The Ultimate Sides for Ribs: Elevate Your BBQ Feast with Irresistible Dishes

Transform your barbecue rib experience from great to unforgettable with this ultimate list of side dishes. Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout, a casual family dinner, or a festive gathering, the right accompaniments can truly elevate your meal. From classic comfort foods to fresh, vibrant salads and unexpected delights, we’ve curated a collection of easy-to-make sides that perfectly complement the rich, smoky flavors of your epic barbecue ribs. Get ready to discover your new favorite pairings that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Classic & Comforting Side Dishes for Ribs

No rib dinner is complete without those hearty, satisfying sides that everyone loves. These barbecue staples are tried and true for a reason, offering perfect textures and flavors to balance your main course.

While favorites like French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Corn Fritters, and Fried Green Tomatoes are always delicious, our selection dives deeper into accessible and incredible recipes. Don’t forget an extra helping of your favorite barbecue sauce to tie everything together!

These side dishes pair wonderfully with popular rib recipes such as Dr. Pepper Ribs, Slow Cooker Ribs, Braised Beef Short Ribs, and Guinness Short Ribs. Prepare to impress your guests at your next cookout!

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Embrace the ease and deliciousness of Air Fryer Corn on the Cob. This method offers a fantastic alternative to traditional grilling or boiling, saving you time and keeping your kitchen cool. The air fryer perfectly chars the kernels while ensuring a tender, juicy bite, bringing out the natural sweetness of the corn. Season simply with butter, salt, and pepper, or get creative with a sprinkle of chili powder or grated Parmesan for an extra kick. Cooking time varies slightly by device, but you’ll know it’s ready when it achieves a tender texture and a beautiful golden-yellow hue, making it an effortless and delightful addition to any rib spread.

Black Bean & Corn Salad

For a refreshing contrast to rich ribs, our healthy Black Bean & Corn Salad is an excellent choice, especially for a Southwestern-themed dinner. This vibrant ten-minute side dish is packed with bold, zesty flavors from cilantro and fresh lime juice. Visually stunning, it features an appetizing medley of colors from sweet corn, hearty garbanzo beans, diced tomatoes, and robust black beans. It’s a light, refreshing, and incredibly easy salad that can be prepared in advance, making it perfect for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues where convenience and flavor are key.

Crock Pot Refried Beans

Bring the authentic flavors of the Southwest to your rib night with these incredibly easy Crock Pot Refried Beans. This slow-cooker method simplifies the process significantly, eliminating the need to soak pinto beans beforehand. The result is a wonderfully creamy and savory side dish that perfectly complements the rich flavors of barbecue ribs. Once cooked, a quick mash with a potato masher or hamburger meat chopper creates that signature smooth texture. Customize with a sprinkle of cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or a dash of hot sauce for an extra layer of flavor.

Crockpot Bourbon Baked Beans

Elevate your barbecue spread with these rich and flavorful Crockpot Bourbon Baked Beans. This side dish is a true crowd-pleaser, infusing canned pork and beans, northern beans, and cannellini beans with smoky bacon and a hint of bourbon. The blend of different beans adds delightful texture and depth. While we enjoy ours with Jim Beam, feel free to use your favorite bourbon to impart a personalized touch to this robust side. The slow cooker does all the hard work, making this a perfect make-ahead option for any summertime gathering or rib feast, delivering a complex sweet and savory profile.

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

No list of barbecue sides is complete without the ultimate comfort food: Macaroni and Cheese. Our Crockpot Mac & Cheese offers that perfect creamy, cheesy bite that beautifully complements the savory goodness of fall-off-the-bone ribs. This dump-and-go recipe is incredibly simple, requiring minimal effort. Just remember to spray the inside of your Crock Pot with nonstick cooking spray or use slow cooker liners for easy cleanup. The result is an irresistibly smooth and cheesy mac that’s sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

Crock Pot Mexican Mac and Cheese

For those who love a little heat and a South-of-the-Border flair, our Crock Pot Mexican Mac and Cheese is a stellar addition to any Latin-inspired rib dinner. This delightful twist on a classic brings together creamy pasta with zesty Mexican flavors. For an added kick, easily swap out mild green chili peppers for a spicier variety, or incorporate a pinch of cayenne pepper. This dish offers a hearty and flavorful experience, perfectly complementing the smoky depth of barbecue ribs while adding an exciting culinary dimension to your meal.

