Need some side ideas please

I share your pain brotha! I usually tell my company smoked/grilled meats and beer/liquor on me and sides on you. It's never an issue for obvious reasons:-D

I'm single so aint no time or willingness to be making salads or sides etc.

FISHJR58 said:

There are probably a ton of threads about this topic but I will give it a shot anyways... I love grillin meat and smokin but whenever I have company over, I have no idea what to make for sides... I am lookin for something I can enjoy as well as my friends and family but I am stuck in a rutt... Any suggestions brethren?? I'm not a big fan of coleslaw but most people come over askin for it... I just need a lil push from all of yall because I trust my brethren...

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I like to make sour cream potatoes. Make mashed potatoes as you normally would, then add sour cream and crumbled fried bacon and stir them into the potatoes. Spread the mixture into a casserole dish, cover with shredded cheddar cheese and bake in a 350 oven until the cheese is melted.
I like to serve it with fresh chives on top.:-D

Do you want side dishes that you cook on the grill or in the oven?

toymaster said:

Do you want side dishes that you cook on the grill or in the oven?

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That's what I was going to ask. If you got room on your grill/smoker then you could do a pan of beans while everything is cooking they are the easiest I think. You could always do some ABTs or stuffed mushrooms on the grill to. The old camping stand by of diced potatoes, onions, and peppers with EVOO butter and seasoning all wrapped in foil is always a big hit. Pan of corn pudding is easy. Mac n cheese is a two step process of having to boil the noodles then put in oven/grill. I guess I just look at what I would order if I was out then think of how I could remake it on the smoker. Hope this helps

I usually like something cold, like a pasta salad, with my BBQ. I make a spicy Ranch, bacon, avocado, and cheese pasta salad. Goes well with my BBQ which is usually a little on the spicy side.

Really like double stuffed zucchini, mashed cauliflower, jalapeno poppers/A.B.T.'s, smoked cabbage, I LOVE coleslaw so that's hard for me to relate to.
You can always go for some classic potato salad. I've been getting into fried jicama as well lately. Broccoli with butter and cheese is simple, but deeelicious. There's cornbread of course, and then the potential with beans are endless. You can make bean salads, a thousand variations of baked beans, refried pinto/black beans, on and on and on with beans. One of my favorite things to do was place a big ol' pot o' beans underneath whatever I was smoking, and letting the drippings enhance the beans.

As others have mentioned you can go the route of pasta as well, I love pasta but don't eat it anymore. Pasta salads and Mac N' Cheese were some definite favorites.
You can roast some zucchini right on the grill, slice them in half down the middle, hit them with some butter and rub, and it tastes freaking gooood.

Love roasting eggplant on the grill then making baba ganoush, you can dip all sorts of stuff into that. I used to make flatbread to dip it into, but these days it's just veggies. Still delicious in either event. Broccoli and cucumber slices are the favorites for dipping into the baba.

Dadeo719 said:

That's what I was going to ask. If you got room on your grill/smoker then you could do a pan of beans while everything is cooking they are the easiest I think. You could always do some ABTs or stuffed mushrooms on the grill to. The old camping stand by of diced potatoes, onions, and peppers with EVOO butter and seasoning all wrapped in foil is always a big hit. Pan of corn pudding is easy. Mac n cheese is a two step process of having to boil the noodles then put in oven/grill. I guess I just look at what I would order if I was out then think of how I could remake it on the smoker. Hope this helps

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Dadeo got to most of them before I did. My latest sides are deviled eggs (I'm bringing them back!) and potato bombs. You can also do a veggie packet (sliced red onion, sliced red bell pepper, baby portobello mushrooms, 2 cloves garlic, chopped fresh basil, 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste wrapped in aluminum foil - good with beef). Been playing with a flatbread when I have enough time to make it in advance.

If you are smoking, smoked baked beans hands down!

Corn caserole is really good with bbq.

Baked beans of course, my other main sides are Vermont Cheddar Mac and cheese or potato salad. All easy to make too.

Looks like BBQ sides are covered, though you could add a mayo-free potato salad with fresh herbs and lemon (epicurious.com) or smoked mozzarella, basil, sun-dried tomato and oil pasta salad.

For grilling steaks:
- grilled asparagus and bell peppers in olive oil (basic but tasty)
- butternut squash on the grill with butter, brown sugar and bourbon in the "well", then mix in when soft
- grilled corn on the cob (no husk); coat in oil and cover in a a chile/lime rub (I use Wild Tree), best corn I've ever had
- how about the classic wedge salad? iceberg wedge with bacon bits, bleu cheese crumbles and french dressing.
- twice baked potatoes
- brussel sprouts, quartered, saute in olive oil and fresh lemon juice until carmelized

Then there's always grilled pineapple chunks, homemade onion rings, homemade french fries, just plain ol' grilled onions on the side are an awesome side for me from time to time.

Look around your produce aisle, and get inspired. There's gobs of stuff that taste great. Cheese stuffed grilled mature portobello mushrooms. You can even throw in some marinara sauce and it's like a little mushroom pizza for a side dish. I really enjoy those for snack foods.

Flatbreads (or tortillas) with three choices of toppings -olive tapenade, Parmesan spinach artichoke dip and a green chile salsa. It's basically another finger food like ribs and it is fruits and veggies.

ssv3 said:

I share your pain brotha! I usually tell my company smoked/grilled meats and beer/liquor on me and sides on you. It's never an issue for obvious reasons:-D

I'm single so aint no time or willingness to be making salads or sides etc.

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Should be nominated for Post Of The Week award

I like to make a grilled corn salad with smoked bacon chopped up tomato,red onion,balsamic vinegar and the wife makes a mean coleslaw.

Good ol home fries are always a hit a my house with my smoked beef. Simply wash and cube some red skinned potatoes - skins on, microwave until almost tender. In a skillet saute them with some sweet onions, salt and pepper. Can even be done a day ahead and wrapped in foil. The day of put your foil packet on the grill or in the oven to reheat. " Eazy Peezy"

OMG!! You gotta try this one!

Get 3-4 yellow squash, Couple of zucchini, and a package of fresh mushrooms (I prefer the sliced).

Slice up squash and zucchini 1/4" slices. Place everything on a large sheet of foil and season with garlic salt, salt, and pepper, then pour about 1/2 bottle of zesty Italian dressing on it and seal it up. Make sure it's sealed good (double wrapped) and place on the grill until done. This is an amazing side with steaks! Guaranteed hit every time!