Southern BBQ side dishes can make or break a barbecue spread. Am I right? They're the creamy potato salad everyone hopes someone brought, the baked beans that get scraped clean from the baking dish, and the coleslaw that belongs right beside a pile of pulled pork.
For me, I'm not afraid to admit that I often get more excited about the barbecue sides than the main dish itself.
And just to clear up any confusion, this collection of recipes is about what to serve with barbecue, not foods cooked on the grill. Whether you're serving brisket, ribs, smoked chicken, or pulled pork, these Southern classics are a must to complete the meal.
From large family reunions to backyard cookouts, these are the recipes I reach for again and again because they're easy, dependable, and always a hit.
30+ Favorite BBQ Sides
Find the perfect side dish from these 30+ great ideas that pair perfectly with Southern barbecue.
Southern Coleslaw Recipe
The creamy dressing here is tangy, slightly sweet, and clings to every shred of cabbage just right. Pile it onto pulled pork, spoon it beside ribs, or eat it straight from the bowl. This classic chopped Southern coleslaw is done the way it should be.
Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw
Bright, crunchy, and dressed in a light vinaigrette made with olive oil, this red cabbage slaw brings serious color and tang to the plate. It's a refreshing change from the usual creamy versions without sacrificing any of the satisfaction.
Cookout Baked Beans
Smoky, sweet, and saucy from a generous amount of barbecue sauce, these beans are the anchor of any BBQ feast. Made in one skillet with crispy bacon and Vidalia onion, they hit that perfect balance of rich and tangy.
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Hearty enough to stand alone, these baked beans with ground beef are the kind of dish that gets people talking at your next get-together. They're smoky, savory, and satisfying in a way that regular baked beans simply cannot match.
Mustard Potato Salad Recipe
A lighter alternative to classic potato salad, this version skips the mayo entirely (gasp!) and uses a whole grain mustard vinaigrette instead. Warm potatoes absorb every bit of that tangy dressing, making each bite more flavorful than the last.
Red White and Blue Potato Salad Recipe
Creamy, tangy, and finished with crumbled blue cheese, crispy bacon, and a dressing made with sour cream and fresh herbs, this potato salad makes a strong case for ditching the classic version at least once this summer.
Dill Pickle Potato Salad
If you love dill pickles, this potato salad was made for you. The brine works right into the dressing, giving every bite that sharp, tangy kick that keeps you reaching back into the bowl.
Macaroni Salad with Chicken
Creamy, cold, and made with seared chicken tucked into every forkful, this macaroni salad is more satisfying than the deli version you've been settling for. It tastes even better the next day after the dressing soaks in.
Elote Inspired Pasta Salad
Mexican street corn meets pasta salad in the best way possible. Charred corn, cotija, and a smoky chili powder dressing turn this into something bold and unexpected that holds its own.
Tomato Feta Pasta Salad
Fresh, bright, and inspired by the Zoë's Kitchen original, this pasta salad lets ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and salty feta do all the talking. It's light enough to feel refreshing and satisfying enough to keep going back for more.
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
This is as decadent as it gets with three cheeses and a golden baked top that begs to be spooned into. This mac and cheese skips the breadcrumb fuss and lets smoked Gouda, Parmesan, and sharp Cheddar carry the whole show.
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Made in a Dutch oven with a sauce that comes together in minutes, this stovetop mac and cheese is silky, rich, and ready faster than the oven version. It's comfort food that doesn't taste like a compromise.
Braised Collards
If you're serving barbecue, a pot of Southern collard greens belongs on the table. Simmered with a smoky ham hock until tender, they're the kind of side dish that only gets better the longer they cook. Don't forget a hunk of cornbread to sop up that potlikker!
Smothered Cabbage
Don't overlook braised cabbage. Simmered low and slow until tender with bacon, onions, and plenty of savory goodness, it's an old-fashioned Southern side that deserves a spot next to your barbecue.
Old-Fashioned Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
If you grew up in the South, these are the green beans you know and love. Simmered low and slow with bacon and onions, they're tender, savory, and made for serving alongside pulled pork, ribs, or fried chicken.
Lima Beans with Ham
Lima beans might not get all the attention, but a well-seasoned pot of Southern lima beans has a way of winning people over. Simmered with smoky bacon until tender, they're a comforting classic that belongs alongside all your favorite barbecue dishes.
Squash Casserole with Ritz Crackers
This one's a favorite with tender yellow squash, sharp Cheddar, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping that bakes up golden and crispy. The old-fashioned casserole is the one people always get seconds of.
Dutch Oven Cheesy Potatoes
Cooked low and slow in a Dutch oven until the potatoes are fork-tender and the cheese sauce is thick and clinging, this dish delivers that steakhouse side experience with surprisingly little fuss.
Corn Souffle Recipe
Somewhere between cornbread and soufflé, this cheesy corn casserole has a soft, custardy center and golden edges that make it impossible to eat just one scoop. It comes together quick and disappears even faster.
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Made with sweet potatoes and Jiffy corn muffin mix, this cornbread is tender, slightly sweet, and just different enough to get talking. Serve it warm with a little butter and honey on top.
Best Southern Cornbread Recipe
Golden, tender, and with that slight tang from buttermilk, these cornbread muffins are the kind of side that disappears from the basket before the main course hits the table. Baked in a skillet or muffin tin, both work beautifully.
Baked Onion Rings
These oven-baked onion rings give you all the crispy, golden goodness you want without pulling out a pot of oil. Sweet onions get coated in a crunchy crust and baked until tender, making them the perfect side dish for burgers, barbecue, and backyard gatherings.
Crispy Homemade Potato Chips
Once you taste homemade potato chips, it's hard not to appreciate the difference. Thin slices of potato fry up golden and crisp with just the right amount of salt--a classic side dish that makes any barbecue plate feel a little more special.
Southern Fried Okra
If you know, you know: fresh fried okra hot from the skillet is hard to beat. Coated in seasoned cornmeal and fried until crisp and golden, this Southern favorite is the kind of side dish that brings everyone back for another bite.
Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon
This salad hits all the notes: Crunchy broccoli, crispy bacon, sharp Cheddar, and a creamy dressing that ties it all together without being heavy. It's one that gets better as it sits, making it a smart choice for anything you need to prep ahead.
Cucumber Pepper Salad
Cool cucumber and sweet bell peppers tossed in a bright ginger dressing make this salad refreshing and a little unexpected. It's light, crisp, and cuts right through the richness of heavier items on a barbecue plate.
Old Fashioned Cucumber and Onion Salad
Crisp cucumbers and thinly sliced onions are soaked in a sweet vinegar brine until the flavors mellow and meld. Old-fashioned in the best way, this salad is the kind of thing that you'll want to pile high onto your plate.
Carolina Caviar
Black-eyed peas, corn, peppers, and a tangy vinaigrette make this salad from South Carolina one of the most delicious things you can put on your plate. This corn salsa gets better the longer it sits and works well as a dip too (served with tortilla chips, of course).
Frito Corn Salad
Sweet corn, crunchy Fritos, and a creamy dressing come together in a salad that sounds simple but disappears suspiciously fast. The chips stay surprisingly crisp longer than you'd expect and add a salty, satisfying crunch to every bite.
Classic Creamy Pea Salad
Cold, creamy, and studded with sharp Cheddar and crispy bacon, this old-school pea salad is one of those sides that divides the room until someone takes a bite. Then everyone goes back for seconds.
Southern Grape Salad
Sweet grapes, cream cheese, sour cream, and a brown sugar pecan topping make this Southern grape salad walk the line between side dish and dessert. Take it from me: it's genuinely hard to stop eating once you start.
Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Collard Greens
Hearty black-eyed peas and tender collard greens tossed in a bright vinaigrette make this salad feel substantial and deeply Southern at the same time. It holds up well as it sits and tastes even better the next day.
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
Fresh, vibrant, and incredibly easy to make, this watermelon salad combines sweet melon with salty feta cheese, fresh mint, and a simple honey dressing for a refreshing dish that's perfect on hot summer days.
There you have it: the best side dishes to serve with your favorite barbecue. These simple side dish recipes are reliable, crowd-pleasing, and genuinely delicious. Pick a few, mix and match, and get ready for an empty table!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these barbecue sides:
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making these recipes.
- Don't leave leftovers sitting out at room temperature for extended periods of time.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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