Easy BBQ Sides! Crowd Pleasing Recipes That Are Secretly Healthy

Who doesn’t love side dishes? Check out these amazing recipes for BBQ sides that are great for any backyard barbecue!

Whether you're hosting a barbecue or attending a potluck, every recipe in this collection of easy BBQ side dishes is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Not only will you find the best BBQ side dishes in this list, but they're also secretly healthy! You're sure to find low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free and Whole30-friendly options that are not only delicious but are easy to make and perfectly suited as a great side dish for your next barbecue.

Best BBQ Side Dishes

Be inspired by these salads, salsas, sauces and more when planning your next side item for a cookout. You'll find tasty ideas to pair with chicken, beef and seafood, right here in this collection of the best barbecue sides.

Sweet Potato Salad

Give potato salad a makeover by using sweet potatoes as the base for this zesty barbecue side dish. Cubed sweet potato gets roasted to tenderness in the oven while you dice celery, red onion and red bell pepper.

When the sweet potatoes are ready, mix them with the diced vegetables and drizzle the salad with a homemade chipotle and lime dressing. Chill well before serving.
Recipe

Easy Coleslaw

So many storebought slaws are loaded with sugar. In this low carb version, shredded cabbage and carrots are tossed in a homemade dressing of avocado mayonnaise along with apple cider vinegar and a little bit of honey or stevia. To make this side item even easier and quicker, use your favorite pre-cut coleslaw mix.

The secret to this crunchy salad is the zesty homemade dressing which is still creamy, but healthy. Keep it chilled until ready to serve this classic BBQ side dish.
Recipe

Broccoli Salad With Bacon

Fresh broccoli florets along with crumbled bacon, golden raisins, diced red onion and chopped walnuts provide an irresistibly crunchy salad that's layered with multiple flavors and textures.

It's all drizzled with a homemade vinegar and mayo-based dressing that provides the perfect tangy and slightly creamy coating that takes this BBQ side salad over the top.
Recipe

Zucchini Pasta Pesto

Fresh zucchini that's spiralized into pretty green noodles is tossed with a homemade dairy-free fresh basil, roasted garlic and walnut pesto.

Keep the fresh vegetable vibe going by adding cherry tomatoes on top for a tasty finish to this delightful pasta salad side dish that's always a crowd-pleaser.
Recipe

Sugar Free Peach Barbecue Sauce

You'll be making this 10-minute peach BBQ sauce all summer long, not only because it's outrageously delicious, but because it's so versatile. You can slather it on practically any meat or seafood and it's equally tasty on veggies.

It's free of refined sugars and preservatives and is easily adaptable to make it as spicy, smoky or sweet as you want.
Recipe

Roasted Garlic On The Grill

If you love garlic, but don't always love the pungency and aftertaste, try roasted garlic instead. Roasted garlic turns into a mellow version that's still spicy but with a sweet undertone. Roast a head of it on the grill during the summer in a tin foil packet with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Grill roast the garlic on indirect heat for approximately 30 minutes. Let it cool before squeezing out the roasted cloves. You can save any leftovers in the fridge for later use, too.
Recipe

Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad

Use your homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers or fresh farmer's market vegetables to make this scrumptious side salad that uses minimal ingredients. It's an easy, quick and colorful combo of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber slices and purple onion that's dressed with a tangy vinaigrette.

Add chopped basil for that touch of fresh herb flavor that takes this cucumber salad over the top. You can make this salad ahead and keep it chilled until you're ready to dig in. Cooling and refreshing, this cucumber tomato salad the perfect side dish for any warm weather cookout.
Recipe

Easy Grilled Romaine Salad With Bacon And Ranch Dressing

Romaine lettuce leaves are excellent for placing directly on your grill grates because they're large and substantial enough to withstand a little heat. In fact, the charring is what makes this salad perfect as a BBQ side dish, along with the fact that it involves the grill.

The lettuce just needs a few minutes on the heat to develop the grill marks. Plate it up and top with cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, crumbled sugar-free bacon, and my delicious dairy-free ranch dressing.
Recipe

Avocado Caprese Salad

What's tastier than an all-natural salad that uses fresh ingredients? Here, you'll stack avocado, heirloom tomatoes and fresh herbs for a dairy-free summer salad that's succulent and bursting with flavor. Build these irresistible salads by layering a round slice of avocado on top of a thick slice of tomato.

Top with fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. These make amazing appetizers or a delectable summer side salad.
Recipe

Simple Guacamole

This easy base recipe for guacamole is all you need for a delicious dip or topping that you can serve with your BBQ favorites. Ripe avocado, lime juice or lemon juice, minced onion and salt are the perfect starting points.

