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25+ Best Summer Side Dishes

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We’ve compiled a list of 25 summer side dish recipes, PLUS included suggestions of our favorite main dishes to pair them with. These recipes will keep your house cool (no oven necessary) and include everything from baked beans and corn on the cob to fresh grain salads and potato dishes.

collage for Instant Pot summer Side Dish post, featuring six of the recipes included in the round-up

During the summer, we’re all about keeping things laid-back and cool. Whether it’s a family dinner on a weeknight or an outdoor barbecue with neighbors and friends, no one wants to turn on the oven when it’s already roasting outside.

These side dishes that are perfect for summer, featuring seasonal produce and timeless summer classics.

If you’re looking for more Instant Pot summer recipes, be sure to read our list of the 80 best pressure cooker summer recipes.

Updated June 2025: To save you even more planning, I’ve also included recommendations for the entree recipes we love to serve with these side dishes. Enjoy!

1
Instant pot potato salad garnished with fresh parsley and paprika in white bowl
Instant Pot Quick Potato Salad
This Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe is SO easy because it cooks the hard-boiled eggs and potatoes together in the pressure cooker at the same time! Try it with Make-Ahead BBQ Chicken Legs for a classic summer pairing.
Check out this recipe
2
Picture of Instant Pot pasta salad with rotini, sliced cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, parmesan, and fresh parsley, in a large wooden serving bowl.
Italian Pasta Salad | Easy Instant Pot recipe
This chilled Instant Pot Pasta Salad is made with fresh cucumber, tomatoes, and parmesan, dressed with Italian dressing, and makes a great make-ahead barbecue side dish. We love to make this with grilled or sous vide steak.
Check out this recipe
3
Easy Pressure Cooker Corn on the Cob, plated with an Instant Pot in the background
Corn on the Cob | Foolproof Instant Pot method
Once you try making corn on the cob in a pressure cooker, you'll never go back to trying it on the stovetop. It cooks up quicker with much less mess! We love this one paired with Potato Salad and Memphis-Style Ribs.
Check out this recipe
4
A side-profile view of the air fryer green beans sitting on a white rectangular platter. A pinch pot of salt and some rolls are visible in the background.
Air Fryer Green Beans with Panko Breadcrumbs
These Air Fryer Green Beans have a simple panko coating and cook up crunchy and golden brown. We love it to serve it in place of French fries when we make our Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork sandwiches!
Check out this recipe
5
Three white ramekins filled with Instant Pot baked beans served with celery and carrot sticks on the side
Instant Pot Baked Beans
For your next outdoor barbecue, use dried navy beans to make this easy Instant Pot Baked Beans recipe, featuring a classic sticky sauce of molasses, ketchup, and seasonings. Serve them with Country-Style Barbecue Pork Ribs.
Check out this recipe
6
A sheet pan with Instant Pot garlic roasted red potatoes
Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes
Cook these red potatoes quick in the electric pressure cooker, then coat in melted butter, garlic and herbs, and Parmesan cheese, and crisp them to perfection in your oven. Pair these crispy potatoes with Instant Pot Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches.
Check out this recipe
7
Close up picture of Instant Pot BLT potato salad with fresh parsley in the corner.
BLT Potato Salad
This potato salad is creamy, satisfying and smokey, thanks to crumbled crispy bacon. It's great at a BBQ with Instant Pot Hamburgers
Check out this recipe
8
www.foodiecrush.com
No-Mayo Potato Salad with Herbs
Make this light potato salad from Foodie Crush by cooking the potatoes in an Instant Pot for speed. Try serving it with grilled or air fryer Salmon.
Check out this recipe
9
close up on a bowl of brown rice and black bean salad wth tortilla chips and lime
Spicy Brown Rice Black Bean Salad
This rice has a bit of a kick and plenty of color from tomatoes and creamy avocado. Serve it with Mexican Stuffed Peppers in the Instant Pot.
Check out this recipe
10
A horizontal, close-up shot showing green Chile rice, garnished with diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and a lime wedge.
Green Chile Lime Salsa Rice
This Mexican-inspired Instant Pot Rice is bright and perfect for summer. Serve it with any of your Taco Tuesday favorites, including the classic Ground Beef Tacos.
Check out this recipe
11
Instant pot cilantro lime white rice in a wooden bowl topped with fresh lime and cilantro
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy white rice, bright lime juice, and cilantro make this side dish better than Chipotle! It’s the perfect Mexican side dish to pair with our easy Fish Tacos.
