowd-pleaser is a major improvement from the versions you find at the grocery store, and makes the perfect side for a summer barbecue. Get this classic macaroni salad recipe.

Classic macaroni pasta salad recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Lentil, Feta And Mint Salad

Loaded with baby spinach, cucumber, lentils and tomatoes, this hearty salad adds flavour to any table. Get our lentil, feta and mint salad recipe.

Turkish salad recipe with lentils, mint and fetaPhoto, Sian Richards.

Nordic Potato Salad

This crunchy, satisfying salad uses tart apple (you'll love it) and gherkin pickle (our favourite in potato salad) to balance out the rich cream dressing. Baby red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and a generous amount of dill fronds bring it all together. Get this Nordic potato salad recipe.

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Nordic potato saladPhoto, Erik Putz.

Shaved Asparagus Salad

You’ll fight over the leftovers for this salad of tender-crisp asparagus, sharp parmesan and toasted pine nuts. Get this shaved asparagus salad recipe.

Shaved asparagus with pine nuts on white plate.Photo, Erik Putz.

Baby-Red-Potato Salad

Red potatoes not only add a vibrant pop of colour to this classic side dish, they also hold their shape better than other varieties so leftovers (if there are any!) will be equally fantastic. Get this baby-red-potato salad recipe.

A platter of baby red potato salad on a table next to a green salad and a bowl of vinaigrette(Photo: John Cullen)

Summer-Corn Pasta Salad

Fresh vegetables, citrusy vinaigrette and a kick of jalapeño make this sunny pasta salad a staple for weeknight dinners and family barbecues. Get this summer-corn pasta salad recipe.

Summer corn pasta salad in a white bowl with red trim, topped with edamame, green onions, jalapeños and fresh basil, next to a pallet of red and white straws and a bottle of rose lemonade on a picnic table(Photo: Angus Fergusson)

Black Rice And Edamame Salad

We’ve added cilantro, edamame and shiitake mushrooms to black rice to turn it into a beautiful salad. It’s an easy way to load up your plate with extra colour and fresh flavours. Get this black rice and edamame salad recipe.

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Black rice and edamame salad with shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, green onions and fresh cilantro in a blue bowl stacked on top of two more blue bowls for a Black Rice And Edamame Salad recipe(Photo: John Cullen)

Heirloom Caprese Salad

This classic tomato and fresh mozzarella salad is a mutil-coloured stunner when using ripe heirloom tomatoes (but any fresh tomato will do). Get this heirloom caprese salad recipe.

A platter of heirloom tomato caprese salad drizzled with a balsamic glaze and topped with cocktail bocconcini, olive oil and fresh basil for a post on a simple heirloom tomato caprese salad recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Grilled Eggplant Salad

Charred eggplant, fresh tomatoes and capers mean every mouthful is brimming with flavour. Get this grilled eggplant salad recipe.

Herbed Brown Rice Salad

Packed with herbs, zesty citus and tender-crisp brown rice, this lettuce-less salad is a refreshing barbecue side. Get this herbed brown rice salad recipe.

A grilled eggplant salad in white bowl, made with grilled Japanese eggplant in an olive oil and red wine vinaigrette with garlic, tomatoes and capers next to a bottle of rose lemonade and a bowl of served brown rice salad for a post on an easy grilled eggplant recipe(Photo: Angus Fergusson)

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