88 BBQ Side Dishes That Are Better Than the Main Event

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 6 to 8

"Maybe no one at your cookout can agree on hot dogs versus burgers, or blueberry versus cherry pie," writes PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen. "But we can all agree on this: Ranch dressing is delicious, and it deserves a spot on the table."

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 8

If you've never pickled your own onions (or vegetables) before, summer's a great time to start. They add a punch of vinegary bliss to everything from tacos to burgers to salads. "Feel free to play with the ingredients here," suggests Gillen. "Cider vinegar or rice vinegar would be lovely, and any sweetener will do."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Sure, you can serve this briny bowl of deliciousness with toasted bread or pita chips. But what I'm really psyched for is spreading it onto my first burger of the season. "It’s just as elegant as an elaborate charcuterie spread and comes together in all of 30 minutes," raves Gillen.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, one pan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

"It has everything you want (cheese, fluffy crust, garlic) and a bit of what you need (green vegetables) because balance is my number one motto," writes Gillen. Might I suggest a crispy prosciutto crown for good measure?

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Olive oil, fresh herbs and a few pantry staples can transform plain yogurt into a spectacular, photo-worthy dish. "For a thicker yogurt dip with the most pronounced swirl of oil, choose a naturally thick Greek yogurt—such as Fage—or swap in sour cream or labneh," suggests Gillen. It'd pair especially well with seared steak or saucy ribs.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 3 to 5

Carby sides are a barbecue essential. But unlike cornbread, biscuits and rolls, your guests won't see these tiny cakes coming. If you don’t have a smoker at home, add a few dashes of liquid smoke to the butter or use smoked sea salt in place of the kosher salt.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 to 8

There’s no wrong way to serve a potato, but these roasted spuds topped with bacon, cheese, sour cream and chives just seem extra right. Serve them on the baking sheet for minimal mess.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Butter is good, but sriracha-spiked aioli is even better. Cook the corn in its husk on the grill until it gets some drool-worthy char marks.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

So pretty, so easy and oh-so tasty. The crumbled goat cheese offers salty bursts of flavor against tangy balsamic dressing and mild black rice. (You could substitute quinoa or farro, BTW.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8 to 10

Charred bread topped with melted cheese and tangy balsamic-marinated strawberries? Oh, you fancy. Better yet, it'll only take you 45 minutes to assemble.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, one pot, slow cooker recipe
• Serves: 6

The barbecue doesn't start until a big batch of this shows up. And because it's made in the Crockpot, the recipe couldn't be any easier to pull off. Don't be shy with the dark brown sugar.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Sick of half the pieces burning while the others stay raw? Organize the skewers by veggie, so the pieces are all equal size. Problem solved.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, one pot, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Combine two of your favorite things for a new take on a barbecue classic. The buttery avocado adds one more layer of cozy decadence to all that melted white cheddar.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This simple dish is bursting with summer flavor (and it doesn’t look too shabby, either). Load up on zucchini at the farmers market to spice up this tomato classic.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegan, no cook
• Serves: 6

Lettuce, schmettuce. This refreshing, leaf-free salad has only five ingredients. And it's just what you (and your guests) need after a long, hot day in the backyard.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 20

This old-school party appetizer gets a green twist, thanks to avocado and minced chives. Serve them at the start of the barbecue or bookmark them for Sunday brunch.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegan
• Serves: 6

Hard to pronounce (hi-kuh-muh), easy to eat. Think of jicama as a cross between an apple and a pear. Serve the slaw as a side salad or on top of turkey burgers.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Your burger is crying out for these crispy spuds, coated in a ridiculously simple seasoning mix. Think garlic powder, cayenne and grated Parmesan.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 6

See ya, mayonnaise. Go beyond gloppy, store-bought slaw with this vinegar-based beauty, starring lots of crunchy veggies and Dijon-Greek yogurt vinaigrette.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one bowl, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 20

Regular cornbread? Yawn. These buttery biscuits strike just the right balance of sweet and spicy. The best part? You won't even have to knead the dough to make them.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Sayonara, mayo. I'd suggest using Greek yogurt to make this BBQ side dish super creamy. Pass the ribs, please.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

