35 Side Dishes For Pulled Pork That Will Wow The Potluck Crowd

For your next BBQ, summer cookout, or potluck.

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Published on August 2, 2024

Cajun Mac and Cheese — Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Although pulled pork sandwiches, chilis, and baked potatoes are delicious on their own, they're not quite complete without a good side dish. There's an endless list of Southern classics you can bring to summer barbecues, so we've rounded up some of the best. Whether you want to stick with a simple coleslaw or branch out with a fancy macaroni and cheese, these recipes are bound to impress.

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Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southern Living Skillet Cornbread sliced to serve with butter — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

No potluck is complete without cornbread. This 6-ingredient recipe can be made with just 10 minutes of hands-on time. It comes out of the oven, hot, moist, and tender. Cut the skillet cornbread into wedges, and serve it alongside any pulled pork dish.

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Classic Coleslaw

Classic Coleslaw — Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Every Southerner knows a BBQ sandwich isn't complete without coleslaw. Our recipe is perfectly creamy, crunchy, and slightly sweet. It's everything you need to complement a pulled pork dish.

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Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon — Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

A cold, fresh pasta salad pairs perfectly with pulled pork dishes and BBQ sandwiches. This recipe is filled with red grapes and vibrant broccoli will add a pop of color to your plate. The bacon is optional but adds a smoky, savory flavor to the side dish.

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Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob — PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED HARDY II, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN

Whether it's grilled, oven-roasted, or air-fried, corn should be present at any potluck or outdoor party. Our Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob has a subtle sweetness, that balances out the smoky, salty pulled pork. It'll be ready in 30 minutes and it's best served hot.

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Corn Salad

Southern Living Corn Salad in a bowl to serve with glasses of water beside — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Corn Salad will brighten up your plate and perfectly complement any pulled pork dish with fresh veggies like tomatoes, corn, and red onion. Small mozzarella balls add the perfect cheesy bite.

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Creamed Corn Pasta

Southern Living Creamed Corn Pasta on plates to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Corn kernels are cooked with heavy whipping cream to achieve a sweet, creamy sauce for the pasta. Chopped bacon adds a smoky, savory touch and fresh thyme adds an earthy note. We've transformed the classic side dish, creamed corn, into this rich, silky pasta that can go with any pulled pork main.

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Smoky-Sweet Baked Beans

Southern Living Smoky-Sweet Baked Beans in a serving dish with grilled corn beside — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

If you want to indulge in this Southern classic side dish at potlucks and cookouts but are trying to cut back on sugar, try this healthy version of baked beans. We use less salt and add grated sweet potato to achieve the same sweet taste.

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Roasted Potatoes

Southern Living Roasted Potatoes in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

These potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. We roast them with fresh thyme and rosemary but feel free to add in garlic and/or parmesan. Made in just 45 minutes, they're one of the fastest and easiest side dishes to cook on busy weeknights.

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Texas-Style Baked Beans

Texas-Style Baked Beans — Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

While it might seem easier and more convenient to heat up a can of baked beans, homemade baked beans are easy to whip up and taste so much better. Texas-style baked beans are savory, smoky, hearty, and a little spicy. Salty pork and a touch of brown sugar balance out the heat. Give them a try at your next cookout!

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Fried Potatoes And Onions

Southern Living Fried Potatoes and Onions in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Fried potatoes and onions are a versatile dish that can be seasoned and cooked in numerous ways. This recipe only takes 30 minutes but be patient when cooking so the potatoes don't come out tender.

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Spiced Up Shoestring Fries

Southern Living Spiced-Up Shoestring Fries on a plate to serve with chipotle mayonnaise. — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Your favorite BBQ restaurant most likely offers fries as a side dish. Fries are the perfect, comforting accompaniment to sandwiches and meaty mains. We season our fries with cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder for a bold flavor. If you want something other than ketchup, try our Chipotle Mayonnaise.

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Cajun Mac And Cheese

Cajun Mac and Cheese — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

This spiced-up mac and cheese recipe is the perfect companion for a plate of pulled pork. Pepper jack cheese, cajun seasoning, and bell peppers add pizzazz to this classic dish.

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Broccoli Salad

Southern Living Broccoli Salad — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Broccoli Salad is a summertime delight that never fails. The combination of crunchy broccoli, chewy cranberries, smoky bacon, and cheddar cheese, all tossed together with a creamy dressing, is everything you could ask for in a side dish.

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans — Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Green beans can be found at any potluck spread and we've spiced ours up a little with garlic, parmesan, and bacon. You can have these on the table in under 35 minutes, with only 10 minutes of active cooking time.

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Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Southern Living roasted fingerling potatoes recipe in serving bowl with forks and plates beside — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe will have your guests rushing to get seconds. Golden, crispy, herby, salty, buttery potatoes are the way to anyone's heart.

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Barbecue Mac And Cheese

Barbecue Mac and Cheese — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

This mac and cheese was made for outdoor cookouts, BBQs, and potlucks. You can use the pulled pork in whatever main dish you're preparing with this recipe.

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Buttermilk Coleslaw

Buttermilk Coleslaw — WILL DICKEY

This classic coleslaw recipe is made a little better with the addition of buttermilk. Buttermilk provides a slightly salty and tangy flavor. Don't wait too long to eat this coleslaw because the cabbage won't be as tender and it can get watery after a few days.

