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The crackling sounds and irresistible smells of a barbecue are the best backdrop to the summer months, whilst catching up with friends and family in the garden. And no barbecue menu is complete without a classic dish of ribs. Sticky, smoky, or sweet, when it comes to the best side dishes for ribs, there’s no end to ideas for delicious pairings. Whether it's pork ribs or beef ribs, cooked in your favorite way, there are multiple side dishes that sit perfectly alongside melt-in-the-mouth barbecue ribs. For our top ribs side dishes, read on below for all the inspiration you need for what to serve with barbecue ribs and options across the board from salads to hearty plates of indulgence.
Coleslaw salad
For a cold and fresh side dish with your ribs, coleslaw salad is a summertime favorite. Tangy, creamy, crunchy, and vibrant, it’s a natural pairing with meaty and chewy barbecue ribs. It’s quicker to pick-up a pot of pre-made coleslaw salad at the grocery store, but for a homemade approach, we’ve shared our best coleslaw salad recipe. Whilst it takes around 90 minutes to pull together, it’s really straightforward to create and can sit in the fridge ahead of time whilst you wait for guests to arrive. Variations on the classic coleslaw salad include additions of creamy buttermilk, for an even more indulgent approach, or add a touch of heat with jalapeño peppers, for a spicier kick. If you want to introduce a pop of extra color, broccoli is a nutritious addition to a coleslaw salad. For a fruity option alongside pork ribs, add slices of fresh, zesty, apple to your coleslaw salad for a sweet taste.
Potato salad
When you’re on the hunt for inspiration for what to serve with ribs, potato salad has to be on the hit list. It’s a crowd pleasing, indulgent side dish that’s easy to put your own twist on depending on the theme of the barbecue. For a Southern-style barbecue, level up your potato salad with bacon and sweet pickle relish. If you like your barbecue with a side of seafood, discover our potato salad with salmon, spinach and dill, or take an even more elevated approach with our octopus and potato salad. You can also experiment with spice and introduce popular flavors like cayenne pepper to pair with a spicy selection of ribs. For a tangy and sour flavor profile, some chefs will even introduce a 50/50 sauce mix of mayonnaise and sour cream, creating a lighter style potato salad that’s still at home alongside a serving of barbecue ribs.
Grilled corn
Next in our pick of good side dishes for ribs is grilled corn. Is there a better smell than sweet, buttery, grilled corn coming off the barbecue in the sunshine? For a traditional approach, we like a simple grilled corn with a healthy splattering of herbed butter. Or mix it up into a crunchy, grilled corn salad with a dash of balsamic vinaigrette. Grilled corn also works well when paired with vibrant avocado and tangy red onion, for a fresher take on this usually sweet side dish. If you’re going full comfort style with your side dishes, mix crunchy corn in with creamy mac and cheese—this one’s sure to leave no leftovers at the end of the day. Lastly, if you like your ribs with a side of meat, bacon-wrapped corn on the cob is an irresistible twist on this dish with a sweet and salty flavor pairing.
Grits
Following on with a Southern States theme, creamy and cheesy grits are a hearty accompaniment for meaty ribs. Similar to polenta, the difference in the dishes is very minimal, with grits being made with white corn flour and polenta with yellow corn flour. Parmigiano cheese is a must have ingredient for the classic, cheesy grits taste experience but you can experiment with different flavor enhancers from herbs to spices, or even top your grits with sausages or prawns for extra flair. Not for the faint-hearted, grits need large dollops of cream and butter for the best grits serving. The creamy, smooth nature of grits makes it an ideal partner to the chewiness and umami-esque taste of the ribs. Try adding different varieties of cheese for an even creamier finish to this side dish.
Smoky baked beans
Baked beans have to be the ultimate comfort food and, what’s more, this dish tastes even more delicious the day after it’s made so it’s a great option for making ahead of time, ready to simply warm and serve once your guests arrive. The trick to getting it spot on is cooking the ingredients together low and slow and letting the flavors combine and take their time to come together. Rich, sweet, and savory, the ingredients list may be long, but the recipe itself is simple to follow. You can also whip-up an American version of the dish or a British version of the dish, depending on the theme of your barbecue. British baked beans tend to be tomato-based, and don’t usually include meat in the recipe. But, as with all of these side dishes, they can be varied and tweaked according to your taste preferences. Some chefs will even add a dash of rum to their baked beans to bring out the flavors and tap into that summertime party feel.
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