20 Sides for Pork Tenderloin That Are (Almost) as Exciting as the Main Event
Juicy, baked pork tenderloin is one of our all-time favorite roasts. In fact, we love it so much that sometimes the rest of the meal falls by the wayside. As such, we’ve resolved to balance our plates with a roundup of sides for pork tenderloin that are just as exciting—OK, almost as exciting—as the main event, whether it’s something sweet like homemade applesauce, spicy (think: grilled corn with spicy aioli) or downright decadent (hello, potatoes au gratin) that you desire.
What Veggies Go Best with Pork?
One of the benefits of serving up a juicy pork dinner is that this light red meat is highly versatile and pairs beautifully with just as many vegetables as chicken. In other words, you’re spoiled for choice here. That said, pork dinners tend to lean into a comfort food vibe, so rich and hearty sides like creamed veggies, cheesy grits or risottos and umami-forward stuffed mushrooms are a natural fit. Pork also plays well with sweeter sides, so anything with a fruity flourish or caramelized flavor will also work wonderfully. That said, there’s no need to feel hemmed in—just browse our diverse selection of suitable sides and pick whichever one speaks to you.
The 45 Best Sides for Pork Chops
1. Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Ranch
MICHAEL MARQUAND/STYLING: JAKE COHEN
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: keto-friendly, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe
Aleppo pepper-spiked cauliflower and tangy ranch combine in this flavorful vegetarian dish. The end result is a refreshing departure from the heaviness of standard pork sides.
2. Oven-Roasted Beets and Potatoes
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
You can’t go wrong with a sweet and salty combination of roasted beets and potatoes, but this recipe scores extra points for presentation, so you’re guaranteed to wow your dinner guests (assuming you aren’t too afraid of a mandoline, that is).
3. Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make-ahead, crowd-pleaser
Pork and applesauce is a classic combo. Skip the Mott’s and make your own cinnamon-spiked sauce for a fun, edible DIY and a difference you can taste.
4. Hasselback Butternut Squash
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, <500 calories
The Swedish Hasselback potato technique reaches new heights when applied to a seasonal butternut squash. Dress it up however you see fit, but we suggest lots of butter and fresh, heady herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage.
5. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
News to no one: Cauliflower and cheese get along famously. Toss some of the former into your mac n’ cheese for an oh-so comforting and indulgent side for pork tenderloin that still delivers a serving of veggies.
6. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, high protein, special occasion-worthy
These meaty portobello mushrooms stuffed with creamy and toothsome barley risotto score extra points for presentation and boast an umami flavor profile that harmonizes beautifully with pork, to boot.
7. Brussels Sprouts Latkes
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Not your grandmother’s latkes, to be sure, but we promise they’re an exceptionally tasty way to sneak in one of the season’s most nutritious vegetables. Bonus: They play nicely with applesauce, too.
8. Creamed Brussel Sprouts with Caramelized Onions
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, keto-friendly
This decadent Brussels sprouts recipe relies on a rich and creamy cheese sauce to turn a snoozy roasted vegetable side into a comfort food slam dunk.
9. Leek, Kale, and Goat Cheese Strata
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 8 hour 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, high protein
Strata—a close relative of Thanksgiving stuffing—is a delightful combination of bread, eggs, cheese and various mix-ins. Our kale and leek version is a perfect match for pork tenderloin, especially if you serve the latter with a little pan sauce and use the strata to sop it all up.
10. Coconut Creamed Spinach
ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, <500 calories, low carbs
This ginger and cayenne-spiked creamed spinach recipe uses coconut milk instead of heavy cream for a healthier dish that tastes every bit as indulgent.
11. Grilled Corn with Spicy Aioli
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, no bake
Choose your pork seasoning or marinade to match the flavors of this grilled corn—coriander, lime, paprika—and you will be rewarded with the best and easiest summer dinner of all time.
12. Spicy Broccoli Sauté
EVA KOLENKO/BREAD TOAST CRUMBS
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
Quickly sauteing broccoli instead of roasting it is a faster way to get fork-tender broccoli. Add generous amounts of garlic and red chili flake to the mix and you have a healthy and flavorful side dish that’s 100 percent fuss-free.
13. Blistered Green Beans with Tomatoes, Pounded Walnuts and Raw Summer Squash
ABRA BERENS/CHRONICLE BOOKS
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
This beautiful medley of summer vegetables features blistered green beans—our favorite way to prepare them if you want to preserve their bright green color and snappy texture. Psst: The walnuts add a lovely earthy flavor and pleasant crunch to the salad, but almonds will work just fine if that’s what you have on hand.
14. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, one pot recipe
Little explanation needed here—just cue the Grease soundtrack because creamy, make-ahead mashed potatoes and pork tenderloin go together like…(you get the idea.)
15. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme
OLA SMIT/DINNER'S IN THE BAG
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, vegan
Bring a pop of color and loads of flavor to the plate with this easy side featuring crisp, steamed veggies, simply dressed with a combination of orange and fresh thyme. The end result is aromatic, elegant and easy on the eyes.
16. Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta-Garlic Bread Crumbs
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
You can never have too much pork on your plate, which is why we strongly suggest making your sprouts a little snazzier with a generous sprinkling of crispy pancetta.
17. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
These sweet potato fries get good and crispy in the oven without all the grease, though this recipe is an excellent candidate for an air-fryer, too.
18. Melted Onions
LINDA PUGLIESE/HELP YOURSELF
Time Commitment: 1 hour 5 minutes
Why We Love It: make-ahead, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
The swoon-worthy presentation of these deeply caramelized, melt-in-your-mouth onions is enough to qualify them as a standalone side.
19. Potatoes au Gratin
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, <10 ingredients
This classic French dish is a decidedly sophisticated and oh-so cheesy upgrade to the standard mash. The secret to success? Use a mandoline to ensure thin and uniform slices.
20. Sweet-and-Spicy Cornbread
NICO SCHINCO/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Lean into Southern comfort (and leave no taste bud behind) with a boldly flavored cornbread featuring the formidable spice of fresh fresno chiles, offset by a healthy drizzle of honey.
