13 Easy Side Dishes for Kebabs That Go Beyond Basic White Rice These flavorful kebab sides pair well with any protein. By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 10, 2025 Close Credit: Christopher Baker Kebabs are an excellent choice to serve at your next backyard barbecue because they're generally beloved by all. Whether you're making chicken kebabs, lamb skewers, or doing your own take on the classic kebab, these kebab side dishes will complement your meal nicely. The sides featured here are also a great summer food option because they're light and fresh. Because the main course—the humble kebab—is on the lighter side, you want your kebab sides to be light, too. That's why we've chosen dishes that bring plenty of flavors and fresh ingredients without feeling heavy. Love a recipe? Click the save button to store all of your Real Simple favorites in one place at MyRecipes. 01 of 13 Lemony Chopped Salad With Pita Credit: Victor Protasio Upgrade a basic salad to make it more kebab-friendly. The red wine vinegar adds a zestiness that's balanced out by the sweet, crisp cucumbers. Plus, you get an extra crunch from the pita, which also makes the salad a bit heartier. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 13 Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs Credit: Greg DuPree There's barely any cooking required in this kebab side dish recipe—just fold sauteed onions and corn into the couscous while it's still warm, then add toppings the next day before serving. The side will complement kebabs with grilled fish, chicken, or steak. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 13 Sesame Ginger Potato Salad Credit: Greg DuPree This potato salad looks simple, but the added flavors—including fish sauce, fresh ginger, and zesty lime—make it outstanding. You can adjust the spiciness by combining chile-garlic sauce with soy sauce dressing. Or leave out the fire altogether—you'll still have plenty of flavors to enjoy. Get The Recipe Save 04 of 13 Every Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego Credit: Caitlin Bensel The citrus here—navel oranges, grapefruit, and blood oranges—are complemented by the unique flavors of sweet, semi-hard Manchego cheese, parsley, and roasted almonds. The unique dressing is made with maple syrup, shallots, and Dijon mustard, which will coordinate well with any kebab protein. Get The Recipe Save 05 of 13 Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw Credit: Greg DuPree Tzatziki is a popular Greek sauce made with a base of strained Greek yogurt, and it gets elevated here with a popular summer squash. Use zucchini in a new way by mixing it with shredded cabbage, pumpkin seeds, and honey in this kebab side dish. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 13 Herb Potato Salad Credit: Anna Williams Give potato salad a lighter twist with this side for kebabs, which calls for your choice of fresh herbs. The whole-grain mustard adds plenty of pungent flavor without the need for heavy mix-ins. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 13 Grilled Halloumi Salad Credit: Greg DuPree Garlic, olives, and crunchy cucumbers join our favorite grilling cheese for a delectable side dish that pairs perfectly with kebabs. Halloumi tastes salty and can be sliced into hearty planks like tofu. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 13 Spring Green Salad Credit: Greg DuPree It's healthy veggies galore! And this salad recipe is tasty, too—thanks to a creamy dressing made from yogurt, lemon juice, anchovy, avocado, chives, and fresh mint. Get The Recipe Save 09 of 13 Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries Credit: Gentl + Hyers A ½ cup dry white wine gives this rice side a pleasant tang, and the cranberries offer a sweet and sour pop. Final step: Top with fresh chopped parsley and tarragon. Get The Recipe Save 10 of 13 Brussels Sprouts Salad Credit: Heami Lee Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts are the stars of this kebab side dish, but they get some excellent backup from pecans, bitter radicchio, and dried cranberries. Drizzle on a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing and top with aged provolone shavings. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 13 Asian-Inspired Cabbage Slaw Credit: Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart This elevated coleslaw features fresh ginger, which provides an earthy zing to complement your kebabs. This recipe also includes cabbage, bell pepper, onion, carrots, and snap peas, which bring that crispy, crunchy element that makes coleslaw a go-to BBQ side. Get The Recipe Save 12 of 13 Grapefruit, Beet, and Radish Salad Credit: Greg DuPree Circled slices of radishes and beets add a delightful pop of color to this fresh citrus-veggie salad. Grapefruit brings the tang, while everything is drizzled with a simple olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 13 White Bean and Farro Salad Credit: Jennifer Causey This white bean and farro salad is hearty enough to be a complete meal, but it will also serve as a flavor-packed side when called upon. Farro is mixed with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper alongside white beans and shallots. Everything is topped with salty feta and peppery arugula. Get The Recipe Save Explore more: Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit