✔ Updated · 45 sides: potatoes, veggies, salads, breads + more
Pork chops are sizzling and the only question left is what goes next to them. Good news: here are 45 sides that make the plate, from weeknight-quick to Sunday-dinner cozy.
The best side dishes for pork chops are creamy mashed potatoes, fried apples or applesauce, green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, coleslaw, mac and cheese, rice pilaf and cornbread. Pork is mild and slightly sweet, so pair it with something sweet or fruity and something tangy or fresh. For BBQ pork chops, go with coleslaw, corn on the cob and baked beans.
- Classic: mashed potatoes + green beans.
- Sweet contrast: fried apples or applesauce.
- BBQ chops: coleslaw, corn on the cob, baked beans.
- Light: roasted asparagus or cucumber salad.
Potato Sides for Pork Chops
1. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
The classic. Buttery, fluffy mash soaks up every drop of pan juice and gravy. Yukon Golds give the creamiest result.
Get the recipe →2. Scalloped Potatoes
Thin potato slices baked in garlicky cream until bubbling and golden. Rich, so pair with a simple green vegetable.
3. Hasselback Potatoes
Accordion-cut potatoes with crispy edges and soft middles. They look fancy but take just a sharp knife and a hot oven.
Get the recipe →4. Roasted Garlic Potatoes
Halved baby potatoes tossed with olive oil, garlic and rosemary, roasted at 425°F until crisp. Share the oven with your chops.
5. Baked Potatoes
Hands-off and filling. Load them with sour cream, chives and butter while the pork chops rest.
6. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet, salty and crisp, they echo the way pork loves a little sweetness. Bake at high heat for crunchy edges.
7. Sweet Potato Casserole
Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes under a crunchy pecan or marshmallow topping. A holiday favorite that suits pork all year.
Get the recipe →8. Funeral Potatoes
A cheesy hash brown casserole with a buttery cornflake crust. Ultimate comfort food for a family pork chop dinner.
Get the recipe →9. Creamy Potato Salad
Cool, tangy and creamy, it is the go-to side for grilled or BBQ pork chops on a warm evening.
Get the recipe →Vegetable Sides for Pork Chops
10. Southern Green Beans
Slow-simmered green beans with onion and a little bacon. Soft, savory and a classic plate partner for pork.
Get the recipe →11. Green Beans Almondine
Crisp-tender green beans tossed with butter, lemon and toasted almonds. Ready in about 15 minutes.
12. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roast until the edges char, then finish with a drizzle of balsamic or honey. Sweet, nutty and great with pork.
13. Honey Glazed Carrots
Glossy, sweet and buttery. Their sweetness plays the same role as applesauce next to a salty chop.
Get the recipe →14. Roasted Asparagus
Olive oil, salt, a hot oven and 10 to 12 minutes. Finish with lemon zest and Parmesan for a bright, light side.
15. Garlic Broccoli
Roasted or sautéed broccoli with plenty of garlic and a squeeze of lemon. Quick, healthy and family-friendly.
16. Creamed Spinach
Silky, rich and steakhouse-style. It turns a weeknight pork chop into something that feels special.
17. Corn on the Cob
Buttery, sweet and easy, especially alongside grilled or BBQ pork chops in summer.
Get the recipe →18. Braised Fennel
Fennel turns soft and sweet when braised, with a gentle anise note that is made for pork.
19. Butter-Braised Cabbage
Wedges of green cabbage cooked low in butter until tender and golden. Cheap, cozy and surprisingly delicious.
20. Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
Tangy, crunchy and bright pink. A spoonful cuts through rich, fried or breaded pork chops.
Get the recipe →Fruity Sides for Pork Chops
21. Fried Apples
Apples cooked in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until soft and glossy. Pork and apples are a match for a reason.
Get the recipe →22. Homemade Applesauce
Simmer chopped apples with a splash of water and a pinch of cinnamon, then mash. Chunky, warm and so easy.
23. Grilled Peaches
Halved peaches grilled until caramelized. Perfect next to grilled pork chops in late summer.
24. Pineapple Salsa
Diced pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime. Sweet heat that wakes up grilled or jerk-seasoned chops.
Salads and Slaws for Pork Chops
25. Classic Coleslaw
Creamy, crunchy and tangy. It cuts through the richness of BBQ and fried pork chops.
Get the recipe →26. Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad
Mixed greens, crisp apple, dried cranberries and toasted pecans in a maple vinaigrette.
27. Cucumber Salad
Thin cucumbers and red onion in a quick vinegar dressing. Cool, crisp and ready in 10 minutes.
28. Wedge Salad
Crisp iceberg with blue cheese dressing, bacon and tomatoes. A steakhouse classic that suits a thick-cut chop.
