Nothing about these 29 backyard recipes whispers. They shout, sizzle, and take over the yard like it’s a full-time job. There’s no fancy plating or quiet bites here—just high-heat flavor, some intentional charring, and meals that invite you to eat with your hands. It’s a lineup built for hungry crowds and people who like their food loud.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad doesn’t care about rules—it just shows up cold, creamy, and always ready for a crowd. It’s the kind of side that holds its own against ribs, wings, and whatever else you’re juggling with one hand. Nobody skips it, and nobody regrets piling it on. One scoop becomes two without any debate. It’s not trying to impress—it just does.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Epic Nacho Snack Board
No one plays it cool when Epic Nacho Snack Board hits the table. It’s loud, messy, and usually the first thing gone. Everyone gets involved—forks optional, order nonexistent. It’s not a meal, but it feels like one when you go back for round three. Backyard chaos in the best way.
Get the Recipe: Epic Nacho Snack Board
The Backyard Table
Get it NOW and level up your outdoor dining! The Backyard Table - Recipes for Summer Cookouts features 34 of Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining.
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- Grilled Corn Guacamole
- Grilled French Onion Burgers
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Grunt
- and so many more!
Every recipe is created, tested and loved by Chef Jenn and her family - there's no AI here!
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Buy Now!Pizza Pasta Salad
Every cookout needs a wildcard, and Pizza Pasta Salad shows up with no plan and still wins. It’s easy, bold, and weirdly satisfying no matter what else is on your plate. It disappears quickly and gets people asking questions between mouthfuls. The bowl’s scraped before the main course is even halfway gone. Don’t expect leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad
Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers
Backyard food isn’t supposed to be neat, and Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers lean into the chaos. They’re smoky, hot, and usually gone before you can grab tongs for round two. This one’s all about standing up while eating and dodging someone else’s elbow. The char does the talking, and nobody complains about the burn marks. If there’s silence, it’s because everyone’s chewing.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers
Smashed Cucumber Salad
Things cool off fast once Smashed Cucumber Salad shows up on the table. It’s the break your plate needs from all the grilled madness and sticky fingers. Still bold, still loud—just with a little chill and crunch. It vanishes faster than people expect, especially when it’s wedged between everything else that needs a fork. Backyard spreads could use more balance like this.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Cucumber Salad
Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Every cookout needs at least one dish that doesn’t fight for attention but still wins. That’s Classic Corn Pudding Casserole, sliding in with smooth moves and disappearing without much noise. It doesn’t rely on the grill or showy toppings to be the first thing scraped clean. People grab a bite, nod slowly, and don’t say much—just go back for more. Sometimes the quiet ones hit the hardest.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!
Loud flavors, familiar combos, and zero apologies—that’s BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!. It shows up ready to compete with the hot stuff and ends up stealing half the space on every plate. Nobody waits for a second helping, they just keep scooping. It doesn’t need instructions or fancy labels, just a spoon and a crowd. This is what “bring something good” actually means.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!
Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters
Not everything at the cookout needs a fork. Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters are quick, cold, and gone before the question “what is that?” finishes. They’re bold, odd-looking, and weirdly addictive once you try one. People hover, pretend they’re full, and then sneak one more. The tray never stays full long, and that’s kind of the point.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters
Yellow Bean & Potato Salad
Yellow Bean & Potato Salad keeps it low-key but earns its space next to the loudest dishes on the table. It’s reliable, filling, and way more satisfying than it has any right to be. It doesn’t need heat, char, or toppings to hold attention. You’ll find it sitting empty before you know it. Not flashy, just smart.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Bean & Potato Salad
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Smoke’s great, but Roasted Tomatillo Salsa brings its own heat to the party. One scoop turns into a full plate situation real quick. It’s got the bite, the boldness, and the exact right kick to wake up whatever else is sitting around. People use it for chips at first, then pour it on everything else. It’s not a condiment anymore—it’s the main event.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
When the grill stays busy, Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad shows off what a little flame can do to the everyday stuff. This isn’t your cold deli-style filler—it’s bold, warm, and gets noticed fast. Even the skeptics grab seconds. It fits in with everything else and still stands out on its own. Backyard cooking needs more of this energy.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
Summer Squash Casserole
Some sides just know how to stick around—and Summer Squash Casserole never gets left behind. It walks the line between comforting and bold without needing to be flashy. Forks come back clean, plates get wiped, and someone’s always asking who brought it. If it shows up warm, it’s already halfway gone before the rest of dinner’s ready. Call it humble, but never call it boring.
