15 Easy Ideas for Memorial Day Side Dishes

15 Crowd-Pleasing Memorial Day Side Dishes to Make Your BBQ Shine

These delicious dishes showcase the season's best produce.

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Updated on March 10, 2025

Cucumber Tomatoes and Mint — Credit: Jason Donnelly

Our best recipes for Memorial Day side dishes will have you spending more time outdoors and less in the kitchen. These easy ides for potato salads, pasta salads, and more are quick to pull together and go great with grilled meats, veggies, and more.

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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

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Credit:

Kelsey Hansen

Pickle lovers unite! We couldn't be more excited to serve this Memorial Day side up for the rest of the summer. The briny, crunchy pickles pair beautifully with pasta, hard-cooked eggs, bacon, and fresh herbs.

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Corn and Blueberry Salad

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This bright summer salad recipe combines fresh corn with blueberries for a side dish that's packed with flavor. You can make the salad ahead of time and plate it over the flatbreads just before the celebration begins.

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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This cheesy spread makes a delicious Memorial Day appetizer. Serve it on a board with toasted bread, or set out sliced vegetables.

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Five-Bean Bake

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Opt for these flavorful homemade baked beans for a delicious Memorial Day side. Kidney beans, lima beans, canned pork and beans, garbanzo beans, and butter beans swim in a smoky, tangy sauce that's sure to be a new favorite.

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Summer Pasta Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

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Pasta salad is a must for summer. Combine pasta with green beans, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and prosciutto. Toss all in a homemade vinaigrette and store in the fridge until it's time to serve.

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Party Potatoes

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Frozen diced hash browns steal the show with this cheesy baked casserole. A must-have side dish for any gathering in the Midwest, this one is sure to disappear from the party fast.

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Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Mint

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Heading out for a family picnic? Package up the dressing separately and add it up to 4 hours before serving. Finish this easy salad side dish with fresh mint.

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Classic Potato Salad

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Customize this creamy potato salad with any assortment of fresh herbs you like. We used fresh parsley, tarragon, and green onions. A dash of vinegar helps thin the dressing and adds a flavor punch to this quick summer side-dish.

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Corn and Macaroni Bake

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This recipe takes macaroni and cheese to an entirely new level. A white cheddar-Parmesan pasta base gets hearty accompaniments of corn and pancetta. Finish this comfort food for your Memorial Day barbecue with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and green onions.

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Broccoli Salad

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If you're looking for a classic side dish that pairs well with a variety of mains, try our broccoli salad. It's a crunchy mix of fresh broccoli, bacon, sunflower seeds, red onions, and raisins. A creamy dressing pulls the Memorial Day side together.

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Loaded Baked Potato Salad

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What makes this potato salad recipe loaded? We're adding all the classic baked potato toppings like sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onion. It's a delicious twist on the classic.

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Corn Ribs

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Corn on the cob is one of our go-to summer side dishes. This year, put a new twist on the old favorite by making corn ribs. Simply slice through the cobs and air fry until golden. Spread on our homemade BBQ mayo and finish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

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Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad

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This recipe mashup has earned rave reviews since we first published it. As one BHG home cook shared, "Made this tonight to go with our ribs and it was wonderful. Easy to make. This recipe will definitely make it to the regular rotation for future meals."

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Copycat Coleslaw

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If you prefer your coleslaw on the sweeter side, this is the recipe for you. Chopping the veggies into small pieces is our secret to achieving the ideal restaurant copycat texture.

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Creamy Grape Salad

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If you live in the Midwest, chances are you've seen this grape salad on the menu at parties and potlucks. Your guests will love the creamy fruit salad made with grapes, apples, and candied pecans.