BBQ season's here and you know what that means: it's time to up your side dish game! Forget the soggy coleslaw; we're talking sides that steal the show. Today, we're listing the top 10 sides that'll make you the BBQ hero. From salads to grilled goodies, these are the sides to bring to your next cookout.
Table of Contents
- 1. Mac and Cheese
- 2. Baked Beans
- 3. Coleslaw
- 4. Potato Salad
- 5. Banana Pudding
- 6. Watermelon
- 7. Loaded Mashed Potatoes
- 8. Deviled Eggs
- 9. Dolma
- 10. Antipasto Pasta Salad
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1. Mac and Cheese
And no, Kraft Easy Mac doesn't count. Barbecues call for the pasta chef to break out the big noodles (even penne works for BBQ-style mac and cheese) and the good cheddar. Some bread crumbs on top would make Giada De Laurentiis proud. Don't plan on having leftover mac and cheese for lunch the day after the barbecue. There won't be any.
2. Baked Beans
Another side that is not blowing any of your guests' socks off but is a staple at American barbecues dating back to the advent of American barbecues, baked beans provides precisely what you expect—nothing more, nothing less. Which is totally fine because people need their socks on at a barbecue.
3. Coleslaw
We all know coleslaw is about as exciting as a dollar bill. But, like the dollar bill, few people are unwilling to take it when offered.
Coleslaw is the company man who shows up every day, year after year, never earning Employee of the Year but always staying late when you need them to. When you need a side you can rely on; coleslaw is the call.
4. Potato Salad
A creamy combination of potatoes, mustard, celery, egg, onion, mayo, salt, and spices of your choosing, potato salad is a first-ballot American BBQ Side Hall of Famer.
Many non-green "salads" are polarizing, but most BBQ attendees won't skip the potato salad station in the self-serve line.
5. Banana Pudding
There are a few right answers regarding the best dessert at a barbecue. While you might get away with cupcakes, rice crispy treats, brownies, or even a key lime pie, do any of these measure up to mom's banana pudding (with the Nilla Wafers, of course)?
While peach cobbler might have something to say about it, many consider banana pudding the GOAT dessert dish for barbecues.
6. Watermelon
Does fruit count as a side? I'll leave that debate to the comment section, who will undoubtedly come to a quick, rational conclusion.
Whether it's July 4th or just a random afternoon in summer, grab your watermelons because they will provide a refreshing reprieve from greasy sausages and salty burgers.
7. Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Some sides are so simple that overthinking them only runs the risk of messing it up. Peel and boil the potatoes, drain 'em, add butter and sour cream, mash 'em, salt and pep, smooth them out in a baking dish, add a cheesy coating, crush up and sprinkle bacon bits, bake, and add green onions for zest.
Herbie can kick rocks. The only thing we want fully loaded this summer are our Russets.
8. Deviled Eggs
Rarely can you use food as its own filling, but food is also rarely as tasty as a well-crafted deviled egg. Mixing the yolks of boiled eggs with mayo, dijon mustard, and various spices and gently placing it in the center of half a boiled egg creates something entirely distinct from its original form.
No barbecue is complete without a bit of finger food, and deviled eggs fill the void well. This name is misleading because the snack known as deviled eggs is downright divine.
9. Dolma
While dolma won't appear at the average American BBQ, we're trying to transcend the average with this list of sides. Especially if you're in a family unafraid to buck tradition, one fan of Middle Eastern cuisine recommends preparing stuffed grape leaves known as dolma.
Chilled dolma on a sweltering summer day? Dol-mind if I do.
10. Antipasto Pasta Salad
You didn't need to grow up in the Soprano's New Jersey mansion to appreciate the genius of an antipasto pasta salad.
The minor touches make all the difference with this side, and perhaps the hottest point of contention comes down to a single question: broccoli or no broccoli?
Source: Reddit.
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