Move over steak! It’s time that vegetables take their turn to shine during grilling season. Choosing a main dish for your next cookout is usually pretty easy…but what goes with it can sometimes be the challenge. It’s easy to lean on your go-to pasta salad but accompaniments don’t always have to be a boring and repetitive. So, whether you’re looking to switch up your routine, or to just add more nutrients and greenhouse grown veggies to your menu, we’ve put together a list for you to step up your side dishes just in time for barbeque season!
We’re all ready for barbeque season, but no cookout is complete without some delicious sides. It’s easy to fall back to your usual side dishes when entertaining, and that’s why we’re here to help. The accompaniments to your main dish should not only be exciting and filling, but they can be full of nutrients from greenhouse grown vegetables to keep you and your guests energized for a day full of fun! These recipes are fresh, nutritious, and easy to prep ahead of time so that you have more time to spend with your guests! We’ve created a list of our go-to side dishes and salads for summertime that will have you ready to plan your next cook out.
EASY OPTIONS TO PREP AHEAD –
It’s easy to be overwhelmed when entertaining, so preparing your meals ahead of time is key to actually enjoying the day! Try these recipes that are not only delicious but easy to get ready ahead of time so that all you have to do is serve when your guests arrive.
ARUGULA MELON SKEWERS
Try these Arugula Melon Skewers using our Solara™ Mini Melons – they are the perfect pre-cookout appetizer on a warm summer day. The skewers are light, refreshing, and can assembled ahead of time! Simply halve the melons, scoop out the seeds, and cut into cubes. Slide the melon, cheese, prosciutto, and arugula onto a skewer and you are good to go. It’s so easy and will WOW your guests.
CAJUN CHICKEN SALAD
This Cajun Chicken Salad from our friend Joy, is the perfect dish to welcome your guests with. This recipe can be made the day before and taken out of the fridge whenever you’re ready to serve. Keep it light and serve this dish with a variety fresh vegetables like Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers and Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers. Stock up because your guests won’t be able to get enough of these refreshing veggies!
SIDES THAT SATISFY EVERYONE –
While cooking for a crowd you need to be conscious of every one’s dietary needs, which sometimes can feel overwhelming. We’re here to take the pressure off you with these great side dishes that take into account various ways of eating. From gluten-free, Keto, to plant-based, we’ve put together some options that will satisfy everyone no matter their diet.
GLUTEN-FREE PESTO PASTA SALAD
Satisfy your gluten-free and plant-based guests with this Gluten-Free Pesto Pasta Salad made with Organic Luna® Sweets Cocktail Tomatoes & olives from our foodie friend @itsrainingflour. It’s such a crowd pleaser and it perfectly complements a variety of proteins. A great idea is to add some roasted chickpeas to keep it vegetarian while still making it a complete meal!
LOADED CAULIFLOWER KETO NACHOS
Your Keto and gluten-free friends will thank you for making these Loaded Cauliflower Keto Nachos! This Keto-friendly take on traditional baked nachos using Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes is easy to create and delicious to eat! Serve as a fun appetizer for your next get-together plus it can easily be made outside on the grill so that you don’t have to start up the oven.
SUPER SALADS –
It’s easy to make a traditional garden salad for a side dish but sometimes that can get repetitive. These super salad recipes are perfect to level up your next event and satisfy your taste buds! They provide a variety of flavors and will accompany all your main dishes.
GARLIC CUCUMBER SALAD
This Garlic Cucumber Salad is TOO good to not add to this list, everyone will be asking for the recipe. It is an Asian-inspired salad made with crispy Poco® Bites Cocktail Cucumbers, sesame, and Thai chilis giving it that perfect balance of spicy and savory. Trust us when we tell you this will soon become a staple in your home.
THAI QUINOA SALAD
This Thai Quinoa Salad from our friend Shuchi, is full of fresh veggies & protein-rich quinoa and can be ready in minutes! With Sweet Bell Peppers and Mini Cucumbers, there is a delicious blend of crispy, tangy, and fresh tastes in this recipe. It’s a perfect restaurant quality dish that will be sure to impress your friends!
ENTERTAIN WITH EASE –
Whether you are hosting a cookout or looking for a new side dish to bring to the neighborhood potluck, there is something for everyone using these recipes made with tons of fresh greenhouse grown vegetables. These recipes will be the star of the show for your next barbeque or cookout. Entertaining can be stressful, especially when you’re feeling uninspired with your menu, so when putting together your next party plan try to add something new to the line-up. With all these super side dishes and salads, you will be able to impress your guests while also ensuring that everyone gets their daily veggie intake! Make sure your dishes are packed with healthy greenhouse grown vegetables to keep you going during busy summer days.
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