Looking to try something new instead of the same boring side dishes? This grilled sweet potato salad recipe is just the thing to get you out of your rut.
Two Elements of the South of the Border Salad
There are actually two distinct parts to this grilled sweet potato salad BBQ recipe. The first part is the cilantro-lime crema and the second part is, of course, the veggies that make up the rest of the salad. The crema is best made a day or so before and even up to a week before you need it. This is a great salad dressing as well as a great topping for all foods that are more Mexican in origin. One of my favorite uses is on nachos and as a dipping sauce for wings in place of ranch.
Where to Serve Your Sweet Potato Salad BBQ Side Dish
What we especially appreciate about our South of the Border salad is its inherent versatility. In addition to being delicious, it promises to be a crowd-pleaser under many conditions:
- Picnics are definitely one place to let your sweet potato salad shine. Just tell party guests you’re bringing potato salad. They will picture the humdrum stuff and then be amazed when they dive into your BBQ version.
- Tailgates come to life when they include some grilled sweet potato salad. Like we mentioned before, the crema can serve as a terrific dipping sauce. If you’re planning to make some chicken wings on your wood pellet smoker grill, offer the crema as a sidekick. Your mild or hot wings will be the better and tastier for it.
- What about all those Cinco de Mayo celebrations? Any time you feel the call for some Tex-Mex, trust our sweet potato salad as a stand-out Mexican side dish to remember.
- Holiday buffets can use a little help from a sweet potato salad featuring BBQ overtones. Instead of making a sweet potato casserole, dish out cool sweet potato salad to switch up the experience.
Taking the Heat Up or Down in Your BBQ Sweet Potato Salad
We get it. Not everyone on your guest list likes heat or spice. Although our recipe recommends jalapenos, you can swap them for less intense banana peppers or eliminate the peppers altogether. You will still have Mexican and BBQ flavor, just without the kick.