Summer Time Eats: 8 BBQ Side Dish Ideas (That’ll Outshine the Ribs)
June 25 2025 – Dawn Chapman
Let’s be honest. BBQ season is not about the meat. Yeah, I said it. Sure, someone’s Uncle Carl will show up with his “secret marinade” and proceed to cremate a pork shoulder like it’s a Viking funeral. But the real magic? It’s in the side dishes.
Because if you’ve ever been to a backyard BBQ and seen people fighting over potato salad, you know where the loyalty lies. So whether you're the hostest with the mostest or just trying to outshine your cousin Brenda's store-bought coleslaw, these 8 summer BBQ side dish ideas are your ticket to becoming a patio legend.
Spoiler alert: One of them features Lazy Daisy’s famous Bake-at-Home Buttermilk Biscuits, and I’m throwing in a bonus… turning those biscuits into desserts (you’re welcome).
1. Lazy Daisy’s Bake-at-Home Buttermilk Biscuits (The Biscuit Drop Heard 'Round the Backyard)
Let’s start with the obvious MVP.
Lazy Daisy’s Bake-at-Home Buttermilk Biscuits are buttery, flaky, buttery clouds of joy that belong on every summer table. They’re so good, you’ll have people wondering if you have a Southern grandmother who taught you how to bake them from scratch!
Pair these biscuits with BBQ chicken, grilled corn, or heck—just put one in each hand and call it a meal. They’re comforting, classic, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Plus, you can bake them fresh in 30 minutes, giving you just enough time to sip your “prepping” cocktail in peace.
2. Charred Corn with Garlic Herb Butter (aka: The Corn That Got a Glow-Up)
Grilled corn is great. Grilled corn with garlic herb butter is a revelation.
All you need to do is mix softened butter with minced garlic, chopped parsley, thyme, and a little lemon zest. Once the corn is off the grill, brush that glorious mixture all over it and watch people lose their minds. Bonus points if you crumble a little feta on top and casually pretend that was always part of the plan.
3. Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad (A Salad That’s Basically a Margarita)
Let’s face it, no one wants to eat a heavy salad when it’s 34°C and the sun’s trying to slow roast us all. Enter: the watermelon salad.
It’s sweet, salty, refreshing, and just bougie enough to make people think you read Bon Appétit in your spare time. Toss cubes of watermelon with crumbled feta, fresh mint leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and a splash of balsamic glaze. It’s the kind of salad that wears linen pants and says things like “just back from Santorini.”
4. Lazy Mac & Cheese (Because Who’s Really Counting Cheese Layers?)
Yes, it’s hot out. And yes, people still want mac & cheese. Why? Because it’s mac & cheese.
The key here is to go for a baked version with a crispy golden top, preferably one you can make ahead of time and reheat. Don’t skimp on the sharp cheddar. Add in a little smoked paprika or chipotle if you’re feeling fancy. Or toss in some chopped jalapeños if your friends like to live on the edge.
Serve it in a cast iron skillet for full dramatic effect. And don’t forget the hot sauce.
PS. You can also crumble up leftover Daisy biscuits instead of the breadcrumbs for an even tastier, butterier crunch (that is, if there are any leftover biscuits).
5. Pickle Potato Salad (Your Grandma’s Recipe, But With a Crunchy Twist)
Regular potato salad is fine. But pickle potato salad featuring MY grandmother’s bread & butter pickles? It’s elite.
Use boiled and cooled baby potatoes, leave the skins on (you’re rustic now), and mix them with a mayo-mustard dressing, lots of chopped bread & butter pickles, fresh dill, and green onions. It’s tangy, it’s bright, and it says “I know what I’m doing in the kitchen!”.
It goes really well with anything grilled. Especially burgers. Especially burgers served on biscuits.
6. Grilled Peach & Burrata Platter (Fruit That Flirts with Cheese)
You know what makes people whisper “wow” under their breath at BBQs? Burrata.
Slice a few ripe peaches (or nectarines if that’s what the store had), grill them just enough to get char marks, then layer them with torn burrata, a drizzle of honey, fresh basil, and flaky salt. Add some arugula if you need to call it a salad and sleep at night.
This is the dish that says, “I own a cheese board and I’m not afraid to use it.”
7. Baked Beans with a Kick (Also Known as Cowboy Candy in a Casserole Dish)
These aren’t your basic beans. No offense to the can you heated in 2012.
Start with a base of canned baked beans and doctor them up with sautéed onions, garlic, molasses, brown sugar, a squirt of Dijon, and—here’s the kicker—chopped pickled jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce. Bake them low and slow until they’re thick and caramelized.
If someone doesn’t ask for the recipe, are they even your friend?
8. Cucumber Yogurt Slaw (The Coolest Thing at the Cookout)
It’s hot. You need something cold and crunchy.
Skip the mayo-heavy slaw and make a Greek-inspired version with thinly sliced cucumbers, shredded cabbage, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and dill. It’s crisp, tangy, and goes with everything from burgers to brisket. Also: no one sweats through eating it. Unlike, say, uncle Carl’s “extra hot” ribs.
Bonus: Easy Summer Desserts Using Lazy Daisy’s Buttermilk Biscuits
You didn’t think we were done with the biscuits, did you?
Here’s the genius part—once your guests have gushed over your side dish superiority and cleared their plates, you casually stroll back with a tray of easy biscuit-based desserts. Strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler parfait… dare we say, ice cream biscuit sandwiches?
Yes, Lazy Daisy’s Buttermilk Biscuits are so versatile they moonlight as dessert stars. And if you’re not already drooling, go check out this mouth-watering roundup of ideas:
🍓 5 Easy Summer Dessert Ideas Using Buttermilk Biscuits
Final Thoughts (Or: How to Politely Accept Compliments Without Gloating)
With these 8 BBQ side dish ideas, you’re officially on your way to becoming the BBQ MVP. You’ve got the flavour, the flair, and Lazy Daisy biscuits in your corner, so you’re already a winner!
Whether you're feeding a hungry crowd, impressing your in-laws, or just showing off your side dish game—these recipes have your back. They’re easy to make, big on flavor, and guaranteed to earn you a few extra compliments (and maybe a couple of recipe requests). Consider your summer BBQ officially upgraded.
Happy grilling, happy chilling, and most importantly… don’t forget the biscuits.