The 30 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Barbecue Ribs
Bacon Baked Beans
What's your go-to summertime meal? Do you love a big juicy burger, grilled chicken, tender steak or sticky, saucy, glazed barbecue ribs? A big plate of ribs, some sensational sides and you've got a party on your hands! Needing some side dish inspiration? You've come to the right place. Before you finalize your Memorial Day weekend barbecue menu, you'll want to browse these 30 side dish recipes to serve with barbecue ribs.
Related: 100 Best Memorial Day BBQ Ideas That Will Impress All Of Your Guests
The Best Side Dishes To Serve With Barbecue Ribs
Each one of these side dishes would pair so well with whatever rib recipes you're grilling up, whether it's a classic potato salad, cucumber salad, impossibly crispy hush puppies, air fryer roasted potatoes, mac and cheese or rich and creamy grits—just like your favorite barbecue joint serves up!
Related: 26 Red, White & Blue Desserts To Celebrate Memorial Day in Patriotic Style
When I think of eating barbecue ribs, an overflowing plate with other backyard barbecue favorites instantly comes to mind. If ribs are something you plan on treating yourself to this summer, be sure to pin these easy BBQ rib sides to remember for later. I know you'll find ones you are excited to serve, and even more thrilled to eat!
Related: Al Roker's Sticky Ginger Ale Ribs
Krista Marshall
These saucy, smoky and sweet beans are made better by bacon. Eat with sticky ribs and transcend to BBQ heaven.
Get the recipe: Bacon Baked Beans
Photo by: Mark Thomas
This Gourmet classic is a great addition to any warm-weather feast. You have to try it with your favorite baby back ribs.
Get the recipe: Corn Salad
Parade
What's a BBQ feast without potato salad? Try this fast, fresh version made with red-skinned potatoes, peas and dill. Also a welcomed dish at cookouts and many holiday gatherings, the top-knotch potato salad will always fit right in.
Get the recipe: Perfect Potato Salad with Peas and Dill
These crispy-fried bites are just work so well with tender, fall off the bone ribs.
Get the recipe: Crispy Hush Puppies
This one-pot meal is inspired by the Italian caprese salad, made of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves. It’s delicious warm or cold and pairs perfectly with ribs
Get the recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad
Jon Asthon
Using a classic British method, these roasted potatoes exceptionally crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.
Get the recipe: Life-Changing, Extra-Crispy Roasted Potatoes Recipe
Get the recipe: Copy Cat KFC Coleslaw
Clare Barboza/Bonnie Matthews
Best-in-the-west beans take classic Western baked beans to the next level, with not one, but three different kinds of beans. A sweet and savory sauce with ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard and molasses rounds out this amped-up side. Try them alongside ribs.
Get the recipe: Best-in-the-West Beans
The Rising Spoon
Throwing together a delicious coleslaw recipe is easy and simple and this recipe contains shredded cabbage, a creamy vinaigrette dressing. Because ribs offer plenty of opportunity to get lost in the sauce.
Get the recipe: Best Coleslaw Recipe with Apple Cider Vinegar
Solana Salado
Making potatoes in the air fryer also frees up oven space if you're making oven ribs or all the other sides you need for a killer barbecue.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
Taste of Home
These simple spuds are a step up from basic baked potatoes
Get the recipe: Parmesan Baked Potatoes
Jocelyn Ruggiero
Your favorite summer sandwich all glowed up and ready to be your new favorite summer potluck side dish.
Get the recipe: BLT Macaroni Salad
Andrew Purcell for Dash; Food styling, Carrie Purcell; Prop styling, Heather Chontos
This refreshing salad offers a fresh contrast when paired with smoky fatty ribs.
Get the recipe: Tangy Cucumber Salad
Is it even possible to serve ribs without a side of grilled corn on the cob?
Get the recipe: Easy Grilled Corn
Chad A Elick
So creamy and cheesy, this Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole tastes even better than the restaurant version.
Get the recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
Crisp lettuce, artichoke hearts, salty bacon and the star—hearts of palm—make this a dish that leaves a lasting impression.
Get the recipe: Hearts Of Palm Salad
iStock
Cornbread and ribs go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Get the recipe: The Simplest Cornbread Ever
Parade
It's a thousand times better than boxed mac.
Get the recipe: Best Homemade Mac and Cheese
Pam Beth
Everyone at the BBQ will love this creamy dip that takes no time at all to prepare.
Get the recipe: Best Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
Southern Bite
You can't go wrong with a pan of fried corn but once you try this classic southern preparation of corn, you might not be able to go back.
Get the recipe: Southern Fried Corn
Melissa Sperka
Collard greens are a beloved traditional Southern side dish. They're typically made with smoked meat, such as hamhocks, making them both flavorful and inexpensive to serve. Try this version with a Cajun twist using thick-cut bacon to add the smoky flavor.
Get the recipe: Cajun Collard Greens with Bacon
Chad A Elick
Three bean varieties, ground beef, Chorizo, and chipotle peppers give this real southwestern flavor with a little kick.
Get the recipe: 25-Minute Quick-Draw Cowboy Chili
Mark Boughton Photography
A bag of frozen corn gets star treatment in these dunk-into-barbecue-sauce corn fritters.
Get the recipe: Corn Fritters with Maple Syrup
John Kernick
Creamed corn is traditionally hearty side dish, usually calling for a cup of heavy cream. But here we lighten it up a bit by using a half cup of cream and a half cup of chicken stock, keeping the smoky, sweet and creamy taste, but keeping it light enough so you can get your proper fill of ribs.
Get the recipe: Jamie Deen's Cast-Iron Skillet Creamed Corn
Get the recipe: Unbundled Green Beans
Jocelyn Delk Adams
This grilled corn on the cob has great flavor with a bit of Mexican flair. If you don't have a grill, don't worry! You can still make this corn by broiling it in the oven. For a flavor boost, we brushed it with a bit of butter and added some salt, pepper, chili powder, cilantro, and a little goat cheese.
Get the recipe: The Best and Easiest Grilled Corn on the Cob
Ribs and rich and cheesy grits make the perfect cookout meal.
Get the recipe: Cheese Grits
Jon Ashton
The name comes from pretty genius egg-peeling hack.
Get the recipe: Easy Deviled Eggs
Mark Boughton Photography
Inspired by the flavors of French onion soup, but a whole lot easier to make, this twist on a blooming onion, from Chef Carla Hall, is a delicious entertaining go-to with ribs.
Get the recipe: Blooming Onion With Gruyere Cheese
Ragan Wallake Kitchenette
This pasta salad with no-cook tomato sauce is the perfect background for showcasing the exquisite tomato flavor, not to mention an excellent foil for sweet and smoky ribs.
Get the recipe: Pan Con Tomate Pasta Salad
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