BBQ Sides
1. Cannoli Dip
Sweetened ricotta cheese transforms into a highly addictive dip that tastes like it came straight from a classic Italian bakery.
Drain your ricotta thoroughly and whip it vigorously until it becomes flawlessly smooth and creamy. Serve this gorgeous bowl alongside crunchy cookies or freshly sliced fruit for dipping.
2. Chocolate Covered Cherry Pie Pops
These cute little pie pops come together effortlessly using simple store bought dough and canned pie filling.
Just cut out your favorite shapes and spoon the filling inside before sealing the edges with milk and inserting a lollipop stick. Bake them up and let them cool before dipping the entire thing in melted chocolate and finishing with fun colorful sprinkles.
3. Caprese Skewers
You can throw these incredibly fresh and light skewers together in under ten minutes without ever turning on the stove.
Give them a very light grilling if you want a little extra smoky flavor mixed in. Keep your balsamic drizzle minimal and let them rest in their natural juices before serving them to your guests.
4. Easy Homemade Pickles
This customizable recipe is an absolute dream for anyone who constantly craves a salty and crunchy bite.
Red chili flakes and fresh dill and garlic mingle beautifully with bay leaves and maple syrup in the jar. They stay perfectly crisp in the fridge for up to three weeks so you can snack on them constantly.
5. 6-Ingredient Rice Krispies Treat Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
Honey and peanut butter bind these incredible crispy treats together for the ultimate sweet sandwich.
Stuff the center with thick scoops of chocolate peanut butter ice cream or a bright and fruity raspberry ripple. Freeze the whole thing solid before dunking it in rich chocolate and finishing with a flurry of sea salt.
6. Best Baked Potatoes
Giving your potato skin a quick brine is an absolute stroke of genius for building incredible flavor.
A fast baste of olive oil right before baking at high heat guarantees a beautifully crispy outside and a wonderfully fluffy interior. Slice them open immediately after taking them out to release the steam and keep the potato perfectly light.
7. The Best Potato Salad
You get the most incredible texture and flavor from this blend of potatoes and eggs and pickles. The mustard brings a brilliant little kick that never overpowers the rest of the ingredients.
Just add a tiny spoonful of mayonnaise at the end to reach your ideal creamy consistency. It is the absolute perfect companion for any cookout.
8. Easy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Soaking your raw cut potatoes in cold water removes the excess starch to guarantee a gorgeous crunchy texture.
Pat them completely dry before tossing them in a bold spice blend of garlic powder and cumin and cayenne pepper. Spread them out evenly on a baking sheet and flip them halfway through to achieve golden perfection.
9. Pea Salad With Bacon
Grab that bag of frozen peas and mix it up with cheddar and red onion for a brilliant twist on classic cookout foods.
Crispy bacon and fresh celery add exceptional crunch to every single bite. A tangy dressing made from mayonnaise and yogurt and apple cider vinegar coats the bowl in pure joy.
10. Favorite Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pepitas
Say goodbye to boring bowls of wilted lettuce and hello to this wonderfully crunchy and savory masterpiece.
Fresh greens combine with crisp apples and tart cranberries and tangy goat cheese to lighten up your heaviest burger meals. Toss everything in a simple mustard vinaigrette and top with pepitas for an unforgettable bite.
11. Better-Than-Dominos Garlic Bread
Baking up a wonderfully soft and incredibly flavorful loaf completely ruins you for the boring frozen varieties.
Taste your seasoned butter mixture early since the pungent garlic flavor actually mellows out beautifully in the hot oven. Swapping in a bit of blue cheese is an exceptional way to elevate the entire loaf.
12. The Best Green Beans
Steaming your green beans instead of boiling them is the ultimate secret to avoiding a watery and bland vegetable.
Toss them in a hot skillet with heavenly garlic butter to get them perfectly tender. Just watch them closely so they get a lovely little crisp exterior without burning the garlic.
13. Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
Salty baked pretzels replace traditional graham crackers and get folded right into this magnificent faux cheesecake filling.
