4th of July Sides

1602 Summer Pea, Watermelon, and Farro Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell

While it's easy for burgers and steaks to steal the show at your Independence Day party, it's important that you not neglect the complementary, seasonal side dishes. From corn on the cob to slaws and salsas, these side dishes will have a hard time not taking the spotlight during your Fourth of July feast.

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Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

This is a riff on elote, Mexican street corn. We love how sweet dill plays on the richly caramelized corn and briny cheese.

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Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

Cutting the cabbage coarsely gives the dish a different look from shredded-cabbage slaws. A full teaspoon of black pepper lends pleasant warm heat without overpowering. Make the dish up to a day ahead if you like—the veggies will stay crisp and the flavors will meld as the slaw chills.

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Smoked Potato Salad

Photo: Charles Master

View Recipe: Smoked Potato Salad

The mesquite wood chips bring a strong smoky flavor to the potatoes, but the vinaigrette balances it out, especially when the kalamata olives are added to the mixture. To bring more heat to the potato salad, you can add cayenne or red chili flakes.

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Zucchini and Onion Gratin

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Zucchini and Onion Gratin

You can serve this side dish hot, but it's also great at room temperature.

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Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Yukon Gold Potato Salad

A middle ground between waxy red potatoes and starchy russets, buttery Yukon Golds are great in potato salad.

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Grill-Steamed Corn with Cilantro and Chile Flakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grill-Steamed Corn with Cilantro and Chile Flakes

Aleppo is a fruity Middle Eastern pepper with moderate heat. Sub 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

Photo: Johnny Miller

View Recipe: Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

Turn "jacket potatoes" into irresistible potato salad bites. Capers offer a twist on traditional relish; they're actually pickled flower buds and add bright, briny flavor to this appetizer.

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Smoky-Spiced Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Smoky-Spiced Slaw

A little chipotle pepper in the dressing lends smoky heat to the dish. A touch of sugar and tangy lime juice balance the pleasant bitterness of radicchio. You can make this slaw up to a day ahead. The radicchio will soften a little as it chills, but the broccoli and cabbage stay crunchy.

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Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges

A dusting of smoky chile powder, earthy cumin, zingy lime rind, and a hit of salt turns watermelon's flavor up to 11.

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Macaroni Salad

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Macaroni Salad

Cut back on the black pepper for a more kid-friendly version of this cookout staple.

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Applewood-Smoked Corn on the Cob

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Applewood-Smoked Corn on the Cob

We love the warm, slightly sweet smoky flavor applewood gives the corn. Hickory chips might overpower here, but cherry chips would also work.

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Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes with Herbs and Capers

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes with Herbs and Capers

This dish is baked just long enough to bring out the juices of the tomatoes, then chilled. Serve it as a salad or a side dish.

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Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Little fingerling potatoes are fantastic in potato salads, in part because their skin-to-flesh ratio is much smaller than big potatoes, so there's more dynamic textural difference in every bite.

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Time: 25 minutes

Batch It: Squash is mostly water; it will steam if there is too much in the pan. Cook in batches for crisp-tender, lightly browned pieces.

Serve with Sautéed Summer Squash with Thyme and Almonds

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Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

Photo: Quentin Bacon

View Recipe: Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

This citrusy take on coleslaw is fresh and pleasantly spicy, an ideal side dish or burger or brat topping. Leave the seeds in more peppers for added fire, or seed all of them for a milder dish.

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Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber Pickles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber Pickles

Sumac—available at spice stores—adds a subtle piney, tangy note, but don't worry if you can't find it: The salad will still have loads of flavor complexity without it. You could also sub 1 teaspoon of prepared horseradish for the wasabi powder.

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Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. Here are a few of our favorite flavor combos for buttering them up: Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Curry Spice Butter, Corn on the Cob with Honey-Chipotle Butter, Corn on the Cob wiht Orange, Tarragon, and Basil Butter.

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Heirloom Tomatoes with Charred Okra, Vidalias, and Malt Mayo

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Heirloom Tomatoes with Charred Okra, Vidalias, and Malt Mayo

"Okra doesn't have to be fried. Charring the pods is really fun—it shuts down the sliminess and gets beautifully crisp. Tomatoes just need a little salt, pure and simple," Christensen says.

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Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans

View Recipe: Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans

Dress up canned baked beans with flavor and richness—and minimal added fat—with this quick and simple dish. Since the sodium is high, use organic canned beans to keep sodium levels in check.

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New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill

"The dressing for potato salad usually ends up overseasoned and doesn't permeate the potatoes," Christensen says. "Adding vinegar to the cooking process flavors the potatoes, so the dressing should be more mellow."

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Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Tomatoes are a summer superstar. Enjoy them in a refreshing salad or simply sliced. Sweet peach dressing amps up the summery deliciousness in this simple salad.

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Grilled Corn on the Cob With Roasted Jalapeño Butter

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Roasted Jalapeño Butter

Charring the pepper eases the heat, yielding a versatile, not-too-spicy butter.

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Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

If you can't find Indian eggplants, as we used here, go for small, slender Japanese eggplants instead.

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Gemelli Salad with Green Beans, Pistachios, and Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Gemelli Salad with Green Beans, Pistachios, and Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Haricots verts are thin, tender green beans. If you can't find them, use trimmed regular green beans, but add them to the pasta after 8 minutes of cooking since they'll take longer to cook. You can make the salad ahead, but dress it just before serving so the beans don't turn drab.

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Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

View Recipe: Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

Simplicity has never looked so beautiful. A stunning combination of skin-on peaches and heirloom tomatoes of various colors, sizes, and shapes creates a sweet-savory salad.

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Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Photo: Johnny Miller

View Recipe: Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Lemon-Herb Potato Salad isn't your mother's potato salad. Made with peppery arugula, kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and lemon, this potato salad will stand out among the other side dishes at your backyard cookout.

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Miso Grilled Vegetables

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Miso Grilled Vegetables

Miso adds worlds of savory depth to fresh grilled vegetables.

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Andrew Zimmern's Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

You can assemble this salad the day before you plan to serve it, but toss in dressing just before serving to keep Zimmern's salad as crisp as he intended.

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Golden Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta

Photo: Erin Kunzel

View Recipe: Golden Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta

Simple, bright, and balanced, this salad pairs perfectly with grilled fish or chicken. To cook the beets in the oven, wrap in foil and bake at 400° for 45 to 50 minutes.

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Summer Pea, Watermelon, and Farro Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Summer Pea, Watermelon, and Farro Salad

This unusual yet delicious combination of flavors makes a good substitute for traditional pasta salad at your next cookout.

Replay gallery

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Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

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Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

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Smoked Potato Salad

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Zucchini and Onion Gratin

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Yukon Gold Potato Salad

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Grill-Steamed Corn with Cilantro and Chile Flakes

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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

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Smoky-Spiced Slaw

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Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges

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Macaroni Salad

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Applewood-Smoked Corn on the Cob

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Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes with Herbs and Capers

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Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

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Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

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Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber Pickles

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Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

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Heirloom Tomatoes with Charred Okra, Vidalias, and Malt Mayo

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Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans

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New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill

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Tomato and Cucumber Salad

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Grilled Corn on the Cob With Roasted Jalapeño Butter

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Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

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Gemelli Salad with Green Beans, Pistachios, and Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

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Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

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Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

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