23 Best Side Dishes to Pair with Your Rib Feast

This dish is a quick and simple way to create a restaurant-style risotto at home. It's made in just one pan and can serve as a delightful vegetarian main or side dish. The creamy texture and rich flavors of the risotto, enhanced by the aromatic presence of mushrooms, complement the bold and smoky taste of ribs, offering a satisfying contrast in both flavor and texture

This recipe from She Wears Many Hats offers a unique and tangy side option. Fried pickles are known for their crispy exterior and juicy, tangy interior, which can provide a delightful contrast to the rich and meaty flavor of ribs. The crunchiness of the pickles and their sharp flavor profile can cut through the heaviness of the ribs, adding an interesting textural and taste dimension to your meal.

This recipe transforms the sprouts into a crispy and savory side dish. The addition of Parmesan cheese adds a nutty and salty flavor, making these Brussels sprouts a perfect complement to ribs. The roasted texture and the cheese's richness enhance the overall dining experience, balancing the tenderness and smokiness of the ribs with a crispy, cheesy vegetable side.

This recipe from Spend With Pennies offers a creamy and flavorful side dish, perfect to accompany rich and savory ribs. Made with chicken broth, garlic powder, grits, cheddar cheese, and butter, these grits are easy to prepare and provide a smooth, creamy texture. The sharpness and richness of the cheddar cheese in the grits pair excellently with the bold flavors of ribs, creating a harmonious blend of tastes in each bite.

This recipe from Dinner at the Zoo is a bulgur wheat salad mixed with fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, and a simple lemon dressing. This light and healthy dish is an excellent complement to various Mediterranean meals, offering a fresh and flavorful balance to rich dishes like ribs. The recipe highlights the use of parsley, mint, and a lemony dressing to create a refreshing side that's both easy to make and bursting with flavor.

This recipe from Bites of Beri is a quick and simple side salad that pairs beautifully with various dishes. It's made with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved parmesan, dressed in a light and zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. This salad is ideal for adding a fresh, healthy, and delicious touch to any meal, particularly complementing heavier main dishes like ribs with its bright and tangy flavors.

This recipe from Julie's Eats & Treats offers a comforting and creamy side dish that complements the rich flavors of ribs with its cheesy goodness. This quick and easy recipe, perfect for weeknight dinners, combines the classic taste of sharp cheddar cheese with elbow macaroni, creating a satisfying texture and flavor that pairs well with the savory ribs. The simplicity of the recipe, requiring only basic pantry staples, makes it a convenient choice for a delicious side dish.

This recipe is a quick and satisfying side dish that combines creamy, rich cheese sauce with tender elbow noodles. Perfect for complementing savory ribs, this homemade mac and cheese is easy to make, requiring only about 15 minutes and common pantry ingredients. Its creamy texture and cheesy flavor offer a delightful contrast to the meaty ribs, making it a family-friendly choice for any meal.

This recipe from The Cozy Cook is a delightful side dish that pairs beautifully with ribs. These homemade rolls are known for their soft, fluffy texture and slightly sweet taste, making them a comforting addition to any meal. They are ideal for sopping up sauces or enjoying with butter. Their light and airy quality provides a pleasing contrast to the rich and hearty flavor of ribs.

This recipe from Don't Go Bacon My Heart is a classic British side dish that would complement ribs beautifully. Yorkshire puddings, with their crisp edges and soft, airy centers, provide a delightful texture contrast to the meaty ribs. Their mild flavor can balance the often rich and savory taste of ribs, making them an enjoyable addition to a hearty meal.

This recipe from Grilling 24x7 offers a unique twist on traditional corn on the cob. These "ribs" are seasoned with a flavorful BBQ spice blend and cooked to create a crispy, charred texture. Served with a smoky, creamy mayo, they make a delightful side dish that complements the smoky and savory flavors of ribs.

This recipe from Cookie and Kate is a healthier alternative to traditional fries. Made with sweet potatoes, they are seasoned and baked to achieve a crispy exterior and soft interior. Their natural sweetness offers a pleasant contrast to the rich, savory taste of ribs, making them an ideal side dish.

This recipe from Cafe Delites is a flavorful and aromatic side dish. These mushrooms are sautéed in butter and a rich blend of garlic, making them a savory complement to ribs. Their tender and juicy texture, along with the strong garlic flavor, enhances the overall dining experience, especially when paired with the smoky and meaty taste of ribs.

This recipe from A Saucy Kitchen is a fresh and vibrant side dish. This salad combines creamy avocado, protein-rich chickpeas, and a homemade pesto dressing, offering a nutritious and flavorful addition to any meal. Its refreshing taste and varied textures make it a great complement to the richness of ribs, providing a balanced and healthful option.

This recipe from Chili Pepper Madness is an easy and flavorful dish. These peppers are quickly cooked to create a blistered, charred texture, bringing out their mild, slightly sweet flavor. Often served with a sprinkle of salt and a squeeze of lemon, they make a great side dish for ribs, offering a light and slightly smoky flavor to balance the richness of the meat.

This recipe from Dinner at the Zoo is a fresh and simple side dish. This salad combines crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and a light dressing, making it a refreshing accompaniment to ribs. Its cool and tangy flavors provide a pleasant contrast to the smokiness and heaviness of ribs.

This recipe from Joyous Apron is a colorful and nutritious side dish. This rice dish blends various vegetables, offering a mix of flavors and textures that complement the savory taste of ribs. It's a versatile recipe that adds both color and nutritional value to your meal.

This recipe from Julie's Eats and Treats is a crunchy and creamy side dish. It combines coleslaw mix with cashews, adding a unique nutty flavor and texture that pairs well with ribs. This salad is perfect for those who enjoy a blend of creamy and crunchy textures in their side dishes.

This recipe from Quiche My Grits is a hearty and flavorful dish. It combines a variety of beans with bacon, ground beef, and a rich sauce, creating a robust side that pairs well with ribs. This dish's savory and slightly sweet flavors offer a delicious contrast to the smokiness of ribs.

This recipe from Pinch and Swirl provides a crisp and tangy side dish. These tomatoes are coated in a seasoned batter and fried to a golden brown, offering a delightful crunch. Their acidic and savory taste complements the rich flavors of ribs, adding a Southern flair to the meal.

This recipe from Carlsbad Cravings is a rich and indulgent side dish. These potatoes are filled with a creamy mixture of cheese, sour cream, and seasonings, and then baked to achieve a crispy exterior with a soft, flavorful inside. They are a perfect complement to ribs, adding a decadent and satisfying element to your meal

This recipe from Well Plated offers a healthier alternative to traditional fries. Coated in breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and then baked until crispy, they provide a deliciously crunchy texture. This dish is a light, nutritious side that pairs well with the richness of ribs.

The Horseradish Kale Caesar Salad recipe from Lindsey Eats LA offers a bold and refreshing twist on the classic Caesar salad. Incorporating the pungent and spicy flavor of horseradish, this salad provides a zesty contrast to the rich taste of ribs. The kale in the salad adds a hearty and nutritious element, making it a wholesome and flavorful side dish.