Best BBQ Side Dishes & Drinks for Your Cookout

Best BBQ Side Dishes & Drinks for Your Cookout

Colorful BBQ side dishes spread including coleslaw, baked beans, corn, potato salad and cold drinks

The meat may be the star of the show, but the sides and drinks are what make a BBQ truly unforgettable. A great cookout spread is all about balance — creamy, crunchy, sweet, savory, and refreshing all on one table. At Smokey's BBQ, we believe every detail matters. Here are our favorite BBQ sides and drinks to complete your perfect cookout.

🥗 The Essential BBQ Side Dishes

1. Classic Creamy Coleslaw

No BBQ is complete without coleslaw. The cool, creamy crunch is the perfect contrast to smoky, rich meats.

  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage + 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar, salt & pepper to taste

Mix dressing separately, toss with cabbage, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. The longer it sits, the better it gets.

2. Smoky Baked Beans

Sweet, smoky, and deeply satisfying — baked beans are a BBQ staple for good reason.

  • 2 cans navy beans (drained)
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 4 strips bacon (chopped)
  • 1 onion (diced), 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Cook bacon and onion in a cast iron skillet, add remaining ingredients, and bake at 325°F for 1.5 hours. Or throw it on the smoker alongside your meat for incredible flavor.

3. Grilled Street Corn (Elote)

Grill corn in the husk, peel back, char directly over flame, then slather with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime. Smoky, creamy, tangy perfection — your guests will be fighting over the last cob.

4. Classic Potato Salad

Creamy potato salad is the ultimate BBQ comfort food. Boil Yukon Gold potatoes until just tender, then toss with mayo, mustard, celery, red onion, pickles, and hard-boiled eggs. Season generously and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

5. Watermelon Feta Salad

A refreshing, unexpected crowd-pleaser. Cube fresh watermelon and toss with crumbled feta, fresh mint, a drizzle of honey, and a squeeze of lime. Light, sweet, and the perfect palate cleanser between bites of BBQ.

6. Mac & Cheese

Smoked mac & cheese is next-level BBQ comfort food. Make your favorite creamy mac, top with breadcrumbs, and throw it on the smoker for 45 minutes. The smoke adds an incredible depth of flavor that will have everyone asking for the recipe.

7. Cornbread

Sweet, buttery cornbread is the perfect vehicle for soaking up BBQ sauce and baked bean juice. Bake in a cast iron skillet for crispy edges and a fluffy center. Serve warm with honey butter.

👉 Set the perfect outdoor dining scene with our Outdoor Dining & Entertaining collection.

🍺 The Best BBQ Drinks

Non-Alcoholic

  • Classic Lemonade — Fresh-squeezed with mint and a splash of sparkling water. Always a hit.
  • Sweet Iced Tea — The Southern BBQ staple. Brew strong, sweeten while hot, serve over ice with lemon.
  • Watermelon Agua Fresca — Blend watermelon with lime juice and a touch of sugar, strain and serve over ice. Incredibly refreshing.
  • Sparkling Water with Citrus — Simple, elegant, and palate-cleansing between bites.

Alcoholic

  • Cold Beer — A crisp lager or pale ale is the classic BBQ pairing. Keep a cooler stocked and iced.
  • Bourbon Lemonade — Bourbon + fresh lemonade + mint + ice. Simple, sophisticated, and perfect for summer.
  • Sangria — Make a big pitcher of red or white sangria the night before. Easy to serve and always popular at parties.
  • Spiked Arnold Palmer — Half iced tea, half lemonade, splash of vodka. Refreshing and dangerously easy to drink.

💡 Pro Tips for the Perfect Cookout Spread

  • Make cold sides the day before — coleslaw, potato salad, and beans all taste better after resting overnight.
  • Keep drinks in a large cooler with plenty of ice — set it up in the shade so ice lasts longer.
  • Label dishes for guests with dietary restrictions.
  • Set up a self-serve drink station so guests can help themselves and you can focus on the grill.

🛒 Complete Your Cookout Setup

From the grill to the table, we have everything you need for the perfect cookout. Browse our Grills & Outdoor Cooking collection, set the scene with our Outdoor Dining & Entertaining picks, and make your guests comfortable with our Patio Furniture & Outdoor Accessories. Questions? Contact our team anytime!

Now load up that table and enjoy the feast! 🔥🍺

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