A barbecue spread isn’t complete without an array of delicious sides to complement the savory smoked meats. The possibilities for BBQ sides are endless, but there are certain classics that pair perfectly with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and chicken. When planning your next cookout, make sure to include a mix of Southern favorites, fresh salads, crunchy pickles, and savory baked beans. With the right sides, you can take your barbecue feast to the next level.
Classic BBQ Side Dishes
These traditional sides have been gracing barbecue tables for generations. Their rich, comforting flavors are the ideal accompaniment to smoky, tender meats.
Baked Beans
No barbecue would be complete without a steaming pot of baked beans. These sweet, tangy beans stewed with molasses and bacon are a quintessential BBQ side. Make them ahead so the flavors have time to meld. Some recipes call for beans baked with brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, onions, and spices. The possibilities are endless when creating your perfect baked bean recipe.
Cole Slaw
Cool, crisp cole slaw provides the perfect crunchy contrast to tender, saucy barbecue. The tangy cabbage salad tossed in a creamy dressing cools the palate between bites of rich smoked meat. Try mixing up mayonnaise-based and vinegar-based slaw recipes for variety. Toss in shredded carrot, onion, bell pepper, and parsley to liven up traditional mayo slaw.
Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a comforting classic that pairs perfectly with barbecue favorites. Make it ahead and reheat, or bake it on site so it emerges from the oven hot and bubbly. Mix in smoked gouda or cheddar for a smoky depth of flavor. Top with crispy baked breadcrumbs or barbecue sauce for sweet and savory flavor.
Potato Salad
No Southern-style cookout is complete without big batches of cool, creamy potato salad. Tangy mustard and mayonnaise-dressed potatoes studded with hard-boiled eggs, onions, celery, pickles, and parsley make a filling side dish. Experiment with different mustards like spicy brown or whole grain. Mix in bacon, cheese, or roasted red peppers for extra flavor.
Corn on the Cob
Fresh sweet corn is a summer classic that complements rich barbecue perfectly. Boil or grill it until tender, then slather with butter, seasoning salt, barbecue dry rub, or chili mayo. For corn with a smoky twist, grill the ears in their husks over indirect heat before slathering with compound butter.
Fresh and Light BBQ Sides
Balance out the rich barbecue flavors with lighter sides using fresh vegetables, greens, and herbs. Bright flavors and crunchy textures prevent palate fatigue.
Cucumber Salad
A crisp cucumber salad offers a refreshing, hydrating counterpart to fatty barbecue meats. Toss sliced cucumbers with red onion and dill in a light vinaigrette spiked with vinegar. For variety, mix in radish, tomatoes, or feta cheese.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Juicy watermelon, briny feta, mint, and red onion is a delicious summer salad. Toss with lime juice and olive oil for a sweet and tangy side. The cool, hydrating melon helps counter the rich meats.
Coleslaw with Fruit
Give traditional coleslaw a summery twist by tossing in fresh fruit like diced mango, pineapple, or strawberries. The sweet flavor complements the tangy dressing and crunchy cabbage. Toasted almonds or pecans also add nice texture and crunch.
Green Salad with Vinaigrette
A crisp green salad is a healthy way to balance out the heavier barbecue offerings. Make a simple vinaigrette with olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and herbs. Top the greens with tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrot, and red onion for a colorful side.
Grilled Veggie Skewers
Grill up a medley of vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, onion, mushroom, and bell pepper. Brush with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and herbs before grilling. Offer the smoky, charred veggie skewers alongside the smoked meat for variety.
Bread and Rolls
Offer a basket of breads or rolls to sop up the incredible barbecue sauces. Corn bread, buttermilk biscuits, yeast rolls, or focaccia all pair wonderfully with the range of sauces. Serve with honey butter for spreading onto the warm bread.
Savory BBQ Side Dishes
Hearty, savory sides like cheesy potatoes or garlic toast round out your barbecue spread with satisfying flavors and textures.
Baked Potatoes
Large baked Russet or sweet potatoes are the perfect vehicle for barbecue toppings. Offer potatoes baked until tender in their jackets. Let guests split them open and customize with butter, sour cream, cheese, green onions, and barbecue sauce.
Hasselback Potatoes
For an impressive presentation, try Hasselback potatoes. Crisp the sliced potatoes in oil or butter before baking until browned and tender. Season with herbs or stuff with cheese for rich, melty filling. Offer barbecue sauces for dipping the crispy potatoes.
Southern-Style Greens
Slow-cooked greens like collard, mustard, or turnip have an earthy, vegetal flavor that balances rich meats. Cook low and slow with smoked ham hocks or bacon fat for flavor. Season with vinegar, hot sauce, black pepper, and salt.
Cornbread
Warm, buttery cornbread is ideal for soaking up pot likker and barbecue sauces. Bake hearty cornbread spiked with corn kernels, peppers, and scallions to serve alongside your smoked and sauced meats.
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Flavored Butters
In addition to classic grilled corn, offer flavored butters for spreading onto hot cooked corn. Whip up chipotle-lime butter, honey butter, or compound butters with herbs and garlic. Flavored butters add flair to basic grilled corn.
Tangy BBQ Side Dishes
Piquant, vinegary sides help cut through the rich fattiness of smoked barbecue meats. Peppery flavors and acidity balance the richness.
Pickles
Offer crisp, tart pickles like cucumber, radish, jalapeno, or onion to complement the smoky meat. Pickles provide acidic contrast and crunch. Chill them well before serving.
Vinegary Slaw
Make a vinegar-based coleslaw by tossing shredded cabbage with apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. The tangy slaw cuts through fatty ribs or pulled pork perfectly. Toss in shredded carrots for extra crunch and color.
Tomato Salad
A fresh tomato salad also brings a bright, acidic flavor to balance the meat. Simply slice tomatoes and toss with olive oil, balsamic or red wine vinegar, garlic, basil, and seasonings. Ideal in summer when tomatoes are ripe and juicy.
Pickled Veggies
From okra to green beans, mushrooms, and asparagus, pickling vegetables adds tangy flavor. Offer a medley of pickled veggies in jars so guests can add as they please. Refrigerator pickles are quick and easy.
Wilted Spinach Salad
Wilted spinach makes a nice acidic counterpart to rich meats. Saute garlic and onions, then pour over fresh spinach leaves. Toss until just wilted. Season with vinegar, salt, and pepper. The warm dressing slightly wilts the greens.
Hearty BBQ Side Dishes
These rib-sticking sides pair nicely with summertime barbecue favorites without weighing you down.
Baked Beans
No BBQ would be complete without a pot of savory baked beans. Kidney, pinto, and cannellini beans take well to baking with molasses, ketchup, bacon, onions, mustard, and brown sugar.
Cornbread Salad
Put leftover cornbread to use in cornbread salad. Toast and crumble cornbread, then combine with black beans, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and vinaigrette. Hearty and flavorful.
Pasta Salad
Chill a pasta salad made with veggies, Italian dressing, mayo, and seasonings. The starchiness of the pasta along with crunch from chopped vegetables makes a nice textural contrast to soft, saucy barbecue.
Potato Gratin
Creamy potatoes au gratin make a satisfying side for barbecue. Layer sliced potatoes with cream, garlic, and cheese like gruyere or cheddar. Bake until bubbly and golden brown for a rich side dish.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Big sweet potatoes baked until soft and caramelized on the ends provide a lightly sweet, starchy accompaniment to savory barbecue. Serve with butter, brown sugar, marshmallows, or pecan praline topping.
Macaroni Salad
Chill cooked elbow macaroni tossed in a creamy dressing flavored with mustard, mayo, vinegar, and herbs. Stir in diced veggies like onion, celery, bell pepper and cucumber for added flavor, color, and crunch.
Desserts
End your barbecue feast on a sweet note with classic desserts like fruit crisps, pies, and cookies. Or sate your sweet tooth with candy apples, fudge, or s’mores over the campfire.
