22 BBQ side dishes that’ll make you forget about the meat

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Elevate your BBQ game with these 22 mouthwatering recipes. From creamy casseroles to grilled veggies, you’ll forget all about the meat.

Spoon scooping out smoked mac and cheese.
Smoked mac and cheese. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Sweet Corn Pudding Casserole

A spoonful of corn pudding casserole.
Corn pudding casserole. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Add something different your side dish rotation with this sweet corn pudding casserole. It’s moist and creamy with jalapeno and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Corn Pudding Casserole

Alabama White Sauce Kale Slaw

Bowl of kale slaw next to jar of Alabama white sauce.
Alabama White Sauce Kale Slaw. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Alabama white sauce kale slaw is a tangy, peppery alternative to sweet coleslaw. It’s great as a side or served on barbecue sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Alabama White Sauce Kale Slaw

Chorizo Hot Maple Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato half topped with chorizo, maple and sour cream.
Chorizo Maple Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Make grilled sweet potatoes straight on the coals and finish them with caramelized chorizo and a drizzle of hot maple syrup.
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Hot Maple Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Grilled Asparagus with Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette

Bowl of grilled asparagus with parmesan and capers.
Lemon-caper asparagus. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Ready in 15 minutes, grilled asparagus with lemon-caper vinaigrette is a side exquisite enough for a holiday, yet easy enough for a Monday.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus with Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette

Grilled Mini Hasselback Potatoes

Plate of grilled mini hasselback potatoes with rosemary.
Grilled mini hasselback potatoes. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Grilled mini hasselback potatoes are the best side dish, because they’re crispy potatoes that are also soft and fluffy.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mini Hasselback Potatoes

Sous Vide Potato Salad with Rosemary Garlic Butter

Sous vide potato salad in bowl with fresh herbs.
Sous Vide Potato Salad. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This sous vide potato salad has the rich flavors of steakhouse mashed potatoes but is light enough for a summer barbecue.
Get the Recipe: Sous Vide Potato Salad with Rosemary Garlic Butter

Grilled Wild Rice Kale Salad

Grilled Wild Rice Kale Salad.
Grilled Wild Rice Kale Salad. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill

With fresh kale, creamy goat cheese and spicy harissa walnuts, this Grilled Wild Rice Kale Salad has multiple levels of flavors and textures.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Wild Rice Kale Salad

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Hasselback sweet potatoes topped with marshmallow and pecans.
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Smeared with creamy marshmallow fluff and chopped pecans, these hasselback sweet potatoes are a showstopper for a dessert or side.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Sous Vide Cream Corn with Crispy Parmesan

Spoon scooping out sous vide cream corn.
Sous Vide Cream Corn. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Corn on the cob is great, but cream corn is so much better, especially when it’s topped with a crispy Parmesan crust.
Get the Recipe: Sous Vide Cream Corn with Crispy Parmesan

15-Minute Garlic Green Beans

Skillet of sauteed garlic green beans.
Garlic Green Beans. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Looking for an easy side dish? These Chinese-style garlic green beans are ready in 15 minutes and will pack your plate with a punch of umami.
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Garlic Green Beans

Campfire Macaroni and Cheese

A skillet of mac and cheese over a campfire.
Campfire Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Campfire macaroni and cheese – a little bacon, a little jalapeno, a lot of cheese.
Get the Recipe: Campfire Macaroni and Cheese

Groark Boys BBQ Smoked Mac and Cheese

Spoon scooping out smoked mac and cheese.
Smoked mac and cheese. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Groark Boys BBQ makes a smoked mac and cheese that’s so good, it went viral. It’s so creamy and cheesy and impossible to mess up.
Get the Recipe: Groark Boys BBQ Smoked Mac and Cheese

Extra Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Extra Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Extra Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill

Hawaiian macaroni salad is the perfect sweet, tangy and creamy side to go with your favorite Hawaiian barbecue plate.
Get the Recipe: Extra Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Delicata Squash Rings

Slice of delicata squash wrapped in bacon.
Bacon Wrapped Grilled Delicata Squash Rings. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Mix up your appetizer and side dish game with bacon-wrapped grilled delicata squash finished with a maple syrup glaze.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Grilled Delicata Squash Rings

Irresistible Sweet Potato Casserole

Spoon scooping out sweet potato casserole.
Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

No potluck is complete without this irresistible sweet potato casserole topped with crunchy pecan praline sauce.
Get the Recipe: Irresistible Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin

Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin in cast iron skillet.
Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes au Gratin with cheddar rosemary sauce proves that sweet potatoes don’t always have to be covered in brown sugar & pecans.
Get the Recipe: Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin

Shishito Pepper Potato Salad

Bowl of potato salad made with grilled shishito peppers.
Grilled shishito pepper potato salad. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This creamy blistered shishito pepper potato salad recipe is so incredible, it’ll give your star entree a run for its money.
Get the Recipe: Shishito Pepper Potato Salad

Classic Potato Salad

Bowl of classic potato salad with sliced hard-boiled eggs.
Classic Potato Salad. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This is the last classic potato salad recipe you’ll ever need. It’s easy, made with potatoes you don’t have to peel, and is super creamy.
Get the Recipe: Classic Potato Salad

Best Baked Beans

Spoon in pot of baked beans.
Smoked Baked Beans. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This is the last baked beans you’ll ever need. They’re sweet, savory and meaty and so easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Best Baked Beans

Candied Jalapeno Coleslaw

Candied Jalapeno Coleslaw in bowl with serving utensils.
Candied Jalapeno Coleslaw. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill

A coleslaw recipe that people will actually love. Extra creamy and tossed with candied jalapenos and pineapple for a surprising twist.
Get the Recipe: Candied Jalapeno Coleslaw

Loaded Baked Potato on a Grill

Baked potato loaded with meat, macaroni and sour cream.
Loaded baked potato. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

Next time you smoke brisket or pulled pork or make a side of mac and cheese, save some in the freezer, so you can make loaded baked potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato on a Grill

Grilled Street Corn Dip (Elote Dip)

tortilla chip dipped into street corn dip.
Street corn dip. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

If you’re looking for a hot, creamy dip, this Mexican street corn dip is the perfect appetizer for your next party or potluck.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Street Corn Dip (Elote Dip)

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