44 Memorial Day Side Dishes to Elevate Your Summer Cookout

Read Time: 32 mins

44 Memorial Day Side Dishes to Elevate Your Summer Cookout1/44 Grilled Vegetable Platter 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Skill Level Easy Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is the best of summer in one dish! These pretty veggies are perfect for entertaining. Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, and the easy marinade really perks up the flavor. —Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 144 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 50mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber),

2g protein

2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 fat. With an abundance of in-season produce at its peak by Memorial Day, a grilled vegetable platter is the perfect way to highlight tender asparagus, sweet roasted red peppers and summer squash. A simple marinade of olive oil, honey and balsamic vinegar, complemented by a sprinkle of dried herbs, is all it takes to let these vibrant veggies take center stage. 2/44 Southern Mac and Cheese 22 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Southern Mac and Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 45 min Servings 6 servings Go to

Three types of cheese and a squirt of mustard make this comforting dish sing!

Recipe From the Recipe Creator: No down-home meal is complete without southern mac and cheese. Three types of cheese and a squirt of mustard make this comforting dish sing! —Katie Sloan, Charlotte, North Carolina Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 830 calories, 45g fat (30g saturated fat), 213mg cholesterol, 1368mg sodium, 67g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber), 39g protein. It’s not a Memorial Day party without mac and cheese (in my humble opinion). Our mac and cheese recipe is creamy, custardy and ultra-cheesy, with two kinds of cheddar and Velveeta mixed in. For the best texture, grate your cheese fresh from a

This ranch-style beans recipe is served at all our barbecues

block. 3/44 Ranch-Style Beans 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ranch-Style Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 3 hours 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This ranch-style beans recipe is served at all our barbecues. It seems most people who live here like spicy, flavorful food, and this fits the bill just right. —Wilma Ruth James, Ranger, Texas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 226 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 345mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 10g fiber), 14g protein. If barbecue is the name of the game

food-wise, don’t forget the beans!

food-wise, don’t forget the beans! This Tex-Mex recipe is worth the effort, especially when you’re hankering for a bold side to enjoy with hot dogs or smoked brisket. 4/44 Zucchini Patties 30 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Zucchini Patties Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These zucchini patties have a nice flavor and are compatible with just about any entree. My sister gave me this recipe and I, in turn, have given it to many of my friends. —Annabelle Cripe, Goshen, Indiana Nutrition Facts:

They’re especially delish with a cool cucumber garlic dip

2 patties: 214 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 122mg cholesterol, 618mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 8g protein. Farmers markets are teaming with bushels of fresh zucchini by the time Memorial Day rolls around. Put these courgettes to good use in fried, golden brown patties held together with a binding mixture made from biscuit mix, cheese and eggs. They’re especially delish with a cool cucumber garlic dip. 5/44 Potatoes Romanoff 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Skill Level Medium Total Time 55 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe

What a timesaver!

Creator: These tangy potato cubes, topped with cheddar cheese, can be mixed ahead and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake them. What a timesaver! I like to serve them with steak and green beans. —Rita Deere, Evansville, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 322 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 566mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein. Looking for a comforting riff on a cookout classic? Give potatoes Romanoff a try. Toss cubed taters in sour cream, flour and cottage cheese dressing before sprinkling them with more cheese and baking. The best part? As with most

other potato casserole recipes, potatoes Romanoff can be made ahead of time

other potato casserole recipes, potatoes Romanoff can be made ahead of time. 6/44 Smoky Baked Beans 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Smoky Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Medium Total Time 7 hours 25 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: They’ll be standing in line for this saucy bean recipe full of that hard-to-capture campfire flavor. A combination of colorful calico beans, it makes a lovely looking side dish with many a summer entree. —Lynne German, Cumming, Georgia Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 244 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol,

896mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 8g fiber), 11g protein

896mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 8g fiber), 11g protein. Frank and beans are a classic Memorial Day dish, but these beans take it to the next level—far beyond anything from a can. Smoky, tangy and sweet, they make the perfect side dish—or even a hearty entree, thanks to the addition of crumbled pork sausage. 7/44 Buttery-Onion Corn on the Cob 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Buttery-Onion Corn on the Cob Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother has been making this

recipe for years

recipe for years. Every time I make it for company, my guests rave and can’t believe how easy it is! —Lisa Denson, Decatur, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1 ear of corn: 310 calories, 25g fat (15g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 815mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. You’d never know a packet of onion soup mix is the secret ingredient your corn on the cob has been missing all these years. When mixed with butter and brushed over just-shucked ears, the soup mix is a flavor game-changer for sweet corn kernels. 8/44 Berry Nectarine Salad 2 Reviews Test

Whenever my family has a summer get-together, everyone requests it

Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been making this recipe for years. Whenever my family has a summer get-together, everyone requests it. The nectarines and berries look beautiful together, and the topping is the perfect accent. —Mindee Myers, Lincoln, Nebraska Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 109 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. Beware: One bite of this vibrant fruit salad and your guests will

be expecting it at every gathering

be expecting it at every gathering. The taste of summer abounds in every spoonful. This salad is bursting with fresh raspberries, blueberries and succulent nectarines, all tossed in a creamy cream cheese blend. The icing on the cake? It looks stunning on a buffet table. 9/44 Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream 115 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It’s been a tradition at our house to serve this dish with other Hungarian specialties my mom learned to make from women at church.

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat

It’s especially good during the summer when the cucumbers are fresh-picked from the garden. —Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 62 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. Cucumber salads and summer go hand in hand. This crisp dish is a total crowd-pleaser whether it’s served alongside grilled meats or other vegetarian options. If you can’t get your hands on fresh-from-the-garden cukes, ones plucked from the produce aisle will work just as well. 10/44 Herbed Feta Dip 3 Reviews Test Kitchen

Consider this herby

Approved Herbed Feta Dip Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Medium Total Time 25 min Servings 3 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Guests can’t get enough of this thick, zesty dip that bursts with fresh Mediterranean flavor. The feta cheese and fresh mint complement each other beautifully, creating the perfect sidekick for crunchy carrots, toasted pita chips, sliced baguettes or any other dipper you fancy. —Rebecca Ray, Chicago, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1/4 cup: 176 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 361mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein. Consider this herby

The food processor does all the prep work

feta dip the perfect partner for warm pita points or ice-cold veggies on a crudités platter. The food processor does all the prep work. Use any leftovers as a spread for sandwiches and wraps throughout the week. 11/44 Baked Beans with Bacon 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family enjoys eating these baked beans with cornbread, but they can round out any meal. Canned pork and beans make