50 Cold Side Dishes for Picnics and Potlucks

Cold side dishes for potluck and picnic – Grab a plate and get ready to dig into these tasty potluck and picnic sides. Our recipes for cold pasta salads, crowd-pleasing veggie skewers, and shareable side dishes are sure to be a hit at your next summer picnic or potluck. You can prepare these easy cold side dish recipes — great for potlucks, picnics, or festive cookouts — without fearing they’ll get cold by the time you arrive at your destination. Enjoy!

by Sidney Yang

Sidney Yang

Sidney is part of the Eatwell101 family since 2014. As an editor, she shares her enthusiasm for food, cooking tips, and entertaining across more than a thousand written articles published on Eatwell101.

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Updated Jan 20, 2025

1. Bacon Jalapeño Popper Cheese Balls

These super festive bacon jalapeño popper cheese balls make for a real crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil 

Healthy chicken pasta salad is packed with flavor, protein and veggies. Try this pasta salad recipe for a quick lunch or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Apple Feta Spinach Salad

This healthy spinach salad recipe is crunchy, sweet, and full of fresh flavors. A perfect vegetarian spinach salad for lunch or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Apple Bacon Coleslaw

This coleslaw recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is packed with bright and delicious flavor! Super creamy, crunchy, and fresh coleslaw you can make in a cinch!
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5. Easy Pasta Salad with Avocado

Pasta salad with creamy avocado slices is so easy to make! the best Pasta salad to add to your dinner table. - One bowl of this healthy pasta salad will delight even the pickiest eaters!
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6. Cheesy Corn Fritters Recipe

These Corn Fritters are crispy on the edges, soft in the middle – A great side dish for a host of dinners!
Cooking time: 8 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. Spicy Deviled Eggs

This spicy deviled eggs recipe is a classic, bite-size hors d'oeuvre for an elegant Easter buffet.
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8. Perfect Marinated Tomatoes with Mozzarella

These marinated tomatoes make a perfect hors d’oeuvre full of fresh summer flavors!
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9. Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe

This tomato cucumber salad is crisp, refreshing, and full of flavor–the perfect light side dish for any occasion!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. Healthy Coleslaw {No Mayo}

Healthy coleslaw recipe without mayo or sugar! This light coleslaw recipe with Mediterranean accents is perfect bliss for your potlucks, barbecue, or any outdoor event!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Roasted Zucchini Salad

This roasted zucchini salad is super flavorful and healthy, you’ll want to make it all summer long!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. Healthy Cabbage Salad with Orange-Lime Dressing

This cabbage salad recipe is crunchy, healthy, and perfect for your midweek lunches or large gatherings.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. Cilantro Lime Watermelon Salad

Sweet, fresh and juicy - This Cilantro Lime Watermelon Feta Salad recipe is a definite crowd pleaser!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

14. The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad

This creamy cucumber salad recipe is delicious and refreshing — Great for grilling or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

15. Jalapeño Watermelon Salad

This watermelon salad is easy to make and so refreshing—enjoy summer in a bowl!
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16. Baked Corn on the Cob and Garlic Parmesan

This baked corn on the cob recipe with garlic and parmesan is a huge crowd-pleaser!
Cooking time: 35 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

17. Roasted Potato Salad

This roasted potato salad recipe is super nourishing and packed with flavor. The perfect side dish for your BBQ menu.
Cooking time: 30 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

18. Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fritters

Crispy zucchini fritters are a perfect healthy snack with fresh zucchini!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

19. Apple Kale Salad

This kale salad recipe is packed full of hearty nutrients and tastes amazing!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

20. Baked Zucchini Fries

These Baked Zucchini Fries are an amazing lightened-up appetizer everyone will love.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

21. Grilled Corn Salad Recipe

This easy grilled corn salad recipe is your ultimate summer side. Made with grilled corn, jalapeño, red onion and a juicy dressing. Goes with virtually anything!
Cooking time: 5 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

22. Shredded Carrot Salad

This Carrot Salad recipe is my go-to for lunch or a quick meal prep salad
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23. Cucumber Strawberry Salad

This cucumber strawberry salad with watermelon is the perfect summer side to serve with grilled chicken or steak. What would be more cooling than a freshly cut strawberry salad?
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

24. Spicy Corn Salad

Easy and delicious corn salad recipe - A great light lunch or side for bbq and grilling.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