Crushed pineapple and fluffy whipped topping and rich cream cheese combine into something truly spectacular. Scoop it out into individual dishes or serve it directly alongside your fresh fruit platters.
14. Easy Pan-Fried Zucchini
I always crave a slightly healthier crunchy option when surrounded by heavy meats and potato salads.
A simple crust of egg and flour turns ordinary zucchini rounds into an exceptionally satisfying crispy snack. They are wonderfully cheap to make and absolutely hit the spot every single time.
15. Sausage Rolls
Pure pork sausage meat wrapped in flaky and buttery puff pastry is an absolute revelation for your tastebuds.
These crispy golden treats completely blow standard pigs in blankets right out of the water. Do yourself a massive favor and serve them up with a generous squirt of classic tomato ketchup.
16. Parmesan Oven-Baked Tomatoes
It only takes five minutes to throw these sweet and soft tomatoes into a deep baking dish so they stay standing up.
Top them generously with a mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan and minced garlic and herbs for a brilliant crunch. Bake them for just a few minutes until the crust turns wonderfully golden brown.
17. Beer Bread
Mixing up this gorgeous five ingredient batter requires absolutely zero proofing or resting time.
Pour it directly into a greased loaf pan and pop it in the oven just like a standard sweet bread. A light brew keeps the flavor wonderfully subtle while a stronger beer brings an incredible robust kick to the crumb.
18. Quick Collard Greens
You get all the traditional flavor of slow cooked collard greens in just a tiny fraction of the usual cooking time.
Keep a close eye on the pan and stir constantly until the leaves wilt and soak up all that beautiful garlic and salt. A quick squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the very end brings bright and zesty life to the bowl.
19. Strawberry Banana Popsicles
Blending sweet strawberries and bananas with yogurt and a touch of honey creates the most refreshing frozen treat.
Pour the smooth puree directly into your favorite molds and freeze them solid for a brilliant afternoon cooldown. Try swapping in mango and coconut milk if you want a fun tropical twist.
20. Caprese Salad
A brilliantly colorful plate of fresh produce perfectly cuts through all the heavy meats and carbohydrates on your plate.
Ripe juicy tomatoes and thick slices of mozzarella get a massive flavor boost from fragrant fresh basil leaves. A heavy drizzle of quality olive oil and a pinch of salt ties this winning bowl together effortlessly.
21. Jalapeño Popper Grilled Corn Salad Recipe
Fresh sweet corn hot off the grill gets mixed up with chopped jalapeños and crispy bacon for a magical flavor combination.
Cream cheese and cheddar cheese melt right in to create a perfectly crunchy and creamy bowl of goodness with a touch of spicy heat. You will definitely want to make a massive batch of this one.
22. Easy Fruit Sorbet
Blending frozen chunks of mango or peach or raspberry with a simple syrup creates a mind blowing frozen dessert.
It requires only three simple ingredients and absolutely zero complicated churning equipment. Keep it in the freezer until your guests are ready for a wonderfully bright and fruity treat.
23. Pizza Rolls
Knowing the kids are eating something substantial before completely filling up on desserts gives me incredible peace of mind.
Using simple prepared dough turns these fantastic little bites into the easiest afternoon snack ever. Stuff them to the brim with your absolute favorite pizza toppings and watch them disappear instantly.
24. Best Homemade Lemonade
A massive icy pitcher of sweet and tangy citrus is the ultimate way to stay refreshed on a blazing hot afternoon.
Scrub your fruit thoroughly with soapy water before aggressively mashing the rinds directly into your sugar. Taste the mixture carefully and adjust the sweetness depending on the natural tartness of your batch.
25. Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
Placing a platter of sweet treats right next to the savory burgers is my absolute favorite way to serve a crowd.
Strawberry yogurt keeps the crumb incredibly moist and adds a brilliant burst of fruity flavor. Whip your frosting until it gets nice and firm so it holds up beautifully in the summer heat.