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80+ Sides to Bring to Your Next Summer Picnic and Grill

80+ Sides to Bring to Your Next Summer Picnic and Grill

Our best recipes for eating al fresco

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Hannah Henrici

Food Editor at Kitchen Stories

The sun is out and with it, barbecue season has come in full swing. What to actually put on the grill rarely comes into question; instead, the question of the tastiest and most suitable dishes to enjoy on the side. How does the saying go? We have something for you! Namely a huge amount of inspiration from our collection: over 80 side dishes where you will be sure to find what you are looking for.

Side dishes for barbecue

Principally there are no rules. Unless you’re grilling or picnicking at home, cold dishes that are easy to prepare are the best choices. Here you will find all kinds of delicious treats, from pasta and potato salads to Asian delicacies, dips, and salads of all kinds. And of course, we can’t forget about sweets and baked goods. Let’s go!

Pasta salads for barbecue

The nice thing about pasta salads is that you can make them based on your own preferences. Italian, Asian, fruity, or using leftovers from yesterday’s dinner: pasta always tastes good, even one day old.

Pasta salad with roasted corn and basil dressing

Pasta salad with roasted corn and basil dressing
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Stir-fried noodles with grapefruit and crispy rice

Stir-fried noodles with grapefruit and crispy rice
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(Quick) potato dishes

It’s hard to imagine a BBQ without potatoes. My preferred way to eat them is wrapped in foil that has been resting on the charcoal. But they also go great in salads.

Spring potato and asparagus salad

Spring potato and asparagus salad
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Asian side dishes

The Asian dishes selected here are wonderfully fresh and are therefore perfect for a warm summer's day.

Japanese seaweed salad

Japanese seaweed salad
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Make kimbap with Devan

Make kimbap with Devan
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Make fresh herb quark yourself (plus more dips)

Try one (or a few) of our dip suggestions for a bit of variation. They go well with our easy homemade flatbread or Lebanese manakish.

Muhammara (Middle Eastern walnut and roasted bell pepper dip)

Muhammara (Middle Eastern walnut and roasted bell pepper dip)
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White bean and fennel dip

White bean and fennel dip
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The colorful world of salads

For leaf salads, it is useful to bottle the dressing separately and pour it over the salad just before eating. Otherwise, the salad can quickly look sad – and no one wants that.

Roasted persimmon salad with maple-mustard vinaigrette

Roasted persimmon salad with maple-mustard vinaigrette
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Fattoush (Middle Eastern bread salad)

Fattoush (Middle Eastern bread salad)
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Vegetables are king!

I have the feeling that especially among passionate (meat) grillers there is an aversion to vegetables. However, with respect to the following recipes, I can’t understand that at all.

Roasted beet salad with horseradish and pumpkin seeds

Roasted beet salad with horseradish and pumpkin seeds
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Raw broccoli slaw with miso dressing

Raw broccoli slaw with miso dressing
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Rice and co.

These side dishes can also be prepared using couscous, bulgur wheat, or quinoa instead of rice.

Quinoa salad with beetroot, sweet potatoes, and miso dressing

Quinoa salad with beetroot, sweet potatoes, and miso dressing
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Sandwiches

Admittedly, this category is probably more suited to a picnic in the park with no grill in sight. Easily made, quickly packed, and taken with featuring terrific taste. Cut into small pieces and put on skewers, they can easily be upgraded into pretty appetizers.

Grilled zucchini Caprese sandwich

Grilled zucchini Caprese sandwich
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… more ideas to bring

Unfortunately, I can’t take away the agony of choice from you either. Here are all sorts of other dishes that can be packed well.

Vegetable spiral tart

Vegetable spiral tart
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Zucchini-Parmesan pancakes with dip

Zucchini-Parmesan pancakes with dip
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Quick desserts

Something sweet to finish off the evening. All the recipes suggested here are quick and easy to prepare.

Baked vanilla pudding with warm raspberries

Baked vanilla pudding with warm raspberries
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Published on June 13, 2022

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