Few things say “summer” quite like a good barbecue. Barbecues are all about good food and enjoying quality time with friends and family. We all dream of them during the winter, when it's cold and blustery and the grill has been put away for the year.
When you're planning a barbecue, you need to have everything in order before the day comes. You want to know exactly what you'll be making, so you can have all of your ingredients together and ready. Your guests will expect a complete meal, from main course to dessert.
Don't forget about the drinks, either! If you want to keep it simple, make a nice punch for everyone to enjoy. Or, offer some soda and lemonade. If you have the time to make your own lemonade, that's even better. Homemade lemonade is such a great part of summer.
Of course, you can't forget about the sides! We have plenty of great side dish recipes below that go great with any barbecue dinner. Whether it's a unique dish or a spin on a classic, we've got it all. Read on to find all of our great barbecue side dish recipes!
Barbecue Sides
Some of the best barbecues are the ones where everyone brings a dish to share. Side dishes are plentiful, and everyone has their own special recipe. Trying out different flavors to go along with the main dish is half the fun of a barbecue.
We use the traditional favorites, but all have our own touch to each one. It may be a bit more brown sugar in the baked beans or sometimes using peppers instead of celery in a cold salad.
Every side dish can be tweaked to make it your own. Make sure any dishes with mayo or eggs in them aren't left out too long. They should be refrigerated until serving, and on hot days the server bowl should be placed into a larger bowl halfway filled with ice.
Summer flies by; make sure you take time to stop to share a meal outside with family or friends.