You’ve got the chicken marinated or the burgers ready to go, your patio cleaned, your grill fired up– but do you know what you’re making for your summer sides? While they might seem secondary, a good side dish can turn an average meal into a great one. Today, we wanted to highlight three summer sides that would be perfect for your next summer gathering. These sides add a huge boost of flavor to any meal. If your main is more simple, these sides can be the perfect complement. And, of course, they’re all delicious and easy to make. The recipes cards for easy printing are at the bottom of the post.
Three of our Favorite Summer Sides:
Tomatoes and Lima Beans
Lima beans sometimes get a bad rap, but it all has to do with how they’re cooked. Even your most skeptical relatives will love this tomato and lima bean salad. All you do is cook a few simple ingredients in a skillet, then toss in fresh parsley. The whole recipe takes less than 15 minutes.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Of all the many, many recipes we’ve tested on our kids, this is one of their favorites. Every time we have a summer barbecue, this is always their first request for the menu. It is super simple to make: just cut the watermelon into chunks, sprinkle it with feta and scallions, (we know this sounds different, but it really is delicious!) and you have a perfect summer side. The ingredients are also relatively few in number: just mix in vinegar, lemon juice, and oil for a homemade vinaigrette. You’ve got yourself a winner!
Mango Couscous
Another fruit infused summer salad recipe, this is a great option for something a little more filling. All you do is cook couscous according to the package, then fold in the mango and some other basic ingredients. Of all the healthy couscous recipes out there, this is probably one of the easiest. The sweetness of the mango combines delightfully with scallions and bell peppers.
Mix and match these summer sides to make your perfect menu
Each of these recipes offers something a little different, so you can pick and chooses which summer side best completes your meal. Or, make all three! Who says you need a main dish, anyway? A good outdoor summer meal is so much more about spending quality time with friends and family. Hopefully these options give you some fresh ideas on what to pair with your main meals coming off the grill.
Tomatoes & Lima Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 10 oz frozen lima beans
- 1/2 red onion chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes or cherry, sliced
- 1 1/2 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in skillet on medium. Add lima beans and onion and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes until warmed and just starting to get tender. Add tomatoes, lemon juice, salt & pepper to pan. Continue to heat for 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in fresh parsley.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Ingredients
- 1/4 watermelon
- 5 scallions chopped
- 2 tbs red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
Instructions
- Cut up watermelon into cubes (any size and shape works). Place in large bowl and add scallions. Mix vinegar, lemon juice & oil in small bowl with fork or whisk. Pour over watermelon and gently stir to coat. Sprinkle with feta and season with sea salt & black pepper.
Mango Couscous
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups couscous
- 1 mango peeled & chopped
- 1 red/orange/yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 3 scallions chopped
Instructions
- Cook couscous according to package. Fluff with fork & place in bowl. Add remaining ingredients & stir. Season with salt & pepper.
Want some more ideas for summer meals? Check these out below:
