Dream Dinners

Easy Summer Side Dishes for Families

Posted by The Dream Dinners Team on

With the kids on summer vacation, many of us have more mouths to feed throughout the day.

And with vaccinations ramping up and things getting back to normal, summer parties and backyard BBQs are on everybody’s minds. Whether you’re hosting a cookout or just looking for creative side dish ideas for the family, we’ve got you covered. Guaranteed to level up every cookout and impress every picky-eater, these summer side dishes for families will have everyone asking for seconds.

  1. Mexican Street Corn

Brighten up any meal with Mexican Street Corn. This corn is slathered in a lime crema and topped with Cotija cheese and chili powder sprinklers. Serve it up as the perfect summer side for Taco Tuesday. Dream Dinners bonus tip: this side dish goes great with the Catalina Shrimp Tacos on our July Menu.

  1. Southwest Green Chili Mac N Cheese

The southwest meets a comfort classic in this green chili mac n cheese. Mild yet flavorful green chiles are mixed into a silky cheese sauce and topped with spiced cheddar breadcrumbs. This is the perfect side dish to serve at any summer BBQ, so make sure you order enough. This Mac n cheese will complement any BBQ dish, but we recommend our Slow-Cooked BBQ Beef. You could also serve this delicious side with a burger or hot dog fresh off the grill.

  1. Summer Grilled Vegetables

If you’re looking for a healthier side dish, summer grilled vegetables are for you! This is the perfect side dish for any summer meal or BBQ. A sliced vegetable mix is tossed in a simple seasoned oil and thrown on the grill or cooked in a foil pack for easy cleanup. Summer Grilled Vegetables are an excellent side for anyone watching their weight because it is only 120 calories.

  1. Bountiful Baked Beans

The perfect way to compliment your BBQ or picnic this summer is with our Bountiful Baked Beans. Bring some to your neighborhood potluck to impress all the neighbors this summer! The beans are ready in less than 20 minutes, making them an easy summer side dish to whip up when you don’t have a lot of time.

  1. Jalapeño Hush Puppies

These golden cornbread bites are spiced up with jalapeno and paired perfectly with a side of ranch for dipping. Not only do these make a great summer side dish, but they also make a killer appetizer! Our jalapeno hush puppies cook from frozen and are ready in under 30 minutes.

  1. Toasted Onion Potato Wedges

These red-skinned potato wedges are tossed with olive oil, diced onion, and spices before being baked to crispy perfection. They are the perfect addition to any meal you make this summer. Having a burger night? Our Toasted Onion Potato Wedges are the perfect easy summer side dish to level up your burgers.

  1. Kimchi Brussel Sprouts

Looking for a side dish that will add a little zing to your dinner? Try our Asian-inspired kimchi Brussel Sprouts! These will add a touch of spice to any meal. Try adding them to an Asian-style dish like our Chicken Yakisoba Noodle Bowl.

  1. Corn on the Cob with Seasoned Butter

Corn on the Cob is a summer BBQ side dish staple. Our corn on the cob is sure to impress the entire party. The sweet corn kernels are balanced perfectly with garlic herb butter. Throw these on the grill or the stovetop, and they will be ready in ten minutes.

  1. Parmesan Pesto Peas

Say that five times fast! Our Parmesan Pesto Peas cook from frozen in less than 30 minutes. Basil pesto combined with freshly shredded parmesan cheese makes these peas a vegetable your family will love.

  1. Blistered Chili Garlic Asparagus

Summer is the perfect time to add a little heat to your vegetables! These crispy, slightly charred asparagus are tossed in chili garlic oil to give your asparagus a kick. Serve them up with a steak this summer to please the spice lovers in the family.

  1. Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Our Cheesy Mashed Potatoes include a blend of grated cheeses for a creamy and subtle cheese flavor. This is an easy summer side dish for families that even the picky eaters will love. All you have to do is throw the mashed potatoes into a medium pan over medium heat, and they will be ready in 15-20 minutes! Add this to any side dish to level up your meals this summer.

  1. Roasted Savory Cauliflower

Savory Cauliflower roasted to a golden brown. This side sprinkled with cumin and chili powder is the perfect complement to any meal. Try adding this to our Charred Honey Lime Chicken or Savory Grilled Chicken to impress the entire family.

  1. Chipotle Maple Corn

This is another corn side dish that is perfect for summer. The sweet heat of this corn will have the entire family craving their veggies. A touch of chipotle paired with the ideal seasonings will make this side a staple in your home. This is an easy summer side dish for families because it is ready in 5-10 minutes, and everyone in the house will love it.

  1. Glazed Carrots

These traditional-style carrots with a light buttery glaze will compliment every meal you make this summer. They are simple enough to serve with everything and so delicious that you will really want to serve them with everything!

