Barbecue meatballs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish that combines the inherent deliciousness of meatballs with the smoky, tangy flavors of good barbecue sauce. When served as a standalone snack or meal, barbecue meatballs need the right side dishes to complement their bold, saucy flavor profile. What sides go with bbq meatballs is an important consideration to make the most of this hearty, protein-packed dish.
With the rich flavors of tomatoes, vinegar, mustard, garlic and spices in typical barbecue sauce recipes, plus the umami savoriness of beef, pork or turkey meatballs, the accompaniments for barbecue meatballs should balance out the heartiness. Bright, fresh options help cut through the richness, while starchy sides soak up the abundant sauce.
This guide covers the best side pairing options in categories like vegetables, grains, salads, breads and more. With the right combinations, barbecue meatballs transform from an appetizer into a fully satisfying dinner or party food. Read on for mouthwatering suggestions on what sides go with bbq meatballs to plan your next flavorful meal or gathering.
Best Vegetable Sides for Barbecue Meatballs
Vegetables add color, nutrients and freshness to balance barbecue meatballs’ hearty flavors. Crisp, acidic options help cut through the sauce’s richness. Here are excellent vegetable sides to serve with bbq meatballs:
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Sweet grilled corn on the cob is a perfect accompaniment to smoky, saucy barbecue meatballs. The natural sugars in corn balance the sauce’s acidity, while the char from grilling provides a savory depth. Leave the corn unadorned to highlight the natural flavors, or brush with a compound butter before serving for extra richness.
Coleslaw
Cool, crunchy coleslaw is a classic pairing for barbecue dishes. The crisp cabbage dressed in a tangy vinegar and mayo-based dressing helps cut through the rich meatiness of the meatballs. Offer traditional versions with carrots or give this side southern flair with sliced green apples.
Cucumber Salad
Fresh cucumber salad with a bright vinaigrette cools the palate after bites of sticky, barbecue-glazed meatballs. Thinly slice English cucumbers and toss with white wine vinegar, olive oil, dill, and a pinch of sugar to balance the barbecue sauce’s spice and acidity.
Roasted Broccoli
For a warm vegetable accompaniment, roast broccoli florets with garlic and olive oil until caramelized and tender. The charred edges and slight bitterness help stand up to the barbecue-coated meatballs. Sprinkle with lemon juice and Parmesan before serving.
Roasted Cauliflower
Like broccoli, roasted cauliflower florets caramelize beautifully in the oven to provide a hearty but lighter pairing for saucy meatballs. Toss the cauliflower with smoked paprika before roasting for an extra savory flavor that echoes the meat’s smokiness.
Caprese Salad
A fresh caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and basil makes a fast, easy side dish that complements barbecue meatballs’ rich flavors. The tomatoes’ acidity and the cheese’s creaminess balance the meatballs perfectly. Simply drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction.
Roasted Green Beans
For an unfussy but tasty veggie accompaniment, roasted green beans are an excellent choice. Blanch the beans briefly before roasting with olive oil, salt, and pepper to caramelize and concentrate their flavor. The char pairs well with saucy barbecue meatballs.
Greek Salad
A Greek salad with olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and feta cheese delivers the acidic, salty, crunchy counterpoint needed to balance barbecue meatballs. Dress with lemon vinaigrette and serve the salad chilled for maximum freshness.
Satisfying Grain and Pasta Side Dishes
Carb-based sides like grains, rice or pasta make satisfying pairings with barbecue meatballs by soaking up the tasty sauce. These hearty options round out the meal beautifully:
Skillet Cornbread
Warm cornbread is a beloved accompaniment for any barbecue dish. The slightly gritty texture contrasts nicely with tender meatballs, and it’s ideal for dipping in the rich sauce. Bake a fresh skillet cornbread sweetened with honey or maple syrup.
Baked Beans
No barbecue meal is complete without old-fashioned baked beans simmered in tomato sauce with onions, mustard and brown sugar. The creamy bean mixture complements meatballs dunked in barbecue sauce for a comforting, hearty meal.
Macaroni and Cheese
For the ultimate comfort food pairing, make a pan of ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese to serve alongside barbecue meatballs. The cheesy pasta soaks up the meaty sauce deliciously. Try adding crunchy breadcrumbs on top for textural contrast.
Potato Salad
Cool, creamy potato salad makes another beloved pairing as a side for barbecue meatballs. Opt for mustardy versions with hardboiled eggs or pick a mayo-based version with onions, celery, pickles and herbs. The potatoes nicely soak up the sauce.
Pasta Salad
For a lighter take on potato salad, pasta salads combine starchy carbs with vegetables for a fresh, tasty accompaniment. Toss farfalle or rotini with diced bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and Italian dressing for a colorful, crisp combo.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Fresh cilantro lime rice provides a zesty, herbal base for richly sauced barbecue meatballs. The cool brightness balances the warm spices and smoky flavors beautifully. Cook the rice with lime juice and cilantro for maximum flavor.
Squash Succotash
A southern-style succotash with lima beans, corn, zucchini and yellow squash makes a hearty, satisfying side for serving with barbecue meatballs. Saute the veggies in butter and season with fresh thyme. The complexity matches the meatballs.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Slice sweet potatoes into wedges, toss with smoked paprika and olive oil and roast until caramelized and tender. The natural sweetness balances the barbecue sauce’s acidity for a hearty but healthier pairing.
Quinoa Tabouli Salad
For a fresh grain side, tabouli salad with quinoa instead of bulgur wheat pairs delightfully with barbecue meatballs. The quinoa adds protein while tomatoes, onions and parsley cut through the sauce’s richness.
Delicious Bread Side Dishes
Warm, crusty bread is useful for soaking up every last bit of barbecue sauce. Here are some excellent baked bread options to serve with bbq meatballs:
Cornbread Muffins
Individual cornbread muffins are perfect single-serving sides for barbecue meatballs. Bake up a batch with corn kernels and Cheddar cheese for flavorful, textured quick breads that complement the meatballs deliciously.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Flaky, buttery buttermilk biscuits make excellent accompaniments for dipping in the rich barbecue sauce. Bake them plain or try versions filled with melty Cheddar for extra over-the-top richness with the meatballs.
Jalapeno Cheese Cornbread
For spicy, flavorful cornbread, add diced jalapenos and shredded pepperjack or Cheddar cheese to the batter before baking. The heat and cheese pair perfectly with barbecue meatballs for next-level flavor.
French Baguettes
Crispy, crusty baguette slices are perfect vehicles for swiping up sauce and serving alongside barbecue meatballs. Offering warm, freshly baked baguette wedges takes this bread pairing over the top.
Garlic Bread
Warm, garlicky, buttery bread is never a bad idea alongside saucy meat dishes. Make it from a crusty loaf or baguette sliced and spread with seasoned butter before broiling. Dip the garlic bread right in the barbecue sauce alongside the meatballs.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Red Lobster’s famous cheddar bay biscuits, warm from the oven and topped with garlic butter, herbs and cheese, make a decadent bread pairing for barbecue meatballs. The richness complements the meatballs beautifully.
Cornbread Skillet
For an easy one-pan bread pairing, bake cornbread right in the cast iron skillet you cooked the meatballs in to soak up the sauce. The cornbread crisps around the edges while staying moist inside for finger-licking perfection.
Focaccia
Fluffy, olive oil-brushed focaccia easily soaks up sauce while adding flavor of its own. Season the quick bread with rosemary, sea salt and cracked black pepper before baking for a fabulous pairing with barbecue meatballs.
Fresh, Tasty Salad Sides
Chilled salads with crunchy veggies, cheese and dressings provide necessary balance and contrast to hot, saucy barbecue meatballs. These are fantastic salad sides to consider:
Greek Pasta Salad
A Greek pasta salad combines starchy pasta, olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley, dressed in a red wine vinaigrette. It’s fresh, flavorful, and offsets barbecue meatballs beautifully.
Caprese Pasta Salad
For an easy pasta salad, toss cooked rotini or farfalle with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, torn basil, and Italian dressing. The fresh ingredients pair perfectly with the rich meatballs.
Ranch Coleslaw
Cool, crunchy coleslaw dressed in creamy, herby ranch dressing provides the right balance for barbecue meatballs’ spice and tang. Use shredded green and purple cabbage for color. Carrots add natural sweetness.
Broccoli Bacon Salad
For protein-packed flavor and crunch, broccoli salad with crispy bacon pieces, shredded Cheddar, red onion, and creamy dressing is a perfect side for barbecue meatballs. Toss with a sweet and tangy dressing.
Pea Salad
A classic pea salad with fresh peas, shredded carrot, green onions, crisp bacon, and a creamy mayo-based dressing feels distinctly retro alongside barbecue meatballs. The peas’ sweetness offsets the sauce.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Cool watermelon and salty feta cheese together make a fabulous summery salad pairing for barbecue meatballs. Toss watermelon cubes with crumbled feta, mint, and lime juice for a fast, fresh side.
Apple Slaw
For a fall variation on coleslaw, use matchstick-cut apples instead of cabbage as the base. Toss with thinly sliced purple onion, celery, walnuts, and a cider vinaigrette for crunch and subtle sweetness to balance the meatballs.
More Fantastic Pairing Options
If you want to think outside the box, these additional sides would also pair wonderfully with barbecue meatballs:
- Guacamole or salsa with tortilla chips
- Hummus with raw veggie dippers like carrots and red bell peppers
- Grilled pineapple slices
- Sauteed zucchini and yellow squash
- Roasted beets with goat cheese
- Garlicky sautéed spinach
- Honey glazed carrots
- Fried green tomatoes
Putting Together the Perfect Barbecue Meatball Spread
When planning what sides go with bbq meatballs for a party or potluck, offer a variety of complementary dishes:
- Include at least two fresh salad options like coleslaw, pasta salad, or Greek salad to lighten up the meal.
- Offer starchy sides like cornbread, mac and cheese or potato salad to satisfy.
- Add lighter roasted or grilled veggies like corn, broccoli or cauliflower for nutrition.
- Consider an easy dip like guacamole for snacks alongside the meatballs.
- Set out warm garlic bread or biscuits for dipping in the delicious sauce.
- Round it out with a frosty beverage like beer, lemonade or iced tea.
With the right balance of fresh, hearty, crunchy, creamy and acidic sides on the table, your barbecue meatballs will be unforgettable. Use this guide to spark side dish ideas that perfectly complement the bold, sticky sauce and hearty flavors of bbq meatballs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barbecue Meatball Sides
What are the best sides to serve with barbecue meatballs?
Some of the most popular and well-balanced sides for barbecue meatballs include coleslaw, corn on the cob, cornbread, baked beans, pasta salad, roasted vegetables and garlic bread.
What kind of salads go with barbecue meatballs?
Great salad sides for barbecue meatballs include coleslaw, Greek salad, caprese salad, broccoli bacon salad, pasta salad, pea salad, apple slaw, and watermelon feta salad.
What can I serve with bbq meatballs and rice?
Good sides to serve with bbq meatballs and rice include grilled or roasted vegetables like zucchini, squash, broccoli and cauliflower, along with quick salads like cucumber tomato salad and warm bread for dipping.
Are baked potatoes good with bbq meatballs?
Yes, loaded baked potatoes make an excellent accompaniment to barbecue meatballs. Top russet potatoes with butter, Cheddar cheese, bacon bits, scallions and barbecue sauce for delicious flavor combinations.
What kind of bread is good with bbq meatballs?
Great breads for serving with barbecue meatballs include cornbread, biscuits, garlic bread, focaccia, cheddar bay biscuits and sliced baguettes. Warm, buttery, herb-flecked breads work best for soaking up sauce.
What appetizers go well with bbq meatballs?
Good appetizers to serve alongside barbecue meatballs include deviled eggs, wings, chips and guacamole, veggie crudites, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta and charcuterie boards with cured meats and cheeses.
Conclusion
Barbecue meatballs are endlessly adaptable and easy to make for a crowd, but thoughtfully chosen side dishes can take them to the next level. Fresh, acidic salads, roasted veggies, warm bread and starchy sides all pair beautifully with the boldly sauced meatballs. Use this guide to explore options like coleslaw, cornbread, caprese salad and more for what sides go with bbq meatballs to round out your next party menu or everyday dinner. With the right combinations, barbecue meatballs truly satisfy!