What To Serve With BBQ Ribs – Delicious Side Ideas
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Trying to decide what sides go with ribs for dinner can be difficult, depending on the occasion and the location. Have no fears my dear friend, I have you covered by giving you a few different side dish ideas for ribs at your next event, or simply for a great dinner in.
From fresh salads to classic cookout sides, what you serve with BBQ ribs should be easy to make and pair perfectly with their rich, savory flavor. delicious side ideas to help turn your BBQ ribs into a fun, filling, and unforgettable meal everyone will love.
Helpful Tips on What to serve with BBQ Ribs
- Balance the bold flavors: BBQ ribs are rich and smoky, so pair them with sides that offer contrast. Fresh salads, crisp veggies, or lightly dressed slaws to keep the meal from feeling too heavy.
- Mix comfort with freshness: Classic comfort sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, or cornbread work beautifully with ribs.
- Think about texture: Ribs are tender and saucy, so adding crunchy or crisp option makes the meal more exciting. Coleslaw, roasted vegetables, or a simple cucumber salad add that extra bite everyone loves.
- Keep it easy and crowd-friendly: Choose sides that can be made ahead or served at room temperature. Dishes that travel well and don’t need last-minute fuss make hosting much more enjoyable.
What Goes With Ribs?
Here are a few different tasty side dish ideas to serve along with your ribs!
These Pineapple beans and ribs would be best friends if they were served at any outdoor cookout!
If you're craving macaroni salad to pair with your ribs, why not go with a Hawaiian macaroni salad? Here's a perfect one!
Fresh garden tomatoes, olive oil, fresh garlic, vinegar, and a few other ingredients, and this summer side is ready for your rib dinner!
Perfect for eating with your hands as you eat your ribs! These easy corn fritters are quick to make!
4 Ingredient Cheesy Garlic Knots are soft, buttery, and garlicky with gooey cheese that we all love. Perfect for sides, appetizers, and more!
Only 3 main ingredients are needed to add a super tasty and healthy side to your rib feast!
This coleslaw recipe is like Old School KFC with a Southern Twang! It's perfect for every potluck, BBQ, and cookout you'll ever attend. This KFC-style coleslaw recipe can be whipped up in just a couple of minutes.
This Jiffy Cornbread Casserole is an easy and delicious casserole recipe perfect for any occasion! Made with simple ingredients, it’s a crowd-pleasing dish that everyone will love! Using just seven ingredients, this savory dish is a Southern favorite!
Crispy Homemade Potato Chips are thinly sliced potatoes fried or baked until golden, crunchy, and irresistibly crisp. Lightly seasoned and freshly made, they deliver that perfect salty crunch with a simple, comforting homemade touch everyone loves.
Cajun corn on the cob is an easy side dish with cajun flavor. Fresh and juicy sweet corn is such a summer treat, but it’s even better when slathered in butter and coated in cajun spices! Ready in less than 15 minutes!
A favorite side dish at any summer BBQ or cookout! The Classic American Coleslaw, now made gluten-free, vegan, and top 8 allergy-free! A super easy recipe to whip up ahead of time, served chilled as is, or even use it as a topping in a sandwich!
This crispy smashed potato salad is a fun and flavorful twist on the classic! it's like your favorite roasted potato salad and crispy smashed potatoes had a baby. This warm, flavorful side dish is ready in just 30 minutes.
Call it a salad, or call it a meal, nobody can ever get enough of this Southern Bacon Cornbread Salad recipe! It’s a beautiful layered salad that’s served in a trifle dish and it’s hearty enough to be a meal itself or makes a stunning side dish.Â
THE BEST slaw for fish tacos recipe ever! Just 6 ingredients make this creamy, tangy, no mayo coleslaw one that you'll make again and again. This particular slaw goes with just about anything.
Made with baking potatoes, tossed in oil and spices and slow roasted in the oven, this potato wedges recipe makes a great side dish or late-night snack. you’ll love these potato wedges for breakfast, brunch, snack time, and entertaining, too.
Fluffy and golden moist buttermilk drop biscuits made super quick and easy with several secrets in this tested-until-perfect recipe. It’s a high-moisture recipe making it forgiving to slight errors in flour quantity or in handling.Â
Cornbread Salad has crumbled jalapeno cheddar cornbread layered with bacon, beans, and veggies for a delicious southern favorite. With just simple, easy-to-find ingredients, this crowd-pleasing salad is a no brainer.Â
Sweet buttery corn kernels with cream cheese & spices simmered on low in the Crock-Pot for a Southern classic side. This cream-style sweet corn is a no-fuss dump & go recipe that just needs a simple stir and let it do the magic.
These Braised Collard Greens with Turkey Bacon are a perfect side dish. Olive oil and lean turkey bacon make this Southern style collard greens dish a little more healthy. A splash of cider vinegar gives it a nice tang.Â
There’s something extra satisfying about biting into a golden, crunchy slice of fried red tomatoes, especially when they’re seasoned just right and paired with a tangy hint of balsamic.
It’s nostalgic, easy to whip up, and makes the perfect starter or side dish for a cookout or casual dinner. Done in under 30 minutes and super easy.
This authentic southern style low country potato salad will tantalize your tastebuds with its abundance of old bay spice, shrimp and andouille sausage. The creamy mayonnaise dressing and hard boiled eggs meld all the old-fashioned flavors together.
Quick, delicious recipe for how to make roasted parmesan carrots. This simple side dish is a perfect companion to any meal. With just a few ingredients, you can prepare this delightful dish that’s perfect for family dinners, holiday gatherings, or meal prep.
A fresh and easy cucumber tomato salad tossed in tangy red wine vinaigrette. The perfect summer side dish made with grape tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and red onion! It’s an easy side dish salad that works for everything from backyard barbecues to quick weeknight dinners.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is such a fun summer side dish recipe. It takes everything you love about elote: sweet corn, creamy sauce, and cotija cheese, and tosses it all together with pasta for a seriously delicious bite!
Green Beans Almondine combines French-style fresh green beans, toasted almonds, fresh minced garlic, and fresh lemon juice into a fantastic side dish for many entrees.Â
In this kimchi potato salad, spicy kimchi and creamy potato salad come together to create a refreshing, fusion dish with a hit of tang. Surprise your guests with the flavors of Korean food in this 20-minute side dish.
This vinegar coleslaw recipe is a no-mayo coleslaw made with finely shredded cabbage, carrots, bell pepper and onion tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It's the perfect side dish.
This easy green cabbage and sliced cucumber salad is budget-friendly and tasty, perfect for a crowd or family dinner. Easy to make, and uses real ingredients that can be easily found in any season.
Frequently Asked Questions on What to serve with BBQ Ribs
How do I choose sides that won’t overpower BBQ ribs?
Choose sides with simple, fresh flavors that complement the smoky, saucy ribs instead of competing with them. Light seasoning, mild dressings, and a mix of fresh or crisp textures help balance the richness and keep the ribs as the main focus of the meal.
What sides are good for feeding a crowd with BBQ ribs?
Sides that are easy to make in large batches and hold well over time work best for feeding a crowd. Choose options that can be prepped ahead, served at room temperature, and shared easily, so serving stays simple and stress-free.
Should BBQ rib sides be served hot or cold?
A mix of both works best. Warm sides add comfort and heartiness, while cold or room-temperature sides bring freshness and balance, making the meal feel more enjoyable and relaxed.
BBQ ribs are already a show-stopping main dish, and pairing them with the right sides makes the whole meal come together effortlessly.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today, see you again next time!
~Joanne