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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.

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.


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.


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.