Three Quick & Flavorful Cookout Sides | Weather.com
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All three of these options combine maximum "wow" with minimal time and effort.

Chris DeWeese

By

Chris DeWeese

May 26, 2025

corn on the grill

(Ali Majdfar via Getty Images )

Many associate the passing of Memorial Day with the beginning of outdoor cookout and barbecue season. If you’re grilling out today, you have probably already planned out your entrée. But if you're ready to up your sides roster, here are three quick and delicious options you might want to add to your menu. Use for today's meal, or save to try later this summer. Each one of these options brings maximum flavor with minimum prep time- exactly what you want in a side. Enjoy!

  • Elote-Style Grilled Corn with Cotija
  • It’s corn! If you have a few ears destined for the barbecue, consider utilizing this mouthwatering recipe. It starts off by charring the husks for smoky depth, then pairs hot cobs with homemade cilantro lime crema. Bonus: It’s gluten free!
  • Coal-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
  • OK, look, this one requires some fire safety precautions, but it’s pretty spectacular to be able to just cook sweet potatoes in the coals of your outdoor fire. Perfect if the temps are looking a little cooler than you’d like today. Here’s how to do it.
  • Daikon-Carrot Salad
  • Do you like Bahn Mi sandwiches? This recipe takes the daikon radishes and carrots out of the sandwich and turns them into a crisp, refreshing salad, adding toasted sesame seeds for taste and texture and ginger, vinegar and lime juice for brightness.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.