Sauerkraut Salad

Introduce a refreshing tang to your rib feast with our unique Sauerkraut Salad. This make-ahead dish features the beloved German fermented cabbage staple, offering a crisp and tart counterpoint to rich, smoky ribs. It doubles as a fantastic topping for hot dogs and sausages, making it incredibly versatile. For the best flavor development, we recommend refrigerating it in an airtight container for a few hours after prepping. This allows the various ingredients and flavors to meld beautifully, creating a vibrant and distinctive side that’s surprisingly refreshing and always a conversation starter.

Broccoli Bacon Salad

For a side dish that’s both crunchy and creamy, our Broccoli Bacon Salad hits all the right notes. This fresh, cold salad is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds, featuring vibrant green broccoli florets, sharp shredded cheddar cheese, and irresistible savory crispy bacon slices. It offers a bright and colorful addition to your plate, providing a wonderful textural contrast to tender ribs. To add even more dynamic flavor or texture, consider tossing in dried cranberries for sweetness, sunflower seeds for nutty crunch, or thinly sliced red onions for a pungent kick. For a lighter take, Miracle Whip makes an excellent substitute for mayonnaise in the dressing.

Black Eyed Pea Salad

Explore the delightful flavors of the South with our Black Eyed Pea Salad, a fantastic and refreshing complement to any barbecue. Did you know black-eyed peas, also known as cowpeas, earned their name from the distinctive black spot on each bean? In this vibrant salad, these unique peas are lightly tossed in a zesty dressing featuring Italian dressing, red wine vinegar, a touch of sugar, celery seed, and black pepper. The salad is beautifully finished with a garnish of fresh green onions, adding a welcome pop of color and a mild, oniony bite. It’s a healthy, flavorful, and incredibly easy side that brings a touch of Southern charm to your rib meal.

Greek Cucumber Salad

Craving a light and crisp salad without a mountain of lettuce? Our Greek Cucumber Salad is the perfect answer! This refreshing dish is chock-full of juicy tomatoes, cool and crisp cucumbers, briny feta cheese, and savory Kalamata olives. Dressed simply to highlight the fresh ingredients, it offers a clean and vibrant taste that cuts beautifully through the richness of barbecue ribs. It’s an absolute must-have if you’re planning a Greek or Mediterranean-themed rib dinner, providing a refreshing counterpoint that cleanses the palate and adds a burst of Mediterranean sunshine to your plate.

Kidney Bean Salad

Known affectionately as “grandma’s kidney bean salad,” this cold salad gem is a treasured classic from John’s family’s Southern cuisine repertoire. It’s hearty yet refreshingly light, making it an ideal companion for barbecue ribs. For a quick and easy preparation, we utilize canned kidney beans and air fryer hard-boiled eggs. The air fryer ensures perfectly cooked eggs with minimal fuss. To add a delightful zing, consider dicing some sweet pickles and mixing them into the salad, enhancing its tangy-sweet profile. This simple, make-ahead salad offers a comforting, familiar flavor that pairs beautifully with smoky meats.

Kale Apple Potato Salad

For a uniquely balanced side that offers both freshness and substance, our Kale Apple Potato Salad is an excellent choice. This salad features new potatoes, prized for their waxy texture that maintains its shape perfectly even after cooking or roasting. Earthy kale and crisp, sweet apples create a fantastic textural and flavor contrast. Thoughtful additions like poppy seeds add a subtle nutty crunch, while cooked bacon bits introduce a savory depth that pairs exceptionally well with the other ingredients. As with many cold salads, chilling it for a few hours before serving allows the flavors to meld and deepen, ensuring maximum enjoyment alongside your ribs.

Easy Macaroni Salad

Cold salads are a quintessential part of any spring or summer meal, and this simple Macaroni Salad is no exception. It’s a fantastic way to welcome warmer temperatures and offers a delightful creamy and tangy counterpoint to savory ribs. The secret to its irresistible flavor lies in the harmonious blend of sweet pickle relish, zesty mustard, and a hint of apple cider vinegar, which provides a lovely briny sweetness. Mayonnaise and hard-boiled eggs contribute to its satisfyingly creamy texture, making it a true comfort food classic. For those seeking a healthier alternative, Miracle Whip makes an excellent substitution for mayonnaise without sacrificing flavor.

