12 Healthy Barbecue Salads and Sides

13 Comments

Oh happy weekend! I’m a bridesmaid for the most lovely and laid-back bride this weekend (you’re the best, Tessa!). The past couple of days have been full of laughs and good food, too.

It’s hot down here in Oklahoma, so I thought I’d share a collection of my best barbecue salads, side dishes and snacks today. They’re all meatless, of course, and many are vegan and/or gluten free as well (see labels below recipe titles). Here we go!

1) Chopped Kale Salad with Edamame, Carrot and Avocado

Gluten free and vegan

“Delicious recipe! A weekly staple at my house. I add 1/2 Tbs of Sesame Oil for a little extra flavor in the dressing.” – Peter

2) Caprese Pasta Salad

Gluten free if you use gluten-free pasta and vegetarian

“What a great pasta! So easy to and quick to make. Great for a family dinner on a busy night.” – Shannon

3) Green Goddess Hummus

Gluten free and vegan

“I’ve made this twice in a matter of days. So addictively delicious and far better than my favorite recipe I’ve used for several years. And I can’t believe I haven’t come across the blending of tahini/lemon juice before now. Ultra happy you shared that with us as well as this recipe. Thanks!” – Maria

4) Cowboy Caviar

Gluten free and vegan

“I just made this for a friend’s housewarming party last night and it was a HUGE hit! I couldn’t find black beans, so used all black-eyed peas for this round, and added an extra red pepper just because. Will definitely be making again!” – Becky

5) Fresh Mango Salsa

Gluten free and vegan

“I made this mango salsa for a Royals tailgate a couple of weeks ago and it was gobbled up in minutes! This was so good, simple and fresh! Thanks for another amazing recipe!” – Stephanie

6) Greek Broccoli Salad

Gluten free and vegetarian

“Can’t say I’ve ever had cravings for broccoli before, but this salad did it! Tried it this weekend, but it disappeared so quickly, I’ve allready had to make a second batch. Have eaten it both as a stand alone salad, and as a side dish paired with rice and stew. Loved it!” – Emma

7) Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Raw Squash and Feta

Vegetarian and easily vegan

“Made this last night and loved it for a refreshing dinner on a hot summer day. I added a finely diced bell pepper and subbed in a cucumber for the zucchini, because that is what the garden had to offer. I love the way the dressing marinated the thinly sliced veggies while we let it settle in the fridge. I look forward to making this one a regular in our house! Thanks Kate!” – Heather

8) Lebanese Lemon-Parsley Bean Salad

Gluten free and vegan

“I made this bean salad last night for my fiance and I to have as a quick thing to grab for lunch in the morning and it is SO GOOD. I even forgot to put in the red pepper flakes and the garlic and it was still nuts. I made it in a hurry before we were supposed to meet a friend for dinner and we ended up huddled over the bowl with an open box of pita chips anyway haha. The lemon and dill flavors are phenomenal together. Thank you so much for this recipe!” – Claire

9) Peanut-Sesame Slaw with Soba Noodles

Gluten free if you use gluten-free pasta and easily vegan

“Hi Kate! I made this recipe last night and it was a HUGE hit! Even my roommate who isn’t crazy about peanut sauces said it was amazing. Thanks for a great recipe! I’m enjoying the leftovers for lunch right now :)” – Mindy

10) Quinoa Broccoli Slaw with Honey-Mustard Dressing

Gluten free and vegetarian

“Delicious! I threw in come dried cranberries with it. The salad is enough for a light dinner on its own, and I think it would pair well with salmon (for those who it eat it ;) for a more substantial meal.” – Aviva

11) Summertime Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Corn and Jalapeño Pesto

Gluten free if you use gluten-free pasta and easily vegan

“I made this for our dinner tonight – I’m having a hard time staying out of it while the flavor meld for half an hour. Seriously yum! Thanks.” – Amy

12) Fresh Black Bean Salad

Gluten free and vegan

“My boyfriend and I made this for dinner this week, and it was a huge hit! It’s super flavorful, comes together quickly, and is so versatile. I had mine over some leftover quinoa, and he had his with corn tortillas and a dollop of sour cream. The leftovers made for an excellent lunch, too! This is a perfectly summery, week-night salad. Thanks, Kate!” – Arianna

More resources you might appreciate: 13 make-ahead breakfast recipes, 16 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You can shop my essential kitchen equipment here. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for a steady stream of recipe inspiration!