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Mom's Mac And Cheese

Southern Living Mom's Mac and Cheese in a dish to serve with a spoon out — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Most Southern moms have a go-to mac and cheese recipe that's always a hit with the family. Our recipe will remind you of those wholesome meals at home.

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Slow Cooker Green Beans

Southern Living Slow Cooker Green beans in a bowl to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This Southern comfort food classic will never disappoint. Green beans, crispy bacon, yellow onions, and a handful of herbs come together in the slow cooker for an easy side dish.

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Classic Potato Salad

Classic Potato Salad Southern Living — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Sometimes the best dishes are the simplest ones. This recipe is classic, timeless, and old-fashioned. With basic ingredients like russet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, mayo, and celery, you'll have the perfect side for just about any occasion.

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Hush Puppies

Hush Puppies. on a plate with coleslaw beside

Flavorful and fried to perfection, these hush puppies taste like they're from a top-notch BBQ restaurant. You might already have everything you need to make this savory side dish. Flour, cornmeal, and baking soda make up the dry mix, and buttermilk, egg, and minced onion complete the batter. They're best eaten as soon as they're cooked.

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Cracklin' Cornbread

Southern Living Cracklin Cornbread with Whipped Jalapeno Butter sliced on plates to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

We had to include more than just one cornbread recipe in this list because there are so many variations. This Cracklin' Cornbread is one of our favorites. We've added pork cracklins to this classic recipe for a savory, salty touch. You can buy pork cracklins from the store or make them from scratch. This recipe isn't complete without our Whipped Jalapeño butter. The contrast between the sweet-hot butter and salty, meaty cornbread is sure to impress your guests.

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Fried Pickle Chips

Fried Pickle Chips — Alison Miksch

You might want to double the batch in this recipe because these pickle chips will fly off the table. Tangy, acidic pickles contrast nicely with the rich, savory flavor of pulled pork. We keep our recipe simple, using only 6 ingredients. We highly recommend pairing these with our Roundhouse-Kick Sauce.

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Leafy Green Salad With Sunflower Seed Dressing

Southern Living Leafy Green Salad with Sunflower Seed Dressing on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Any pulled pork dish could use a leafy salad to brighten up the plate. This recipe can be thrown together in 20 minutes. Sunflower seeds and unrefined sunflower oil create a toasty aromatic dressing that complements the Vidalia onions and spring vegetables.

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Southern Cobb Salad With Cornbread Croutons

Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This salad was made for pulled pork dinners. Crunchy cornbread croutons, salty bacon, blue cheese, black-eyed peas, and deviled eggs are packed into the salad. It comes together in under 10 minutes, making it the perfect last-minute side dish.

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Best Deviled Eggs

Our Best Deviled Eggs — STACY K. ALLEN, FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX, PROP STYLIST: SHELL ROYSTER

These deviled eggs can act as an appetizer or side dish for your pulled pork meal. Making deviled eggs can be hard but our recipe uses 7 simple ingredients and comes together in 15 minutes.

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Southern-Style Collard Greens

Southern-Style Collard Greens - Southern Living — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

This collard greens recipe is as classic as it gets. These greens need to simmer for a couple of hours but the slow cooker does most of the work. They can be made days in advance and reheat perfectly.

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Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad — Jen Causey

The rich, salty flavors of pulled pork are perfectly balanced by the sweetness and freshness of this fruit salad. An assortment of berries, melons, and oranges come together to make this beautiful salad. It requires minimal effort but be sure to let the salad chill in the fridge before serving.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

sweet potato fries on a platter with a small bowl of ketchup — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

If you only eat fries when you go out, you need to try this homemade recipe. These sweet potato fries come out crispy and sweet with only 4 ingredients. The most work you'll have to do is cutting the potatoes.

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Cornbread Cowboy Casserole

Southern Living Cornbread Cowboy Casserole in the skillet with a serving scooped out — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

To elevate your side dish game, look no further. This casserole, made with chili, corn, black beans, tomatoes, and, of course, cornbread will look and taste great alongside your pulled pork main.

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Fried Okra

Southern Living Fried Okra on a platter to serve with ranch for dipping — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Craving comfort? This side dish is good for the soul. Fried okra is a Southern masterpiece that can be paired with any rich, meaty main.

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Cornbread Muffins

Southern Living Cornbread Muffins ready to serve with butter and honey — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

These tender, sweet muffins can be enjoyed any time of the day but make the perfect side dish for pulled pork. You can enhance their sweet flavor with a drizzle of honey.

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Creamy Cucumber Salad

Southern Living Creamy Cucumber Salad in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You can't go wrong with this fresh, creamy cucumber salad for potlucks, picnics, or cookouts. You can swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.

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Classic Macaroni Salad

macaroni salad with ham — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

A cold serving of this macaroni salad is just the thing you need to complement a plate of pulled pork. There are only 2 steps in this recipe: cook the pasta and combine the ingredients. It's that simple.

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Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

Southern Living Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Prepare for this Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes will be the talk of your next party. This recipe takes the classic dish to the next level.

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