25. Tomato Potato Salad

This tomato potato salad recipe is light, nourishing, and super delicious. Bring the potato salad to your next potluck and prepare yourself for rave reviews!
Cooking time: 12 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

26. Mozzarella Pasta Salad

This mozzarella pasta salad is the perfect side dish or main course for a warm Spring or Summer evening!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

27. Creamy Corn Salad

This crowd-pleasing fresh corn salad recipe will always disappear fast at your summer potlucks and BBQs.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

28. White-Bean Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

Our white bean salad only take minutes to prepare, and is packed full of healthy veggies. You'd better bookmark this white bean salad recipe, because we know you’ll use it a lot!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

29. Fried Baby Potatoes with Garlic Brown Butter

These epic Fried potatoes baby with garlic brown butter are the perfect side dish to practically anything!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

30. Cheesy Broccoli Fritters

These light, cheesy broccoli fritters take just 30 minutes or less to make for a healthy side or lunch.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

31. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potato Cakes

These potato cakes make for a super easy side dish, light dinner or lunch!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

32. Homemade Herbed Butter

This herbed butter with parsley, chives, cilantro, lemon and chili pepper will enhance the flavor of many of your dishes.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

33. Grilled Chili Lime Butter Corn on the Cob

This Grilled Corn on the Cob recipe is recipe a flavor-packed side dish for your backyard BBQ — So easy and flavorful!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

34. Brussels Sprouts Salad

Brussels sprouts salad with an apple cider salad dressing is a family favorite side salad that goes well with everything.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

35. Corn Chicken Salad

This Corn chicken salad recipe is light, delicious, and perfect for a lunch on-the-go.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

36. No-Mayo Potato Salad

A quick and lighter version of the classic potato salad, with a delicious kick of spice.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

37. Summer Kale Salad

Healthy, tasty and super nutritive, if you’re looking for the perfect summer salad, this is it!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

38. Chunky Cheese Guacamole

Dazzle your guests with this Cheesy Guacamole recipe! So Creamy, so Fresh! The best last-minute appetizer ever.
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39. Avocado Quinoa Salad

This avocado quinoa salad is super healthy and loaded with tons of fresh flavor!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

40. Raw Beet Salad

This colorful beet salad is ideal for summertime alfresco dining and dinner parties.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

41. Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Sauce

This fresh cucumber salad recipe is here to help you conquer your cravings!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

42. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

This Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe is a bright, colorful, and delicious salad perfect for hot summer days.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

43. Grilled Zucchini with BBQ Sauce

Grilled Zucchini with the best BBQ Sauce is a quick and simple Grilled Zucchini recipe guaranteed to impress! Backyard barbecue, with a vegetarian twist!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

44. Red Cabbage Salad and Apple Pomegranate

Cabbage Salad Recipe is Perfect for a quick lunch on the go or a fresh dinner starter, this tangy raw slaw is also supremely cleansing.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

45. Marinated Zucchini Noodles

These marinated zucchini noodles are the perfect addition to your summer grilling, or as a delicious, refreshing appetizer.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

46. Grilled Garlic Mushroom Skewers

These grilled garlic mushrooms on skewers are so good, you’ll want to make them every single day of the week!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

47. Grilled Corn with Garlic and Parmesan

This grilled corn recipe is perfect as a side for your barbecue parties, or as salad for a quick lunch on the go!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

48. Grilled General Tso’s Cauliflower Kabobs

These grilled cauliflower kabobs are crunchy-sweet twist on a take-out favorite!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

49. Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto and Feta

A perfect summertime appetizer with only 3 ingredients.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

50. Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad

This Pesto chicken pasta salad recipe is like a circus of flavors at every bite!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

51. Grilled Peaches Recipe

These Grilled Peaches are perfect for summertime! The perfect healthy dessert.
Cooking time: 4 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

52. Tomato Basil Strawberry Salsa

This tomato basil strawberry salsa is the perfect fresh and tasty side for your weekend cookouts!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

53. Fresh Pineapple Salsa with Sesame Tortilla Chips

This pineapple salsa is a healthy recipe full of fresh tropical fruit and veggies.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

54. Cucumber Avocado Salsa

This refreshing salsa recipe is perfect for your potlucks, BBQs, meal preps or protein bowls. Enjoy!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

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