Recipes for Summer Side Dishes Using Garden-Grown Ingredients
If you're growing your own veggies, you already know: nothing beats the taste of something you just picked fresh from the garden. Summer is the season when the edible garden really shows off—bright tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet peppers, tender squash, and so much more. And the best part? You don’t need to do much to make them the stars of your side dishes.
April’s a great time to plant or start seeds indoors, if you haven’t already. Most warm-season veggies thrive when started now, depending on your Zone. You’re right on schedule if you’re sowing seeds or setting out transplants. These recipes are meant to be easy, flexible, and full of fresh flavor. There’s no need to use the same varieties we list, use whatever varieties you’re growing—these are just some of the favorites from our Park Seed team.
So, if you're grilling out, packing a picnic, or throwing something together on a weeknight, use these recipes for fresh, simple, and seriously good side dishes.
6 Easy Summer Side Dish Recipes
Grow It. Eat It. Share It.
One of the great things about summer cooking is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. When your ingredients are fresh, a few herbs, a splash of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon can go a long way. Go scan the garden to see what’s ripe, try something new, and don’t forget to share with friends and family because fresh food tastes even better when it’s shared.