With this collection of 16 Easy Side Dishes and Salad Recipes you’re sure to find a few favorites.

Easy Side Dishes and Salad Recipes

Whether you’re heading for a picnic or planning a backyard feast, a selection of go-to side dishes sure does come in handy. They can compliment the main dish or sometimes even be the star if the show. I know there have been many times that I have found myself with a plateful of side dishes and salads and totally skipped the main entree altogether.

I’ve gathered a list of some of our family’s favorite easy side dishes and salad recipes. Some of these recipes make a weekly appearance in our home, and others never miss out on a cookout.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli Salad Recipe: This Broccoli Salad is full of flavor with crunchy broccoli, crispy bacon, red onion, raisins, and sunflower seeds, all mixed together with a sweet and savory dressing.

easy pea salad recipe

Pea Salad Recipe: Early peas, shredded cheddar cheese, crunchy bits of red onion, and mayonnaise to tie it all together to create big flavor with this salad.

Cucumber Chickpea Salad Recipe

Cucumber and Chickpea Salad Recipe: Great flavor for such simple ingredients. Dill mingles with lemon, lime, garlic, parsley, red wine vinegar, and olive oil to create a zingy and fresh marinade for cucumber, chickpeas, celery, tomato and red onion in this light dish.

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Black-eye Pea Salad Recipe: This simple side dish or appetizer is healthy and full of flavor. Otherwise known as Redneck Caviar, this is quite addicting, to say the least.

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White Bean Saute Recipe: Quick and easy! This recipe is great served alongside chicken, fish, beef, or maybe just a nice crisp salad. 

Skillet Lemon Orzo Recipe

Skillet Orzo with Spinach, Beans and Lemon Recipe: An easy one-pan meatless side dish or lighter main entree. So full of flavor!

Garlic Lemon Green Beans Recipe: These tasty and simple beans are fuss-free and are perfect served as a side dish, or enjoyed on their own as a lighter lunch or crunchy snack.

Coconut Milk Roasted Green Beans Recipe

Coconut Milk Roasted Green Beans Recipe: These quick and easy green beans are satisfying, full of flavor and crunch.

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Cucumber Dill Greek Yogurt Salad Recipe: This crunchy salad is a great summer side dish for cookouts and picnics, as well as the perfect cool afternoon snack. 

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Wasabi Cucumber Sesame Salad Recipe: Crunchy, zesty and spicy, plus nutty toasted sesame seeds. YUM!

Soba Wasabi Noodles Recipe

Wasabi Noodles Recipe: This flavor combination will satisfy those cravings for something spicy.

Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad Recipe

Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad Recipe: While it can be served as a side dish, it really can stand alone as a main course, and it is just as delicious served cold. It even gets better after it mingles together in the fridge for a while. Perfect for a picnic, or if you need to make ahead for a dinner party.

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Coleslaw Recipe: This fresh and crunchy coleslaw is perfect paired with pulled pork, fried fish, and hamburgers.

Easy Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Roasted Asparagus Recipe: Rosemary and lemon combine with fresh asparagus to create a simple and flavorful dish that compliments steak, fish, and chicken so well. Such an easy and quick recipe too!

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Quick Baked Potatoes: These potatoes result in a cross between a baked potato and twice baked potato without all of the scraping and re-stuffing. Super simple and super quick. AND super satisfying!

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Grilled Potato and Cannellini Bean Salad Recipe: Grilling and roasting always bring out the best flavor in foods and there is no exception with this potato, onion, and bean salad combination. A great recipe to prepare while those steaks are cooking.

Happy cooking! I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we have.

Easy Side Dishes and Salad Recipes