Every family has that one dish that disappears before you even sit down.
In my family? It’s always the side dishes.
Honestly, after a long shift at the hospital and chasing my little guy around the yard, I’m not here to fuss over fancy meals.
I’m here for food that feels like summer — easy to make, full of flavor, and meant to be shared at a big table with people you love (even if your table is a little sticky from last night’s ice cream… just sayin’).
Memorial Day is one of my favorite food holidays.
It’s that first big backyard cookout where the grill gets fired up, the drinks are cold, and everyone’s just happy to be outside.
But let’s be real — the burgers and hot dogs are never the stars of the show.
It’s the sides. ALWAYS the sides.
That’s why we pulled together this list of our favorite easy Memorial Day side dishes.
These are the recipes that save busy moms like us.
The ones you can throw together in between wiping sunscreen off the walls (been there), or while your husband is very seriously perfecting his grill marks like it’s a cooking show.
Because around here? Good food brings people together.
And these side dishes are guaranteed to steal the show at your next cookout.
(Just don’t be surprised when everyone asks you to bring them again next year… it’s kind of what happens.)
15 Best Memorial Day Side Dishes
When it comes to planning your Memorial Day menu, trust me — the side dishes are where the magic happens.
These are the recipes people pile high on their plates (sometimes before the burgers even hit the table).
And honestly? That’s my kind of party.
We’ve gathered our absolute favorite side dish recipes that are perfect for your next cookout.
These are easy to make, loaded with fresh, summer flavors, and guaranteed to impress without keeping you stuck in the kitchen all day.
Because let’s face it — nobody wants to miss out on the backyard fun just to babysit a complicated dish.
Keep it simple, keep it delicious… and maybe keep an extra serving for yourself before it all disappears (just sayin’).
BLT Chipotle Ranch Pasta Salad
"Leftover Note: Save any leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 2 to 3 days! Add additional SideDish Chipotle Ranch if your pasta seems dry after storing."
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Cool Ranch Kale Salad
"This cool ranch kale salad is loaded with all the flavor of our favorite chips. Simple enough to serve with almost everything, it’s ridiculously flavorful!"
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Grilled Lemon-Cilantro Chicken and Veggie Skewers
"These grilled lemon-cilantro chicken and veggie skewers are a fresh, light and flavorful meal to enjoy all summer long. For me, summer meals should always be quick and easy to make, include fresh produce of"
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Black Bean and Corn Salsa
"A super easy, bright and fresh Mexican Fiesta Corn & Bean Salsa recipe that takes only 10 minutes to make! It’s gluten free, vegetarian and vegan."
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Spicy Vegan Watermelon Salad with Corn Nuts & Basil
"Vegan watermelon salad features a spicy lime dressing, fresh basil, avocado, and crunchy-salty corn nuts on top! Ready in 30 minutes."
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Dressed Up Baked Beans
"Brimming with bacon, spicy mustard and sausage, these dressed up baked beans take those boring old canned baked beans and make them interesting!"
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Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
"This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is the real deal. A no-frills, creamy mac salad that is the perfect side dish for any BBQ or Luau!"
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Easy Tabouli Salad
"This fresh tabouli recipe (aka tabbouleh) is bursting with fresh ingredients. Bulgur wheat, finely diced tomato, cucumbers, scallions, garlic, fresh parsley and mint, all tossed in a simple zesty lemon dressing."
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Potato Salad
"Want the best potato salad? Dress hot potatoes with French dressing so they absorb flavour, then toss with creamy dressing. Flavour all the way!"
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Caesar Pasta Salad
"This is our favorite caesar pasta salad! Made with my homemade greek yogurt caesar dressing, it’s a simple dish that can be a great starter salad, side dish or main base for chicken, steak, seafood or chickpeas. Super flavorful and easy too!"
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Southern Summer Succotash with Bacon and Tomatoes
"Celebrate summer’s best produce with this bacon succotash, bursting with fresh corn, lime beans, tomatoes, basil, and of course, bacon."
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Old Bay Shrimp and Macaroni Salad
"If a shrimp boil dove into a bowl of macaroni salad, you might end up with something like this: a crowd-pleasing, lemony, peppery, glossy shrimp-and-pasta salad To infuse all the elements with the flavors of a seafood boil, season the water that cooks the pasta, peas and shrimp with lots of Old Bay The peas add sweetness to balance the pep (though corn kernels would also be great), while celery and red onion lend crunch, and herbs freshen things up …"
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Guacamole Salad
"We love this guacamole salad. It’s the perfect light and refreshing side dish to your favorite tacos or enchiladas – and has all of the components of guacamole! So delicious and simple and customizable."
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Grilled Okra
"Grilled Okra is the perfect side dish! The blistered okra are crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside! Grilling okra gives it an amazing taste, while preventing any sliminess."
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Spicy Korean Radish Salad aka Musaengchae
"the fastest and easiest recipe for a crunchy spicy tangy banchan, Spicy Korean Radish Salad aka “mu-saeng-chae”"
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