15 Best Side Dishes for Pulled Pork (2024)

Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread

Need a complement to smoky pulled pork? This jalapeño cornbread rises to the occasion.

Adrienne's Cucumber Salad

Vinegar and dill lend sliced cucumbers and white onion a pickle-like tang, making this salad the perfect partner to sweet and savory pulled pork.

• 15 Creative Cucumber Side Dishes

Classic Rice Pilaf

Chef John's simple (but flavorful!) rice pilaf would let barbecue-style pulled pork steal the show. Plus, reviews attest that this versatile dish goes as well with pork as it does with fish, steak, or chicken.

• Find dozens of easy rice pilaf recipes for a delicious side dish.

Best Baked French Fries

Burgers and fries are a thing. Pulled pork sandwiches and fries should be, too. Or drop the bun and top these fries with plain ole pulled pork.

Buttermilk Hush Puppies

In North Carolina, restaurants pair barbecue with balls of fried batter called hush puppies. Take this as a cue to whip up a batch of buttermilk hush puppies if you're ever serving North Carolina-style pulled pork.

Shredded Apple Carrot Salad

This sweet-and-sour salad will do double time as a powerful palate-cleanser come pulled pork night. Some reviewers recommend cutting down on its acidic dressing, so keep that in mind if you're prepping pulled pork with ingredients like apple cider vinegar.

Picnic Potato Salad with No Mayonnaise

Balsamic vinegar, mustard, and blue cheese make this side punchier (and more pungent) than the traditional potato salad.

• More Popular Potato Salad Recipes

Black Bean and Corn Salad II

This black bean and corn salad would be a must with pulled pork carnitas — and not just for its looks.

Home-Style Macaroni and Cheese

Gooey cheddar and cream cheese balance pickled jalapeño and hot sauce.

Red Cabbage Slow Slaw

If you're gonna serve slaw, go rogue with this beautiful marinated red cabbage version.

Simple Baked Beans

"Quick and easy," home cook Jillian says. "Other than cutting back on the molasses and brown sugar then adding a bit of liquid smoke, I wouldn't change a thing. This definitely is a great way to take a regular ole can of baked beans and turn it into something special without a lot of effort!"

Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)

"We will be grilling this a lot this summer. So different and tasty! Don't be afraid of the mayo. It really is used as a binder. I can't wait to share this with my friends at our first barbecue this spring. This corn is going to knock their socks off!" — michellej

• 20 Grilled Side Dishes That Light up the Barbecue

Slow Cooked Collard Greens

"These may be the best collards that I've had, either homemade or in a restaurant. Two things that I really liked about this recipe are the rich flavor that the chicken stock adds and the little kick from the fresh jalapeño peppers," Allrecipes user lutzflcat says. "And the fact that this is a slow cooker recipe keeping me out of the hot kitchen at dinner time is a bonus. Served with a splash of vinegar at the table."

• 15 Great Slow Cooker Side Dishes for Easy Summer Cookouts

Israeli Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Balance a rich, dense pulled pork sandwich with a fresh salad. The bright flavors of mint and lemon juice cut through fatty meat dishes.

Magnificent Macaroni Salad

Take a cue from our home cooks and use this top-rated pasta salad as a starting point, then add other ingredients as you please. A few of their favorites: shredded carrots, sliced radishes, chopped celery, peas, black olives, and cubed Cheddar.

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