Hawaiian Mac Salad

Transport your taste buds to the islands with our Hawaiian Mac Salad, a beloved staple on traditional Hawaiian lunch plates. This creamy, slightly sweet macaroni salad evokes nostalgic memories of being a marine biology student intern on the Big Island. In contrast to more conventional macaroni salads, this version features shredded carrots as its primary vegetable, adding a subtle sweetness and vibrant color. The unique Aloha flavor comes from a distinctive dressing made with apple cider vinegar, creamy mayonnaise, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper, creating a delightful balance that perfectly complements rich barbecue ribs.

Watermelon Salad

Looking for an easy-to-scale party salad that comes together in mere minutes with minimal ingredients? Our Watermelon Salad is your answer! This refreshing three-ingredient wonder features cubed watermelon, savory shaved Pecorino Romano cheese, and a drizzle of rich balsamic glaze. The surprising combination of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors creates a truly memorable side dish, especially for warm-weather gatherings. For a more elegant presentation, try shaping the watermelon into festive balls. This light and invigorating salad offers a delightful palate cleanser alongside hearty barbecue ribs.

Orzo Pasta Salad

Our Orzo Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful grain-based side dish that’s perfect for any barbecue. It’s chock-full of bright ingredients like sweet corn, tender green peas, juicy tomatoes, crisp carrots, fresh green onions, and savory bacon, creating a visually appealing and delicious contrast of colors and textures. The fiber from the vegetables helps keep you feeling full longer, making it a satisfying yet refreshing choice. Don’t fret if your leftovers seem a bit dry; you can easily revitalize them by mixing in a few drizzles of red or white balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, or any other acidic complement you prefer to brighten up your side dish.

Broccoli Slaw

Combine the best of two potluck favorites with our vibrant Broccoli Slaw, a refreshing twist on traditional coleslaw and broccoli salad. This recipe features a crisp base of shredded carrots and broccoli stalks, complemented by diced apples for a hint of sweetness and blue cheese for a savory tang. The result is a colorful, flavorful, and memorable salad that provides a delightful crunch and a quick, cool refreshment on a hot day. It’s an ideal side to cut through the richness of barbecue ribs, offering a lighter yet incredibly satisfying option that’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Even those who claim not to like Brussels sprouts will be converted by our Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. This method creates perfectly roasted sprouts with crispy outer leaves and tender interiors, making them an unexpectedly delightful side for ribs. You’ll only need whole Brussels sprouts, a neutral cooking oil like olive or avocado, a simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The air fryer works its magic, ensuring even cooking and a beautiful caramelization. We recommend using kitchen tongs for easy transfer of the hot sprouts from the air fryer basket, serving up a healthy and flavorful vegetable that complements rich meats without overpowering them.

Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes

While often associated with Thanksgiving and Easter, our Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes are a delicious and comforting side dish to enjoy year-round, especially with a savory entrée like ribs. This slow-cooker recipe transforms sweet potato medallions into caramelized perfection, offering a wonderfully sweet and tender contrast to meaty dishes. Made with common pantry and fridge staples such as butter, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg, these candied sweet potatoes are incredibly easy to prepare whenever a craving for something sweet and comforting strikes. Their rich, buttery sweetness pairs beautifully with the smoky flavor of barbecue ribs.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apples

Move over, traditional mashed potatoes, and make way for a delicious new contender! While there’s certainly nothing wrong with classic mashed spuds, this buttery, cinnamon-kissed, brown sugar, and apple juice-glazed side dish, made effortlessly in your Crock Pot, is truly lovely when you crave something that perfectly toes the line between savory and sweet. The tender sweet potatoes and soft apples create a delightful harmony of flavors and textures. For an even more satisfying sweet tooth experience, consider using maple syrup instead of dark corn syrup, adding another layer of rich, natural sweetness to this comforting side.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Embrace the vibrant flavors of Italy with our Caprese Pasta Salad, a fresh and enticing side perfect for warm weather. This delightful pasta salad features tender pasta shells mingling with juicy bite-sized tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and aromatic fresh basil, all lovingly tossed in a light olive oil and balsamic dressing. It captures all the classic elements of an Italian Caprese meal but in a refreshing, warm-weather-friendly format that will invigorate rather than weigh you down. It provides a beautiful, bright counterpoint to the richness of barbecue ribs, adding a touch of Mediterranean elegance to your spread.

