Perfect Pairings: 26 Healthy Sides for Burgers and Hot Dogs

Burgers and hot dogs try to steal the spotlight at a summer cookout, but we all know that the sides elevate the meal. 

Whether you’re the host of the party or just enjoying dinner at home with your family, having tasty and healthy sides will take the meal over the top – and add a little more flavor and nutrition to the plate!

This Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe is a frequent summer side dish at our house and is one of our favorite recipes. Thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion are quickly pickled to make an easy salad that is a little sweet and a little tangy.

Get the Recipe: Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe

Homemade Potato Chips are easier to make than you think and bake up crispy in the oven. They’re a great way to use up that extra large bag of potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Potato Chips

Looking for a tasty side dish that the whole family will enjoy? Air Fryer Green Beans are an easy side dish that you can have ready in less than 15 minutes – the perfect addition to any meal.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Green Beans

Easy Oven Baked French Fries are coated in olive oil, tossed in delicious seasoning, and baked until crispy. They are so easy to make, and when served with a burger and delicious dipping sauce – they are so good.

Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Baked French Fries

These Peruvian-Inspired Sauteéd Green Beans are some of the best green beans that I have ever eaten. They have a little bit of sesame flavor, mixed with a punch of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, red bell peppers, and onion. Ready in less than 30 minutes – they are the most delicious dinner side dish.

Get the Recipe: Peruvian Inspired Sauteéd Green Beans

This Whole Wheat Pasta Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh summer vegetables like cucumber and tomatoes and is coated in a deliciously zesty Italian dressing. Made with whole wheat pasta, it is a filling summer side dish.

Get the Recipe: Tomato & Cucumber Pasta Salad

This Fresh Cucumber Salsa (Cucumber Pico de Gallo) is perfect for warm days—it’s bright, crispy, super refreshing, and made in just 15 minutes with crisp cucumbers, zingy onion, spicy chili, zesty lime juice, and fresh herbs!

Get the Recipe: Fresh Cucumber Salsa (Cucumber Pico de Gallo)

Dijon Mustard Sauce is an easy, tangy sauce with simple ingredients. It’s perfect to serve with chicken, fish, pork, or roasted vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Dijon Mustard Sauce

These Air Fryer Potato Chips are done in about half an hour and you’ll only need 4 ingredients to make it! So good and keeps for days!

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Potato Chips

Pickled Radishes & Carrots are crunchy and tangy with a little bit of bite. They are perfect for topping salads, tacos, and burgers – and are a great way to extend the life of summer produce.

Get the Recipe: Pickled Radishes & Carrots

Southern Bytes readers have spoken and this Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce Recipe tastes JUST LIKE the original. It is perfect for dipping chicken tenders, fries, and really, anything else. It is tangy, creamy, peppery, and so addicting.

Get the Recipe: Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce

This simple Sautéed Squash Recipe is so easy to make and allows the flavors of this delicious summer vegetable to shine. The delicious squash is tender, buttery, sweet, and so flavorful.

Get the Recipe: Sautéed Yellow Squash

Oven-Roasted Asparagus is crunchy, crisp, and buttery. It is quick and easy to make and is a delicious and healthy side dish.

Get the Recipe: Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Homemade salsa meets garlicky dill pickles with this unique Pickle de Gallo Recipe. You’ll want to eat this flavorful dip with a spoon. And you can if you want because it’s chock full of healthy veggies and yummy seasonings.

Get the Recipe: Pickle de Gallo Recipe

Homemade Ketchup is easy to make and superior to what you’d buy in the store. This recipe uses fresh tomatoes making it extra delicious! Experiment with the tomatoes you have on hand for varied flavor in every batch!

Get the Recipe: Homemade Ketchup

Sweet Potato Chips are a crunchy, healthy snack that you can make at home. No deep fryer required! You can make them at home in just a little over 30 minutes. (You can also air fry them!)

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

Homemade Greek Pasta Salad made with Pasta, Greek Olives, Feta Cheese, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Pepperoncinis, and tossed in a Homemade Greek Dressing. The Best Greek Pasta Salad Recipe!

Get the Recipe: Greek Pasta Salad

This Quick, Easy Vegan Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh, bright, vibrant Mediterranean vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette. A fresh, crowd-pleasing summery Mediterranean pasta salad for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and mid-week meals!

Get the Recipe: Quick, Easy Vegan Pasta Salad

Get ready to transport yourself to the sunny shores of Greece with this refreshing and vibrant Greek Salad Recipe! Crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cucumbers, tangy Greek olives, and creamy feta cheese come together in perfect harmony, all drizzled with a zesty lemon dressing. Bursting with Mediterranean flavors, this salad is not only light and fresh, but also a breeze to whip up, making it the ideal dish for busy weeknights or entertaining friends and family.

Get the Recipe: Greek Salad with Lemon Dressing

This Oven Roasted Squash recipe is the perfect side dish for busy summer nights. It is a simple and easy way to cook all kinds of squash with so much flavor!

Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Squash

This Creamy Southern Coleslaw recipe is one of my favorite side dishes. The sweet, tangy dressing combined with the fresh, crunchy cabbage is so simple yet so flavorful. It reminds me of the coleslaw from Raising Cane’s or KFC!

Get the Recipe: Coleslaw Recipe

Quick Pickled Red Onions are the perfect finishing touch for so many recipes. They can perfectly balance out a salty or spicy dish – and are the perfect top for a burger. And a bonus, they are so quick and easy to make!

Get the Recipe: Quick Pickled Red Onions

Be sure to follow me by tapping the follow button above this post. Also, if you would like me to email you my favorite recipes, sign up by clicking below!

Subscribe to the Southern Bytes Email List