Your friends might come for the patties, but they’ll leave talking about these show-stopping accompaniments instead. From crisp, vibrant salads to hearty, rich alternatives, these sides don’t just complement your burgers, they’ll be the best dish at your table.
7 Layer Salad Recipe
While burgers might steal the spotlight, this classic 7 layer salad has been upstaging main dishes at barbecues for generations. Its dramatic presentation with distinct colorful layers creates such a visual impact that guests often reach for it first, making it a worthy competitor to even the juiciest burger on your cookout table.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad Recipe
Cucumber Salad
This refreshing cucumber salad provides the perfect cooling counterpoint to hot-off-the-grill burgers, creating a balanced plate that might have people talking about the sides instead of the main. Ready in just 15 minutes with only 7 ingredients, it’s the make-ahead side dish that gives you more time to perfect those patties while still impressing your cookout crowd.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad
Pickle Pasta Salad
When burgers need a worthy sidekick, this Pickle Pasta Salad steps up with bold tangy flavors that command attention on the plate. The unexpected punch of dill pickles mixed with creamy dressing creates such a memorable flavor combination that guests might find themselves heading back to the buffet table for second helpings of the pasta rather than another burger.
Get the Recipe: Pickle Pasta Salad
Texas Caviar
This vibrant Texas Caviar brings such bold flavors to your cookout spread that it might just outshine your carefully crafted burgers. The colorful medley of black-eyed peas, beans, and fresh vegetables creates a showstopping side that guests will be scooping up long after the grill has cooled down.
Get the Recipe: Texas Caviar
Amish Macaroni Salad
The sweet-meets-savory profile of this Amish macaroni salad creates such a compelling flavor contrast to savory burgers that it often becomes the unexpected star of the meal. Its creamy texture and familiar comfort-food status make it the side dish everyone gravitates toward, sometimes leaving those perfectly grilled patties playing second fiddle at your cookout.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad
Watergate Salad
This effortless 5-ingredient Watergate salad brings such a distinctive flavor profile to your cookout spread that guests might forget about the burgers entirely. The creamy pistachio-studded mixture serves as both a refreshing side and semi-sweet finish to the meal, making it a double-duty dish that steals attention from start to finish.
Get the Recipe: Watergate Salad
Peach Caprese Salad
This Peach Caprese Salad introduces such bright, summer-fresh flavors to your cookout that it rivals even perfectly grilled burgers for attention. The combination of juicy peaches with classic caprese elements creates a sophisticated no-cook side that looks so stunning on the table that guests will be reaching for it first.
Get the Recipe: Peach Caprese Salad
Lime Jello Salad
This nostalgic Lime Jello Salad brings such playful retro charm to your cookout spread that it becomes an instant conversation piece, temporarily shifting focus from the burgers. Its vibrant green hue and refreshing taste provide such a cooling contrast to hot grilled items that guests might find themselves making extra trips to the buffet table just for another spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Lime Jello Salad
Broccoli Crunch Salad
This Broccoli Crunch Salad brings such textural excitement to your cookout spread that it competes with burgers for the spotlight. The combination of crisp raw broccoli, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy sunflower seeds, and savory bacon creates a symphony of flavors that might have guests reaching for seconds of the side dish before considering another burger.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Crunch Salad
Cajun Pasta Salad
This Cajun Pasta Salad packs such a flavorful punch that it stands toe-to-toe with the heartiest burgers on your cookout menu. The bold spices and creamy remoulade-style dressing create such a memorable flavor experience that guests might find themselves talking about the pasta rather than the patties long after the meal is over.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Pasta Salad
Cherry Salad
This quick-fix Cherry Salad brings such bright, sweet notes to your cookout that it creates the perfect counterpoint to savory grilled burgers. Ready in just 5 minutes with 6 simple ingredients, it’s the effortless side dish that somehow manages to capture everyone’s attention and often becomes the surprise hit of the outdoor feast.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Salad
Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad
This Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad brings such bright Mediterranean flavors to your cookout that guests might be tempted to fill their plates with it first before adding a burger. The light, citrusy profile and tender pasta create the perfect summer side that can be prepared ahead, giving you more time to perfect those patties while still having a standout dish on the table.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad
Pea Salad
This vintage Pea Salad brings such nostalgic comfort to your cookout spread that it often becomes the surprise favorite among the sides. Its creamy, tangy-sweet profile creates such a perfect counterpoint to juicy burgers that guests might find themselves making room on their plates for extra helpings of peas rather than a second burger.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad
Orange Fluff Salad
This creamsicle-inspired Orange Fluff Salad brings such a light, refreshing element to your cookout that it effortlessly competes with burgers for attention. Its nostalgic flavor and cloud-like texture create such a memorable eating experience that guests often find themselves gravitating back to the side dish table for seconds before considering another burger.
Get the Recipe: Orange Fluff Salad
Blueberry Caprese Salad
This Blueberry Caprese Salad brings such unexpected freshness to your burger spread that it instantly becomes a visual centerpiece on the table. The striking combination of blueberries, mozzarella, and tomatoes creates such a colorful display that guests will be reaching for it alongside their burgers, potentially finding the side more memorable than the main attraction.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Caprese Salad
Ramen Noodle Salad
This Asian-inspired Ramen Noodle Salad brings such textural excitement to your cookout that it easily competes with burgers for the spotlight. The irresistible crunch factor combined with a savory-sweet dressing creates such an addictive side that guests might find themselves coming back for multiple helpings, sometimes bypassing a second burger altogether.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Noodle Salad
Potato Salad
This classic Potato Salad brings such familiar comfort to your cookout spread that it stands as an equal partner to the star burgers. The creamy, egg-studded mixture studded with sweet gherkins creates such a satisfying side that many guests consider it an essential part of the meal, sometimes helping themselves to generous portions that take up as much plate space as the main dish.
Get the Recipe: Potato Salad
Raw Beet Salad with Apples and Carrots
This vibrant Raw Beet Salad brings such gorgeous color to your cookout spread that it instantly catches the eye, sometimes overshadowing the burgers. The sweet combination of raw beets, apples, and carrots creates such a refreshing counterpoint to grilled flavors that it becomes the unexpected conversation piece of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Raw Beet Salad with Apples and Carrots
Chickpea Salad
This protein-packed Chickpea Salad brings such Mediterranean flair to your cookout that it stands as a worthy companion to even the most perfectly crafted burgers. The combination of hearty chickpeas and fresh vegetables creates such a substantial side that some guests might find it filling enough to be a meal on its own, making it a scene-stealer at your outdoor gathering.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Salad
Tortellini Pasta Salad
This Tortellini Pasta Salad brings such substantial satisfaction to your cookout spread that it rivals the burgers for main-dish status. The combination of cheese-filled pasta, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and pesto creates such a flavor-packed side that guests often pile it high on their plates, sometimes giving it more real estate than the burger itself.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad
Blue Cheese Coleslaw
This Blue Cheese Coleslaw brings such bold, complex flavors to your cookout that it refuses to play a supporting role to burgers. The pungent cheese and crisp cabbage create such a memorable combination that guests might find themselves talking about the coleslaw long after the meal ends, sometimes forgetting how good the burgers were in the first place.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Coleslaw