My family goes into a frenzy for BBQ ribs. Serving up a platter of tender and juicy BBQ ribs brings the caveman out of the hubby and the wolfpack out of the kids!
When I decide what to serve with bbq ribs, I always select dishes that are both complementary and competitive. I don’t just ask myself, “What goes with ribs?”
No! I wonder, “What dishes do I know that can rival ribs?”
Jump to:
- 1. Saucy, Smoky Baked Beans
- 2. Classic Creamy Coleslaw
- 3. Fluffy Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
- 4. Fried Green Tomatoes
- 5. Grilled Corn on the Cob
- 6. Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
- 7. Southern Collard Greens with Bacon
- 8. Easy Corn Fritters
- 9. Fried Pickles
- 10. Potato Salad
- 11. Grilled Asparagus
- 12. Southern Green Beans
- 13. Tomato, Cucumber, Corn Salad
- 14. 1905 Salad (Columbia’s Salad)
- 15. Best Macaroni Salad
- 16. Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Muffins
- 17. Lebanese Cucumber Salad
- 18. Cheese Grits
- 19. Ambrosia Salad
- 20. Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Raisins
- 21. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- 22. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
- 23. Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- 24. Creamy Corn Pudding
- 25. Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- 26. (Copycat) Texas Roadhouse Rolls
- 27. Air Fryer Onion Rings
- 28. German Potato Salad
- 29. Instant Pot Pinto Beans
- 30. Blistered Shishito Peppers
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
While it’s hard to match the instinctual appeal of meat on the bone, I do have a few go-to side dishes for ribs that can tame even the wildest heart.
It’s survival of the fittest in my kitchen! These simple sides for ribs are the quickest, tastiest, and most successful recipes to ever accompany a rack of sweet and sticky BBQ pork!
1. Saucy, Smoky Baked Beans
Baked beans are an American BBQ classic. The deep and sweet flavors of a smoky baked bean sauce perfectly match a slow and low rack of BBQ ribs.
Baked beans only improve with time in the pot or the fridge. This makes them an excellent candidate for meal prep or batch cooking.
Over the summer, I always have a few portions of baked beans prepped in my freezer for whenever the urge to BBQ calls!
Every serious home cook should have their own secret baked bean recipe. Any baked bean recipes will get you started, but we really love this one from How Sweet Eats.
Be brave, experiment, and adjust flavors. Before long, you’ll have a secret baked bean recipe all of your own!
2. Classic Creamy Coleslaw
Is a BBQ even BBQ without a cool and creamy side of coleslaw? This historically Dutch dish is an all-American classic. I think of coleslaw as a BBQ no-brainer!
Coleslaw is cold, refreshing, and crunchy — the ideal counterpoint to perfectly barbequed, hot, rich, fall-off-the-bone soft pork ribs.
It’s also extremely quick to prepare. Just shred your cabbage, dress it, and serve! You’ll have a big batch of yummy and healthy coleslaw for everyone to enjoy.
You can’t have a BBQ sandwich without meat and coleslaw. Be sure to keep some cabbage in your fridge for whenever the occasion rises.
3. Fluffy Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
If you want your babies to grow up big and strong, make them cornbread — and keep them cornfed!
I have made many different cornbreads, but I’ve never really beaten this simple jalapeno and cheddar recipe. It’s a soft and sweet treat with a spicy kick that’s perfect for your BBQ ribs!
Jalapeno and cheddar is the perfect flavor intersection of New-World produce and Old-World cuisine. But you don’t have to know that to notice cheese and chili is a winning combo.
Cornbread is the perfect carbohydrate complement to BBQ ribs. You’ll never go wrong with this one!
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
Everybody has an opinion about the right way to serve fried green tomatoes. Follow this recipe and take out the guesswork!
Fried green tomatoes ought to be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside — you will know perfection when you taste it, so don’t stress.
Most fried green tomatoes are extremely simple — many recipes use nothing more than green tomatoes and cornmeal.
This fried green tomato recipe from Pinch and Swirl is equally straightforward, with one or two tweaks to really make those flavors sing. Ready in just 20 minutes, you’ll have the perfect crunchy partner to those savory ribs.
5. Grilled Corn on the Cob
What’s BBQ without grilled corn? Hot and juicy, sweet corn on the cob — topped with a knob of garlic butter or a dollop of chipotle mayo. It just doesn’t get better than that!