BLT Pasta Salad

Get ready for a flavor explosion with our BLT Pasta Salad, a deconstructed version of the beloved sandwich that’s incredibly easy to make. This recipe is as simple as cooking your macaroni and bacon, then combining the remaining ingredients—tomatoes, a creamy dressing, and spices—before gently folding in the fresh lettuce and crispy bacon just before serving. A quick chill allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a creamy, crunchy, and refreshing side dish that brings all the familiar, comforting tastes of a BLT to your barbecue plate. It’s a definite crowd-pleaser that adds a satisfying element to any rib meal.

Grilled Avocados

Discover a whole new appreciation for avocados with these unique Grilled Avocados. Grilling imparts a subtle smoky flavor and a tender, creamy texture that is truly sublime. Garnished simply with a drizzle of olive oil, savory artichoke hearts, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese, these avocados will transform your perception of this breakfast-time fruit into a gourmet side dish. They offer a luxurious, healthy, and unexpected element to your barbecue spread, pairing wonderfully with the robust flavors of ribs. A close-up photo shows how the beautiful grill marks enhance their appeal.

Air Fryer Kale Chips

For a light, healthy, and incredibly satisfying crunch, our Air Fryer Kale Chips are an exquisite choice. These simple yet elegant chips are the perfect vegetable accompaniment for any meaty entrée, such as ribs, where you desire a fresh green element without overpowering the main dish. We typically season ours with a straightforward combination of olive oil and salt, which perfectly highlights the kale’s natural flavor. However, we’ve also included a variety of other seasoning ideas for those seeking culinary inspiration, from a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor to a dash of smoked paprika for extra depth.

Crockpot Cornbread

There’s nothing quite like a warm, moist piece of cornbread to soak up all the delicious juices and sauces from your barbecue ribs. Our Crockpot Cornbread offers a convenient and fuss-free way to achieve perfectly tender results every time. We often utilize frozen corn in this recipe, making it a fantastic way to use up any surplus you might have. However, you can easily use canned or fresh corn if that’s what’s available. This cornbread is a quintessential Southern comfort food that provides a subtle sweetness and hearty texture, making it an ideal companion to your savory rib feast.

Ranch Pickles

Add a unique and addictive twist to your barbecue spread with these incredibly simple, two-ingredient Ranch Pickles. This genius recipe gets its irresistible flavor from Hidden Valley’s dry ranch seasoning mix, infusing ordinary pickles with a savory, tangy, and slightly herbaceous kick. The beauty of this recipe is its versatility; it works wonderfully with any pickle variety you prefer, whether you opt for crunchy spears, convenient sandwich-cut slices, or classic chip-cut pickles. They offer a refreshing and unexpected burst of flavor that cuts through the richness of ribs, leaving your guests delighted.

Kool-Aid Pickles

For a fun, vibrant, and incredibly unique side dish that’s sure to spark conversation, try our colorful Kool-Aid Pickles! These party-ready pickles offer a delightful sweet and sour sensation, and their appearance can be customized for any gathering. Use cherry flavor for brilliant red spears that pop at a Fourth of July party, lime flavor for festive neon-green pickles perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day spread, or grape flavor for dark purple spears that are sure to delight during the spooky season. They’re a playful and memorable addition that provides a surprising flavor contrast to hearty ribs.

Crockpot Corn Dog Casserole

Indulge in a comforting and hearty side with our Crockpot Corn Dog Casserole. This fun recipe cleverly combines two kid-friendly favorites – hot dogs and cornbread – into a savory and satisfying casserole. While it can certainly serve as a main entrée, it makes a wonderfully meaty and substantial side dish for your ribs. Even better, the core ingredients are often pantry staples you may already have on hand: canned pork and beans, hot dogs, creamed corn, and corn muffin mix. It’s an easy-to-prepare dish that offers a nostalgic, comforting flavor profile perfect for a casual barbecue.

