Everyone thinks potato salad is the only potato option allowed at a cookout. Not true at all!
There’s a whole world of grilled, skewered, foil wrapped and loaded potato ideas that never get their moment on the buffet table. Some of them barely need a recipe card.
This list came together after scrolling through way too many pins, honestly. The goal was to keep only the ones that are actually doable on a regular grill, don’t need fancy equipment and still look like something worth photographing.
So you’ll find classic salads next to grilled foil packets, plus a few skewer ideas that turn potatoes into finger food. Some are make ahead.
Others come together right on the coals while the burgers cook.
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Under each idea you’ll find the small details that matter, like what kind of potato works best or how long to leave things on the grill. There’s a link too, in case you want the full step-by-step.
Pick two or three for your next cookout and see which one disappears first. Ready? Let’s get into it!
COOKOUT SIDE DISHES POTATOES
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Loaded baked potato salad takes everything good about a baked potato and turns it into a scoopable side. Bacon, cheddar, sour cream and chives, all folded into tender potato chunks.
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This is the pan that empties first at basically every cookout I have ever been to. Not that I’m keeping score, haha!
Grilled Potato Foil Packets
Grilled potato foil packets are the lazy cook’s best friend. Toss cubed potatoes with butter, garlic and a little seasoning, seal them up and set them right on the grate.
They steam themselves while everything else cooks, which means one less pan to wash. The these crowd always asks who made these first.
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Bacon ranch potato salad skips mayo heavy dressing for a ranch base instead, which makes it taste lighter somehow even with all that bacon on top.
Cheesy Potato Skewers
Cheesy potato skewers are basically potato bites on a stick, which instantly makes them more fun. Parboil chunks first so they cook through on the grill without falling apart.
Roll them in shredded cheese right at the end so it melts into every crevice. Kids at the party will grab these before the burgers are even ready.
Southern Style Potato Salad
Southern style potato salad leans sweet with a little relish and a good dose of mustard, plus chopped egg for that classic picnic table look.
This one always shows up at the church basket suppers back home. Honestly it’s the version I compare every other potato salad to.
Herb Roasted Potato Wedges
Herb roasted potato wedges bring the oven into the cookout lineup, which sounds odd but works great when the grill is already packed with meat.
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Toss the wedges with rosemary, thyme and a hefty pinch of salt before roasting. They come out crispy on the edges and soft in the middle every single time.
Sweet Potato Salad Twist
Sweet potato salad twist swaps the usual russets for roasted sweet potatoes tossed with a tangy vinaigrette instead of mayo.
It brings some color to the table that isn’t just brown and yellow, which matters more than people admit.
Garlic Butter Potato Skewers
Garlic butter potato skewers are the ones I always end up copying first off any list like this. Baby potatoes threaded whole, brushed with melted garlic butter and grilled until charred in spots.
Fresh parsley on top makes them look fancier than they actually are, lol!
Grilled Potato Salad Bowl
Grilled potato salad bowl takes the classic dish and gives every potato a smoky char before it hits the bowl.
This changes the entire flavor. It tastes closer to a warm side dish than the cold picnic version everyone grew up with.
Loaded Potato Bar Setup
Want to skip cooking entirely for one part of the meal? A loaded potato bar setup does exactly that.
Bake a big tray of potatoes ahead of time, then let guests build their own with cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and green onion.
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It turns into a little assembly line and everyone gets exactly what they want. No complaints, ever.
Foil Pack Cheesy Potatoes
Foil pack cheesy potatoes are the cheesier cousin of the foil packet idea from earlier on this list. Sliced potatoes layered with cheddar, butter and onion, sealed tight and grilled until everything melts together.
Open the packet at the table for the full cheesy steam reveal. Talk about a crowd pleaser!
Crispy Potato Salad Cups
Crispy potato salad cups take shredded potato, press it into muffin tins and bake until golden, then fill the little cups with a creamy potato salad mixture.
They look similar to they took hours. They did not, haha! These are great for anyone who hates a soggy scoop on a paper plate.
Spicy Grilled Potato Slices
Spicy grilled potato slices bring a little heat to the table for once. Thick rounds get brushed with a chili and lime marinade before hitting the grate.
Not everyone will reach for these first, but the ones who do go back for seconds.
Buttery Corn Potato Combo
Buttery corn potato combo pairs grilled corn kernels with tender potato chunks in one buttery skillet situation. Simple, but it disappears fast.
Red Skin Potato Salad
Red skin potato salad keeps the skins on for extra texture and color, plus it saves you the peeling step. Fewer dishes, less time standing at the counter.
A little dill and grainy mustard in the dressing keeps this one from tasting similar to every other version out there.
Barbecue Potato Skewer Platter
A barbecue potato skewer platter brushed with actual barbecue sauce during the last few minutes on the grill tastes similar to dessert for savory people, honestly.
Serve them piled up on a platter with extra sauce on the side for dipping. This one earned a spot purely for how good the char looks in photos.
Rustic Grilled Potato Fans
Last but definitely not least, rustic grilled potato fans bring some real presentation to the table. Slice the potato almost all the way through, fan it out, brush with butter and herbs, then grill until the edges crisp up.
It looks similar to restaurant plating with barely any actual effort. Set this one next to the burgers and watch people ask what it is.