Wondering what to serve with ribs? We rounded up 30 of the BEST side dishes for ribs for your next dinner or barbecue!
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes, the HARDEST part of the meal planning for me can be the side dishes!
I get super excited about the main dish, and then I get stuck planning what to serve with it. Since we’ve been all about our Slow Cooker Ribs recipe this month, I figured now was the perfect time to share some of the best ribs side dishes that are perfect whether you’re firing up the grill or tucking your favorite ribs into the oven or slow cooker.
From summer salads and vegetables, to hearty homestyle favorites, these easy side dishes are a delicious way to complete your meal!
We’ve done all the hard work for you! Scroll through for some of our favorite things to serve with ribs at your next family dinner or summer BBQ!
Summer Sides & Salads To Serve With Ribs
Our favorite time to eat ribs is in the summer! Between family barbecues, summer holidays and 4th of July parties, pool days, and picnics, ribs always feel like a good choice in the summer! Our first collection of sides for ribs starts with barbecue side dishes and summer faves. These great sides are PERFECT for a summer rib dinner!
Corn On The Cob
It doesn’t get any more classic than summer corn on the cob during grilling season, and our go-to method for cooking it gives you juicy, flavorful sweet corn every time. It’s a must for your next barbecue dinner!
Fresh Watermelon Fruit Salad
This berry watermelon fruit salad topped with honey lime mint dressing is fresh, light, and delicious. It’s the perfect easy summer fruit salad recipe for a BBQ feast!
Broccoli Bacon Salad (Paleo + Gluten-Free)
This classic broccoli salad is one of my favorite summer salads for barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. Best of all: you can make it in advance!
Classic Potato Salad
A staple side dish for good reason! This classic American potato salad recipe uses a few simple flavor tricks to make it amazing. It DISAPPEARS at cookouts!
Gluten-Free Pasta Salad
Pasta salads are always a win in the summer, and this easy salad is made with colorful veggies, layers of flavor, and a quick homemade dressing you’re SURE to love. (Gluten-free & Dairy-Free!)
Honey Lime Fruit Salad (The BEST!)
Honey Lime Fruit Salad is one of my favorite side dishes. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, baby or wedding showers, barbecues, picnics, potlucks, and more!
Easy Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Our family’s FAVORITE baked beans recipe, made easy in the slow cooker! You’ll want to serve this crowd-pleasing side dish at summer cookouts, barbecues, and picnics all summer long. We almost always double it for a big batch to serve a large crowd since everyone wants seconds!
Cilantro Lime Slaw
If you don’t like the mayo-based dressings of other coleslaw recipes, this yummy cilantro-lime cabbage slaw is calling your name! It’s fresh, bright & crunchy. Perfect next to the hearty flavors and texture of pork ribs!
Thai Cucumber Salad
This fresh, light cucumber salad is the perfect cool complement to warm weather or a spicy meal. You’ll LOVE the dressing in this refreshing side dish!
Easy Marinated Tomato Salad
You only need 6 ingredients to make these delicious balsamic marinated tomatoes. Serve them as a fresh side dish, or use them as a topping for all kinds of goodies!
Classic Coleslaw
Crisp, cool, and creamy, this classic coleslaw recipe is delicious next to a rack of smoky, savory ribs! (You’ll LOVE our easy coleslaw dressing!)
Watermelon Star Sparklers
Are you making ribs for 4th of July? These watermelon star sparklers are such a cute, fun side dish to serve with them. (Don’t miss the easy lime yogurt dip we like to serve with them!)
Healthy 3-Bean Salad
This easy bean salad recipe is the perfect fresh side dish for your next BBQ, potluck, or picnic! It’s fresh, light, and so easy to make.
Peach Berry Fruit Salad
This summer fruit salad uses the BEST combination of fresh peaches and berries with a bright, tangy dressing to make a beautiful side dish everyone loves.
Homestyle Sides To Serve With Ribs
At our house, there are two main types of meals we have when we make ribs. The first is a summer bbq, which we covered above. The second is when we’re craving homestyle comfort food, kind of like what you’d find at a steakhouse or Southern comfort food restaurant. These homestyle side dishes for ribs are perfect for those comfort food cravings!
Twice Baked Potatoes
Our twice baked potatoes recipe is a popular side dish that’s delicious with all sorts of dinners. We love the contrast of the crispy potato skins with the fluffy mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. Don’t miss all our favorite add-ins and toppings to try in the post!
