Valerie Bertinelli’s Summery Sides

Freshen up the spread at your next backyard bash with these summery sides from Valerie’s Home Cooking.

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Photo By: Rob Pryce

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Photo By: Brandon Dickson

Photo By: yia thao

Photo By: Rob Pryce

Orzo Salad with Grape Tomatoes and Radishes

Valerie keeps her take on pasta salad light by swapping a traditional mayo-based dressing for a mustardy vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Orzo Salad with Grape Tomatoes and Radishes

Chopped Salad Trifle with Homemade Ranch

Valerie tops colorful layers of lettuce, peppers and cucumbers with a simple, homemade ranch and then sprinkles on roasted pumpkin seeds, radishes and scallions.

Get the Recipe: Chopped Salad Trifle with Homemade Ranch

Homemade Barbecue Potato Chips

Valerie slices the potatoes super thin on a mandoline and soaks them four times to remove the excess starch. After frying, she dusts them with a mixture of barbecue spices including paprika, chili powder, garlic, onion powder and a touch of sugar.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Barbecue Potato Chips

Pan-Roasted Tomatoes with Quick Balsamic Jam

Valerie uses a very hot pan to blister grape tomatoes, then adds balsamic vinegar, sugar and onions directly into the skillet to create a tangy jam. A drizzle of olive oil and basil ribbons finish the easy side.

Get the Recipe: Pan-Roasted Tomatoes with Quick Balsamic Jam

Arugula Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Champagne Vinaigrette

Valerie tops fresh arugula and halved cherry tomatoes with quick pickled red onions and then dresses the salad lightly with a homemade champagne vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Arugula Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Champagne Vinaigrette

Brown Sugar Baked Beans

Valerie adds crispy bacon, dark brown sugar and a touch of Dijon mustard to her version of this classic barbecue side dish.

Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Beans

Horseradish Potato Salad

Valerie brings the heat to her potato salad with a few tablespoons of horseradish and a dash of cayenne pepper. She tops the salad with chopped hardboiled eggs just like her mom used to.

Get the Recipe: Horseradish Potato Salad

Marinated Cucumber Salad

Dress up cucumbers with soy sauce and unseasoned rice vinegar for a savory Asian-inspired dish.

Get the Recipe: Marinated Cucumber Salad

Tomato Salad with Pancetta Crisps

Valerie tosses fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and onions with balsamic vinegar for this tangy side salad. She scatters crumbled pancetta on top for an added layer of salty goodness.

Get the Recipe: Tomato Salad with Pancetta Crisps

Jalapeno Ranch Slaw

The creaminess of this slaw offsets the spicy jalapeno and smoky chipotle for a flavor-filled bite.

Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Ranch Slaw

Quick Sweet-and-Sour Pickle Spears

Forget long-term fermentation; Valerie’s super-simple pickles can be ready to eat in three hours.

Get the Recipe: Quick Sweet-and-Sour Pickle Spears

Italian Pizzeria Salad

Studded with mozzarella, olives, artichokes and tomatoes, and topped with a fresh vinaigrette, this salad makes for a side with substance.

Get the Recipe: Italian Pizzeria Salad

Snap Pea Orange and Radish Salad

Snap peas and radishes add a lot of crunch to this salad, which also includes crispy pancetta, goat cheese, orange and fresh herbs.

Get the Recipe: Snap Pea, Orange and Radish Salad

Grilled Romaine with Balsamic Dressing

Charred hearts of romaine pair perfectly with crumbles of creamy Gorgonzola.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Romaine with Balsamic Dressing

Kale and Quinoa Salad

Valerie blanches the kale for this salad to tenderize it and bring out its gorgeous deep-green color.

Get the Recipe: Kale and Quinoa Salad

Grilled Corn and Bean Salad

Get the most out of sweet seasonal corn by grilling it, then cutting it off the cob and tossing it in this flavor-packed salad.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn and Bean Salad

Blistered Green Beans with Spicy Chile Sauce

If you love heat, then you'll adore these green beans tossed with Korean chile paste, honey and garlic oil before being broiled.

Get the Recipe: Blistered Green Beans with Spicy Chile Sauce

Crunchy Romaine Salad with Sweet Sesame Vinaigrette

To add even more crunch to this romaine salad, Valerie toasts crumbled instant ramen noodles with almonds in the oven. And for a sweet and savory dressing, she uses canned mandarin oranges, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Romaine Salad with Sweet Sesame Vinaigrette

Roasted Tomato and Corn Salsa

Roasting the tomatoes, corn, poblano pepper, onions and garlic first gives the salsa an extra level of flavor. For a milder sauce, give the salsa a quick stint in the refrigerator, as the sauce gets milder as it chills.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato and Corn Salsa

Chicken Salad with Apples and Grapes

Curry powder adds a layer of bold flavor to these light chicken salad lettuce wraps.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad with Apples and Grapes

Roasted Beets with Herbs

Simple and elegant, Valerie's roasted beets require only a dose of olive oil, salt, parsley and tarragon. Just toss, roast and serve.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Beets with Herbs

Classic Panzanella

Let juicy tomatoes give new life to day-old bread in this classic Italian salad.

