13 Old-School Side Dishes Boomers Brought to Every Cookout

There’s a reason old-school side dishes never fail to show up when folks gather around the grill. These 13 classics have filled backyard tables for decades and still bring everyone together with a mix of comfort and nostalgia. Expect flavors that remind you why cookouts felt special without trying too hard. From first bite to last scoop, these sides prove some things never go out of style.

A glass baking dish filled with a baked stuffing sits on a wooden cutting board. A serving spoon is in the stuffing, and a red cloth is draped to the left, perfect for cozy fall recipes. — Cranberry Apple Stuffing. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Roasted cabbage steak topped with tomatoes, bacon, goat cheese, and more. — Roasted Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks were the kind of side that always showed up at cookouts when hearty, familiar dishes were what folks wanted. Thick cabbage slices get roasted in bacon drippings, then dressed up with toppings and a creamy garlic drizzle that feels right at home next to burgers and brats. They’re easy to prep, fill up a big tray, and keep everyone fed without much effort. It’s the sort of dish that makes people linger by the grill just a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes have a way of bringing comfort to any cookout spread, especially when you need something rich and classic. Yukon golds whipped smooth with brown butter, garlic, and sage make them more than just ordinary mash. They pair well with anything off the grill and are simple enough to prep ahead. Every scoop feels like something grandma would be proud to serve on the picnic table.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes with gravy and sprigs of thyme and sage. — Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes have always found their place beside grilled ribs and burgers at backyard gatherings. These get extra fluffy from cream cheese and a bit of salt and pepper to keep the flavors true. Easy to make in big batches, they bring a sense of tradition to any outdoor meal. Just one spoonful takes people back to paper plates and checkered tablecloths under the sun.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

A delightful side dish of green beans topped with crispy fried onions, perfect for pleasing both adults and kids alike. — Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions feel like an upgrade to the classic green bean side that’s graced cookout tables for years. Fresh green beans sautéed with garlic and topped with crisp fried onions always bring a little crunch to balance grilled meat. They come together fast and don’t need much babysitting, making them perfect for busy outdoor feasts. It’s a dish that stays welcome at any picnic spread, rain or shine.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots keep things simple but never plain when they show up at family cookouts. Carrots glazed in a sticky mix of honey and garlic cook up in under half an hour and go well with anything off the coals. They bring a sweet touch that rounds out heavier meats and sides. These carrots always find a spot on plates no matter who’s manning the grill.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots make a familiar companion to steaks and skewers sizzling on the barbecue. Roasting brings out their sweetness, and a hint of thyme ties it all together without fuss. They’re quick to toss in the oven while the grill heats up outside. It’s the kind of tray everyone scoops from before grabbing a fresh ear of corn.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans have that punch of flavor that made them a backyard favorite when side dishes needed to hold their own. Fresh beans get sautéed with shallots and a splash of Worcestershire that keeps them interesting. They’re ready in minutes and work well with burgers, ribs, or grilled chicken. There’s always that one person who goes back for seconds of the green beans.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

A dish of beets, sweet potatoes, and parsnips roasted in the oven with sprigs of sage. — Oven Roasted Root Vegetables. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables keep cookout spreads colorful and earthy without needing much more than a hot oven. Carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes roast up tender with just oil and herbs to bring out their best. They’re easy to batch cook and hold up well next to smoky meats and cold salads. Guests always know there’ll be a scoop of these somewhere between the hot dogs and baked beans.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

A slice of crumbly dessert topped with a dollop of white cream is presented on a dark plate. The dessert is garnished with chopped nuts, and a fork rests in front of it, partially obscuring the dessert. — Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts adds a bit of sweet comfort to the backyard table whenever it shows up alongside the grill. Soft baked sweet potatoes topped with toasted hazelnuts offer a little crunch that pairs well with pulled pork or barbecue chicken. It’s quick to put together and travels well to family get-togethers. A dish like this makes everyone reach for a second helping before the pie comes out.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

A delightful slice of carrot cake with a dollop of whipped cream graces a decorative black and white plate. A fork rests invitingly on the cake while a white and blue cup peeks from the background, almost like the perfect ending to a recipe for an unforgettable carrot casserole. — My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole brings a soft sweetness that fits right next to savory classics at any picnic. Tender carrots bake up with cinnamon, nutmeg, and just enough sugar to bring out old family flavors. It’s simple to make ahead and reheat once the grill is going strong. This casserole has a way of making any backyard table feel like home.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

Homemade Corn Casserole

Two rectangular slices of light golden-brown cake with a slightly crumbly texture are placed side by side on a patterned plate. — Homemade Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Homemade Corn Casserole is the sort of dish that always found space next to potato salad and burgers at any old-school cookout. Real ingredients and a quick bake time make it practical for feeding a crowd without stress. Its soft, golden center goes well with anything fresh off the coals. There’s something about corn casserole that just feels right on a paper plate in the yard.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

A white bowl filled with a red kidney bean stew, including visible pieces of meat or vegetables, sits on a dark cloth napkin with a fork and spoon beside it. A small bunch of parsley is on the table nearby. — Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon hold their own beside charred burgers and grilled sausages when the picnic tables fill up. Beans cooked low and slow with smoky bacon always bring that hearty touch that keeps people full and happy. They’re easy to prep hours ahead so they’re warm when everyone’s ready to dig in. This side has earned its spot at more than a few backyard feasts through the years.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Cranberry Apple Stuffing brings a touch of sweet and tart to picnic tables piled high with grilled classics. Baked with crisp apples and bright cranberries, it’s hearty enough to keep guests full between bites of brisket or barbecue chicken. This dish is simple to prep and easy to share from a big casserole pan. It’s the sort of side that feels right even when there’s no turkey in sight.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffing