11 Perfect Sides to Serve with BBQ Ribs

These popular sides to go with barbecue ribs range from southern classics like mac and cheese and collard greens to lighter fare including crunchy slaw and an unexpected fruit-laden salad. Whatever you choose to serve with your ribs, just be sure sure to have plenty of barbecue sauce—and napkins—on hand.

Ribs 101Best. Ribs. Ever.Ribs, whether baby back or spare (and whether grilled, smoked, or baked in the oven), are the kind of thing that demands total absorption: eyes down, both hands getting messy from all the aforementioned BBQ sauce, not coming up for air until that bone’s picked clean. When you do come up for air, though, you want something delicious to eat before tackling the next rib in the pile. Ribs are often tangy, sweet, and full of rich, delicious fat so there are certain sides that balance BBQ ribs particularly well acting almost like a reset for your tastebuds.

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Behold, 11 of our favorite sides for ribs, from the light, crisp, and palate-cleansing to creamy, rich, and ultra decadent.

1. Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Collards are often cooked with smoked ham hocks, but smoked turkey drumsticks are a great substitute and yield more meat than ham hocks. Cleaning and trimming 5 pounds of greens is the hardest part of this recipe—after that, it’s easy. Get our Crock Pot Collard Greens recipe.

Related Reading: 15 Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Sides

2. Classic Macaroni and Cheese

What’s nice about this recipe is its versatility. It works beautifully as both a creamy stovetop dish with any sort of mix-ins you like, and as a crunchy baked mac ‘n’ cheese sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs. Get our Classic Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

Related Reading: 7 Rules for the Best Mac and Cheese You’ll Ever Make

3. Herbed Potato Salad

Honestly, almost any potato salad is good with ribs, but the tangy herbed dressing (a shallot-and-Dijon vinaigrette with parsley, tarragon, and dill) is a nice change from the usual heavy mayo version and cuts through the richness of BBQ ribs like a knife. Get our Herbed Potato Salad recipe. (And find out which potatoes to use for potato salad too.)

4. Crispy Corn Fritters

Hush puppies by any other name do taste as sweet—as these summer corn fritters prove so well. Fresh kernels off the cob are folded into cornmeal batter with cayenne and scallions, then fried crisp and golden brown (but fluffy and tender inside). Drag them through the BBQ sauce on your plate for a swoon-worthy bite. Get our Crispy Corn Fritters recipe.

5. Baked Cheese Grits

For something easier but just as satisfying, quick-cooking grits combine with milk, sharp cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and eggs, then bake in a casserole dish that can go directly onto the table. When corn’s in season, try folding some fresh kernels into this dish too for pops of juicy sweetness. Get our Baked Cheese Grits recipe.

6. Corn with Basil Butter and Flaky Salt

Grilled corn on the cob is great as-is, but generously spread this herbed butter on top and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a simple yet sophisticated dish that truly epitomizes summer. Get our Corn with Basil Butter and Flaky Salt recipe. (Or if you go with an Asian-influenced barbecue sauce for your ribs, try our Mirin and Soy Sauce Grilled Corn recipe on the side.)

7. Corn and Tomato Coleslaw

Green cabbage, fresh corn (a recurring theme for good reason), tart tomatillos, and cherry tomatoes: the perfect summer coleslaw recipe. A lime, garlic, and mustard dressing finish it off, along with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro. Get our Corn and Tomato Coleslaw recipe. (And if you like more spice, try our Lime and Jalapeño Coleslaw recipe.)

8. Spicy Jicama, Grapefruit, and Mango Salad

Out of the box, for sure, but this tart, cooling, crisp, and refreshing salad is the perfect go-with for rich pork and multi-layered BBQ sauce. Try it and you might just start a new summer grilling tradition. Get our Spicy Jicama, Grapefruit, and Mango Salad recipe.

Related Reading: 15 Summer Slaw Recipes

9. Jalapeño-Corn-Beer Bread

Cornbread is the perfect foil for the richness and complexity of a stack of bones, but this spicy quick bread with pickled jalapeños is an interesting cornbread alternative. It has a dense texture that’s excellent for dipping in BBQ sauce. Get our Jalapeño-Corn-Beer Bread recipe.

10. French Green Bean Salad

With good, flavorful BBQ keeping the sides somewhat similar works well. This healthy French Green Bean Salad calles for blanched beans that get dressed up with a mustard and shallot vinnagrette. Get our French Green Bean Salad recipe.

11. Skordalia (Greek Potato Dip)

This flavorful Greek potato dip, skordalia, calls for blanched russet potatoes blended with almonds, oil, raw garlic, bread, and spices. It’s absolute heaven and absolutely and works well both as a side or a dip (ease up on the almonds and oil for a side dish version). What’s more? The recipe comes from New York Medditerean outpost, Lamalo, who kindly shared their skordalia recipe in full. Try serving with some kabobs or simple lamb burgers with mint and feta, and if you do…please invite us. Get the Skordalia recipe.

Related Reading: Our Most Popular BBQ Sides for Summer