Get ready to meet the MVPs of your summer table! These fresh, flavorful dishes are more than just filler—they’re the kind of sides that steal the spotlight. From zesty macaroni salad and creamy Amish potato salad to colorful corn salads, crunchy slaws, and cool cucumber creations, each recipe brings big summer flavor with minimal effort. You’ll also find light, refreshing fruit salads, slow-cooked baked beans, and grilled favorites perfect for cookouts, picnics, and backyard BBQs. These are the go-to sides everyone asks for—and once you see them, you’ll want to try every single one.

Classic Fresh Corn Salad Recipe

A vibrant bowl of colorful corn salad sits on a red plate. The salad includes yellow corn kernels mixed with diced red peppers, onions, and fresh herbs. A sprig of basil and parsley garnish the dish. A yellow and white striped napkin is beside the plate.
Classic Fresh Corn Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This simple-to-make fresh corn salad recipe is a delicious and colorful side dish or salad. The combination of fresh corn, multicolored diced sweet peppers, and onions, all tossed in a slightly sweet tangy dressing, will be a hit at your next dinner.
Get the Recipe: Classic Fresh Corn Salad Recipe

Easy Corn Salad With Cilantro

Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick colorful salad full of fresh flavores perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.
Easy Corn Salad With Cilantro. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick, colorful salad full of fresh flavors perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.
Get the Recipe: Easy Corn Salad With Cilantro

Zesty Macaroni Salad Recipe

A large bowl filled with creamy macaroni salad, featuring corn, red kidney beans, chopped peppers, and herbs. A lime wedge and wooden spice bowls are in the background, with another bowl of salad slightly out of focus.
Zesty Macaroni Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

If you’re looking for a side dish that’s bursting with flavor, Mexican Macaroni Salad is just the recipe to add a little fiesta to your table. This isn’t your average macaroni salad, my friend. It’s a vibrant twist on the classic, combining a creamy, tangy dressing with crisp, fresh vegetables and just the right kick of spice.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Macaroni Salad Recipe

Fresh Apple Slaw With Tangy Sweet Dressing

A person pours a bowl of yellow dressing over a colorful salad in a glass bowl. The salad contains kale, red cabbage, carrots, and apple slices. A striped cloth is visible beside the bowl on the white surface.
Fresh Apple Slaw With Tangy Sweet Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Fresh, vibrant, and ready in minutes, this apple slaw combines crisp apples, crunchy cabbage, and a zesty homemade dressing for the perfect side dish. Whether for a busy weeknight or a family gathering, this easy recipe will brighten up any meal!
Get the Recipe: Fresh Apple Slaw With Tangy Sweet Dressing

Fresh Mexican Coleslaw Salad

Mexican Coleslaw
Fresh Mexican Coleslaw Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

A little bit of spice, cilantro, fresh slaw, and a touch of sweetness makes this Mexican Coleslaw Salad a perfect side salad.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Mexican Coleslaw Salad

Pineapple Cabbage Slaw

Mexican coleslaw with pieces of pineapple
Pineapple Cabbage Slaw. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Sweet flavors of pineapple, fresh cilantro, and onion make a tangy-flavored coleslaw that everyone will love. Tossed with a fresh dressing made with classic Mexican seasonings, jalapeno, and garlic, and this will easily become one of your favorite slaw recipes.
Get The Full Recipe: Pineapple Cabbage Slaw

Fruit Salad Recipe With Honey-Lemon Dressing

A bowl of fruit salad containing strawberries, apples, grapes, kiwi, and pear, garnished with pomegranate seeds. A lemon half, a bowl of honey, and a spoon are placed around the bowl on a white surface.
Fruit Salad Recipe With Honey-Lemon Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This vibrant fruit salad with a zesty honey-lemon dressing is a refreshing mix of apples, kiwis, strawberries, and more! Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s a healthy, flavorful dish perfect for brunch, dinner parties, or a simple dessert for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fruit Salad Recipe With Honey-Lemon Dressing

Greek Wedge Salad

Creek wedge salad
Greek Wedge Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This Greek Wedge Salad Recipe creates a fresh easy to make wedge salad that is drizzled with flavorful homemade Greek dressing. Perfect as a side dish at dinner or a meal at lunchtime.
Get the Recipe: Greek Wedge Salad

Rainbow Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Rainbow cold water salad
Rainbow Cauliflower Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Rainbow Cauliflower Salad is an easy-to-make beautiful salad that is tossed with fresh Italian dressing. It’s low-carb, gluten-free, & vegan!
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Cucumber-Tuna Salad

A bowl of tuna salad topped with cucumber slices. The salad contains chopped celery and is garnished with lettuce leaves. The dish is served in a white bowl on a red and white striped cloth.
Cucumber-Tuna Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This refreshing and light cucumber tuna salad with dill is perfect for a quick lunch, potluck, or even a healthy snack. It combines crunchy cucumber, tender tuna, and the fresh flavor of dill, creating a low-carb, protein-packed meal ready in just 10 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber-Tuna Salad

Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

A bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese with green peas, topped with shredded cheddar cheese, served in a white dish on a yellow surface.
Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

One of my fondest summer time salads growing up in Indiana was my grandma’s Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd. It’s summer time comfort food, which is great for dinners, picnics or to take to pot lucks.
Get the Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

Creamy Amish Potato Salad

A bowl of creamy potato salad with diced potatoes, topped with a sprinkle of paprika. A wooden spoon is partially visible next to the bowl.
Creamy Amish Potato Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Sweet, tangy, and creamy — this is your go-to classic potato salad. If you need a side dish that’s guaranteed to shine at your next picnic or potluck, Amish potato salad is the one to try. With tender potatoes coated in a creamy, sweet-and-tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and mustard, every bite is a delicious balance of comfort and zing.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Amish Potato Salad

Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs

cherry salad with vinaigrette
Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs

Creamy Cucumber-Onion Salad

A close-up of a creamy cucumber salad garnished with fresh dill. The salad includes cucumber slices mixed with a creamy dressing, accented by bits of red onion. A wooden spoon rests on the side.
Creamy Cucumber-Onion Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Cucumber onion salad is a crisp, refreshing side dish that brings the taste of summer right to your plate. This recipe combines thinly sliced cucumbers, onions, and sour cream to create the perfect side dish for those hot days when you’re craving something cool and tasty.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cucumber-Onion Salad

Easy Bourbon Baked Beans

baked beans with bacon and burbon
Easy Bourbon Baked Beans. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Here is the perfect side dish for your next potluck, BBQ, or summer party – slow-cooked sweet and savory bourbon baked beans. This yummy recipe features a medley of flavors, including sweet barbecue sauce, crispy bacon, brown sugar, and a touch of your favorite bourbon. Best part, it’s super easy to make with minimal cleanup.
Get The Full Recipe: Easy Bourbon Baked Beans

Summer Grilled Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob that has just gotten off the grill
Summer Grilled Corn on the Cob. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Nothing says summer like grilling and corn on the cob, so this Grilled Corn In Husk with a BBQ coffee rub is the essence of summer flavors all combined with the punch of coffee, grilled BBQ flavors, and a pinch of heat.
Get The Full Recipe: Summer Grilled Corn on the Cob

Apple-Cranberry Salad

Panera copycat apple salad
Apple-Cranberry Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This Apple Cranberry Salad is a vibrant and fresh salad with crisp apples, tart cranberries, and a sweet dressing. It’s a perfect side dish for any meal or a holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Apple-Cranberry Salad

Easy 6-Ingredient Fried Corn Recipe

A white bowl filled with seasoned corn kernels garnished with chopped herbs is on a white surface. Surrounding it are small bowls containing more herbs and red seasoning. A striped cloth and empty white bowl with spoons are nearby.
Easy 6-Ingredient Fried Corn Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Turn frozen corn into a flavorful side dish with this easy fried corn recipe! Seasoned with Cajun spices, smoky paprika, and butter, it’s a quick and delicious option for any meal. Perfect alongside grilled meats or as a tasty stand-alone dish!
Get the Recipe: Easy 6-Ingredient Fried Corn Recipe

Hash Brown Casserole Recipe

cracker barrel hash brown
Hash Brown Casserole Recipe. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This hash brown casserole copycat recipe is made with thawed hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, onion, and cheddar cheese and can be prepared in the oven or slow cooker. It is the perfect side dish for any meal, and the whole family will love it.
Get The Full Recipe: Hash Brown Casserole Recipe

Cucumber Salad With Zesty Honey Dressing

cucumber salad with dill
Cucumber Salad With Zesty Honey Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This Crisp Cucumber Salad Recipe With Zesty Honey Dressing is a delicious and easy recipe you can make year-round in under 10 min.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad With Zesty Honey Dressing

Slow-Cooked Boston Baked Beans

Baked beans with bacon on top
Slow-Cooked Boston Baked Beans. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

The best homemade slow cooker Boston baked beans are made with molasses, brown sugar, and plenty of chunks of bacon for an unforgettable flavor and perfect texture. Easily cooked in the Crock Pot, this easy recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare and bubbles away all afternoon. Sweet, savory beans are easier than you thought, and come together perfectly every time.
Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooked Boston Baked Beans

