Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 34 Mouthwatering BBQ Side Dishes for Pulled Pork, Brisket, and More Why should the main meat hog the spotlight? These barbecue sides are ready for their closeup. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 3, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jonny Valiant A good cookout at a backyard party (with all those irresistible BBQ sides) is a great way to celebrate a graduation or summer birthday. But eating BBQ is also something you can do any time. Whether you know how to grill brisket or pulled pork, or you order a cooked Boston butt from your local BBQ joint, there's no way to BBQ wrong. Side dishes for pulled pork (or any grilled protein) can include everything from the classic mac and cheese or potato salad to creative takes on slaws, such as a carrot and apple slaw. The key is to pick and prepare side dishes that go with your meat of choice. Fortunately, these barbecue sides go with all kinds of meat. Best of all, most make great leftovers, so you can enjoy the flavors of your BBQ after the smoker is cool. Need something to pair with that smoky brisket, ribs, or tangy pulled pork? Try one of the following recipes. 01 of 34 Creamy Potato Salad With Bacon Con Poulos Fresh herbs brighten up the flavor, while white wine vinegar adds a tang that balances out the rich mayonnaise and sour cream in this BBQ side dish. Crisp bacon provides a crunchy addition that brings this potato salad to the next level. get the recipe 02 of 34 Macaroni and Cheese Sang An This is about to be your go-to BBQ recipe for macaroni and cheese. Use a mixture of Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses for more complex flavors. The Cayenne pepper adds another layer of flavor that makes this barbecue side irresistible. get the recipe 03 of 34 Herb Potato Salad Anna Williams The secret to this unique recipe is lots of fresh herbs—tarragon, parsley, and chives. Toss the potatoes with the dressing while they're still hot to help them absorb the flavors. Bonus: You don't even have to peel the potatoes first! get the recipe 04 of 34 Collard Greens With Bacon Jonny Valiant In this Southern comfort food, salty, meaty bacon adds heft to healthy greens. Cook the sliced shallots and greens in the bacon drippings to infuse this side dish with savory richness. get the recipe 05 of 34 Mexican Grilled Corn With Cilantro Sang An While some grilled corn-on-the-cob recipes call for grilling in the husk, this recipe requires removing it and placing the corn directly on the grill. Fresh lime juice and cilantro are the flavors that bring this side dish to life. get the recipe 06 of 34 Tomato, Corn, and Red Cabbage Salad Paul Sirisalee This BBQ side dish couldn't be easier: Just whisk together the dressing of oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Then toss it with the tomatoes, avocado, corn, avocado, scallions, and cabbage. get the recipe 07 of 34 Sliced-Tomato Salad With Dill Pickle Relish Vinaigrette Caitlin Bensel This recipe turns jarred relish into a tangy dressing that brings out the flavor of crisp cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes. Add the herbs last. The dressing calls for honey, but taste the salad first before adding it; it might be sweet enough without it. get the recipe 08 of 34 Carrot-Apple Slaw Antonis Achilleos You can prep this slaw (without the cilantro) up to a day in advance. The ingredients in this side dish include sauerkraut, which brings a boost of flavor as well as the beneficial microbes of fermented foods. get the recipe 09 of 34 Minted Watermelon Salad Christopher Baker Torn mint leaves and cool watermelon give this salad a refreshing taste. Meanwhile, the spicy grilled jalapeño peppers give it a counter-balancing kick. get the recipe 10 of 34 Wilted Sesame Spinach Greg DuPree This quick and easy method also works well with Swiss chard, kale, or mustard greens. Tahini, maple syrup, and tamari bring a nutty creaminess to this unique side dish, which pairs well with a steak or salmon filet. get the recipe 11 of 34 Southwestern Pasta Salad Greg DuPree Toss cherry tomatoes, avocado, black beans, and corn with cooked campanelle pasta for a delicious side that can be made up to two hours in advance. You can spice things up by adding some thinly sliced fresh jalapeños or chopped green chilies to the dressing before blending. get the recipe 12 of 34 Smashed Cucumber Salad With Spicy Feta and Olives Jennifer Causey This simple no-cook salad with spicy feta and olives makes an excellent side for a summer BBQ. Smashing the cucumbers creates nooks and crannies, where the dressing and toppings can soak in and add flavor. get the recipe 13 of 34 Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette Gentl & Hyers This recipe livens up green beans with a mustardy, tangy dressing that pairs perfectly with salty bacon. The flavors of shallots, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper combine here to make you forget you ever disliked green beans. get the recipe 14 of 34 Beet-Radicchio Salad Christopher Testani This colorful salad, which is full of antioxidant-rich ingredients, is topped off with a rich maple dressing that's spiked with savory miso. If you're short on time, use shortcuts like pre-cooked beets and already-shaved Parmesan cheese. get the recipe 15 of 34 Charred Broccolini With Tahini Caesar And Crispy Chickpeas Jennifer Causey The secret to this delicious salad is the creamy Caesar dressing, which is made with tahini, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic. (Well, you may decide the secret lies