Get the Recipe: Classic Panzanella

Jalapeno Fries with Roasted Garlic Ranch

Once you've had homemade ranch, it’s hard to go back. And after pairing it with jalapeno fries, you might feel the same way about them.

Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Fries with Roasted Garlic Ranch

Grilled Radicchio and Shrimp Salad

Grilling radicchio tames its bitterness and brings out a sweet and smoky flavor. Top the grilled lettuces with vinaigrette and grilled shrimp.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Radicchio and Shrimp Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

Italian Fennel Coleslaw

Fennel adds a licorice-y bite to the typical coleslaw mix of cabbage and carrots.

Get the Recipe: Italian Fennel Coleslaw

Cubano Salad

Since avocados are available year-round, this salad — which also features radishes, tomatoes and onions — can be an easy go-to anytime of the year.

Get the Recipe: Cubano Salad

Roasted Broccoli Rabe

Juicy cherry tomatoes and sweet shallots balance out the bitter notes of broccoli rabe.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Rabe

Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms with Chile-Lemon Salt

Asparagus and mushrooms are roasted in oil until tender and topped with a sprinkling of ground chilis, lemon zest and salt.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms with Chile-Lemon Salt

Arugula Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Champagne Vinaigrette

Pickled red onions add an extra punch to this peppery arugula salad. And the Champagne vinaigrette adds a bright note.

Get the Recipe: Arugula Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Champagne Vinaigrette

Farro, Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

This whole grain salad is studded with roasted beets, pistachios and creamy goat cheese. To wilt the beet greens, toss with the farro while its still hot.

Get the Recipe: Farro, Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Grilled New Potatoes with Tarragon Butter

These grilled new potatoes couldn’t be simpler for a summer side dish. After getting a good char on the grill, the potatoes are tossed with a generous spoonful of tarragon butter.

Get the Recipe: Grilled New Potatoes with Tarragon Butter

Cantaloupe and Radicchio Salad

Perfectly ripe cantaloupe meets crunchy radicchio and pine nuts for this easy summer salad. The dish gets dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Cantaloupe and Radicchio Salad

Grilled Shrimp Salsa

This isn’t your typical salsa. Shrimp, corn, jalapeno, scallions and onion get their turn on the grill before getting chopped and tossed together. Cilantro and avocado keep the dish light and fresh.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Salsa

Grilled Summer Vegetables with Avocado-Yogurt Dip

Take advantage of in-season veggies by throwing them on the grill and serving them with a creamy Avocado-Yogurt Dip.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Summer Vegetables with Avocado-Yogurt Dip

Antipasto Pasta Salad

This vibrant pasta salad includes artichoke hearts and Kalamata olives.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto Pasta Salad

Zoodle Panzanella

This traditional Tuscan salad features ciabatta croutons. Adding zucchini noodles adds an even greater crunch.

Get the Recipe: Zoodle Panzanella

Lime Cilantro Rice

Spruce up your rice with Valerie's recipe. Using cilantro and lime adds colorful flavor to this dish.

Get the Recipe: Lime Cilantro Rice

Purple and Green Kale Salad with Lemon Anchovy Vinaigrette

This lemony vinaigrette includes anchovies, garlic and Parmesan cheese. The purple kale and basil leaves add beautiful color to this side dish.

Get the Recipe: Purple and Green Kale Salad with Lemon Anchovy Vinaigrette

Pickled Shallots and Red Onions

Pickling is a great way to add an extra zing to your veggies. Use this side dish to complement your grilled meats or as a topper for your favorite tacos.

Get the Recipe: Pickled Shallots and Red Onions

Misticanza Salad

A quick salad side dish shouldn't compromise flavor. Valerie's recipe includes a vibrant vinaigrette to bring out the flavors of the salad greens.

Get the Recipe: Misticanza Salad

Kale and Radicchio Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

This sweet and savory salad includes ricotta, raspberries and balsamic vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Kale and Radicchio Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Fried Clams with Tartar and Cocktail Sauces

Make your own zesty dipping sauces to highlight the Old Bay seasoning in these fried clams. This recipe is a great way to impress your guests with minimal effort.

Get the Recipe: Fried Clams with Tartar and Cocktail Sauces