Take your tastebuds on a tropical getaway. This limey, spicy condiment is just as delicious with chips as it is piled on top of grilled chicken or fish.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Sandwich, meet your cutest salad bowl. Swap bread for pasta to make this crunchy-creamy BBQ side dish, inspired by the classic handheld.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Whether you're serving mussels, ribs, burgers or grilled summer chicken, this three-ingredient BBQ side dish pairs well with just about everything. (Don't panic about the frying: The fries are so tiny that you'll only need a little bit of oil to get the job done.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Bust out the tortilla chips, because the guac is always first to go at the cookout. Roast the peppers and corn in the oven or char them on the grill.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Fact: Everything tastes better when it’s on a stick, and these barbecued bites are no exception. The recipe suggests trading tomatoes for cubed watermelon here, but either combo will work.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, pescatarian
• Serves: 6

These Vietnamese beauties offer serious refreshment after a few rounds of kickball. Load 'em up with everything from lettuce to carrot to mint before stuffing them with shrimp and wrapping them closed.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

The kids will need lots of energy before dominating the cornhole board. Enter this protein-packed app, which is even tastier when plated with mini pita or Greek salad.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, no cook, high protein, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6

This easy lunch idea was overdue for an update. Start by adding chunks of buttery avocado. Then, cut back on the mayo to make way for tangy rice vinegar and fresh dill.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 40

Weenies get enough attention at the cookout. That's why you should swap the minis for tiny pieces of carrot, which are wrapped in store-bought pizza dough and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Just wait until you try the green goddess dip.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

All of your antipasto favorites in one bowl. Skip hearty red sauce for a lighter version with Italian ingredients, like rosemary and artichoke hearts.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

I'm picturing a slice of this nestled on a paper plate between big scoops of pulled pork and mac and cheese. Did I mention it also pairs great with mimosas?

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, one bowl, high protein
• Serves: 6

Lunch never looked so good. And the recipe is a breeze to make, since it calls for shredded rotisserie chicken. Serve the peppers as sides for ribs or steak and take the leftovers to work all week.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, vegan, gluten free
• Serves: 4

I'll never get sick of pasta, but spiralized cucumbers are hands-down more refreshing. Thanks to the tangy tahini-soy dressing, you won't miss wheat noodles one bit.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one pan
• Serves: 9

You're going to get a real kick out of all the spicy Fresno chiles. (See what I did there?) Jalapeños work, too, if that's all you can find. Drizzle each slice with honey before devouring.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, one pan
• Serves: 4

Roasting is the secret to crispy veggies. The Thai-inspired almond butter sauce takes it over the top, thanks to toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, sriracha and lime juice.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, one pan, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Forget all about the mayo-drenched elbow macaroni of cookouts past. Combine cherry tomatoes, thin-sliced summer squash and lots of ricotta and Pecorino Romano instead for an easy win.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Hit a Parisian café without ever setting foot on a plane. Substitute canned tuna with extra veggies (hello, green beans, arugula, potatoes and radishes), then add curry and Dijon vinaigrette. Très chic.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

It doesn't get simpler than store-bought flatbread and shaved in-season vegetables. Let the barbecue in on the fun and cook the summer pizza right on the grill.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Pulled pork's best friend is easier to whip up than you think. Take this one-pot dinner, made with only seven ingredients in 30 minutes. You're welcome.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

When the weather gets warm, I try to work juicy peaches onto my plate as often as possible. Here, they're grilled alongside tangy halloumi cheese and tossed in basil-lemon dressing.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Pass on tri-color spirals. This pretty pasta is easy for guests to scoop and packed with baby spinach, peas and Parmesan. Add chopped roasted almonds for crunch.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly, no cook
• Serves: 4

Obsessed with the peanut sauce at your go-to Thai restaurant? You can make your own with five pantry staples. (The secret ingredient is sweet chili sauce.)

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

Stand back, cabbage: Let some other greens in on the slaw game. It's like a vegan Caesar salad with a creamy dressing made from sunflower seeds and almonds.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, pescatarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

Could you serve these for the main course? Yes. Am I eating two of these before digging into burgers and dogs? Also yes. Bring on the lime sour cream.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

If you haven't been introduced to crunchy garlic chile oil yet, now's the time. Spicy and savory, thanks to seven whole cloves of garlic and Aleppo chile, the condiment can take any veggie from blah to bae.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, vegan, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

Who said soup has to be hot? Cool off with a bowl of this tomato-based gem. All you need is 15 minutes and a blender.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

This version honors the traditional recipe while upgrading it with fried capers, pickled radishes, chopped dill and bonito tuna packed in olive oil. I'll bring the Chardonnay.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 10

I never get tired of this party staple. Not only is it a breeze to put together, but you can make it up to 12 hours ahead of the picnic. Serve it with tortilla chips, pita chips or vegetables.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Our vegetarian take on a Southern classic swaps sausage for thin-sliced onions. They'll fit in at both brunch or a barbecue (I'm making pulled pork sliders with mine).

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

Transform store-bought flatbread with briny artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, lemon juice and basil. Extra crushed red pepper flakes on mine, please.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Let's be real: I'm going to have *at least* two servings of mac and cheese at the picnic. So, why not add cauliflower florets to make it healthy? (Well, healthy-ish.) Just assemble, bake, cover with foil and hit the road.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Butter and salt? You can do better than that. These cobs are charred and coated with lime mayo, Parmesan cheese and smoked paprika.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

No one's passing on this pretty-in-pink dip. And you're only seven ingredients and 15 minutes away. Serve with crackers, veggies or pita chips.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

All the salty crispness you love, minus the deep frying. These panko-crusted zucchini sticks are baked in the oven for ease, so have a handful (or three) with your cheeseburger.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

This no-frills BBQ side dish just went fancy. The cherry tomatoes and green onions get soft and savory in the oven as the cornbread bakes. Alfresco dinner on the patio, anyone?

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly, one pot
• Serves: 6

Imagine if you could dip a chip into an elote. Yup, now it's a thing. Think lots of corn kernels with all the fixings, from cotija cheese to cayenne pepper to sour cream.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Cold soup is one of my favorite summer appetizers because it doesn't require you to stand over a sweltering hot stove. This beauty comes together in a flash with the help of a blender.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
• Serves: 4

I'm betting you have nearly every ingredient you need to tackle this veggie dish. Pair it with steak, burgers or grilled Portobello mushrooms.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 6

Serve it hot, serve it cold. Either way, this BBQ side dish boasts a ton of protein and healthy fat, thanks to beans and avocado. A squeeze of lime gives it the touch of brightness it needs.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, pescatarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

No matter how stacked my plate is, I'll *always* have room for these tiny summer sammies. Think buttery brioche stuffed with zingy, creamy lobster salad, complete with celery, scallions and fresh herbs.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 48

Aka the most kid-friendly pantry recipe of all time. Might I suggest serving the leftovers as a brag-worthy post-camping snack?

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, pescatarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Isn't this just the most Southern-inspired salad you've ever seen? Feel free to grill the peach slices alongside the shrimp for extra smoky flavor.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, dairy free
• Serves: 8

These potential burger buns have a secret: Thanks to riced cauliflower and almond flour, they're totally gluten-free. But don't worry, the rolls still have an uncanny bread-like crumb.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Salty, crispy strips of heaven never hurt, especially when they're mixed in with cheddar pasta, fire-roasted tomatoes, sweet onion and arugula.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

Believe it or not, this iconic summer BBQ side dish is only a few pantry staples away. Finish the tomatoes with a generous smear of pimento cheese and a flurry of crumbled bacon to take them over the top.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 10 to 12

When in doubt, a big board of snacks is a guaranteed home run. Savor Spanish finger foods, like Ibérico ham, chorizo, manzanilla olives and Manchego cheese, with a pitcher of sangria.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8 to 10

The trick to this savory, spicy BBQ side dish? Shredding the cheddar cheese by hand. Pre-shredded cheese is packaged with additional ingredients to prevent clumping, so shredding your own guarantees a creamy, velvety texture.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

A no-cook accompaniment that's as elegant as it is delicious? Where do I sign? The Caesar-like dressing stars anchovy, which is paired with smashed garlic for sharpness, lemon for acidity and Dijon mustard for dairy-free creaminess. 

