Whether you’re dining alfresco on the patio or are packing a picnic for the beach, summer dinners are all about the sides. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or attending a potluck gathering, consider this your go-to list for the season. From pasta salads and potato salads to grilled vegetables and crisp salads, these recipes will be the star of your summer feast.

Summer ushers in all the best produce (looking at you, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini), and we see no reason not to eat our way through it all. Grab your biggest tote bag and get yourself to the farmers’ market ASAP to stock up on the bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables. From there, you can pair the produce with some of our top-tier sides like this watermelon-feta salad or riffs on a classic Caprese salad featuring juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil.

As the days get longer and hotter, we’re more and more in the mood for crisp, refreshing sides that help us keep our cool. A chilled pasta salad or potato salad (peep our antipasto potato salad) are light and bright. Plus, they require very little cook time (so less time standing next to a hot stove or grill). Ditto for all the summer slaws we’ve created over the years. They’re a lovely complement to heavier, charred bites like burgers, ribs, and hot dogs.

For more warm-weather-friendly meals, check out our favorite summer vegetables, no-cook summer appetizers, and no-bake desserts.

delish!