If you like heat, add jalapeno. If you like herbs, add fresh cilantro. You can't go wrong with this classic recipe.
Recipe

Fresh Tomato Salsa

You'll never use jarred salsa again once you make your own. This easy recipe uses fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapeno peppers, lime juice, cilantro, garlic-infused olive oil and salt.

It's the perfect dip, dressing or topping made with garden-fresh ingredients with amazing flavor and texture.
Recipe

Peach Basil Salsa

Summertime cookouts are the best time to serve this fruity salsa made with fresh peaches, sweet onion and chopped basil. There's nothing like the juicy sweetness of the peaches paired with a hint of savory from the diced onion.

The herbal flavor of basil adds just the right touch of spiciness that makes it the perfect condiment for grilled chicken or fish.
Recipe

Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Sweet, smoky, spicy and herbal are the flavors of this grilled pineapple salsa. Spears of pineapple take on a smokiness while becoming sweetly caramelized thanks to a short session on the grill.

Dice up the grilled pineapple and mix it with diced onion, diced jalapeno peppers and fresh cilantro for an irresistible salsa that pairs well with chicken or fish.
Recipe

Paleo Biscuits

You'll love the ease of these gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free biscuits that are a one-bowl effort. The almond flour biscuit dough comes together in minutes and you can have them on the baking sheet and in the oven in under 5 minutes.

Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, they're perfect as a side item with butter and honey or as a base biscuit for fruity shortcake desserts for your backyard BBQ.
Recipe

Gluten Free Cornbread

There's no corn involved in this easy cornbread recipe that uses a blend of almond flour and coconut flour to give it a tender crumb. Ghee gives it a buttery flavor while the eggs and apple cider vinegar give it rise and texture.

Serve this gluten-free cornbread at your next barbecue and drizzle it with ghee and honey for a sweet touch.
Recipe

Caramelized Onion Topping for Burgers

You'll never miss the burger bun with these tasty hamburgers that pile on all the flavors, literally. Start with grass-fed beef patties and grill them to your desired doneness.

Caramelize sliced onions in coconut oil and season them with balsamic vinegar. Assemble the burgers on top of thick slices of tomato and top the meat with the caramelized onions and slices of avocado.
Recipe by Joyful Healthy Eats

Air Fryer Jicama Fries

Serve these low carb fries at your next BBQ cookout for a healthy alternative to potato-based French fries. Slice jicama into thin strips, toss them with Cajun seasoning and then air fry them golden deliciousness.

They'll be right at home next to your barbecued burgers, chicken or fish.
Recipe by Keto Vegetarian Recipes

Refrigerator Pickles

Pickles are a savory and crunchy side item that's practically required for any BBQ meal. Make these easy sugar-free, no-cook homemade pickles that will need to sit in your fridge for 3-5 days to come to full pickled status.

In a glass quart jar, submerge sliced cucumbers and onion in a vinegar brine that's packed full of spices. Screw on the lid and refrigerate. What could be easier?
Recipe by Summer Yule

Simple Green Bean Salad

Steaming your fresh green beans for a few minutes will tenderize them while also keeping a little crunch in them, which is perfect for this cold salad side dish. Build the salad with cherry tomatoes, shallots and bell peppers and dress it with a balsamic and dijon vinaigrette.

Let it marinate in the fridge before serving this tasty side dish that will pair well with any BBQ entrée.
Recipe by Veg Kitchen

Paleo Mac And Cheese

A staple at potlucks is a mac and cheese side dish. This version substitutes cauliflower for the pasta and offers a delicious non-dairy cheese sauce recipe, too. The un-cheese is made with yellow or butternut squash, carrots, onion, egg, coconut milk, ghee, and a host of spices.

Whip up the sauce and mix it with the steamed small cauliflower florets and you've got a delicious stand-in for traditional mac and cheddar cheese! Try this sub in macaroni salads too.
Recipe by My Natural Family

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are a wonderful alternative to white potato French fries. Slice the sweet potatoes into sticks and toss them in avocado oil and a homemade dried spice mixture before spreading on a sheet pan.

Flip them halfway through their session in the oven so they brown evenly. Serve these crispy French fries with your favorite healthy dipping sauce.
Recipe by One Lovely Life

With the summer grilling season here, we’re all looking for healthy sides that will impress without too much fuss. With these tasty barbecue side dish recipes, your guests, family and friends will never guess they’re actually healthy!

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