  1. Cheesy Broccoli Bake

With our Cheesy Broccoli Bake, you’ll never have to force the kids to finish their Broccoli again. This creamy Broccoli dish is ready in 25 minutes and pairs perfectly with all our family entrees to make a complete meal the kids will crave.

  1. Sweet Gingered Carrots

If you have a hard time getting the kids to eat their carrots, give our kid-favorite sweet, gingered carrots a try. Zesty and sweet, these gingered carrots are the perfect easy summer side dish for families. Easily add them to any family meal with a total cook time of 5-10 minutes.

  1. Roasted Heirloom Potatoes

Looking for the best potato side dish of the summer? Look no further than our Roasted Heirloom Potatoes. This is the perfect blend of Yukon Golds, Purple Potatoes, Red Potatoes, and Sweet Potatoes. Roast these in your oven with our seasoning blend gluten-free, antioxidant-rich, and high fiber and potassium. This summer’s side dish is delicious and nutritious.

  1. Rustic Country Rolls

Rustic Country Rolls are a great addition to any meal. Serve the rolls up as a side or set them on the table for some pre-dinner snacking. These square-shaped rolls add a touch of old-world dinner to your table. Bring these rolls out during pasta night this summer, and the entire family will feel like they are dining at a restaurant!

  1. Almond Green Beans

Green beans go great with everything, but our Almond Green Beans add a slice of summer to this popular side dish. A delicately seasoned butter blend pairs perfectly with our green beans topped with toasted almonds. They even cook in under 30 minutes… what’s not to love?

  1. Sweet Potato Fries

A wonderful, colorful, and healthy change to regular French fries makes these the fries of Summer. Our sweet potato fries are baked in the oven and make a delicious side dish. They cook from frozen in under 30 minutes, making them easy to put together for the entire family. Serve these with the French Onion Turkey Burgers to create a healthier version of Burgers n’ fries this summer.

  1. Mac and Cheese Wedges

This side dish is so good the entire family would probably eat it as a meal! Bite-sized wedges of Macaroni and Cheese are battered just right. Parents will love this side just as much as the kids do. Serve this up as a complement to any meal or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next backyard get-together!

  1. Tarragon Honey Carrots

We can’t get enough of carrot sides this summer! With all the different styles of carrots you’ll be whipping up this July, the kids’ eyes will be sparkling as bright as the sun. The sweet taste of honey and the delightful flavor of tarragon make these carrots irresistible.

  1. Bacon Ranch Green Beans

The kids are going to love these unless you gobble them up first! Crisp bacon and a new twist on green beans will have the entire family craving more. This easy summer side dish for families goes excellent with our Maple Bourbon BBQ Chicken or our Backyard BBQ Chicken. Whatever you decide to serve with our Bacon Ranch Green Beans, they are sure to impress whoever is eating them.

  1. Hummus and Pita

This traditional hummus paired perfectly with soft pita bread is a great summer side dish. Wrap pita in foil and place them in the oven for about 15 minutes. Cut the pita bread into wedges, serve with our delicious hummus, and voila! You’ve got yourself a delicious summer side. Our hummus and pita also work great as an appetizer or mid-day snack.

  1. Seasoned Onion Rings

Onion Rings are a traditional side dish that we don’t think should be left behind this summer. Our battered onion rings have just enough of our special seasoning to set them apart from all the others. Cook these from frozen in the oven for an effortless summer side dish. These make a great addition to any burger, steak, or BBQ Chicken. You’ll want our onion rings as a guest at your next cookout.

  1. Salt and Pepper Fries

French fries are another classic side dish that cannot be forgotten! These crisp golden fries are seasoned with cracked pepper, natural sea salt, and garlic. Bake them to perfection in the oven in under 30 minutes.

  1. Peach Crisp

We wanted to close out this list of easy summer side dishes for families with an extra sweet side. Our peach crisp is a must-have for any BBQ this summer. If you’ve already got the side dishes for your BBQ set, make our peach crisp the dessert you serve! Peach slices are baked with brown sugar and cinnamon into a bubbly, golden brown crisp. Keep a few of these gems stashed in your freezer for an easy dessert or mid-day snack after your cookout.

 

Whether you’re having a summer cookout, throwing a backyard BBQ, hosting a party, or just cooking for the family, side dishes are a staple to every meal. With this list of easy summer side dishes, every meal will be complete this summer. Don’t forget to add on sides when you place your order this month! If you’re looking for a side dish pack, try Chef’ Laura’s Summer Seasonal Sides Pack. Add this to your order as a one-stop shop for all your summer sides. This pack, carefully curated by our very own Chef Laura, contains a bundle of delicious sides all found on this list that is sure to satisfy your summer. The pack includes our Southwest Green Chile Mac N Cheese, Toasted Onion Potato Wedges, Grilled Summer Vegetables, Cheesy Broccoli Bake, and Mexican Street corn. Add Chef Laura’s Summer Seasonal Sides Pack to your July order today!