30+ Best Summer Sides to Serve with Your 4th of July Meal

30+ Best Summer Sides to Serve with Your 4th of July Meal

updated May 13, 2020
Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn
Corn Salad

I firmly believe a good Fourth of July meal is as much about the burgers and hot dogs as it is about all the summery sides that fill up the plate. And even though this year’s holiday celebration isn’t the big backyard cookout we’re used to — with lots of friends and family, and sprawling tables of all the best side dishes and desserts — we’re still cooking up an outdoor feast with some of our favorite dishes.

And when it comes to side dishes to round out the meal, there are so many delicious options to choose from. If you have it, take advantage of the extra space on the grill by tossing on some veggie skewers or grilling up some sliced zucchini and summer squash for a fun salad. Consider swapping traditional boiled corn on the cob for a smoky grilled version, and grilling up a few slices of watermelon. And if you still can’t decide, always remember that you can never go wrong with the classics like a bowl of potato salad, a loaded pasta salad, or creamy coleslaw. Here are 34 of our favorite Fourth of July side dishes to serve with whatever you’re cooking up.

Pasta Salads and Macaroni Salads

Take some inspiration from a classic BLT sandwich, the antipasto bar, or some of your favorite Italian ingredients for an irresistible pasta salad. Or grab a box of elbows for a creamy bowl of macaroni salad. The best part about most of these pasta sides is that they can be made in advance and the leftovers are delicious for days.

1 / 7
BLT Pasta Salad
This pasta salad takes everything you love about that classic sandwich, then folds it into a summery side that's sure to be a hit at your next potluck.
Go To The Recipe
2 / 7
Light & Fresh Italian Pasta Salad
Mixed with juicy fresh tomatoes and chewy sun-dried tomatoes, mild black olives, creamy fresh mozzarella, and a simple garlicky red wine vinaigrette, this pasta salad works alongside whatever you happen to be serving
Go To The Recipe
3 / 7
Antipasto Pasta Salad
When there's pickled veggies, cured meats, cheese, and a tangy Italian vinaigrette mixed in, you can be sure you've got a pasta salad packed with bold flavors and textures.
Go To The Recipe
4 / 7
Feta & Eggplant Pasta Salad
This recipe calls for roasted eggplant, but it's also pretty excellent when you cook it on the grill.
Go To The Recipe
5 / 7
Pesto Pasta Salad
Nothing says summer like tendrils of pasta, fresh mozzarella pearls, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumber dressed in a basil pesto sauce.
Go To The Recipe
6 / 7
Classic Macaroni Salad
This all-in-one side dish made of cool and creamy noodles tossed with punchy quick-pickled veggies, fresh herbs, and gems of sharp cheddar cheese.
Go To The Recipe
7 / 7
Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad
Tuna is hugged by tender macaroni; pals around with crisp celery, peppers, and red onions; and the whole thing gets a tangy, peppery, creamy yogurt dressing. Yes, that's a lot of adjectives in one sentence, but this pasta salad truly has it all!
Go To The Recipe

Potato Salads

Potato salad is a summer side dish essential. Not only does it partner with just about anything you cook up, but there are also so many variations. You can never go wrong with classic potato salad, and when you want to change it up, try making a buttermilk dressing, giving it a German-style twist, tossing in some greens, or going retro with cheese sauce.

1 / 5
Potato Salad with Yogurt, Arugula, and Dill
Swapping some of the mayo for yogurt not only lightens up this potato salad, but it also makes it nice and tangy.
Go To The Recipe
2 / 5
Classic Potato Salad
If you’re looking for the most classic, old-fashioned potato salad around, here’s the recipe for you. It’s one that you’ll turn to summer after summer.
Go To The Recipe
3 / 5
Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad
Definitely don’t skimp on the herbs here — they make this potato salad stand out among the rest, jolting it with freshness and color.
Go To The Recipe
4 / 5
Cheezy Potato Salad
This retro potato salad gets its cheesy flavor from Cheez Wiz, which is balanced by sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Go To The Recipe
5 / 5
Classic German Potato Salad
Baby red potatoes, chewy bacon, and lots of fresh herbs are tossed in a warm bacon dressing for a flavorful, potluck-ready potato salad.
Go To The Recipe

Cucumber Salads

It’s hard to beat a cool, refreshing cucumber salad on a hot summer day. These salads are all incredibly easy to pull off, usually with just a few ingredients. Whether you mix them together with just some vinegar and salt, a simple vinaigrette, or a creamy dressing, these salads get better as they sit.