Get the Recipe: Summer Squash Casserole
Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
It’s cold, bold, and hits harder than people expect. Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad doesn’t ask for attention, but it definitely gets it. The crunch is addictive, and people keep going back to it between bites of grilled everything. It’s the kind of dish you think about after the table’s cleared. Don’t be surprised if someone asks how you made it.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
Backyard food should be a little messy, a lot bold, and worth licking your fingers for. Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs check all three boxes with barely any warning. They snap, crunch, and somehow never make it to the plate. Everyone grabs one, then one more, and then they’re just gone. The grill won’t be the only thing smoking.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
Black Bean & Corn Salad
Some sides are just there. Black Bean & Corn Salad is not one of them. It brings the crunch, the flavor, and the kind of punch that makes people circle back without thinking. It holds up on its own, mixes with everything, and somehow still ends up gone by the time you’re ready for more. It’s easy to underestimate and hard to forget.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean & Corn Salad
Tomato Bruschetta
Grab-and-go food that still makes people stop mid-sentence. Tomato Bruschetta doesn’t wait around to get picked last—it’s already half gone before the main course hits the table. It’s light, fast, and probably one of the first things the picky eaters reach for. Backyard spreads should always have something this smart tucked in between the char. It’s quick, but it sticks.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Bruschetta
Thai Noodle Salad with Mango and Spicy Peanut Dressing
A little heat, a little sweet, and suddenly Thai Noodle Salad with Mango and Spicy Peanut Dressing is stealing the show. It cools the grill fire but adds its own spark. You’ll spot people circling back with second helpings and calling dibs before the bowl’s empty. It doesn’t play it safe, and that’s exactly why it works. Every table needs a wildcard like this.
Get the Recipe: Thai Noodle Salad with Mango and Spicy Peanut Dressing
Classic Hoppin’ John
Bring on the big flavor and no-nonsense comfort. Classic Hoppin’ John shows up like it’s been invited to every backyard bash since forever. There’s nothing flashy about it, but it earns every spot on the plate. Nobody walks away hungry, and nobody forgets the first spoonful. It’s not loud, but it sticks with you.
Get the Recipe: Classic Hoppin’ John
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Somewhere between comfort food and party food lives Deviled Egg Pasta Salad. It doesn’t mess around with portion sizes or quiet flavors. It shows up confident and clears half the table in ten minutes. Everyone has a “just one more bite” moment. That bowl isn’t making it to the end of the night.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Panzanella Salad
Panzanella Salad doesn’t pretend to be fancy, but it plays smarter than most sides. It’s filling, fast to disappear, and somehow still refreshing between bites of grilled chaos. People forget about it until they try it, and then it’s suddenly in the center of every plate. Backyard meals are better with something like this tossed in. Simple, loud, and not going home with leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Panzanella Salad
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Flames meet crunch in the best way with Grilled Cauliflower Steaks. They’re the kind of side that gets people talking and meat-eaters rethinking their strategy. No one’s pretending this is a backup dish—it’s loud, hot, and right in the center of the action. It doesn’t need meat to hit hard. This one brings the fire all by itself.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Dairy-Free Radish Salad
Not everything needs cheese to pull its weight. Dairy-Free Radish Salad brings the crunch, the bite, and a whole lot of “what is that?” curiosity. It doesn’t ask for spotlight time, but it still earns second servings. This one cuts through all the grilled heaviness like it’s doing the table a favor. Backyard meals like this keep things moving.
Get the Recipe: Dairy-Free Radish Salad
Asian Noodle Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing
Fast, cold, and packed with punch, Asian Noodle Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing makes itself known without saying much. People walk by, take one bite, and realize they’ve made a mistake not grabbing more. It doesn’t care about the grill—it’s got its own thing going. The bowl empties fast, and it doesn’t ask for attention. It just earns it.
Get the Recipe: Asian Noodle Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing
Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
When the grill shuts down, Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies turn the sugar dial right back up. No oven, no fluff—just bold, sticky sweetness that keeps hands reaching. There’s no polite way to eat them and no shame in doubling up. They’re gone before you know it, leaving only a few crumbs and maybe one suspiciously sticky plate. Backyard desserts should always hit this fast.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
White Bean Salad
White Bean Salad plays it cool but still pulls weight like a main dish. It’s filling without slowing things down, and perfect for those circling the table looking for a second scoop. It doesn’t show off, it just gets the job done with zero leftovers. This one’s for the people who know how to spot a sleeper hit on the buffet. Don’t blink—it’s gone.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Salad
Cucumber Salad with Feta
A little chill, a little tang, and Cucumber Salad with Feta lands right in that sweet spot between bites of ribs and another cold drink. It’s refreshing enough to reset your plate but bold enough to stand up to whatever else is smoking. No heat, no hassle, just something that gets forked up fast. If your grill needs backup, this is it. Cool, crisp, and gone in a flash.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad with Feta
Southern Style Pickled Shrimp
Some dishes need a cooler, not a grill. Southern Style Pickled Shrimp is all about bold flavor without the smoke. It disappears fast, usually while someone’s still explaining what it is. Backyard guests love a surprise hit, and this one delivers. Nobody eats just one.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Pickled Shrimp
Wild Rice Salad
No grill required, no drama needed—Wild Rice Salad just shows up and handles its business. It’s chewy, cool, and sits on the table like it’s been there forever. This isn’t your average side dish—it actually fills you up and tastes like someone thought it through. There’s always one person asking if there’s more. Smart move if you brought extra.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Salad
Classic Red Potato Salad with Pickles
This isn’t the watered-down side dish people expect. Classic Red Potato Salad with Pickles comes in strong and doesn’t apologize for anything. The crunch hits first, the flavor sticks around, and the whole thing disappears faster than you planned for. It’s familiar in the best way but sharper than most expect. If someone brought a backup bowl, they knew what they were doing.
Get the Recipe: Classic Red Potato Salad with Pickles