35 Sides for Hot Dogs to Serve at a Summer Cookout
Oh, hot dogs. You wait for your big moment on the grill all summer long, from the Memorial Day cookout to the July 4th potluck to the Labor Day picnic. So why do we always repay your loyalty with broken potato chips and watermelon wedges? This year, we’re making it up to you with 35 sides for hot dogs to whip up for every al fresco dinner of the season. We’re talking cauliflower potato salad, jalapeño mac and cheese and everything in between. (And in case you’re wondering which hot dog brands are worth buying, we ranked ’em.)
RELATED: 10 Hot Dog Toppings That Aren’t Ketchup and Mustard
1. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
2. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, one pan
3. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
4. Corn and Tomato Salad with Feta and Lime
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
5. Summer Millet Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
6. Avocado and Black Bean Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
7. Minty-Fresh Zucchini Salad with Marinated Feta
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, vegetarian
8. Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Strawberries
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
9. Pearl Couscous with Chickpeas, Eggplant and Peaches
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
10. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
11. Grilled Watermelon-Feta Skewers
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
12. Chilled Cucumber Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
13. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian
14. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
15. Slow Cooker Baked Beans
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
16. Grilled Corn with Spicy Aioli
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
17. BLT Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
18. Zucchini Caprese Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
19. Loaded Baked Potato Chips
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pan
20. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
21. Roasted Cauliflower Sliders
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
22. Jalapeño-Avocado Mac and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, one pot
23. Portobello and Avocado Quesadillas with Magic Green Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, kid-friendly
24. Zucchini “Fries”
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
25. Chopped Italian Salad Pizza
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser. vegetarian, beginner-friendly
26. Zucchini Salad with Lemon and Parmesan
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, <30 minutes
27. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
28. One-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet
- Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing time)
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
29. Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
30. Peach, Tomato, Corn and Arugula Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
31. Caesar Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
32. Caramelized Kimchi Baked Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
33. Celery Salad with Walnuts and Pecorino
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
34. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, no cook
35. Cauliflower “Tater” Tots
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
RELATED: 45 Pasta Recipes to Bring to Every Picnic and Potluck This Summer
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.