Wondering What to Serve with Pulled Pork? We Have 31 Tasty Ideas
We dare you to name one con when it comes to pulled pork. Go ahead and try, but we’re pretty sure there’s not a single bad thing to say about the summer staple. Pulled pork is meaty, tangy, saucy, sweet-yet-spicy and can be paired with just about any BBQ side imaginable. Sure, it takes a while to make, but the wait is well worth the effort. Now that we’ve convinced you of what you’re cooking next, let us take things a step further: Next time you’re wondering what to serve with pulled pork, lean on this list of 31 delicious ideas.
RELATED: How to Reheat Pulled Pork So It’s Even More Delicious the Second Time Around
1. Grilled Corn with Spicy Aioli
Garlicky sriracha mayo > melted butter and salt, no contest. If the weather’s off, feel free to cook the corn indoors on a grill plate instead of using the barbecue.
2. Slow-Cooker Baked Beans
We love using the Crock-Pot over the summer because it means not having to sweat over a hot stove all night. Less time in the kitchen = more time in the yard.
3. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
Whether you’re serving it on the side or piling it high atop a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw is an absolute must at any cookout. It’s crisp, refreshing and pairs with smoky meat like a charm.
4. Easy Pretzel Buns
Want to make a pulled pork sandwich instead of serving the meat solo? Turn to these impressive buns that your guests won’t believe are homemade.
5. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
You won’t find spuds or mayonnaise in this creamy picnic staple. Instead, we use cauliflower and a mix of Greek yogurt, sour cream and Dijon mustard.
6. Jalapeño-Avocado Mac and Cheese
Of all the pulled pork side dishes, mac and cheese might be the most essential. Its buttery, decadent flavor is just the match for tangy barbecue.
7. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers
The trick to not burning a single skewer, you ask? Stick to one veggie per stick so they all cook evenly. Pass the lemon-parsley dressing, please.
8. Yogurt Biscuits with Honey Butter
This Southern-inspired side is a guaranteed win, even with picky kids. We trade butter in the dough for Greek yogurt to keep it moist, but don’t worry—the biscuits are brushed with honey butter before being baked.
9. Easy Homemade Pickles
As far as pulled pork sides go, you may not think of pickles right off the bat. But they’re served at real-deal barbecue joints for a reason: Their vinegary acidity acts as a sort of palate cleanser, cutting through the meat’s fat and richness between bites.
10. Rodney Scott’s Pimento Cheese
The key to this award-winning pitmaster’s iconic cheese spread? Shredding the sharp cheddar by hand. It may seem like a pain at first, but pre-shredded cheese contains added ingredients that prevent clumping, so it’s the only way to get the smooth, creamy results you crave.
11. Chilled Cucumber Salad
The hottest summer day is no match for this refreshing side dish. It’s as simple as quick-pickling European cucumber, red onion and garlic with fresh dill.
12. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing
Listen, pulled pork is the star. But this stunning salad could very well steal the spotlight. Think sweet, charred peaches, crispy pine nuts, tangy halloumi and lots of fresh greens.
13. Sweet-and-Spicy Cornbread
Fresh Fresno chiles meet honey and all the melted butter atop a tangy, sour cream-laced cornbread that will straight-up knock your socks off. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
14. Summer Millet Salad
Over quinoa? We have just the swap. Meet millet, a nutritious, gluten-free grain that’s just as hearty and comforting. Here, it’s mixed with scallions, cherry tomatoes and cubed Havarti.
15. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil
This beauty 1) cooks in a single pan, 2) is prime for warm weather (unlike say, spaghetti and meatballs) and 3) will look downright divine in the center of your patio table.
16. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans
The traditional French version is topped with canned tuna, but we went ham with vibrant veggies instead. We’re talking green beans, arugula, radishes, cucumber and potatoes.
17. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
We don’t blame you for thinking cabbage tastes a little…meh. Kale and sprouts have a much stronger earthy, vegetal taste that can hold its own against vegan Caesar dressing.
18. Cheddar Biscuits with Caramelized Onion Gravy
By swapping sausage for caramelized onions, these biscuits doused in gravy are totally vegetarian. TBH, we’d plan to use one of the biscuits as a bun for a pulled pork sandwich.
19. Zucchini Caprese Salad
Aka summer on a plate. Grilled zucchini’s crisp, mild flavor is just the match for mild mozz, juicy tomatoes and zingy balsamic.
20. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
If you’ve never tried yellow tomatoes, they’re much less acidic than their red cousins and slightly sweet. The addition of two ripe peaches makes this 45-minute wonder even sweeter.
21. Smoky Barbecued Corn
One bite and you’ll never settle for plain boiled corn again. These puppies are slathered in chili-lime mayonnaise, then rolled in Parmesan and smoked paprika.
22. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
There’s really no need to brave a pot of spitting oil to get your fry on. These bake to crispy perfection in the oven in just over half an hour.
23. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
Not only are the fritters bursting with sweet summer corn, but they’re also loaded with chopped scallions, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
24. BLT Pasta Salad
Bury us in black pepper bacon. This sandwich-inspired side dish has all the crunch, creaminess and flavor of the OG, minus the bread.
25. Grilled Watermelon-Feta Skewers
BRB, swooning hard over those char marks. If you need tips for assembling the sweet-and-salty skewers, follow our guide for cutting watermelon (it’s easier than you think, promise).
26. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
If you hit the farmers market and picked up the tastiest spring and summer produce in one trip, you’d have the makings for this mélange of sugar snap peas, asparagus, peaches, plums and cherries.
27. Loaded Baked Potato ‘Chips’
Have you ever ordered a baked potato with all the trimmings (bacon! cheese! sour cream!) only to get full after two bites? These minis solve that problem. Go ahead, have a dozen.
28. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
The only bowties we want to see at our barbecue are these beauties, coated in balsamic-mustard vinaigrette.
29. 15-Minute Cucumber Avocado Blender Soup
Helloooo, refreshment. It’s as simple as dumping avocado, cukes, fresh herbs and Greek yogurt into a blender and whirling until smooth. The Asiago-encrusted baguette is just the cherry on top.
30. Melon Salad with Chili Powder, Mint, Lime and Flaky Sea Salt
If you’re one of those people who are bored by cantaloupe and honeydew, this recipe will change your mind. It’s sweet, spicy, sour, salty—what else could you want?
31. Roasted Broccoli and Bacon Pasta Salad
This earthy, hearty dish, complete with lemony breadcrumbs and a bacon-infused mustard vinaigrette, demands a permanent spot in your summer rotation.
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