Crockpot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

A hearty entrée like succulent barbecue ribs deserves an equally substantial and comforting side dish, and our Crockpot Garlic Mashed Potatoes fit the bill perfectly. This simple recipe requires only a few ingredients: potatoes, unsalted butter, garlic powder, milk, salt, and pepper, yet yields incredibly creamy and flavorful mashed potatoes with minimal effort. The slow cooker ensures they stay warm and ready to serve, making meal prep a breeze. We’ve also included optional garnish ideas to beautifully complement the rest of your plate, ensuring these garlicky, rich potatoes are a highlight of your rib dinner.

Southern Style Green Beans

Experience the soulful flavors of the South with our Southern Style Green Beans, a timeless classic that perfectly complements any barbecue. In this recipe, the bacon grease performs double duty, serving as both a flavorful cooking oil and a key ingredient that infuses the green beans with a deep, smoky richness. The result is tender, savory green beans that taste like they simmered for hours. As a bonus, this delightful side dish is also freezer-friendly, allowing you to prepare it ahead of time for ultimate convenience. It’s a comforting, familiar side that always feels right at home next to a rack of ribs.

Bacon Jalapeño Bread

For a flavorful bread option that’s far from ordinary, our Bacon Jalapeño Bread is an exciting alternative to classic cornbread. This savory bread is packed with an enticing combination of crispy bacon, a generous amount of shredded Mexican blend cheese, and freshly diced jalapeños, delivering a delightful kick. It’s the perfect side for those who appreciate a bit of heat and rich, savory flavors. This bread doesn’t just complement your ribs; it adds another layer of excitement to your meal, offering a satisfying texture and a burst of zesty, cheesy, and smoky goodness with every bite.

Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole

It’s no secret we’re huge fans of cheesy casseroles, and this Italian-inspired Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole is poised to become your new favorite comfort food side. Imagine tender, pillowy gnocchi baked to perfection under luxurious layers of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, creating an incredibly gooey and indulgent experience. This casserole offers maximum comfort and a rich, satisfying counterpoint to the robust flavors of barbecue ribs. It’s a hearty and unique side dish that brings a touch of Italian flair to your barbecue, guaranteeing a delightful culinary journey for all.

We hope this comprehensive list of the best side dishes for ribs helps you plan an epic night with a great rack of ribs. Remember, creating great side dishes doesn’t have to take hours to prepare!

Sweet Endings: Favorite Desserts for Rib Night

After a feast of savory ribs and delicious sides, a sweet treat is the perfect way to conclude your meal. These desserts offer a delightful contrast and leave a lasting impression.

Apple Snickers Salad

Our Delicious Snickers Salad is a sweet, creamy dessert salad that is simply amazing. It’s the perfect combination of crunchy Snickers bars, crisp apples, and a luscious pudding dressing. This unexpected delight disappears quickly whenever it’s served!

Strawberry Fluff

This Easy Strawberry Fluff Salad Recipe is a versatile dessert perfect for everything from family dinners to holiday events. This quick and easy Jello Salad takes mere minutes to prepare and tastes incredible. It’s often one of the first dishes to disappear at any gathering, earning its spot as a favorite side for ribs and a go-to for easy potluck recipes.

Watergate Salad

This easy, four-ingredient classic Watergate Salad recipe is a perfect and surprisingly delightful dessert side for ribs. Also known as pistachio fluff salad, you won’t believe how quick and effortlessly this sweet and creamy concoction comes together. Its light, fruity, and nutty flavors provide a refreshing end to a hearty barbecue meal.

Ambrosia Salad

Our Classic Ambrosia Salad is the perfect easy side dish that doubles as a light, fruity dessert. We serve this year-round at family dinners and everyone consistently loves its delightful taste. It’s incredibly simple to make, packed with a sweet medley of fruits, marshmallows, and coconut in a creamy dressing, offering a fantastic and refreshing contrast to rich barbecue ribs.

More Favorite Desserts to Serve on Barbecue Rib Night

• Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
• No Bake Key Lime Pie
• Lemon Icebox Pie
• Pig Pickin Cake
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
• Butterfinger Cake

Refreshing Drinks to Serve with BBQ Ribs

• Chick-fil-A Lemonade
• Frosted Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Iced Chai Latte
• Coke Slushie
• Passion Tea Lemonade