Corn tastes best fresh, so pick or buy it immediately before cooking and eating. You will be rewarded with the sweetest and tastiest grilled corn of your life.
As a side to your BBQ ribs, grilled corn highlights that oh-so-smoky flavor. With a bit of light sweetness, grilled corn is one of the best dishes for your BBQ party!
6. Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
When I say comfort food, you say: creamy baked mac and cheese! Mac and cheese is a staple of BBQ cuisine, and I’ll tell you why:
- Everybody loves mac and cheese
- It’s easy to prepare, it travels well, and you can prep it well in advance
- It’s an ideal carbohydrate option to match with BBQ meat
- Did I mention everyone loves mac and cheese?!
If you want to make the whole team happy, be sure to regularly serve this classic side dish with BBQ ribs or any other BBQ meats.
At a loss for how to serve the best mac and cheese? The Chunky Chef has you covered.
This lovely recipe has firm but tender pasta with a gorgeous browned layer on top. It’s a wonderful comfort food made even better.
7. Southern Collard Greens with Bacon
The US was built on collard greens! Cooked with just a little bacon grease, you can’t beat collard greens for their flavor or nutritional value.
Collard greens are succulent, slightly bitter, and rich in iron. They’re such an excellent way to get vegetables onto my kids’ plates whenever we have BBQ.
Historically, collard greens were one of the only crops that enslaved people were permitted to grow and eat in the antebellum South. These days, they’re a ubiquitous soul food dish — and a personal favorite!
8. Easy Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are a quick way to score an easy win! They’re crunchy, golden, and bursting with sweet corny flavor.
There’s no need to make these complicated. When it comes to corn fritters, simple is delicious!
Happiness is a fritter on one hand and a pork rib on the other. Try whipping this dish out the next time you serve up BBQ ribs. This no-fuss recipe is ready in just 15 minutes, just perfect for lively gatherings.
9. Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are a genius finger food and an indispensable sandwich filler! They bring a delightful crunch and a burst of dill pickle goodness to any BBQ.
There’s nothing complicated to it — just batter that pickle and fry it! If you haven’t tried these yet, it’s time to get cooking.
The fried pickle is BBQ in miniature: crispy, juicy, salty, and sweet — an explosion of flavors! The tangy pickle taste cuts brilliantly across the savory BBQ pork rib and truly brings you closer to heaven with every bite.
10. Potato Salad
When the potato was first introduced to Europe, it sparked a revolution. I have no doubt that if I failed to serve potato salad with my BBQ ribs, my kids would be just as quick to bust out the black powder!
Potato salad is one of the holy pillars of BBQ cuisine. It’s creamy, smooth, tangy, and a perfect partner to pork ribs. Meat and potatoes — some things are just meant to be.
Potatoes often get a bad rap as a junk food vegetable. But the truth is: with a block of butter and a bag of potatoes, humans can meet almost all of their nutritional needs.
Potato salad is simple, affordable, and travels very well. Don’t forget this delicious classic next time!
11. Grilled Asparagus
When asparagus season hits, you’ll find these grilled asparagus served in my home daily — BBQ or no!
This elegant vegetable dish is smoky, tender, and delightfully sweet. Best of all, it takes next-to-no preparation and very little cook time.
My kids love their crispy, creamy asparagus sticks. I have to be quick at the dining table to have any for myself!
12. Southern Green Beans
Southern green beans are a slow-cooked miracle! Served with crispy bacon, these tender, flavorful beans are simply to die for.
I work hard to get something green onto the kids’ plates at every meal. These melt-in-your-mouth southern green beans practically leap onto my little ones’ forks. It’s a well-loved recipe that’s always welcome at our family dining table.
Although slow cooking means a long time in the pot, the preparation for these beans is quick and easy. And when you got some BBQ ribs going, the combination is simply heavenly!
13. Tomato, Cucumber, Corn Salad
This salad is dead easy — 10 minutes prep if you really take your time. I love it because it introduces a fresh and bright element to the BBQ table. The raw summer produce is packed full of nutrients and flavor.
I throw this salad together for every BBQ. The ingredients celebrate summer and the fresh flavors cut through the heavy BBQ meats.
It’s refreshingly satisfying, and you might just trick your picky kids into eating something nutritious!
14. 1905 Salad (Columbia’s Salad)
This salad comes out punching! It’s a hearty, no-cook dish that I can whip up whenever I want to impress. The dressing is tangy and unique — your guests will beg to know the secret ingredient (surprise, it’s Worcestershire sauce).
1905 Salad does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to balancing and complementing the ribs. The crunchy croutons are delightful, and the pops of flavor from cherry tomatoes and green olives are a real treat!
It’s my go-to salad if I am asked to “bring a plate”. If I don’t like any of the other dishes, I know this salad brings all the flavor and nutrients I need!
15. Best Macaroni Salad
Listen, it’s not rocket science — it’s the best macaroni salad! This pasta salad is packed with flavor and it looks beautiful beside a rack of ribs.
The best macaroni salad is high in protein and carbohydrates. It’s creamy, tangy, and delicious.
Sweet pickles, boiled eggs, and mayonnaise are the holy trinity of BBQ salads. They explode with so much flavor and are such a rewarding treat!
This macaroni salad recipe from Yellow Bliss Road is traditional in all the best ways. It simply works without any fuss. After all, if it ain’t broke — don’t fix it!
16. Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Muffins
Someone once told me that cheese is actually physically addictive. I’m no scientist, but my dinner table observations certainly confirm that hypothesis!
These perfectly fluffy, cheesy, spicy cornbread muffins are easy to prepare — and even easier to eat.
I consider cornbread one of the staples of a good BBQ. And if it’s my BBQ, you know I’ll be serving jalapeno cheddar cornbread muffins for everyone!
This duo is simply heaven-sent. The muffins’ fluffy softness complements the savory and spicy flavor of ribs — it’s an experience you’ll never grow tired of.
17. Lebanese Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers are cool and refreshing with a satisfying crunch. This Lebanese cucumber salad is the perfect palate cleanser between rounds of pork ribs.
For me, cucumber tastes like summer! That’s why this salad is the perfect fresh counterpoint to heavier dishes like ribs or mac and cheese.
Best of all, Lebanese cucumber salad is quick and easy to prepare. Just 10 minutes of prep time and an hour in the fridge, and you’ll have an exciting side dish for those tasty ribs.
Hard work is fine — but smart work is better. This salad definitely falls into the second category!
18. Cheese Grits
When in doubt, cheese it out! My kids love eating cheese grits almost as much as I love preparing them. These grits are simple and perfect.
Tasty cheese, creamy grits, and a generous helping of butter! What is there not to like about that? These smooth grits perfectly accompany BBQ ribs.
Add a fresh salad to the mix, and then we’re really cooking.
19. Ambrosia Salad
When I ask the kids what salad I should make for dinner, they always reply with ambrosia! Okay, it’s technically a dessert, not a salad, but you try telling that to a 10-year-old with a future as a lawyer.
I like to make this dessert for a BBQ because it’s packed full of fresh healthy fruits and looks magnificent on the table. It’s the perfect way to end a filling meal of ribs and BBQ meats!
20. Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Raisins
What’s better than broccoli salad? Broccoli salad with bacon!
This recipe follows a successful formula I use wherever I feel unsure in the kitchen: just put bacon on it. Broccoli is delicious on its own — but it’s truly magnificent with crispy, salty bacon and pops of sweet, juicy raisins mixed in.
It’s one of those side dishes for ribs that just works! Savory, creamy, and crunchy, broccoli salad highlights the BBQ ribs for an explosion of flavors.
21. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Everybody loves fries, everybody loves sweet potatoes. It’s clear what has to be done — crispy baked sweet potato fries!
These baked fries are a breeze to throw together and get into the oven fast. This leaves me plenty of time to throw together a few salads or mix a couple of drinks while the BBQ and the fries are still cooking.
And when they come out of the oven, these fries are crispy and sweet and oh-so-satisfying.
22. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — if you want to elevate a BBQ side, just add cheese. These garlic parmesan mashed potatoes are a smooth, cheesy, garlicky dream.
They make a delightfully soft and tasty bed for a rack of sticky BBQ ribs. I always make extra-large portions of this dish, but it never makes it off the table back into the fridge!
23. Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts got a bad rap when I was a kid. And to be honest, the way people used to cook them, that was fair enough. But believe me when I tell you: these are not your mother’s Brussels sprouts!
Roasted Brussels sprouts are already a win. Adding parmesan kicks these tiny cabbages up to the next level. The waxy bite and smoky roasted flavor make these a perfect dance partner for BBQ ribs.
This dish takes very little preparation and grants great rewards. Serving delicious Brussels sprouts to your kids is a nutrition win that they’ll thank you for!
24. Creamy Corn Pudding
My family runs on corn! It’s versatile, affordable, and delicious. This is a great meal to meal prep or cook in bulk.
Creamy corn pudding follows a winning formula: carbohydrate plus cheese equals happiness! You’ll love the creamy ricotta sauce and the juicy, sweet explosions of corn.
I always cook double portions of this meal. One tray goes on the table, the other in the freezer. It’s so simple and convenient to reheat and enjoy whenever you need an easy, tasty dinner.
25. Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Your kids may not love zucchini, but I bet they love fries!
If you’re anything like me, you love your air fryer. I’m always looking for quick tasty dishes I can prepare in my favorite kitchen appliance. And thankfully, this tasty treat takes little effort with my air fryer.
Zucchini fries are crispy, flavorful delights. The crisp texture complements fall-off-the-bone pork ribs and gets much-needed veggies onto your kids’ plates!
26. (Copycat) Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Freshly baked bread just tastes better! You don’t have to be a fancy baker to produce these perfect Texas Roadhouse rolls. They’re made from cheap, ordinary ingredients, and they taste like heaven.
For me, the BBQ sandwich is the pinnacle of summer eating – and a good sandwich demands a great bun!
These Texas roadhouse rolls are the perfect vehicle for coleslaw, fried pickles, and, of course, BBQ pork. Waiting behind each succulent bite is a satisfying coming together of different textures and flavors!
27. Air Fryer Onion Rings
Onion rings are easy in an air fryer! They’re quick to prepare and deliver on flavor — you’ll never be disappointed.
I love onion rings as finger food or a sandwich filling. And when paired with BBQ meats and ribs, you add layers of crunch and savory flavors that play nicely on your tongue.
It’s no wonder then that this recipe is a BBQ staple in my household. Plus, it’s also an easy, child-friendly snack!
28. German Potato Salad
Germans think differently. And sometimes, different is good!
This hot potato salad is halfway between a big breakfast and a bowl of loaded fries. It’s certainly not the cold potato salad you already know and love. I hate to say this, but it might even be better.
This salad is crispy, bacony goodness! It will be an instant favorite at any BBQ – just see for yourself.
29. Instant Pot Pinto Beans
These beans are simple to prepare in a handy instant pressure pot. I like to get these going before I work on more complicated sides.
Meat eaters will love them, but they’re also a great protein option for any vegetarians who might mistakenly stumble into your BBQ party!
I treat these beans as another excellent meal prep option. They’re great for the day of the BBQ and give me an easy protein option that I can reheat from the freezer on other nights!
30. Blistered Shishito Peppers
Last but certainly not least — blistered shishito peppers!
If you’ve gone out for Japanese food recently, there’s a good chance you’ve seen these on the menu. Don’t be intimidated: restaurant-quality shishito peppers are easy to whip up in your home kitchen.
Blistered shishito peppers bring a smoky, charred sweetness that perfectly complements the rich, savory tones of BBQ pork. I love this quick, easy recipe – and I know you will too!
📖 Recipe
What to Serve With BBQ Ribs: 30 Lip-Smacking Sides
Ingredients
- Saucy Smoky Baked Beans
- Classic Creamy Coleslaw
- Fluffy Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
- Southern Collard Greens With Bacon
- Easy Corn Fritters
- Fried Pickles
- Potato Salad
- Grilled Asparagus
- Southern Green Beans
- Tomato Cucumber, Corn Salad
- 1905 salad columbia’s salad
- Best Macaroni Salad
- Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Muffins
- Lebanese Cucumber Salad
- Cheese Grits
- Ambrosia Salad
- Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Raisins
- Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Creamy Corn Pudding
- Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- German Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Pinto Beans
- Blistered Shishito Peppers
Instructions
- Picke one (or two)!
- Enjoy!
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