Wondering What to Serve with Ribs? Here are 27 Quick and Easy Side Dishes for Your Barbecue
Yep, barbecue ribs are pretty darn delicious on their own, but don’t underestimate the power of sides. To round out your grilling feast, you’ll need at least two companions. (We’re partial to macaroni and cheese and cornbread, but we’re not picky.) Wondering what to serve with ribs? Here are 27 tangy, crunchy and creamy recipes worthy of the best barbecue joint you’ve ever been to.
RELATED: The 67 Best Grilling Recipes to Cook and Eat All Summer
1. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
The vinegar base pairs beautifully with rich and juicy meat.
2. BLT Pasta Salad
This is what happens when the summertime hits all get wrapped up into one side dish.
3. Sweet and Spicy Cornbread
If the ribs aren’t already spicy enough, wait until you try this crispy-fluffy cornbread.
4. Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites
There’s creamy and crunchy in every bite, plus you can help yourself to a few (they’re small).
5. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
Barbecue ribs and shrimp, aka how we do surf ’n’ turf. (The collards are a given.)
6. Quick-Pickled Onions
The acidic bite of these 30-minute pickled onions is just what you’ll want to cut through the richness of those smoky ribs.
7. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread with Tomatoes and Scallions
Cornbread, but make it fancy.
10. Cast-Iron Cornbread
Don’t mess with the classics. (You know, unless you’re adding brown butter.)
8. One-Pot Mac and Cheese
This mac is as easy as can be, but it might just steal the show.
9. 15-Minute Microwave Mashed Potatoes
Go ahead, indulge. But whatever you do, don’t turn on the stove.
RELATED: 19 Best Mashed Potato Recipes
11. Kale Caesar Salad
It’s important to eat your veggies—especially when they’re topped with Parmesan curls.
12. Chilled Cucumber Salad
This side dish is light and zippy and won’t weigh you down. The rice vinegar dressing is key.
13. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
We love how crispy these guys get. No one will suspect they aren’t deep-fried.
14. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Chèvre Ranch
Nothing beats this salad’s fresh crunch (or Ranch-inspired dressing, TBH).
15. Julia Turshen’s Skillet Cornbread with Cheddar and Scallions
Cornbread and cheese, a match made in heaven.
16. Easy Homemade Pickles
Is it really rib night if you don’t serve them with pickles?
17. Smoky Barbecued Corn
Once you try grilled corn on the cob, you’ll never go back to boiling it.
18. Make-Ahead Farro and Brussels Sprout Salad
If you’re hoping to class up your barbecue menu, look no further.
19. Swedish ‘Pizzasallad' Cabbage Slaw
Say hello to Scandinavia’s elegant, vinegar-based take on coleslaw.
20. Slow-Cooker Baked Beans
This one’s a classic.
21. Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
You might shake your head at Brussels sprouts, but mark our words: This dish will be devoured before you can blink.
22. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Consider them “bar snacks” before the main course.
23. Radicchio and Roasted Squash Salad
The bitterness of the radicchio balances out the sweet rib sauce.
24. Crock-Pot Corn Chowder
This chowder is irresistibly creamy without a ton of effort, thanks to your slow cooker.
25. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower
Behold: mac and cheese, all grown up. But if you don’t tell the kids it’s cauliflower, they’ll probably love it too.
RELATED: How to Make Literally Everything Cacio e Pepe
26. Turnip Fries
They’re a lot like steak fries, but a little bit healthier. (It’s all about balance, right?)
27. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
It’s light on the mayo and starch, but still heavy on flavor.
RELATED: 20 Slow-Cooker Barbecue Recipes You Can Make All Summer Long
