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    Home » Best of The Rebel Chick

    25 Kid-Friendly Summer Side Dishes

    Published: Jul 8, 2025 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    25 Kid-Friendly Summer Side Dishes
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    These 25 Kid-Friendly Summer Side Dishes will make your summer dinners a hit with everyone at the family dinner table - yes, even the kids! With everything from light and fluffy biscuits to a rich, creamy macaroni and cheese to vegetable casseroles, the kids will love these tasty recipes.

    3 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

    3 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    You don't need any flour or a fancy roux to make rich tasty homemade mac and cheese. I threw this together when I was looking at my pantry one night, wondering what to make for dinner. If you love cheese and pasta - and you can usually find your favorite foods on the kid's menu - then you'll love this baked mac and cheese recipe.

    Get the recipe here: 3 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

    Air Fryer Red Potatoes

    Air Fryer Red Potatoes
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    These Air Fryer Red Potatoes are deliciously crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor in every bite. Whether served as air fryer breakfast potatoes or paired with your favorite dinner, these air fryer potatoes are guaranteed to be a hit!

    Get the recipe here: Air Fryer Red Potatoes

    Dutch Oven Biscuits

    Dutch Oven Biscuits
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    These Dutch Oven Biscuits are the easiest biscuits you'll ever make, and they're made with a secret ingredient - Sprite! They are flaky, buttery, and just perfect. If you've ever wanted to make homemade biscuits but were a little intimidated by the process, then follow this recipe. It's a no-fail, easy recipe that comes out perfectly every single time.

    Get the recipe here: Dutch Oven Biscuits

    Fresh Kiwi Salad

    Kiwi Salad
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This easy Fresh Kiwi Salad Recipe is a fresh salad or summer salad, full of crisp greens and bright flavors! This spring salad is the perfect side dish to any of your spring and summer meals! If you like a fruit salad with kiwi, then you are going to love this flavorful combination of kiwi, spinach and lettuce. 

    Get the recipe here: Fresh Kiwi Salad

    Cheesy Rice with Ham

    Cheesy Rice with Ham
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    You are going to love this Cheesy Rice with Ham because it's so easy to make and absolutely delicious! There’s just something so simple and satisfying about cooking rice with broth on the stovetop, it's comfort food at its best!

    Get the recipe here: Cheesy Rice with Ham

    Orange Jello Salad

    Orange Ambrosia Jello Salad
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This tasty Orange Jello Salad has a taste of the tropics in every bite. This classic dessert combines Mandarin oranges, pineapple, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows with a whipped topping and sour cream base.

    Get the recipe here: Orange Jello Salad

    Watermelon Mandarin Mint Salad

    Watermelon Mandarin Mint Salad
    Photo Credit: TheRebelChick.com

    Take a look at this Watermelon Mandarin Mint Salad with Feta Cheese Recipe! Who knew that Feta cheese and Watermelon went so well together? This salad is light and refreshing, and makes a great side dish for lunches or dinners this summer!

    Get the recipe here: Watermelon Mandarin Mint Salad

    Corn and Feta Salad

    Corn and Feta Cheese Salad
    Photo Credit: TheRebelChick.com

    This Corn and Feta Salad Recipe isn't even the least little bit Greek, but it does remind me a little of my time in Greece every time I take a bite of that delicious Feta cheese!

    Get the recipe here: Corn and Feta Salad

    Bacon Ranch Fries

    Bacon Ranch Air Fryer French Fries
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    Our Frozen French fries are air fried to golden, crispy perfection and then topped with bacon, cheese, ranch dressing, and chopped chives to make the best Bacon Ranch Fries you've ever had!

    Get the recipe here: Bacon Ranch Fries

    Apple Walnut Salad

    Apple Walnut Salad
    Photo Credit: TheRebelChick.com

    This Apple Walnut Salad Recipe for Summer is just perfect for any summer time gathering, whether it is for Memorial Day, the 4th of July or just having friends over for a backyard barbecue.

    Get the recipe here: Apple Walnut Salad

    Easy Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

    Easy Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    Serve this zucchini casserole as a side dish for dinner, or make it the star of the show and serve it as a meatless main course for your vegan and vegetarian guests. Just swap out the cheese with a plant based cheese and you're good to go! 

    Get the recipe: Zucchini casserole.

    Paula Deen’s Creamed Corn Casserole

    Paula Deen Corn Casserole
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Paula Deen Corn Casserole is always a delicious and easy side dish for your family dinners! Our creamy corn casserole is a classic side dish that is perfect for every occasion: from holiday dinners to barbecues, everybody loves it! I made this recipe for my family's Thanksgiving dinner and everyone LOVED IT!

    Get the recipe: Paula Deen Corn Casserole

    Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese

    Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    The easiest homemade mac and cheese you'll ever make, Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and topped with bread crumbs.

    Get the recipe here: Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese

    Strawberry Fluff Salad

    Not Your Grandma's Strawberry Fluff Salad
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick

    I like to call this Not Your Grandma's Strawberry Fluff Salad Recipe because it's just a fun thing to call it, but you can name this Strawberry Fluff Recipe whatever you want! Some people call this delicious fruit salad strawberry marshmallow fluff - just remember that it has strawberries and you're good!

    Get the recipe here: Strawberry Fluff Salad

    Broccoli Cheese Bake

    Broccoli Cheese Bake
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Broccoli Cheese Bake is a delicious and simple alternative to the traditional green bean casserole. It's a really fun side dish recipe year-round!

    Get the recipe here: Broccoli Cheese Bake

    Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes

    Green Beans and Tomatoes
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe is really good and easy to make for dinner! This easy side dish is so full of flavor and versatile, just make sure that you still make everyone's favorite Green Bean Casserole too!

    Get the recipe: Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes

    Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Bacon Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Bacon Potatoes
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Bacon Potatoes Recipe is REALLY GOOD as a classic comfort food side dish! Kids and adults alike with love this cheesy alternative to mashed potatoes with dinner!

    Get the recipe here: Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Bacon Potatoes

    Corn and Zucchini Pie Recipe

    Corn and Zucchini Pie
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Corn and Zucchini Pie Recipe is just so good! It doesn't have a crust, but when you let it set, it will cut just like a pie would, as the ingredients firm up nice and solid. Now, while this recipe isn't exactly KETO, due to the corn, it is pretty low carb when you take into account that a single serving only has about 10 carbohydrates. 

    Get the recipe here: Corn and Zucchini Pie Recipe

    Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

    Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Recipe is really easy to make and is sure to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters around dinner time! This is the best side dish recipe to serve year-round, but is especially great for serving at family dinner!

    Get the recipe here: Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

    Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples

    a white bowl filled with Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples Recipe is super easy to make in the slow cooker and your house will smell so good all day! This is a great kid-friendly side dish, or you can serve it for a snack or even dessert!

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples

    Easy Cheesy Biscuits

    Easy Cheesy Biscuits
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Easy Cheesy Biscuits Recipe is so savory and tasty, and crumbling with deliciousness! These cheesy biscuits are a fun alternative to regular old dinner rolls!

    Get the recipe: Easy Cheesy Biscuits

    Crockpot Baked Potatoes

    Crockpot Baked Potatoes
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Crockpot Baked Potatoes Recipe is another fun alternative to boring old mashed potatoes for dinner. If you are having a party, these are great for setting up as a baked potato bar for your guests to enjoy!

    Get the recipe: Crockpot Baked Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apple Sauce

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apple Sauce Recipe
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apple Sauce Recipeis a great slow cooker recipe, and a really great side dish for dinner or even a fun snack. The kids will love it too!

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apple Sauce

    Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

    Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
    Photo Credit: Jennifer Pridemore/TheRebelChick.com

    This Slow Cooker Mac and CheeseRecipe is just so good and it makes a ton! This is one of our favorite comfort foods!

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

    Butternut Squash Casserole

    Butternut Squash Casserole
    Photo Credit: Jennifer/TheRebelChick.com

    This Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe is the perfect accompaniment to your family feast, regardless of what it is...or just a delicious side dish for your family dinner on Sunday!

    Get the recipe here: Butternut Squash Casserole

    Do you love easy to make recipes? Check out our FOOD Index for more ideas! You can also subscribe to our email newsletter and follow The Rebel Chick on MSN, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook and never miss a new recipe!

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    About Jennifer

    Jennifer, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a 40-something Gen Xer who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible with easy recipes, travel inspiration and lifestyle tips!

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    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most of your life!

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    Recent Popular Recipes

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