Wedge Salad With Creamy Parmesan Dressing
If you love classic wedge salad at restaurants, you’ll love making your own at home! Our easy wedge salad recipe has a creamy parmesan dressing (in place of blue cheese dressing) and delicious toppings like juicy tomatoes, smoky bacon, and fresh herbs.
Crispy Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with balsamic glaze make a delicious side dish you’ll come back to again and again.
Easy Gluten-Free Cornbread (The BEST!)
This is the BEST gluten-free cornbread recipe we’ve ever tried. Fluffy, moist, perfectly sweet & easy to make! (Pro tip: try it with honey butter!!!)
Seasoned Green Beans
This easy seasoned green beans recipe is made from simple ingredients that pack in BIG flavor. You’ll love the taste of this green bean seasoning!
Easy Glazed Carrots
THE BEST glazed carrots. This sweet-glazed carrots with gorgeous caramelized edges make for the perfect side dish.
Gluten-Free Caesar Salad
This Gluten-Free Caesar Salad recipe has all of the classic flavor you crave, simply made gluten-free!
Fluffy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are the BEST mashed potatoes! Easy to make, mostly hands off, and fluffy EVERY time. They’re one of the best sides around for a plate of BBQ ribs!
Easy Lemon Asparagus
Easy sautéed asparagus with fresh lemon. You’ll love this healthy side dish! Simple sides like this are a great way to add some color to your meal.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Crispy Smashed Potatoes = crispy, salty, savory, MAGIC. These golden brown, crispy seasoned smashed potatoes have it all!
Pear and Pomegranate Salad
Looking for a side salad that’s a cut above? This is it! This pear and pomegranate salad has a beautiful mix of color and flavor. You’ll love the simple dressing that ties it all together!
Maple Cornbread (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)
This gently sweet cornbread recipe is the perfect complement to a bplate of smoky ribs. Do be sure to use pure maple syrup, not the fakey artificial stuff. It makes all the difference!
Green Beans Almondine (Amandine)
A great side that’s secretly SUPER easy! These tender green beans are combined with simple seasonings and golden toasted almonds for a touch of elegance.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
A classic recipe with a twist! These ultra-creamy mashed sweet potatoes are easy enough to make any night of the week. They’re DELICIOUS, beautiful, and taste GREAT next to ribs!
Creamed Corn (Gluten-Free!)
A great option if you’ve got fresh corn! This easy creamed corn recipe is a simple, versatile side dish that brings classic flavor & a touch of comfort to this homestyle meal.
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
These crispy sweet potato fries are made with amazing seasonings and baked to crispy perfection, thanks to our best tips and tricks.
A Trick For Picking Side Dishes: Go For Contrast!
Consider Contrast! One easy way to liven up a meal is to think about CONTRAST. You don’t want a meal that’s all the same color, shape, or flavor. Right? That feels BORING. Instead you can liven things up by thinking of variety. This doesn’t have to be super complicated! It can look like:
Contrasting Color
Choose contrasting colors! Pair a green veggie + colorful fruit salad or mashed potatoes with a nice salad or roasted veggies. Aim for at least 2-3 colors and your plate will look so much more vibrant and complete! (Plus, naturally colorful foods are usually more nutritious!)
Contrasting Temperature
Opt for items of different temperatures! Serve warm sticky bbq ribs with a cold potato salad + watermelon. Or, choose a warm side dish (like fresh cornbread or baked beans) and a cold one (coleslaw or fruit salad). This change in temperatures feels interesting and dynamic compared to an endless slog of all the same thing.
contrasting Texture
Choose items with different textures–creamy, smooth, crunchy, crispy, sticky, thick, delicate, caramelized, saucy, etc. This could be Twice Baked Potatoes + a crisp green salad or corn on the cob + creamy coleslaw.
Contrasting Flavor
Try to hit different notes in your meal. Choose from some basic flavor notes–salty, sweet, sour/tangy, spicy, bitter, smoky, savory, and umami. If you’ve got a savory, salty side dish (roasted potatoes), try to hit different notes in your next side dish (sweet watermelon, tangy coleslaw, etc.) Or, if you’re using a sweet barbecue sauce for your ribs, try something tangy or salty on the side (like potatoes with parmesan cheese or pasta salad with a vinegar-based dressing.)
🌟 Did I Miss Any Of Your Favorites? Have A REcipe REquest?
Shout it out below! I love getting new ideas to try or test!