If you are trying to figure out What to Serve with Pulled Pork (or pulled pork sandwiches) for dinner, this list is exactly what you are looking for. Pulled pork is a simple hearty meal that is sauced and can be spicy, sweet, smoky or all of those flavor combinations - the side dish ideas are almost endless.

What To Serve with Pulled Pork 4 images of recipes PN1

For the best recipes that go well with pulled pork, find something new here to fall in love with. The tender pulled pork meat pairs well with all sorts of side dishes that many fellow recipe creators have shared here.

All of these suggested sides work great for all your meal ideas, including parties, potlucks, backyard barbecues, or any pulled pork dinner plan. And make sure you have the right serving size of pulled pork per person so everyone is satisfied.

RECIPE NOTE: this post was originally published March 2021. It has been updated to include a recipe for making smoked pulled pork, storing tips, many NEW recipes & photos, and tips for republishing in 2026. All make this the best new & improved list of the top pulled pork sides!

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Best Sides for Pulled Pork
Types of Sides that Pair Well
Top Side Dishes by The Short Order Cook
Potato or Macaroni Side Dishes
Delicious Slaw & Cabbage Side Dishes
Other Great Side Dishes
Desserts too!
What To Serve with Pulled Pork
Other Recipe Roundups

You can never go wrong with Smoked Pulled Pork for the most tender, juicy, & seasoned meat. One of my favorites is to enjoy 2 sides in 1 easy recipe like a big batch of Italian Green Bean and Potato Salad without Mayo!

Whether you make the pulled pork in your CrockPot, smoker, dutch oven, or on the grill low and slow – all these sides pair well with your meal. Also, jazz up a can of baked beans with these recipe ideas.

Closeup of Pulled pork with bbq sauce on a bun.

Best Sides for Pulled Pork

This is a tasty list of what sides to eat with your BBQ pulled pork plate or pulled pork sandwiches. Many of these side dishes are also great to serve with Boston butt roasts, pork tacos, wraps, pork quesadillas, and barbecue pulled pork sliders.

In reality, all of these sides can be made to eat with any slow-smoked meats like pulled chicken, tri-tip, or baby-back ribs. There is a variety of side dish options that include low-carb, vegan, gluten-free, healthy, and dairy-free. For one that is all those things, try Air Fryer Green Beans & be amazed at how good veggies are.

Types of Sides that Pair Well

To help you decide what to serve with bbq pulled pork, I have broken down the list into some subcategories. So based on your mood, preference, or diet, there is something for everyone. There are healthy salads, slaws, mayo-based salads, vegetables, potatoes, and unique sides. This list includes the best of what to make and serve with pulled pork:

Top Sides by The Short Order Cook & here on the Blog!
Potato or Macaroni Side Dishes
Delicious Slaw & Cabbage Side Dishes
Other Great Sides, Soups, & Salads
Desserts Too!

Top Side Dishes by The Short Order Cook

Here are my favorite sides for serving with pulled pork plates or sandwiches. Try these easy recipes to complete your meal. You will find gluten-free, keto, family-friendly, and healthy sides - along with the classics like fried foods and comfort foods.

Whether you want some crispy sweet potato fries, a simple baked potato cooked in a toaster oven, or a spicy baked beans recipe, you will find so many great recipes here.

Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions

Fire up your skillet and pan-fry some potatoes and onions for a hearty side dish. This easy recipe is ready in 30 minutes & takes only a few ingredients. This southern recipe for seasoned russet potato cubes is a classic American dish great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The potatoes are crispy & fork-tender - plus gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, & dairy-free.

Pan Fried Potatoes & Onions

Potato cubes and onions fried in a skillet.

