Side dishes help create a complete menu for a barbecue.
A barbecue is a classic celebration during the spring and summer months. While it may take a little work to prepare the meats and heat the grill, there are ways to save time and effort without sacrificing any flavor. The key is to stick with easy-to-make side dishes. Those tasty recipes you can prepare ahead of time and chill until needed help free up your schedule and provide a well-rounded menu.
Potatoes
Boiled, roasted or fried -- potatoes are a classic side dish for barbecues. Cubed and boiled potatoes mixed with tomatoes, celery and ranch salad dressing makes a kid-friendly dish that you can prepare up to 24 hours ahead of time. Diced and fried new potatoes mixed with crumbled bacon, green onion, celery and honey mustard salad dressing results in a zesty side. Combine red, white and blue roasted potatoes with boiled eggs, relish, onions, mayonnaise and mustard to make a colorful salad for a patriotic barbecue.
Fruits
Light fruit dishes are a sweet and refreshing complement to barbecued meats and vegetables. A hydrating fruit salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and grapes provides a burst of color and adds flavor to your menu. Sliced apples, pears and peaches tossed with blueberries and lemon juice make a filling fruit salad. Pineapple, banana, strawberry and mango slices on wooden skewers add a tropical twist to your barbecue meal. Sprinkle any fruit side dish with shredded coconut, chopped nuts or granulated sugar to quickly give it a fancy appearance.
Beans
Canned beans are a quick and versatile ingredient that works with many recipes. A chilled salad consisting of steamed green beans, sliced almonds, lemon juice and red onion makes a simple side dish. Kidney beans, white beans and garbanzo beans mixed with celery, onion, tomato and Italian salad dressing combine nicely for a light three-bean salad. Mix kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, celery and onion with a sugar, herb, vinegar and oil dressing for a classic summer side dish.
Pastas
Pasta salad is a common choice when it comes to easy-to-make chilled salads for a picnic or barbecue. After you boil and rinse the pasta, the remaining salad ingredients are just a matter of personal preference. A mix of boiled eggs, pickle relish, mayonnaise and macaroni noodles make a filling kid-friendly side dish. Combine bowtie pasta, olives, feta, tomatoes, onion and creamy Italian salad dressing for a quick pasta salad with a gourmet taste.
Greens
Leafy greens are the backbone to the easiest side dish of all, green salad. Pre-packaged lettuce and carrot salad mix with celery, raspberries and raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing results in a sweet side dish for a barbecue. Baby spinach, red onion, apples, walnuts and Catalina salad dressing add a sophisticated flavor to a fancy barbecue menu.
Tags: side dish, salad dressing, mixed with, salad with, ahead time, boiled eggs, celery onion