Check out this recipe
12
45 degree shot of Instant Pot spanish rice with a wooden serving spoon, garnished with parsley with a background of boowls of avocado, onions, and plate with beef tacos in the background
Shortcut Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Easy Shortcut Spanish Rice in an Instant Pot is a five-ingredient side dish to pair with all of your favorite Spanish or Mexican meals, including Instant Pot Asopado.
Check out this recipe
13
Large wooden dish filled with instant Pot coconut rice topped with toasted coconut flakes and served with steamed green broccoli florets, orange carrot sticks on a white and grey marble background next to a pair of wooden chopsticks
Coconut Rice Instant Pot recipe
Bring tropical flavors to your weeknight dinners with this easy and creamy Instant Pot Coconut Rice, made with unsweetened coconut milk and jasmine rice. Pair it with Kalua Pork for a Hawaiian-themed dinner.
14
Close up picture of Instant Pot Thai edamame salad made with cucumber, cilantro, peanuts, lime, cabbage, edamame, and quinoa served in a white bowl.
Thai Edamame Quinoa Salad
Quinoa soaks up the bright, zesty Thai flavors in this satisfying grain and veggie salad. It's delicious with Thai-style fish made in the Instant Pot.
Check out this recipe
15
www.twopeasandtheirpod.com
Mediterranean Salad with Quinoa
This quinoa salad from Two Peas and Their Pod has refreshing Greek flavors and is full of hearty beans. It makes a nice side dish with our Greek Beef Tacos
Check out this recipe
16
Close up picture of pressure cooker egg salad sandwich made with toasted bread, sliced tomato, and lettuce. Placed on a wooden cutting board.
Instant Pot Egg Salad (with an Egg Loaf)
Creamy, traditional Egg Salad—made in an egg loaf in the Instant Pot—make a crunchy, tangy, and satisfying side dish with mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh chives. Pair this side with Babyback Ribs (a make-ahead recipe).
Check out this recipe
17
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Amish Macaroni Salad
Pressure Cooker Amish Macaroni Salad
This salad is creamy, crunchy and has a hit of vinegar for brightness. It just makes sense to serve it with German-style rolls!
18
A close up picture of Instant Pot macaroni and cheese topped with shredded cheese and fresh parsley
Wisconsin Mac and Cheese
This copycat mac and cheese recipe is SO easy to make in your Instant Pot, and it is a perfect side for all ages! It's one of the sides I like to serve with Smoky Beef Brisket when I'm feeding a crowd.
Check out this recipe
19
tidbits-marci.com
Instant Pot Creamy Vegetable Medley
This is a simple and hearty veggie side dish for the Instant Pot. You can use any of your favorite seasonal vegetables. Serve it with our lemony Greek Souvlaki.
Check out this recipe
20
Close up picture of a serving bowl with Instant Pot polenta topped with fresh herbs and shredded cheese, with parsley in the background.
Sundried Tomato Polenta with Herbs
Sundried Tomato Polenta is surprisingly easy and mostly hands-off, flavored with sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes. This side packs a lot of flavor, so we like to serve it with a more neutral meat like our Mediterranean Fish.
Check out this recipe
21
slice of jiffy cornbread with maple syrup and butter
Pressure Cooker Shortcut Cornbread
Yes, you can make sot, spongey cornbread without turning on the oven! This our go-to recipe on hot summer days. It's great with Instant Pot Short Ribs.
Check out this recipe
22
twosleevers.com
Pressure Cooker Cowboy Caviar
This light bean salad is a fast and easy side dish when you cook the beans in a pressure cooker. We love it as one of the sides we serve with Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Check out this recipe
23
Samantha at Everyday Family Cooking
Easy Air Fryer Squash | Everyday Family Cooking
Use your air fryer on freshly grown squash—done within minutes! I love to pair this with chicken sandwiches or pasta.
Check out this recipe
24
Close up picture of air fryer tater tots on a white plate, with a small cup of ketchup, with more tater tots on the counter in the background.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
When you're rushing home on a summer night, keep things easy with this easy from-frozen air fryer method. They pair great with any of our sandwich recipes, including French Dips.
Check out this recipe
25
Overhead picture of air fryer asparagus, topped with salt and fresh lemon juice, with lemon wedges and serving tongs.
Air Fryer Asparagus
While this asparagus is traditionally a "spring veggie," we see it year-round at the stores near us, and it's too good to only eat a few months of the year. We like this with any grilled meat or pasta like our one-pot ravioli.
Check out this recipe

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