✔ Updated · 40 sides: slaws, potatoes, mac, beans, breads + more
The pork is falling apart and the buns are warm, so what goes on the side? I've got 40 answers, from tangy slaw to cheesy mac and skillet cornbread.
The best sides for pulled pork are coleslaw, mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread, potato salad, corn on the cob, collard greens and pickles. Pulled pork is rich and smoky, so pair it with something creamy, something tangy or crunchy, and a starch. For sandwiches, put the slaw right on top.
- Classic trio: coleslaw, mac and cheese, cornbread.
- Cookout: potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob.
- Light: cucumber salad, green salad, fruit salad.
- Tacos or bowls: lime rice, corn salsa, pickled cabbage.
How to Pick Sides for Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is rich, smoky and a little sweet, so I build the plate on one simple rule: one creamy side, one crunchy or tangy side, and one starch. Coleslaw, mac and cheese and cornbread is the classic trio for a reason.
- Sandwiches: coleslaw on top, pickles, and fries or chips on the side.
- Dinner plate: mac and cheese or mashed potatoes, collard greens or green beans, and cornbread.
- Tacos or bowls: cilantro lime rice, corn salsa, quick pickled cabbage and black beans.
- Cookout for a crowd: potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob and rolls for sliders.
Slaws and Fresh Salads
1. Copycat KFC Coleslaw
Finely chopped cabbage and carrot in a sweet, creamy dressing. Pile it on the sandwich or eat it alongside; both are correct.
Get the recipe →2. Vinegar Coleslaw
Carolina-style slaw dressed with cider vinegar, a little sugar and celery seed. No mayo, all crunch and tang.
3. Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
Bright, tangy and ready in 30 minutes. A handful on top of pulled pork cuts right through the richness.
Get the recipe →
4. Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Diced cucumber, juicy tomatoes and red onion in a light vinaigrette. Cool and fresh next to smoky pork.
5. Onion and Tomato Curtido
A Central American-style quick pickle of onion, tomato and cilantro in lime and vinegar. Sharp, juicy and ideal for pork.
6. Simple Green Salad
Crisp lettuce, cucumber and a mustardy dressing. The lightest way to round out a heavy barbecue plate.
7. Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Black-eyed peas with peppers, onion and a zippy vinaigrette, sometimes called Texas caviar. Make it a day ahead.
8. Fruit Salad
Pineapple, melon, berries and grapes with a squeeze of lime. Sweet fruit loves sweet-smoky barbecue sauce.
Potato Sides
9. Copycat Hellmann's Potato Salad
Creamy, tangy, classic potato salad with eggs and celery. The cookout side everybody reaches for.
Get the recipe →10. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Buttery, fluffy mash that soaks up barbecue sauce and pork juices. Great with a pulled pork dinner plate.
Get the recipe →
11. French Fries
Crispy fries for pulled pork sandwiches, or load them up: fries, pork, cheese sauce and pickled onions.
12. Copycat Popeyes Cajun Fries
Fries tossed in a punchy Cajun seasoning. The spice plays nicely with sweet barbecue sauce.
Get the recipe →13. Copycat KFC Potato Wedges
Thick, seasoned, crispy-coated wedges with fluffy middles. Sturdy enough to scoop up stray pork.
Get the recipe →14. Funeral Potatoes
Cheesy hash brown casserole under a buttery cornflake crust. Feeds a crowd at a barbecue.
Get the recipe →15. Sweet Potato Casserole
Fluffy sweet potatoes under a pecan or marshmallow topping. Sweet and smoky is a winning combination.
Get the recipe →16. Copycat TGI Fridays Potato Skins
Crispy potato skins with cheddar, bacon and sour cream. Also great stuffed with leftover pulled pork.
Get the recipe →Mac and Cheese, Pasta and Rice
17. Copycat Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese
Rich, baked, extra-cheesy mac and cheese. Maybe the most-loved pulled pork side of them all.
Get the recipe →
18. Pasta Salad
Pasta, crunchy peppers, celery and onion in a tangy dressing. Make it ahead and serve it cold.
19. Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroni in a creamy, slightly sweet dressing, Hawaiian-plate style. Cool and soft against crispy pork bark.
20. Rice Pilaf
Fluffy rice toasted in butter and cooked in broth with onion and herbs. Simple, savory and soaks up sauce.
21. Copycat Popeyes Red Beans and Rice
Creamy, smoky red beans over rice. A Louisiana side that makes pulled pork a full meal.
Get the recipe →22. Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Bright lime and cilantro rice. Turn pulled pork into burrito bowls with beans, salsa and slaw.
Get the recipe →Beans, Corn and Vegetables
23. Baked Beans
Sweet, smoky, saucy beans baked low and slow. Pork and beans: a pairing that never misses.
24. Collard Greens
Southern greens simmered with bacon, onion and garlic until silky. Add a splash of vinegar at the end.
25. Copycat Cracker Barrel Green Beans
Slow-simmered green beans with onion and bacon. Soft, savory, very Southern.
Get the recipe →26. Copycat KFC Corn on the Cob
Buttery, juicy corn on the cob. Grill it next to the pork for a little char.
Get the recipe →
27. Corn Salsa
Sweet corn, peppers, red onion and lime. Spoon it over pulled pork tacos or eat it with chips.
28. Mexican Street Corn Salad
Charred corn with mayo, lime, chili powder and cotija cheese. All the elote flavor, no cob.
29. Grilled Vegetables
Zucchini, bell peppers and red onion grilled with olive oil and salt. A light, colorful plate partner.
30. Fried Okra
Cornmeal-crusted okra fried until crunchy. A Southern classic for a barbecue spread.
31. Fried Green Tomatoes
Tart green tomato slices in a crisp cornmeal coating. Their tang is made for rich, smoky pork.
Breads
32. Copycat Aunt Jemima Cornbread
Sweet, crumbly cornbread that mops up sauce. Bake it in a skillet for crispy edges.
Get the recipe →
33. Bisquick Cheddar Garlic Biscuits
Soft, cheesy drop biscuits ready in 20 minutes. Split one and pile in some pork for a mini slider.
Get the recipe →34. Hush Puppies
Deep-fried cornmeal fritters, crisp outside and fluffy inside. A barbecue joint essential.
35. Corn Fritters
Golden, sweet corn fritters you can make up to two days ahead and reheat in the oven.
36. Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Pillowy sweet yeast rolls with cinnamon honey butter. Perfect for build-your-own pulled pork sliders.
Get the recipe →Crunchy Extras and Something Sweet
37. Copycat Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles
Tangy pickle chips in a crispy batter. Pickles and pulled pork belong together, fried or not.
Get the recipe →38. Copycat Burger King Onion Rings
Crispy, golden onion rings. Stack a couple inside the sandwich for crunch.
Get the recipe →39. Dill Pickle Spears
The simplest side of all: cold, sour and crunchy, to reset your taste buds between bites.
40. Copycat Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Creamy vanilla pudding, bananas and vanilla wafers. The classic way to end a barbecue.
Get the recipe →My Pulled Pork Notes
Pork is safe at 145°F, but for pulled pork I keep cooking a shoulder to about 195 to 205°F, when the collagen melts and it shreds with a fork. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
My favorite trick for a party: make the slaw first so it has an hour to soften and get tangy. It tastes better than slaw made at the last minute, every time.
Want more ideas? See our potato side dishes, side dishes for pork chops and pork carnitas for Mexican-style pulled pork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best side dishes for pulled pork?
Coleslaw, mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread, potato salad and corn on the cob are the classics. They balance the rich, smoky meat with creamy, tangy and starchy flavors. Collard greens, pickles and hush puppies make it a full Southern spread.
What goes with pulled pork sandwiches?
Top the sandwich with coleslaw and pickles, then add fries, chips, onion rings or potato salad on the side. Baked beans and corn on the cob round it out for a cookout. Soft brioche or potato buns hold the juicy pork best.
What vegetables go with pulled pork?
Collard greens, Southern green beans, corn on the cob, grilled zucchini and peppers, fried okra and a crisp green or cucumber salad all work. Tangy or slightly bitter vegetables cut through the richness of the pork and barbecue sauce.
What can I serve with pulled pork for a party?
Set up a slider bar: soft rolls, pulled pork, coleslaw, pickles and two or three sauces. Add make-ahead sides like potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans and a big pan of mac and cheese, plus banana pudding for dessert.
What are healthy sides for pulled pork?
Choose vinegar coleslaw, cucumber and tomato salad, grilled vegetables, a green salad, corn salsa or fruit salad. Serve the pork in lettuce cups or over a salad instead of on a bun if you want a lighter plate.
