15 Summery Sides for Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

By Elisabeth Sherman
Updated: April 12, 2019
Planning a July 4th party or backyard BBQ sometime this summer? Obviously hot dogs and burgers will be on the menu—what else would you serve on America’s birthday?—but on a day filled beer and whatever else you might be drinking (may we suggest these low ABV cocktails?), you're going to need way more sustenance than that. Here, we gathered together our heartiest, most satisfying side dishes—from classic mac and cheese and potato salad to a spicy take on baked beans—that will serve as delicious accompaniments to anything you decide to throw on the grill.
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Grill-Baked Potatoes with Chive Butter

These super-easy, indulgent potatoes are layered with pats of chive and sour cream butter, then wrapped in foil and grilled until soft and delicious.

Go to Recipe
Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

15 Summery Sides for Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

3 of 17

Mexican Grilled-Corn Salad with Citrus Aioli

Rick Poon

This sweet, salty corn salad is the perfect picnic side. Bonus: You can make the aioli the night before and fold in right before serving. 

Go to Recipe
Advertisement

4 of 17

Baked Beans with Maple-Glazed Bacon

This zippy take on the classic backyard barbecue side dish is tangy-hot mixture of apple cider vinegar, molasses, brown sugar and crushed red pepper.

Go to Recipe

5 of 17

Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime

John Kernick

This supremely simple fruit salad is the ultimate refresher on a hot day.

Go to Recipe

6 of 17

Peach-and-Fennel Slaw

This sweet and crunchy salad with lots of immune-boosting vitamin C would also be delicious with a pulled-pork sandwich.

Go to Recipe
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Smoky Glazed Asparagus

Courtesy of Quentin Bacon

Coat the vegetables with a mayonnaise-based marinade; it creates a beautifully blistered crust when grilled.

Go to Recipe

8 of 17

Corn on the Cob with Seasoned Salts

CON POULOS

No July 4 celebration is complete without corn on the cob. This version is flavored with a trio of seasoned salts.

Go to Recipe

9 of 17

Skillet-Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Basil

"The fire brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes,” says Chef Chris Cosentino."

Go to Recipe
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Potato Salad with Bacon and Barbecue Sauce

The mayonnaise dressing for this potato salad gets pungency from mustard oil (store-bought spicy mustard works fine, too) and a hit of smoky-sweet flavor from bacon and bottled barbecue sauce.

Gp tpRecipe

11 of 17

Macaroni and Cheese

This slightly updated version of an old favorite is irresistible. Plus, it's incredibly fast and easy because you don't have to make a sauce or even bake the macaroni.

Go to Recipe

12 of 17

Grilled Eggplant, Apricot and Tomato Salad

CON POULOS

This simple summer salad from Portland, Oregon, chef Joshua McFadden perfectly showcases summer produce at its peak. When corn season is in full swing, cut the sweet, raw kernels off the cob and toss them into this dish.

Go to Recipe
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Pan-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Pancetta

Chef Fabio Trabocchi sears golden, buttery fingerling potatoes and tosses them with fresh dill

Go to Recipe

14 of 17

Green Bean Slaw

In this alternative take on a classic coleslaw, tender haricots verts get tossed with crunchy strips of carrot, red pepper and parsnip. 

Go to Recipe

15 of 17

Braised Cucumbers with Dill

Fresh cucumbers are excellent when gently braised in butter and served warm. 

Go to Recipe
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Grilled Broccoli and Bread Salad with Pickled Shallots

Here, Chef Charlie Parker serves lightly charred broccoli and ciabatta cubes in a twist on an Italian bread-and-tomato salad.

Go to Recipe
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Popular in Side Dishes

All Topics in Side Dishes

Advertisement