1 / 5
Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad
Made with just salt, pepper, a homemade vinaigrette, and a good smashing (yes, smashing!), this is the easiest cucumber salads you'll make.
Go To The Recipe
2 / 5
Tangy Cucumber Salad
When you crave a light side dish that won’t weigh down the rest of your dinner but still has enough punch to stand out on its own, make this salad.
Go To The Recipe
3 / 5
Sour Cream and Dill Cucumber Salad
Crunchy cucumber slices, sharp red onion, and fragrant fresh dill are tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing for a summer side that’s impossible not to fall for.
Go To The Recipe
4 / 5
Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad
This summery cucumber salad, inspired by sunomono, is crunchy, refreshing, and swimming in delicate umami notes.
Go To The Recipe
5 / 5
Buttermilk Cucumber Salad
This refreshing rendition of the classic creamy cucumber salad still has all the zip and crunch, but incorporates elements from raita and tzatziki, other cooling cucumber-and-dairy dishes.
Go To The Recipe

Sweet Summer Corn Sides

It’s nearly impossible to think about a Fourth of July meal without immediately thinking about corn on the cob. Pick our favorite method to cook up some salted, buttery corn on the cob. Or cut those kernels from the cob to make a fresh summer salad.

1 / 5
Buttery Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot
This method for making corn on the cob in the Instant Pot cooks 8 cobs in under 20 minutes. Plus there's a tip for melting butter in the same pot!
Go To The Recipe
2 / 5
Boiled Corn on the Cob
Because sometimes you just want to serve up corn on the cob the classic, old-fashioned way.
Go To The Recipe
3 / 5
Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
A blanket of crema, mayonnaise, and cotija cheese instantly make roasted sweet corn even more irresistible.
Go To The Recipe
4 / 5
Corn Salad
This fresh corn salad is mixed with juicy tomatoes, sweet basil, and salty feta for a simple, refreshing salad that tastes like summer.
Go To The Recipe
5 / 5
Esquites (Mexican Corn Salad)
Sweet, charred corn is partnered with a slew of ingredients for a salad that's just the right balance of smoky, spicy, tangy.
Go To The Recipe

Slaws

Whether you’re cooking up burgers, ribs, grilled chicken, or some fish, there is most definitely a place on your plate for a crunchy pile of slaw. You could shred the vegetables yourself, but we like to save time by starting with bags of pre-shredded cabbage or greens.

1 / 5
Sesame Ginger Slaw
If you want a potluck dish that's a total crowd-pleaser, there is no better choice than this sesame ginger slaw.
Go To The Recipe
2 / 5
Kale Slaw
This easy slaw combines shredded cruciferous vegetables, almonds, and dried cherries in a tangy honey-mustard dressing.
Go To The Recipe
3 / 5
Napa Cabbage and Kale Coleslaw with Creamy Miso-Ginger Dressing
I'll let you decide if you're favorite thing about this vibrant slaw is the mess of green vegetables or the bright miso-ginger vinaigrette.
Go To The Recipe
4 / 5
Classic Creamy Coleslaw
This coleslaw is a classic. Green cabbage, shredded carrots, creamy dressing. It's the perfect side for burgers and hotdogs at your next backyard party.
Go To The Recipe
5 / 5
Tangy Cabbage and Jalapeño Slaw
Thanks to the crunchy textures and bold tangy and spicy flavors, no one will ever be the wiser that you pulled this together in just five minutes.
Go To The Recipe

Sheela Prakash

Senior Contributing Food Editor

Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food . She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.

Follow Sheela


Source : food

Related Posts

Posting Komentar

Subscribe Our Newsletter