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Home » Side Dish Recipes » What to Serve with Pork Ribs – 21 Best Side Dishes

What to Serve with Pork Ribs – 21 Best Side Dishes

Published: Mar 24, 2021 by Cooking Chat · This post may contain affiliate links

BBQ flavored pork ribs are a popular choice for summer cookouts, and can also be prepared year-round using your oven or favorite cooking device. But what to serve with pork ribs? Today we answer that question for you with a collection of the 21 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Ribs! Our recipe roundup includes pasta salads, mac & cheese, potato salad, vegetables and much more.

collage with different images of side dishes for pork ribs, including macaroni salad, vegetable salad, beans and red cabbage cole slaw.

Over the past year, our Boneless Baked Pork Ribs has emerged as the most popular recipe here on Cooking Chat. Perhaps it’s no surprise it is also one of the easiest! Our pork ribs recipe uses quick cooking country style ribs, and cooks in the oven in just about 20 minutes.

With hundreds of people visiting our pork ribs recipe every day, it is about time we delve into what to serve with pork ribs! I have examined dozens of suggestions from my fellow bloggers to pick the 21 best side dishes to go with ribs. Pick out a few of these tasty side dishes and take your rib dinner to a whole new level!

Jump to:
  • Potato salad
  • Potato Salad Recipes
  • Beans
  • Beans
  • Pasta side dishes
  • Pasta
  • Salad and coleslaw
  • Salads and Slaw
  • Cornbread and sweet potatoes
  • Cornbread and Sweet Potatoes
  • More rib recipes

Potato salad

Let’s kick things off with a classic for backyard barbecues! We’ve put together a collection of potato salad recipes that range from traditional preparations to creative interpretations.

Potato Salad Recipes

Potato salad can be a great side dish for ribs. Here are some delicious recipes to try!

Photo Credit: biteontheside.com

Roasted Potato Salad

Time to mix up your potato salad game! This easy roasted potato salad is full of flavor and texture and makes for a wonderful side dish to accompany ribs

Photo Credit: simpleandsavory.com

Healthy Potato Salad Recipe with Herbs - No Mayo

This potato salad without mayo can be made ahead of time so you can focus on cooking those ribs! Great option when you are grilling.

Photo Credit: entertainingwithbeth.com

Traditional Potato Salad Recipe

This Traditional Potato Salad recipe is an American classic guaranteed to be devoured at any summer cookout. You'll love this recipe because it's quick and easy and can be made hours ahead of time! Just reserve the crispy bacon for right before serving.

Beans

Potato salad might be the first thing you think of when it comes to BBQ sides, but I always go first for a good helping of beans!

Beans

I definitely think of beans alongside pork ribs and other BBQ! Here are some of our favorites plus some I plan to try from some blogger friends. I was thinking of legumes when creating this group, but did add one recipe using green beans to expand your options!

Photo Credit: temeculablogs.com

Best Homemade Instant Pot Baked Beans - NO Soaking Required!!

Instant Pot Baked Beans are the perfect easy side dish to go with BBQ!

Black-Eyed Peas with Collard Greens

We love black-eyed peas! Cooked here with collard greens, we enjoy it with pulled pork as shown, as well as ribs.

Photo Credit: thehelpfulgf.com

Instant Pot Southern Black Eyed Peas {Gluten Free}

This recipe for instant pot black eyed peas is simple and easy with no soaking required! It’s the perfect classic southern comfort food.

Photo Credit: www.wenthere8this.com

Southern Green Beans Recipe

Melt-in-your-mouth tender green beans simmered for hours and served drizzled in butter and topped with crispy crumbled bacon…yes these Southern Green Beans are the perfect addition to any dinner.

Pasta side dishes

We label this group of recipes “pasta” to cover two types of classic sides for ribs — pasta salad recipes and good old macaroni & cheese!

Pasta

Pasta salad, mac & cheese and other pasta dishes can be the perfect side for your pork ribs meal. Check out these recipes for inspiration!

Photo Credit: www.cravethegood.com

Pepper Jack Mac And Cheese | crave the good

There is no better side for pork ribs than mac and cheese, and you owe it to these delicious ribs to make a killer pepper jack mac!

Orzo Salad with Kale Pesto

This orzo pasta salad is a great side dish. Perfect for bringing along to a cookout or summer potluck!

Photo Credit: thriftyjinxy.com

Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe

This Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad is the perfect addition to a backyard barbecue. Its creamy sauce compliments BBQ ribs. It's served cool so it's ready to grab out of the fridge at mealtime.

Photo Credit: www.mommalew.com

The BEST Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe!

This Macaroni Salad Recipe will become a go-to favorite side dish for any occasion! Made with elbow macaroni, celery, carrots and a few secret ingredients, it easily comes together.

Photo Credit: www.thecookingcollective.com.au

Asian Noodle Salad Recipe

Full of fresh herbs and pickled veggies, this Asian noodle salad recipe is so light and refreshing, making it the perfect side to balance rich pork ribs.

Salad and coleslaw

OK, you’ve got some good meaty ribs and hearty sides that we’ve covered, we need to add some healthy recipes that provide your veggies, too! Check out this group of delicious salads and coleslaw recipes.

Salads and Slaw

You need some vegetables along with the meat! Here we provide you vegetable salads and coleslaw recipes to serve with BBQ ribs.

Photo Credit: www.goodlifeeats.com

Zucchini Tomato Basil Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

This Zucchini Tomato Basil Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette is a light and refreshing summertime salad and the perfect summer BBQ dish, especially when your garden is exploding with tomatoes, basil, and zucchini in the later summer months.

Photo Credit: www.therisingspoon.com

Red Cabbage Coleslaw with Apple & Carrot (No Mayo)

Need a refreshing side to pair with pork ribs? Fix this crunchy red cabbage coleslaw with carrot, apple, jalapeno, cilantro & green onion. It's mixed with a tangy & slightly sweet apple cider vinegar dressing that contrasts beautifully with the richness & sweetness of the ribs.

Baby Kale Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Baby Kale Salad recipe features the tender, healthy greens tossed with a maple vinaigrette for a touch of sweetness.

Photo Credit: twohealthykitchens.com

Healthy No Mayo Coleslaw

Specifically created to go with BBQ, this No Mayo Coleslaw recipe is the perfect middle ground between creamy, deli-style coleslaws and tangy vinegar slaws. Even better? It only takes about 5 minutes to toss together!

Photo Credit: swirlsofflavor.com

Mexican Corn Salad Recipe

Mexican Corn Salad Recipe combines fresh corn kernels, jalapeno, scallion and spice. Add fresh lime and cojito cheese and every spoonful is bursting with flavor.

Photo Credit: allnutritious.com

Mango Avocado Salad (Whole30, Low Calorie)

This avocado mango salad is a perfect exotic side dish to go along with barbecue.

Cornbread and sweet potatoes

I don’t know about you, but I definitely think of cornbread on the side when I’m going for BBQ! And I’ve added my mashed sweet potatoes here because I just have to share them whenever I can. They are my favorite side dish here on Cooking Chat!

Cornbread and Sweet Potatoes

Gotta have some corn bread options to go with BBQ pork ribs! I added sweet potatoes to this category, too, so I could share with you one of my best side dishes ever!

Photo Credit: www.therisingspoon.com

Honey Cornbread Muffins

Want a hearty side dish to pair with ribs? Fix a quick & easy batch of honey cornbread muffins in less than 30 minutes. They're tender & slightly sweet and pair perfectly with meaty main dishes.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I’d have to say this Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cumin Sage Butter is one of our favorite side dishes, maybe number one. You’ve got the sweetness from the potatoes balanced by spice, along with the savory butter. Just be sure to serve it with some good ribs so it doesn’t steal the show!

Photo Credit: brooklynfarmgirl.com

Moist Buttermilk Cornbread

Delicious Moist Buttermilk Cornbread that is so soft and fluffy!

More rib recipes

I’m guessing you found this collection either by hopping over from my Boneless Baked Pork Ribs recipe or you already have your own plan for the ribs. But just in case you need some more rib inspiration, here are a couple more ideas to try:

  • Easy Instant Pot Ribs (using baby back ribs) from Pip and Ebby
  • Slow Cooker Ribs (with baby back pork ribs) from Butter & Baggage
  • Fall off the bone BBQ Ribs (grilled) from Braised & Deglazed
collage with images of side dishes for pork ribs, including corn bread, beans and coleslaw.
« Easy Korean Chicken Wraps
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James Waites

    April 23, 2023 at 4:57 pm

    Love to cook and try new recipes

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      April 24, 2023 at 4:19 pm

      Thanks for the feedback. Lots to choose from here!

      Reply

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Hi there! I'm David. I love creating tasty, (mostly) healthy recipes, finding great wine pairings, and sharing good food with family and friends. learn more about me!

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