Food and Recipes Meat Pork and Ham 35 Side Dishes For Pulled Pork That Will Wow The Potluck Crowd For your next BBQ, summer cookout, or potluck. By Phoebe Evans Phoebe Evans Phoebe Evans is a Southern Living summer intern who covers food and digital production. She is from Birmingham, Alabama, and has a strong passion for writing. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 2, 2024 Close 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. 60 Of The Best Barbecue Side Dishes—Because It's Not Just About the Meat 01 of 35 Southern Skillet Cornbread 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. get the recipe 02 of 35 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. get the recipe 03 of 35 Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad 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. get the recipe 04 of 35 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. get the recipe 05 of 35 Corn Salad 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. get the recipe 06 of 35 Creamed Corn Pasta 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. get the recipe 07 of 35 Smoky-Sweet Baked Beans 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. get the recipe 08 of 35 Roasted Potatoes 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. get the recipe 09 of 35 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! get the recipe 10 of 35 Fried Potatoes And Onions 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. get the recipe 11 of 35 Spiced Up Shoestring Fries 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. get the recipe 12 of 35 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. get the recipe 13 of 35 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. get the recipe 14 of 35 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. get the recipe 15 of 35 Roasted Fingerling Potatoes 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. get the recipe 16 of 35 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. get the recipe 17 of 35 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. get the recipe 18 of 35 Mom's Mac And Cheese 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. get the recipe 19 of 35 Slow Cooker Green Beans 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. get the recipe 20 of 35 Classic Potato Salad 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. get the recipe 21 of 35 Hush Puppies 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. get the recipe 22 of 35 Cracklin' Cornbread 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. get the recipe 23 of 35 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. get the recipe 24 of 35 Leafy Green Salad With Sunflower Seed Dressing 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. get the recipe 25 of 35 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. get the recipe 26 of 35 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. get the recipe 27 of 35 Southern-Style Collard Greens 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. get the recipe 28 of 35 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. get the recipe 29 of 35 Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries 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. get the recipe 30 of 35 Cornbread Cowboy Casserole 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. get the recipe 31 of 35 Fried Okra 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. get the recipe 32 of 35 Cornbread Muffins 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. get the recipe 33 of 35 Creamy Cucumber Salad 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. get the recipe 34 of 35 Classic Macaroni Salad 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. get the recipe 35 of 35 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. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit