Picture this: the grill is sizzling, the sun is shining, and friends are gathered around to enjoy the last days of summer. But let’s be honest, a cookout isn't just about what's on the grill—it's also about the incredible side dishes that make your meal complete. I've got three show-stopping sides that will not only complement your grilled favorites but might just become the stars of the meal. Ready to wow your guests?

1. Southern Baked Beans Recipe with Ground Beef

Baked BeansPhoto byButter & Baggage

Sweet and smoky baked beans are a Southern classic and the perfect side dish for a cookout or BBQ. Simmered in a skillet in a blend of smoky bacon, molasses, and tangy barbecue sauce, they’re hard to beat. Southern baked beans also have ground beef added, which gives great flavor and heartiness to this classic side dish.

These beans couldn’t be easier to make. Brown the hamburger, dump in the rest of the ingredients, simmer and spend the rest of the time relaxing with friends and family. But boy are they tasty.

Southern baked beans only need a few pantry ingredients, which means they’re great for a last-minute side dish.

Why You’ll Love Southern Baked Beans

• Sweet and smoky: These beans have brown sugar, molasses, and bacon, which make the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and smoky.
• Quick and simple: The beans simmer for a half hour, so they come together in the time it takes to fire up the grill and cook your hot dogs.
• Hearty and rich: Using ground beef in these beans makes them filling, hearty, and so delicious. They’re sticky, sweet, smoky, and savory. They’re just perfect to have with potato salad and a hamburger or hot dog.

What You'll Need for Baked Beans

• ▢1 lb ground beef
• ▢1 onion medium, diced
• ▢3 slices bacon chopped
• ▢½ teaspoon salt
• ▢½ cup brown sugar
• ▢1 tablespoon molasses
• ▢1 tablespoon mustard
• ▢45 ounce canned pork and beans (3 15-ounce cans

2. Summer Squash Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Squash CasserolePhoto byButter & Baggage

This scrumptious Squash Casserole is a crowd-pleaser. Featuring sliced yellow squash, onions, and a cheesy sour cream sauce, this casserole is a comforting and flavorful addition to any meal. Topped with a crunchy layer of buttery Ritz crackers, it adds the perfect finishing touch to this irresistible dish.

A sour cream squash casserole with Ritz crackers checks every box on your side dish list: It’s incredibly flavorful, layered with a tangy cheesy sauce, and has a crunchy Ritz cracker topping.

With summer squash showing up in the farmer’s market and in summer gardens, it’s always nice to have a few squash recipes to pull out. Some of my other favorites squash recipes are a Tex-Mex squash casserole , squash topped with biscuits and squash casserole with pasta. This Southern squash casserole recipe has a sour cream-mayo cheese sauce that really sets it apart.

Some people shy away from squash casseroles because the texture can be mushy. Unlike some summer squash casseroles, this one doesn’t get soggy because you partially cook the squash before you assemble the casserole, a secret technique for retaining a superior texture.

This creamy casserole might look plain but with a sauce made up of sour cream, mayo, parmesan, Gruyere, and cheddar it’s much better than the one your grandmother made. It’s a scaled up version of an old-fashioned recipe that’s easy to put together.

What You'll Need for Squash Casserole

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 6 cups yellow squash about 3 medium-sized squash
• ½ medium vidalia onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese ½ cup shredded
• 2 ounces gruyere ¼ cup shredded
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• TOPPING
• ½ sleeve Ritz crackers
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese finely grated
• 1 teaspoon parsley chopped

3. Creamy Homemade Macaroni & Cheese with Evaporated Milk

Creamy Mac & CheesePhoto byButter & Baggage

Enjoy the ultimate comfort food with this creamy, cheesy Mac and Cheese. The rich cheese sauce, made with evaporated milk, coats the cooked elbow noodles for a decadent spoonful every time. This recipe has a cheesier, smoother, and creamier sauce than you’re used to—especially if this is your first time making homemade mac and cheese. The best part? It’s quick and easy, so it’s perfect for an end of the summer cook-out.

Deciding the best mac and cheese recipe is nearly impossible. Ask anyone, anywhere, what the best mac is, and they’ll all say something different, which is beautiful! I currently have 17 mac and cheese recipes on Butter & Baggage, (yes I’m a fan😂) but this is my go-to recipe.

Making a béchamel sauce with evaporated milk takes it to new, never-before-seen creamy levels. Hearing words like béchamel and evaporated milk may make this seem complicated, but trust me; this almost as easy as making the classic blue box!

I have two tips for making really amazing mac and cheese. First, always shred your own cheese. I know you’ve heard this before, but it’s the truth! Pre-shredded cheese is convenient in a pinch, but it has additives that don’t allow the cheese to melt fully or the full flavor of the cheese to shine through. We want a super luxurious, creamy sauce and freshly grated cheeses paired with the evaporated milk is going to get us there.

Second, use a combination of cheeses for the best flavor. I used sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack.

What You'll Need for Creamy Mac & Cheese

• ▢3 tablespoons butter
• ▢¼ cup flour
• ▢3 cups half-and-half
• ▢12 ounces evaporated milk
• ▢2 ½ cups white cheddar shredded
• ▢1 cup mozzarella shredded
• ▢1 cup Monterey Jack shredded
• ▢1 pound macaroni cooked in salted water, drained
• ▢1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• ▢1 teaspoon salt
• ▢1 teaspoon dry mustard

What's nice about these 3 sides is that you can prep them ahead of time and they'll be good hot, warm or even at room temperature. They're also easy to make. Hope you'll add one to your next gathering.