BBQ Side Dishes – The Best Snacks for Grilling

The best BBQ side dishes - it's that easy

What would a BBQ event be without delicious side dishes? Sure, sausages, steak, and grilled fish taste great on their own, but side dishes are what make the meal complete. Fresh salads, dips, grilled vegetables, and bread complement grilled food perfectly – and best of all, you can snack on a little something while the steak sizzles away for a few more minutes.

Preparing BBQ side dishes shouldn't feel like hard work, either. Who wants to stand in the kitchen for hours beforehand chopping ingredients? That's why we've put together a list of classics alongside clever additions, tips, and twists on tried-and-true recipes.

Our top 5 BBQ side dishes:

1. Salad – the classic side dish

   A fresh, colorful salad is a must at almost any BBQ: It's quick to prepare and you can use almost any vegetable. A classic green salad is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and leafy greens. From there, your imagination is the limit. You can always elevate it: adding diced feta or Gouda brings an extra portion of protein. Walnuts are healthy and add a great crunch to a green salad. Whatever tastes good is allowed. You can serve it with a classic oil and vinegar dressing. If it's not extremely hot outside, a yogurt dressing made from plain yogurt, fresh herbs, lemon or lime, a dash of pepper, and a spoonful of honey is also delicious. Another classic is pasta salad. There are countless recipes online for this; one of the tastiest pasta salads that makes a great BBQ side dish for meat or grilling cheese is an Italian pasta salad made with arugula, toasted pine nuts, freshly shaved Parmesan, and a balsamic dressing. In principle, however, you can decide how to build your pasta salad. Fresh vegetables, nuts, sausage, or tofu: almost any ingredient works. For something truly refreshing, try a watermelon, feta, and mint salad. To all the skeptics out there: sweet watermelon and salty feta pair surprisingly well together, and combined with fresh mint leaves and a drizzle of olive oil, it's a true explosion of flavor!

2. Bread with dips

   When you're in a hurry: of course you can buy a pre-made herb baguette and quickly bake it in the oven or gently toast it on the grill (preferably with aluminum foil underneath, otherwise that delicious herb butter might drip through the grate onto the coals). If you want something even tastier and healthier, pick up whole-grain baguettes from a bakery or simply make them yourself ahead of time. For those who don't want any work on the day of the BBQ: bread freezes exceptionally well. Homemade baguettes, loaves, or bakery goods can easily be frozen in advance. Then just take them out of the freezer on the morning of the party, thaw them, and briefly pop them onto the grill grate for a bit of smoky flavor. Homemade or store-bought herb butter is the perfect pairing. If you like making your own dips, mix German quark (or Greek yogurt), yogurt, herbs, and your favorite spices into a fabulous quark dip. This is usually quick and easy. Other dips, like a classic guacamole, are also always welcome on the garden table.
   
   A great selection of BBQ dips can be found online here, among other places

3. Tomato and mozzarella

   It could hardly be easier: arrange sliced, tasty tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on a large plate or platter, drizzle with a little olive oil, and season with salt and pepper – done. It's one of the tastiest and fastest BBQ side dishes that can easily be prepared before your guests arrive. Unless someone strictly dislikes tomatoes, a tomato-mozzarella side platter is always a safe bet. Decorate with fresh basil leaves or crumble a bit of feta over top for an extra kick of flavor.

4. Stuffed vegetables

   If the host wants to go the extra mile and has the time and desire for a bit more preparation, guests will surely be thrilled with stuffed vegetables that can easily be cooked right on the grill. Since vegetables can release some liquid, it's best to place your prepared veggies on a small aluminum tray. That way, nothing burns on the grate or drips into the charcoal. Classics include cream-stuffed mushrooms (it's best to use portobello or jumbo mushrooms, as they have plenty of room for filling). Stuffed beefsteak tomatoes with couscous and vegetables are another great option. Lengthwise sliced or thickly shaved cucumber strips can be rolled up with a cream cheese filling into delicious cucumber rolls and served as a refreshing BBQ side dish.

5. Grilled vegetables – corn on the cob & more

   Also very popular are vegetables that you can easily grill right along the edges: corn on the cob is definitely near the top of the popularity list. Brushed with salted butter, grilled corn on your plate is pure bliss. Colorful vegetable skewers are also quick to prepare, leaving you plenty of time to relax with your guests in the evening. Any vegetables that thread easily onto long wooden skewers work well: mushrooms, halved small red onions or shallots, bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and much more. Firm cherry tomatoes placed in between are not only a visual highlight, but their sweetness and juice also give the entire skewer a great boost of freshness. Slices of eggplant and zucchini can also be grilled on their own; if you like, marinate them beforehand with good oil and a little garlic. But even plain, grilled vegetable slices are delicious thanks to their subtle smoky roasted flavors. Grilled potatoes are another crowd-pleaser: wrap slightly pre-cooked unpeeled potatoes in aluminum foil and either place them directly into the embers to bake through or set them on the upper grill grate.

So as you can see, quick yet super delicious BBQ side dishes are totally doable. With a little planning and prep work, they'll elevate any BBQ on a nice summer evening. Get creative, and if you check with your guests beforehand regarding preferences, dislikes, or allergies, everyone is sure to leave the table happy.