Toaster Oven Baked Potato

Making baked potatoes in the toaster oven is an easy and delicious way to cook this classic side dish. The skin turns out crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy. If your toaster oven has a convection setting, this baked potato recipe is super quick

Toaster Oven Baked Potato

French Potato Salad

Tender warm herbed potatoes in a Champagne dijon vinaigrette with fresh herbs are bright, tangy, and crowd-pleasing. This is the best potato salad recipe without mayo. It is great for parties, picnics, & BBQs to feed a crowd. A fun summer side dish that's gluten-free, vegan, & dairy-free.

French Potato Salad

Italian Green Bean and Potato Salad

This easy side dish recipe for Italian Green Bean and Potato Salad is a summer favorite. It has fresh veggies and herbs, no mayo. & tons of flavor. Great to serve with grilled or BBQ meats and seafood, sandwiches, & soups. It's gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, & healthy (low-fat).

Green Bean & Potato Salad

Bowl of Italian Green Bean and Potato Salad with vinaigrette and no mayo.

Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries

For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen crinkle-cut french fries in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot, crispy, and yummy with just the right amount of time to cook in the air fryer. Plus delicious dips and seasonings to add for the best air fryer french fries.

Air Fryer Crinkle Fries

Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries recipe card plate with ketchup ready to eat

Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

Homemade deep-fried sweet potato fries are a quick and easy family favorite recipe. This fantastic method to deep fry & season them makes the best appetizer or side dish.

Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

For a comforting side dish, these whipped sweet potatoes really hit the spot. They are fluffy and sweet with a hint of nutmeg. Perfect to serve with Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas roast, Easter Ham, or any family dinner or holiday.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Asian Avocado Peanut Coleslaw

If you want an easy peanutty coleslaw recipe, this Asian avocado peanut coleslaw is the best. This chopped slaw recipe is bursting with fresh vegetables that are dressed in a homemade Asian-inspired dressing that is salty, sweet, and spicy. This slaw is vegan and gluten-free and sure to be one that everyone loves.

Asian Coleslaw

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Tender slow cooker collard greens are perfectly seasoned for a delicious southern side dish. These bacon-cooked greens are tender, rich, and full of flavor. There is no easier recipe.

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

The ultimate easy recipe for Slow Cooker Creamed Corn. This simple dump & go CrockPot side dish is a comforting Southern classic.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Bacon Fried Corn

This easy recipe for bacon fried corn is a Southern classic. Fresh corn off the cob is cooked in the skillet & seasoned for a sweet, salty, & tasty side dish no one can resist. The kernels are cooked in bacon drippings with onion until tender & crisp. It only takes 20 minutes & 4 ingredients to pan-fry this vegetable into your new favorite summer comfort food.

Southern-Style Bacon Fried Corn

Southern cooked Bacon Fried Corn ready in a cast iron skillet.

Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

Creamy macaroni & cheese with caramelized onions & bacon is a classic old-fashioned recipe. The best homemade baked mac and cheese begins with a traditional roux, 3 kinds of cheese & al dente elbow pasta. This family-favorite casserole recipe is creamy, comforting, & simple to make.

Baked Mac & Cheese with Bacon

casserole dish with baked 3 cheese mac and cheese topped with bacon

Deep-Fried Beer-Battered Onion Rings

Onion rings are a classic fried treat that is so easy to make homemade. This beer-battered recipe for onion rings is deep-fried until crispy & crunchy. It's the perfect side dish, snack, or appetizer.

Beer-Battered Onion Rings

Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.

Broccoli Salad with Apples

Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) overhead featured

Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

This simple yet flavorful pesto pasta salad is a summer favorite. The cold tri-color rotini salad with a pesto dressing, tomatoes, & olives is great for a light lunch or a side dish. Using mostly inexpensive pantry staples, this budget-friendly recipe is the best. With Italian & American flavors, serve with BBQ, roasts, grilled chicken, seafood, sandwiches, & soup to complete your meal.

Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

Simple Spinach Salad

Toss together this quick & easy simple spinach salad in just minutes. The crunchy croutons are made from scratch & with a homemade dijon vinaigrette this is the best recipe hands down. It's a fresh & healthy side dish that goes with any meal or enjoy for lunch. Pile on some protein for an entree dinner.