Fruit Crisp
Take advantage of summer fruit by baking it under an oat and brown sugar streusel topping. Peach, blackberry, blueberry, plum, and cherry crisps pair wonderfully with vanilla ice cream.
Coconut Cake
Southern coconut cake with fluffy coconut frosting provides the perfect sweet finish after tangy, savory barbecue. Other classic cakes like red velvet or caramel also hit the spot.
Cookies and Brownies
Offer an assortment of cookies like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter. Chewy brownies and blondies satisfy any chocolate craving after dinner.
Seasonal Fruit Cobbler
Bake stone fruit or berry cobblers using fresh summer produce and top with buttery biscuit topping. Serve warm with ice cream for a delicious fruity dessert.
S’mores
No campfire is complete without gooey s’mores. Toast marshmallows until golden brown, then sandwich between chocolate and graham crackers. The nostalgic treat caps off barbecue dinners perfectly.
Summer Pies
Celebrate the season with fresh strawberry, blueberry, peach, or cherry pie. Flaky crust with oozing fruity fillings are ideal pies for summer. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
With the right mix of classic and creative sides, you can bring your barbecue spread to the next level. Play with textures, flavors, and colors to round out the meaty main dishes. Take advantage of summer’s bounty by featuring fresh produce and seasonings. With this guide, you’ll have endless side dish options for amazing barbecue every time.
Frequently Asked Questions About BBQ Sides
Barbecue is so much more than just the meat. The sides you serve alongside your smoked brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage are just as important for a well-rounded cookout spread. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about choosing the best barbecue side dishes:
What are the most popular sides to serve at a barbecue?
The most classic and popular barbecue sides are baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, cornbread and bread rolls.
What are some unique ideas for BBQ sides?
Get creative with grilled vegetables like squash, eggplant and zucchini brushed with olive oil and herbs. Make fresh watermelon feta salad or cucumber dill salad. Try Mexican street corn off the grill.
How can I make healthy sides for my barbecue?
Focus on fresh vegetables and greens for nutritious sides. Make green salads topped with veggies, chickpea salad, grilled veggie skewers, or cold pesto pasta salad with arugula. Fruit salads are also a refreshing option.
What are easy BBQ sides to transport?
Sides that transport well and don’t need reheating include coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, bean salad, veggie trays, fruit trays, green salads, and breads or rolls.
How do I keep barbecue sides cold until serving?
Keep cold sides chilled right up until serving by nestling bowls and platters into larger bowls filled with ice. Use ice packs or gel packs underneath, and serve smaller portions at a time to prevent prolonged sitting at room temp.
Which sides pair best with chicken on the barbecue?
Chicken goes well with lighter sides like green salad, grilled veggies, fruit salads, slaw, dill potato salad, baked beans, and macaroni salad. Corn on the cob and cornbread also complement nicely.
What are your favorite sides to serve with barbecue ribs?
Ribs call for hearty classic sides like baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, potato salad, mac and cheese and corn on the cob. Adding a fresh component like cucumber salad balances the rich ribs.
What sides offset the fattiness of brisket?
The rich fatty brisket benefits from acidic, tangy sides to cut through the fat. Try vinegary slaw, pickled veggies, potato salad, vinegar-based baked beans, chimichurri corn, and spinach salads.
How do I choose sides for my smoked sausage or hot links?
Smoked sausage and hot links pair well with German potato salad, sauerkraut, baked beans, pasta salad, fruit salad, and pickled vegetables for contrasting sweet, sour and acidic flavors.
Conclusion
Good barbecue is so much more than just the meat. Taking time to carefully select and prepare delicious, complementary side dishes will truly take your barbecue to the next level. Play with a mix of classic comfort foods, fresh seasonal produce, tangy pickles and salads, and indulgent desserts for a spectacular spread. With this guide on your side, you’ll be fully prepared to throw unforgettable barbecues all season long.