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.
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!
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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!
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
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.
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!
Instant Pot Baked Beans are the perfect easy side dish to go with BBQ!
We love black-eyed peas! Cooked here with collard greens, we enjoy it with pulled pork as shown, as well as ribs.
This recipe for instant pot black eyed peas is simple and easy with no soaking required! It’s the perfect classic southern comfort food.
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!
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!
This orzo pasta salad is a great side dish. Perfect for bringing along to a cookout or summer potluck!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 recipe features the tender, healthy greens tossed with a maple vinaigrette for a touch of sweetness.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
James Waites
Love to cook and try new recipes
Cooking Chat
Thanks for the feedback. Lots to choose from here!