Side dish ideas for a BBQ?

Question

I've been invited to a friend's Memorial Day cookout. My friend asked me to bring "a side dish that's not a salad" (someone else has been asked to bring a salad). Do you think that salads that don't include leafy greens would be ok (for example, watermelon and feta salad, or orzo salad, or caprese salad)? The only other things I can think of would need to be served hot (like corn on the cob with fun toppings). Can you help me think of something I can prepare at home, serve room temp or cold, and that is not considered a salad? Many thanks.

Answer

Why don't you ask your friend if a non-leafy-green salad is OK? I like your ideas and also BethNH's baked beans or potato salad idea. 

The only caution I would offer is that watermelon & feta salad doesn't keep well. A friend brought some to a July 4th BBQ last year and it was soggy and inedible. She had prepared it that morning. By the time we were serving it up in the afternoon, the watermelon had released all its liquid and the basil had turned dark. So if I were to plan on that for a potluck, I'd bring a bowl with the watermelon chunks, a baggie with the feta & basil (or mint) and a jar of dressing. Then toss together just before serving.

Answer

Street corn cut off the cob and served as a salad is good. Jalapeño poppers brought hot will all be eaten before they get cold. I like room temperature beans. German style potato salad is also tasty at room temperature.

Answer

I love these charro beans, though I prefer to pressure cook them for better flavor.
https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/cowboy-beans/

This slaw keeps pretty well. I'd keep it in a cooler/fridge until it's time to serve. Delicious and so pretty. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/honey-mustard-baked-sausages-with-blackberry-apple-and-caraway-slaw/

Answer

Cheese & crackers tray.
Cornbread muffins.
Relish tray - olives (green & ripe), pickles (dill & sweet), stuffed celery (with cream cheese or peanut butter), raw mushrooms
Jello
Editing to add a couple more:
Pineapple rings - can be eaten as-is or grilled
Cinnamon/spiced cooked apples

Answer

One more - Roasted veggies as in this photo / recipe - while it's called "Fall Vegetables" in the recipe, it's almost season-less (use what looks good). And visually a treat. 
http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/roasted-fall-vegetables-with-saffron-aioli/

Answer

Coucous (onions, toms, sultanas) with loads of herbs, roasted tomatoes with basil and garlic, quinoa (same as coucous less carbs - good for someone not eating carbs), roasted veg like a ratatouille, aubergines dish like parmigiana . Endless I love all these side dishes I think this is what she means.

Answer

I would double check with friend about what she meant by salad. I think there should be several salad options at a barbecue. One of our favorites is raw broccoli salad with red onion. dried cranberries, cheese, etc. If she meant any kind of salad then I might bring sliced watermelon, a fruit bowl, baked beans, deviled eggs or skewered vegetables and tortellini.

Answer

Not technically a salad:

https://tasty.co/recipe/watermelon-poke-bowl

Answer

Antipasto Skewers 
Guac and/or salsa (corn?) and chips (I like to make a more sturdy chip by baking pita chips and you can season however to make it more unique) 
Veggie samosas served at room temp

Answer

I'd nix the corn, fresh sweet corn season not here yet.

I really want to say a creamy cole slaw, but your friend may consider that a salad.

How about an antipasto with crostini toast or fresh guac with chips.

Answer

I think that means green salad. You could always ask. 

Typically I do pasta salad with vegetables (not mayo based).

Answer

If you don't find anything that speaks to you on this thread, a search will show hundreds and hundreds of other ideas. Although they may be older posts, a backyard BBQ is timeless!

https://www.chowhound.com/post/hope-requested-death-ideas-bbq-side-dishes-memorial-day-976496

https://www.chowhound.com/post/bbq-side-dishes-416006

https://www.chowhound.com/post/side-dish-bbq-641975

https://www.chowhound.com/post/unique-bbq-side-dishes-285705

Answer

Pesto garlic bread. Halve your favorite loaf bread and slather both halfs with butter, garlic, and pesto mixture. Wrap whole loaves in heavy duty foil then toss on BBQ, and slice prior to start of meal. Easey peasey and delicious.

Answer

A few ideas...

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables - orzo, vegetables and dressing can all be made ahead and tossed together shortly before serving.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/orzo-with-roasted-vegetables-recipe-1951921

Guacamole Salad - yes, it's called salad, but not really a salad and very good. Served alone or if you cut everything up small, serve with chips

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/guacamole-salad-recipe-1948046

Asian Slaw with ginger peanut dressing

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/01/asian-slaw-ginger-peanut-dressing-recipe.html

Mexican Street Corn Salad

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/07/esquites-mexican-street-corn-salad-recipe.html

Answer

Deviled eggs! Everyone loves them but no one makes them. You can go classic or dress them up in any cuisine. They can be a side or a starter. They are easy to make. The only problem is that they can be tough to transport. I actually bought a cupcake carrier with an egg inset, and it's worth the space it takes up, even in a Manhattan apartment!

Answer

I would ask to be sure, but I think you're right. 
Cornbread
Tabouli
Coleslaw with apples & poppyseed dressing
Caprese pesto pasta salad - pesto, bow ties, cherry tomatoes, fresh little mozzarella balls. Topped with grated Parmesan cheese 
Watermelon, feta salad w lime grilled shrimp.
Corn casserole/souffle
Platter of grilled and chilled Asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella balls, tossed in Italian dressing
Mac & cheese
Potato or pasta salad w tsatziki sauce
Greek pasta salad with tri-color rotini

Answer

Thanks everyone! I think I've decided on cold Asian sesame noodles: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9558-takeout-style-sesame-noodles I'll make the noodles and sauce in the morning, toss with a small amount of the sauce, and then add the rest of the sauce just before serving (otherwise they suck up all the sauce). Nobody could consider that a "salad," and I happen to have all the ingredients already, except for the sesame paste, which looks easy enough to make myself.

Answer

This just showed up in my in box: 
a collection from the New York Times, All About the Sides: 71 Recipes for Your Cookout

 https://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692-nyt-cooking/1237735-grilling-bbq-side-dishes?te=1&nl=cooking&emc=edit_ck_20190525

Answer

I would ask the hostess to clarify what she means by "salad" because "salad" can be anything from a pile of greens to a bowl of beans. Fresh fruit, pickled beets, sliced tomatoes, tabboulleh, marinated mushrooms, coleslaw---what is salad? My guess is that your hostess has not considered the matter fully. I know a delicious hearty salad made with cooked black beans, lots of cut-up tomatoes and onions, and a dash of cumin. It's light-years from lettuce leaves.

Answer

Baked Beans!! Potato Salad, Corn and Green bean salad, .I also love to do a cole salw with thai peanut dressing (it disappears), deviled eggs, caprese stacks on toothpicks, asian noodle and broccoli bowl.

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Make some serious beans. BBQ beans are excellent. Something you can use well after the event. Healthy and frickin tasty.

Answer

So Kristen3, what did you end up making? Did you do the Sesame Noodles (I hope so!)?
I make those noodles for all occasions all summer long. It's great with grilled salmon!
Let us know.

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Side dish ideas for a BBQ?

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