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Because fried cheese is always invited to the cookout. The halloumi fries are almost like super flavorful mozzarella sticks, while the tomato dip is a garlicky, refined alternative to ketchup and marinara.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Any pasta topped with lemon-garlic breadcrumbs is my kind of pasta. And with all that bacon, the kids won't even mind the broccoli, promise.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 4o

Who said you need to wait until Christmas to serve hot, melty Brie? I'll take mine wrapped in four-ingredient pretzel dough, thanks.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Behold: a mess-free seafood boil. This skewer recipe is a total breeze to grill, but the dish's real claim to fame is the smoky, spicy Cajun butter that's slathered all over the them before cooking.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, just like fries—only a million times more elegant. The citrusy saffron aioli will totally blow your mind, BTW.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: keto, low carb, high protein, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Three ingredients + one hour = the most delicious baked wings you'll ever serve. The recipe calls for making your own everything bagel seasoning with pink Himalayan salt, but you can easily use your favorite store-bought brand instead.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

Grain bowls can be made with much more than just rice. Meet millet, a nutty, flavorful alternative that's closer to couscous in texture than quinoa.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, dairy free
• Serves: 4 to 6

Not only does using yellow tomatoes instead of traditional red result in a milder, less acidic gazpacho, but the addition of ripe summer peaches also gives the soup a subtle sweetness you'll love.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Sesame oil, a sprinkle of sugar and bacon fat curb kimchi's punchy flavor in mere minutes. When caramelized, it pairs seamlessly with traditional spud toppers, like bacon and sour cream.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Take your pick of oranges, clementines, tangerines, grapefruits and pomelos, slice them up and arrange them to your liking. You can also trade citrus for melon if you want to take advantage of the summer farmers market.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 4 to 6

Avocado takes over for traditional egg in the dressing, so count on it being creamier than expected. Go ahead and make a second batch for dunking veggies, pretzels and pita bread.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2 to 4

Sure, celery is an essential complement to Buffalo wings and canned tuna salad—but have you ever seen it in the spotlight? This dish proves the underrated veggie can run the show.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4 to 6

If you love elotes, you need to try this souped-up spin. The corn is crowned with a drizzle of Kewpie mayo—which is famously rich and umami-forward—and shichimi togarashi, a Japanese spice blend containing chili flakes, seaweed and sesame seeds.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

This recipe is super hands-off. While the broccoli roasts on an easy-to-clean sheet pan, the pesto comes together in the food processor with a few quick pulses. Finish it with lemon and all the shaved Parm.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegan
• Serves: 4 to 6

Prosciutto-wrapped watermelon is tasty...but expected. No one will see these charred, artfully garnished wedges coming.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: one pot, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Sticky, sweet, smoky perfection. This Southern-inspired BBQ side dish starts with thick-cut bacon and baked peaches, not to mention maple syrup and your favorite bourbon.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

"I love the bright, briny flavor of capers and the texture they add to dishes," writes recipe creator Yumna Jawad. "But let me tell you: When fried, they might actually be even more amazing. They lose some of their pungency and become crisp, light and almost nutty." That said, skip the frying and add them straight from the jar if you’re pressed for time.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

There are endless options when it comes to this gooey powerhouse. Kale, spinach, collards and mustard greens are all fair game, and the dairy aisle is your oyster (though the recipe recommends extra-sharp cheddar, Gruyère, Emmentaler and fontina). The results will be drool-worthy regardless.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 6 to 8

You'd never know it, but the tangy yogurt dip is totally dairy-free and vegan-friendly. As for the zhoug, it's a breeze to prepare from scratch, but I won't tell if you save time by using your favorite store-bought brand instead.