Crispy Skin Air-Fried Baked Potato Recipe

Baked potatoes that have been made in air fryer with butter on top
Crispy Skin Air-Fried Baked Potato Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Making the perfect crispy skin, baked potato can be a bit of a challenge. However, I have found the secret to perfect baked potatoes every time! This air fryer baked potatoes recipe makes a light and fluffy inside and a crisp salty outside every time. They make a great side dish or bake a large one and make it a meal with toppings like copycat Texas Roadhouse chili or roast beef and gravy.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Skin Air-Fried Baked Potato Recipe

Easy Panzanella Bread and Tomato Salad

cherry tomato bread salad
Easy Panzanella Bread and Tomato Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Easy Panzanella Bread Salad is loaded with crusty bread, cherry tomatoes, green olives, capers, fresh basil, then lightly tossed with a dressing of fresh garlic, olive oil, anchovies, and red wine vinegar.
Get the Recipe: Easy Panzanella Bread and Tomato Salad

Classic Summer Farro Salad Recipe

Some are farro with fresh peas and herbs
Classic Summer Farro Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Summer Farro Salad is an easy salad made with hearty farro, olive oil, lemon juice, zucchini, peas, pesto, and freshly chopped parsley.
Get the Recipe: Classic Summer Farro Salad Recipe

Seasoned Crock Pot Asparagus

cooked asparagus with lemo wedges
Seasoned Crock Pot Asparagus. Image credit: Intentional Hospitality

Learn how to cook crockpot asparagus perfectly every time. With this easy recipe, you can cook asparagus in a crock pot with only five minutes of prep work, and then your slow cooker will do the rest of the work. The best part is that there will be no more soggy asparagus when you make this easy recipe in your slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Seasoned Crock Pot Asparagus

Fresh Green Beans and Mushrooms

A plate of sautéed green beans and mushrooms garnished with three lemon wedges. The dish is served on a white marble surface with a fork and a striped napkin nearby. In the background, there's a wooden cutting board with more lemon and garlic.
Fresh Green Beans and Mushrooms. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Green beans and mushrooms are a match made in culinary heaven! The crisp-tender bite of fresh green beans pairs beautifully with the earthy richness of mushrooms, creating a balance of flavors and textures that feel both comforting and just a bit fancy.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Green Beans and Mushrooms

Mexican Corn Salad

Chipotle's corn salsa
Mexican Corn Salad. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

I love serving this corn salad over a bed of lettuce. I’m going to show you how to recreate the popular fresh corn salsa from Chipotle Mexican Grill at home with this easy step-by-step recipe. It’s perfect for topping your favorite Mexican recipes, such as tacos, burritos, and nacho casserole, or the perfect appetizer: corn salsa and chips. 
Get The Full Recipe: Mexican Corn Salad

Original Green Jacket Salad And Dressing Recipe

A salad with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and shaved parmesan is served on a Georgia-shaped ceramic plate. It rests on a blue and white cloth, with canned cowboy candy nearby for added zest and some pita chips within reach.
Original Green Jacket Salad And Dressing Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Legendary Green Jacket Salad recipe is a crisp and tangy classic with a signature homemade dressing from the iconic Green Jacket Restaurant!
Get the Recipe: Original Green Jacket Salad And Dressing Recipe

Southern 7-Layer Salad with Peas and Mayo

A close-up of a layered salad in a glass bowl, featuring visible layers of bacon, cheese, creamy dressing, chopped greens, and onions. A small spoon is seen in the background next to some shredded cheese.
Southern 7-Layer Salad with Peas and Mayo. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage

With its gorgeous rows of colors and bright flavors, this classic Southern seven-layer salad is the perfect make-ahead dish for family gatherings or a church potluck. Served in a clear glass bowl that showcases all the beautiful colors, this layered salad makes a gorgeous centerpiece to your dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Southern 7-Layer Salad with Peas and Mayo

Oven-Roasted Asparagus

A close-up of cooked asparagus spears arranged on a white plate, glistening with oil and seasoning. A fork and knife are partially visible in the background.
Oven-Roasted Asparagus. Image credit: Lauren’s Latest

Simple and quick this Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe is the perfect vegetable side dish! Easily prepared while your main dish is cooking.
Get the Recipe: Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Grandma’s Best : 39 Slow Cooker Recipes for Pure Comfort

chicken and soft dumplings with peas and carrots
39 Slow Cooker Recipes for Pure Comfort. Image credit: Intentional Hospitality

Sometimes, the best recipes are the ones passed down through generations, kept as a family secret until now! These collection of 39 slow cooker recipes is your go-to collection for hearty, home-cooked meals that bring warmth to the table with minimal effort. From White Chicken Chili to Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup and Crockpot Pork Chops, each dish is loaded with comforting flavors and easy-to-follow steps. Don’t miss out—check out all recipes and discover your new favorite go-to meal! Get All The Recipes: Grandma’s Best Kept Secret: 39 Slow Cooker Recipes for Pure Comfort