Pulled pork is a classic dish, and it’s not just for barbecue. You can use it in a variety of dishes, including tacos and sandwiches. It’s also great with side dishes like cornbread, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese.
In this article, we’ll talk about side dishes for pulled pork for your next meal!
22 Best Side Dishes For Pulled Pork
1. Baked Beans
Baked beans are a great complement to pulled pork because they’re sweet and hearty, which means they’ll cut through the richness of the meat. You can make them from scratch or buy them pre-made. If you go with the latter, be sure to check the label—some brands use artificial ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. Homemade baked beans are easy to make and can be frozen if you want to make a double batch ahead of time (you can also freeze individual servings).
2. Collard Greens
Collard greens are another popular side dish that goes well with pulled pork because they add texture and nutrients to the mix, along with some sweetness from vegetable broth and vinegar. They’re also easy to make at home—just cook them on low heat until they’re tender then season them up with salt and pepper before serving!
3. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is another popular side dish for pulled pork because it pairs well with other types of meat and adds some crunch to your meal. If you do not have time to make coleslaw from scratch, you can purchase a pre-made version at your local grocery store or restaurant supply store.
4. Sweet Corn Fritters
Sweet corn fritters are a great side dish to serve with pulled pork. The fritters are made with fresh sweet corn, which is healthy and delicious, and they’re fried up to golden brown perfection. They can be served with the meal and also make a great appetizer for your next party!
5. Cornbread
Cornbread is another delicious side dish that goes perfectly with pulled pork. It’s easy to make at home and you can top it with honey or butter for added flavor. The best part about this side dish is that you can use any type of flour you want when making it — whole wheat flour, white flour, etc.
6. Honey Butter Biscuits
These biscuits are tender, flaky, and buttery, but they’re also sweet and savory. For the best results, make them fresh; they’ll go great with your pulled pork.
7. Onion and Tomato Curtido Salad
This salad is a riff on coleslaw but with a Latin twist. It’s salty, sweet, and sour all at once — just like the flavors of pulled pork!
8. Potato Salad
Potato salad is another classic pairing for pulled pork. The vinegar in this version cuts through the richness of the meat while adding an acidic note that cuts through its sweetness as well. This version has bacon in it for added flavor (and because who doesn’t love bacon?).
9. Cornbread Dressing
Cornbread dressing is essentially cornbread baked into stuffing form — perfect for serving alongside roasted meats like pulled pork or turkey during the holidays
10. Macaroni Salad
This recipe is super easy and can be made ahead of time. It’s also the perfect way to use up any leftover macaroni from those boxed dinners you’ve been eating all week. Just toss in some mayo and mustard, along with whatever else sounds good (we like celery and green onions), then stir it up and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it.
11. Cucumber Tomato Salad
This recipe has a lot more going on than just macaroni salad, but it still takes less than 10 minutes to make. Just dice up some cucumbers and tomatoes, toss them together with some salt and pepper, add a little bit of olive oil or onion powder (if you want), then serve!
12. Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is a great way to add some freshness and sweetness to your meal. It can also make a nice side dish for pulled pork sandwiches. You can use just about any combination of fruits that you like, but we recommend using apples, oranges, pears, grapes, and bananas. You can also add other ingredients like raisins or nuts if you want. Just make sure that they are fresh and ripe so that they don’t taste sour or dry.
13. Green Salad
Green salads are another option for side dishes for pulled pork sandwiches. They are easy to make and usually take less than 15 minutes to prepare. You can use any type of greens that you prefer such as lettuce (romaine), spinach, or arugula (rocket leaves). You can also add some other ingredients such as tomatoes, cucumbers, or carrots to give them more flavor and texture!
14. French Fries
French fries are a must-have side for pulled pork. These potatoes, which can be fried or baked, make a great pairing with pulled pork because they’re crispy and salty, which brings out the sweet flavor of the meat.
15. Classic Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is another classic side dish that works well with pulled pork. The rice is cooked with onions and spices and then topped with vegetables like peas and carrots, making it both flavorful and filling.
16. Baked Beans
Beans are a perfect side dish to serve with pulled pork. The beans will soak up the flavor of the meat and give you some extra protein, fiber, and vitamins. You can make baked beans from scratch, but if you’re in a rush, canned beans work just as well.
17. Succotash
Succotash is a classic Southern dish made with corn, lima beans, and tomatoes. It’s a great side for pulled pork because it’s easy to make and goes well with barbecue sauce. You can also add other vegetables like green peas or bell peppers to make your succotash more colorful and nutritious.
18. Air Fryer Onion Rings
I love these because they’re baked in the air fryer, which means they’re healthier than deep-fried onion rings! You can use a large sweet onion as I did here, but if you have small yellow onions on hand, they work great too. These would be amazing with my Homemade Barbecue Sauce!
19. Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad
This fresh salad is great with pulled pork because the flavors compliment each other so well. The cucumbers add a nice crunchy texture that goes well with the softness of the avocado and tomato. This is also a great make-ahead option since it tastes better after sitting in the fridge overnight or longer!
20. Corn Oysters
These little bites taste like cornbread but are easier to make because there’s no need to wait for them to bake in the oven! They make a great appetizer or side dish.
21. Granny Smith Apple Slaw
This fresh spin on traditional coleslaw is perfect with pulled pork sandwiches or as a side dish. It’s also a great way to use up leftover cabbage from your garden!
22. Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese Bites
These cheesy bites are sure to be a hit with everyone at the table! They can be made ahead of time and frozen until you’re ready to serve them. Then just pop them into the oven before serving and let them melt together for about 20 minutes at 350°F (176°C).
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading this article about side dishes for pulled pork.
We learned how to make pulled pork and how to pair it with various sides. We also learned that pulled pork pairs well with many different foods, including potatoes, carrots, corn, and more.
Pulled pork is a great way to enjoy a meal with your friends and family. It is also easy to make at home, so you can enjoy all the benefits of this delicious dish without spending a lot of money on it!
If you have any questions about this topic or want to share your own opinions about it, please leave us a comment below!
