The Best Soul Food Cookout Side Dishes - Black Cookout Food Menu Ideas & Recipes. What are soul food cookout sides? If the soul food cookout is about the main course, then the soul food cookout side dishes are about enhancing the main dish flavors! For example, If you’re having a soul food cookout or BBQ, you’ll want soul food cookout side dishes that balance the heat of spicy or grilled meat. How do Black people make coleslaw? With lots of flavor! Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw.