Enjoy the warm weather by hosting a backyard BBQ and bring a retro vibe to the meal with these retro BBQ side dishes. They come from the 1960s and earlier and are still delicious!
When the weather starts to warm, I plan at least one meal a week that we cook on the grill. It helps keep the kitchen cooler, there is less mess, and it’s a nice way to mix up our dinners. It’s also fun to have a BBQ with friends.
While cooking outside has been happening as long as humans have been making fire, backyard cooking like we know it now didn’t gain popularity in the US until after WWII.
Weber created kettle-style grills in 1952 and they quickly became popular and made backyard cooking more accessible. That along with many Americans moving to the suburbs created an outdoor cooking boom.
In magazines from the 1950s, you will find a lot of recipes and articles prompting the idea of outdoor cooking. I have an article here on the site that I wrote sharing some outdoor cooking tips from the 1950s that highlight how popular grilling was becoming.
It’s no secret that I love recreating and sharing vintage recipes so knowing that grilling was popular during the 1950s it seems fitting to share some retro side dishes that are perfect to have during a BBQ.
Some of these recipes are my recreations and some come from other bloggers. They are all delicious and need to be added to your next BBQ menu.
Retro BBQ Side Dishes
These BBQ side dishes come from the mid-century and have stood the test of time.
Potatoes are always a good choice for a BBQ and these cheesy potatoes are simple to make and will be a hit at your next BBQ.
This Vintage Deviled Corn Casserole recipe is a delicious corn side dish that doesn’t require Jiffy Mix.
Can you have a vintage BBQ without at least one salad that contains zero vegetables? There is a good reason these kinds of salads are still popular in the south and mid-west.
These bacon cornbread muffins come from the 1940s and are a delicious and easy side dish.
These very simple biscuits would be delicious with some BBQ meat. This recipe comes from the 1940s and will be your new go-to biscuit recipe!
Coleslaw is a BBQ classic! It's great with just about any type of BBQ.
Did you think there would only be one jello salad on this list? This one may seem a bit weird for the modern tastes but these salads are actually generally pretty good if you give them a shot.
These baked beans are slow-cooked in the oven and a great easy addition to your need BBQ.
This recipe is a favorite of my grandma's. My mom makes it for her every week and I even made it for her a couple of times while my mom was on vacation. It's really easy to make and you can make it the day before.
Don't worry no frogs are harmed in the making of this retro dish. Instead, it's made with Acini Di Pepe which is what gives it the strange name.
This savory bread pudding recipe comes from the 1960s and sounds amazing! It also uses just a few simple ingredients to make.
More Vintage Recipes to Try
These vintage recipes would also be delicious to have at your next backyard BBQ.
giulia lombardo says
LOVING ALL DISHES, THANKS FOR SHARING!!!