29. Caesar Salad
Crunchy romaine, garlicky dressing, croutons and Parmesan. A reliable side for any pork chop dinner.
30. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, red onion and feta in a lemony dressing. Hearty, fresh and make-ahead.
Rice, Grains and Stuffing
31. Vegetable Fried Rice
Pork and fried rice are best friends. Use day-old rice and a hot pan for that hibachi-style result.
Get the recipe →32. Rice Pilaf
Rice toasted in butter, then simmered in broth with onion and herbs. Fluffy, savory and simple.
33. Cilantro Lime Rice
Bright and zesty, it is a great base for spice-rubbed or grilled pork chops.
Get the recipe →34. Red Beans and Rice
Smoky, creamy Southern-style beans over rice. A hearty pick for Cajun-seasoned chops.
Get the recipe →35. Garlic Parmesan Orzo
Orzo cooked risotto-style with garlic, butter and Parmesan. Creamy comfort in about 20 minutes.
36. Stuffing
Herby bread stuffing is not just for Thanksgiving. It loves pork, especially with a little gravy.
Get the recipe →Breads to Serve with Pork Chops
37. Dinner Rolls
Soft, buttery rolls are perfect for mopping up pan sauce. Brush with honey butter while warm.
Get the recipe →
38. Cornbread
Sweet, crumbly and Southern. Cornbread with pork chops and green beans is a full comfort plate.
Get the recipe →39. Buttermilk Biscuits
Flaky, tender biscuits for smothered pork chops. Split one open and spoon the gravy right over it.
Get the recipe →40. Garlic Bread
Crispy, buttery and garlicky. An easy win next to Italian-style or Parmesan-crusted pork chops.
Comfort Classics and Soups
41. Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy and baked until golden on top. A filling side for kids and grown-ups alike.
Get the recipe →42. Baked Beans
Sweet, smoky and saucy. The natural partner for BBQ pork chops at a cookout.
43. Corn Pudding
Somewhere between cornbread and custard: sweet, soft and spoonable. Great with pan-fried chops.
44. Butternut Squash Soup
A small cup of velvety squash soup makes a lighter, cozy fall dinner with a pork chop.
45. Deviled Eggs
Make-ahead and always popular. A tangy, creamy extra when pork chops are part of a bigger spread.
How to Choose a Side for Pork Chops
Pork is mild and a little sweet, so it loves two kinds of partners: something sweet or fruity (apples, carrots, sweet potatoes) and something tangy or fresh to cut the richness (slaw, pickles, a crisp salad). My mum's rule of thumb still works: one starch, one green thing, and something with a bit of zing.
Match the cooking method too. Fried or breaded chops want something fresh and crunchy. Grilled or BBQ chops love cookout sides. Smothered chops need mash, rice or biscuits to catch the gravy.
- Weeknight: garlic broccoli + rice pilaf (both done in about 20 minutes).
- Sunday dinner: mashed potatoes + green beans + roast pork gravy.
- BBQ night: coleslaw + corn on the cob + baked beans.
- Low-carb: roasted Brussels sprouts + wedge salad.
- Fall comfort: fried apples + sweet potato casserole + cornbread.
Cook Pork Chops Safely
Cook pork chops to an internal temperature of 145°F, then let them rest for 3 minutes before serving (USDA guidance). A blush of pink in the middle is fine at that temperature. Ground pork needs 160°F, and reheated leftovers should reach 165°F.
More Side Dish Ideas
Planning another dinner? Browse our potato side dishes, side dishes for salmon, fried chicken sides and what to serve with mac and cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good to eat with pork chops?
Mashed potatoes, applesauce or fried apples, green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, coleslaw, mac and cheese, rice pilaf and cornbread are all great with pork chops. Aim for one starch, one vegetable and something sweet or tangy to balance the savory meat.
What vegetables go well with pork chops?
Green beans, Brussels sprouts, glazed carrots, asparagus, broccoli, creamed spinach, corn and braised cabbage all go well with pork chops. Roasted vegetables are especially easy because they can share the oven with baked chops.
What sides go with BBQ pork chops?
For BBQ pork chops, serve classic cookout sides: coleslaw, potato salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, cornbread and mac and cheese. Grilled peaches or pineapple salsa add a sweet, fresh contrast to smoky barbecue sauce.
What is a healthy side for pork chops?
Roasted asparagus, garlic broccoli, green beans almondine, cucumber salad and roasted Brussels sprouts are light, healthy sides for pork chops. For a low-carb plate, skip the potatoes and serve two vegetables or a crisp wedge or Caesar salad.
What starch goes with pork chops?
Mashed, roasted, scalloped or baked potatoes are the classic starch for pork chops. Rice pilaf, fried rice, orzo, stuffing, cornbread, biscuits and dinner rolls also work well, especially with smothered chops or a pan sauce.
