11 of the best Southern dishes to take to a BBQ

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There's something about food at a barbecue that brings people together. The simple act of sitting down and enjoying good food and good conversation is one of life's greatest pleasures. Good southern food makes those moments even better.
Check out one of these tasty southern dishes for your next get-together and help bring fantastic flavor to your family party.
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1. Southern potato salad (h/t Spicy Southern Kitchen)
Nothing says southern backyard barbecue quite like potato salad. This version is a little sweeter than what you'll find in other regions as it relies on sweet relish, sweet onion and celery to enhance the egg flavor. It's the perfect side dish to go with whatever savory meat you'll enjoy.
2. Southern-style baked beans (h/t Yummly)
These tasty beans aren't going to make any "healthy side-dish" recipe list, but they are real southern style cooking at it's finest. The beans are cooked in a combination of barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and a bunch of spices. Don't expect to have any leftovers!
3. Southern-style Coleslaw (h/t Cooking with K)
When you need a quick classic side dish for a last-minute invite to a backyard barbecue, try this coleslaw. It's tasty enough to serve immediately, but if you have a little extra time, let it set in the fridge for about two hours to chill for an even better flavor.
4. Southern-style deviled eggs (h/t The Frugal Ginger)
This dish was a classic at my family barbecues growing up. It's a quick and easy recipe you can whip together in about 30 minutes. The recipe calls for sweet relish and mayo. Try adding a little mustard if you want to cut back on the sweetness.
5. Slow cooker mac and cheese (h/t I Heart Recipes)
The to-die-for cheesy mac and cheese recipe may just change the way you think about this side. After essentially dumping the ingredients into the slow cooker, you can transport the whole thing to your barbecue. Easy, peasy.
6. Spicy southern hot corn
The corn dish in the recipe below is everything you want in a side dish. It has sweet, crunchy corn, lots of gooey cheese and a touch of peppers – both sweet and hot. And it comes together so easily. Get the full recipe here.
Cooktop Cove
7. Southern sweet potato casserole
This dish is a family favorite around Thanksgiving, but it works just as well as a side dish for a barbecue in the summer. The sweet flavors are perfect with a side of stuffing or spicy chicken. If you've never tried this with marshmallows, add them. It's worth it! Get the full recipe here.
Cooktop Cove
8. Kentucky bourbon braised bacon Brussel sprouts (h/t Call Me PMC)  
The name of this dish may be a mouthful, but so are the flavors. Brussel sprouts are a debatable dish for a lot of people, but when the veggie is covered in bourbon, bacon, honey and apple juice, the funky odor and bitter taste disappear entirely. (This is a kid-friendly dish if you let the sauce boil for at least 20-30 seconds to burn off the alcohol).
9. Southern-style green beans and potatoes (h/t South Your Mouth)
Green beans are a southern favorite. Make sure you use fresh green beans for this dish. Your guests will thank you. Paired with potatoes and a little bacon, this makes a hearty side dish (and great leftovers for late-night snacking).
10. Stick of Butter Rice (h/t Thirty Handmade Days)
After soaking and baking your rice in french onion soup and beef broth, it's hard to imagine this dish coming out anything other than delicious. It's an easy side, but you'll need at least an hour to bake the rice for it to cook completely.
11. Southern-style hushpuppies (h/t Buy This, Cook That)
There are a million heavenly ways to fry bread, but this is one of my favorites. Hushpuppies are essentially balls of deep-fried cornmeal. Add a little buttermilk, onion, and spices to the batter, and you are in for a tasty treat. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
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