The 33 Best Side Salad Recipes For Summer Barbecues
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Best Bean Salad
Sugar snap peas, along with fresh and canned beans, gives this salad a satisfying crunch. Get this bean salad recipe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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