in the crispy, crunchy, roasted chickpeas.) get the recipe 16 of 34 Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta Anna Williams Recipes like this one make it clear why this vegetable has made such a huge resurgence of late. The fat from the salty, savory pancetta flavors the Brussels sprouts as they're caramelized—leading to a golden-brown exterior with an exquisitely soft center. get the recipe 17 of 34 Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey This is a perfect dish to make if you're just back from the farmer's market with fresh corn. Cut the kernels off the cob and mix them with beans, arugula, and cotija cheese. get the recipe 18 of 34 Caramelized Veggies With Poppy Seed Dressing Caitlin Bensel For those trying to eat a healthy rainbow of veggies, this side dish will provide lots of colors. You'll boost their natural flavors with a dressing made with lemon, garlic, parsley, tahini, and poppy seeds. get the recipe 19 of 34 Spring Green Salad Greg DuPree To toss this unique salad, you start with romaine lettuce hearts and add chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame. Keep the green theme going with chives, mint, and pistachios, and it's ready to serve. get the recipe 20 of 34 Miso Roasted Radishes Greg DuPree Radishes get a salty-sweet boost from miso and caramelized shallots in this easy, one-pan side dish. Include the radish's peppery leaves; they add yet another interesting flavor to the mix. get the recipe 21 of 34 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree Not much work is involved in this flavorful salad, made from raw zucchini and squash (softened by vinegar and salt), parsley, scallions, and chile. Almonds give it an extra crunch. get the recipe 22 of 34 Every-Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego Caitlin Bensel This utterly unique salad (which features blood oranges, navel oranges, and grapefruit) is citrusy, crunchy, sweet, tart, and nutty. But it's the orange dressing (with maple syrup and Dijon mustard) that makes it unforgettable. get the recipe 23 of 34 Little Gems and Radishes With Ricotta Salata and Seeds Greg DuPree A trio of seeds—sunflower, poppy, and sesame—lend an extra crunch to this refreshingly crackly mix of sliced radishes and quarters of Little Gem lettuce. If that type of lettuce is unavailable, substitute romaine hearts, fresh Bibb, or Boston lettuce. get the recipe 24 of 34 Lemony Pasta Salad With Cucumber Greg DuPree Fresh herbs, cucumbers, and feta adorn this pasta salad, which is drizzled in a tangy garlic-lemon dressing. This side dish pairs well with grilled chicken or steak. That said, you could also add tofu or chickpeas to make it a little heartier, and the vegetarians at your barbecue will have a main dish to scarf down. get the recipe 25 of 34 Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw Greg DuPree This simple BBQ slaw swaps in crisp cabbage and raw zucchini instead of the chopped cucumber that's typical of tzatziki. Top with pepitas (a type of pumpkin seed that has a sweet flavor similar to pine nuts). get the recipe 26 of 34 Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans Greg DuPree Sweet pineapple chunks balance the salty bacon in this boundary-breaking baked beans dish. Plus, you make this side in 30 minutes, so it's easy to add to a quick summer meal. get the recipe 27 of 34 Peach, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad Ngoc Minh Ngo Tomatoes aren't the only fruit that pairs beautifully with fresh mozzarella and basil. This salad swaps in peaches, which are also perfectly in season around the time you're throwing outdoor barbecues. get the recipe 28 of 34 Tortellini Basil Salad Jennifer Causey This restaurant-worthy pasta salad combines tortellini, asparagus, watercress, fresh basil, and several herbs and spices in a complex and enticing mix of flavors. This is also a delicious way to add healthy veggies to a summer shindig. get the recipe 29 of 34 Mini Hasselback Potatoes Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Hasselback potato recipes are hugely popular because of how fast they cook and how easy they are to make. And in the case of this recipe, it's because of how absolutely delicious they are. get the recipe 30 of 34 Fried Green Tomatoes Lisa Hubbard Flour, eggs, cornmeal, and some unripe tomatoes are all you need to make this southern delicacy. They pair nicely with BBQ chicken but could be a nice side to any grilled meat. get the recipe 31 of 34 Spiced Rice With Crispy Chickpeas Caitlin Bensel This sweet and savory dish features a host of healthy ingredients, including turmeric, the spice that gives curry its kick and has anti-inflammatory properties. Pistachios bring a nutty boost, while the dates sweeten things up. get the recipe 32 of 34 White Bean and Farro Salad Jennifer Causey This hearty side is easy to assemble: Just toss some cooked farro with cannelloni beans, shallots, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Save time by buying quick-cooking farro, and add even more heft by tossing in some shredded rotisserie chicken. get the recipe 33 of 34 Grilled Mediterranean Salad Jennifer Causey This pasta salad is a perfect vehicle to show off in-season summer vegetables. The pasta is coated with a balsamic dressing and mixed with crispy halloumi and fresh oregano. get the recipe 34 of 34 Spanakopita Creamed Spinach Jennifer Causey This rich and creamy spinach-and-onion side dish is brimming with interesting flavors from feta, dill, and nutmeg. It's a perfect pairing for BBQ chicken or ribs. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit