The Only Pasta Salads & BBQ Sides Your Crew Will Actually Fight Over
Listen, the main dish gets all the glory, but we both know everyone's real loyalty is to the sides. I have been that person, grabbing a plastic tub of deli pasta salad on the way to a cookout, and I'm here to tell you, those days are over.
Summer Pasta Salads & BBQ Sides
Once you start making your own, there is absolutely no going back. Pasta salads are some of my VERY FAVORITE things about summer, and a picnic table without a big bowl of potato salad isn't a proper party as far as I'm concerned.
From my mother-in-law's legendary classic potato salad (she is a pro, full stop) to a Caprese pasta salad bursting with fresh mozzarella and basil, to smoked deviled eggs that get the full Traeger treatment, these are the sides I make on repeat all season long.
They're easy, totally make-ahead friendly, and guaranteed to be the first things scraped clean. Grab a big bowl. Let's get into it.
1. Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
This is a hearty, protein-packed spin on my classic macaroni salad, and it is a serious crowd-pleaser. A tangy mayo and Dijon dressing coats every shell perfectly, and the ham and peas make it feel like a real meal instead of just a side. Pro tip: use leftover smoked ham in here and you will absolutely win BBQ friends.
Ham & Pea Pasta Salad Recipe →
2. Italian Sausage Pasta Salad with Marinated Mushrooms and Olives
If you want big, bold Italian flavor at your next potluck, this is the one to bring. We throw the sausages on the grill for a little char, chop them up, and toss everything with marinated mushrooms, kalamata olives, and fresh basil. It is a hearty, satisfying side that honestly holds its own as a light summer lunch.
Italian Sausage Pasta Salad Recipe →
3. Caprese Pasta Salad
All of your favorite Caprese flavors in one dish! Fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil, all tossed right into a pasta salad. It is fresh, simple, and absolutely beautiful on a picnic table. A finishing drizzle of balsamic right before serving takes this one completely over the top.
4. Loaded Baked Potato Salad
This is my favorite side to bring to summer BBQs when I want something truly indulgent. It has all the greatness of a loaded baked potato with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and sour cream, but in cool, creamy salad form. Rich, decadent, and absolutely impossible to stop eating.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad Recipe →
5. Classic Potato Salad
All hail the potato salad. This recipe comes straight from my mother-in-law, who is our family's undisputed potato salad pro, and it is pure, simple perfection. We keep the sauce straightforward with mustard, mayo, a few key ingredients, and we skip the raw onion entirely, because raw onion does not belong in potato salad and that is final.
6. Traeger Smoked Potato Salad
A classic deli-style potato salad gets the full Traeger treatment, and honestly, it changes everything. Baby potatoes get coated in oil and smoked right on the pellet grill, then mixed with a tangy sour cream and mayo sauce, bacon, chives, and cheddar. Just enough wood-fired flavor to let you know something special happened here, without being heavy-handed about it.
7. Creamy Coleslaw
Cabbage used to be a hard no for me, but now I will take coleslaw in pretty much any form, and this homemade creamy version is one of my favorites. Tangy, creamy, with just a touch of sweetness, exactly like you remember. Pile it high next to smoked ribs or pulled pork and watch it disappear.
8. Coleslaw Recipe with Vinegar
When you want to skip the mayo and still show up with something seriously good, this is your answer. It comes together in minutes, has a sharp, tangy bite that cuts right through rich grilled meats, and the cabbage stays perfectly crisp even after sitting in the dressing. Great for outdoor gatherings where food safety is on your mind, too.
Coleslaw with Vinegar Recipe →
9. Smoked Deviled Eggs
If you have never tried smoked deviled eggs, you are in for a serious treat. We cold smoke the egg whites just long enough to add incredible complexity without making them rubbery, then fill them with a creamy, tangy yolk mixture that is smooth and just sweet enough. Bring these to your next cookout and prepare to be the most popular person there.
10. Smoked Baked Beans
Quit opening up that can of grocery store beans and make them at home where you can fully customize all of it. This recipe is simple, delicious, and you can customize it as much (or little) as you want. Add bacon, seasoned ground beef, leftover pulled pork or brisket, or some sausage for extra protein. Toss in a couple of jalapeño pepper slices for a kick, or a couple dashes of cayenne.
11. Cowboy Beans
These beans are so good, you can make them into a whole meal. There's so much flavor here, everyone is going to be asking for the recipe, so you'd better make sure to save that link to send them.
12. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is packed full of vegetables and grilled chicken, and plenty of spinach, feta, and orzo pasta, too. I eat this pretty regularly as a meal, and love to keep a big bowl of it in the fridge in the summer for people to graze on.