Easy Spinach Salad

Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

This fresh fruit salad with Cool Whip is light, sweet, & creamy. The easy dessert recipe is healthy, refreshing, & a summer favorite. It is perfect to serve at BBQ, cookouts, potlucks, parties, & easy to make a lot to feed a crowd. A holiday favorite at Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, & Labor Day. It is gluten-free, vegetarian, & better for you than classic ambrosia - made without coconut or marshmallows.

Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

Bowl of a fresh fruit salad made with berries, bananas, grapes, & pineapple dressed with Cool Whip topping.

Homemade Pickles with Leftover Pickle Juice

Homemade pickles are so easy to make when you reuse pickle juice or brine for this recipe. In 24 hours quick refrigerator pickles are crisp and ready. Fermentation to turn cucumbers into pickles has never been easier.

DIY Pickles with Leftover Pickle Juice

a jar of pickles with one being removed to eat.

Air Fryer Green Beans

In just 10 minutes, this recipe for crispy air fryer green beans is the best. This simple side dish with few ingredients is quick & easy.

Air Fryer Green Beans

Chicken Broth Rice

For a flavorful 30-minute side, make 3 ingredient chicken broth rice. It's better than using just water, a buttery rich simple recipe. It's a comforting recipe similar to a no pasta/gluten-free Rice-a-Roni copycat. Made in a skillet & not a pot or rice cooker, the toasted rice flavor is the best.

Chicken Broth Rice

Bowl with long grain rice with broth piled high and chopsticks resting on the edge.

Potato or Macaroni Side Dishes

BBQ or smoked pork goes great with potatoes and pasta. These ideas for side dishes are comforting, hearty, and tasty. Pick a fry or salad with potatoes to enjoy. Plus some good old-fashioned macaroni salads or baked with cheese.

Air-Fryer Potato Wedges

Simple, crispy seasoned potato wedges with plenty of parmesan cook up in under 15 minutes and are the perfect side or snack any time, any season! These Air Fryer Potato Wedges are made for more than just burgers!

Air Fryer Potato Wedges

What to Serve with Pulled Pork Air-Fryer-Pototo-Wedges-lemons&zest

Amish Potato Salad

Amish Potato Salad with a tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and smoked paprika.

Amish Potato Salad

Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese

Pepper Jack Mac is creamy, zippy, and filled with ooey-gooey delicious mac and cheese.

Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese

What to Serve with Pulled Pork pepper-jack-mac-and-cheese-cravethegood

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

When it comes to flavor, the combination of butternut squash, three kinds of cheeses, and pasta create classic comfort food and a wonderful taste! Creamy, cheesy goodness abounds in this dish.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

What to Serve with Pulled Pork ButternutSquashMacandCheese1-crinkledcookbook

Classic American Macaroni Salad (Vegan & Gluten-Free!)

The best Classic American Macaroni Salad now with a perfectly gluten-free, vegan, and top 8 allergy-free recipe! Summer isn't complete without this traditional BBQ and grilling cookout essential pasta side dish!

Macaroni Salad

Delicious Slaw & Cabbage Side Dishes

Coleslaw is a traditional recipe served on a pulled pork sandwich or as a side. You can never go wrong with any of these recipes.

Creamy Apple Jicama Slaw

This refreshing apple and jicama slaw makes a crisp and creamy side for sandwiches, tacos and wraps. The tart sweetness of green apple pairs especially well with pork

Jicama Slaw

BBQ Braised Cabbage with Bacon

This side dish is bursting with flavor and is a gorgeous color. It is an amazing side dish for pulled pork that everyone will love.

Braised Cabbage

Creamy Vegan Coleslaw

This Vegan Coleslaw is a lightened-up version of the classic we all love. It's mayo-free, yet it's still so rich, creamy, and tangy. It'll be a hit at your next barbeque, picnic, or potluck!

Vegan Coleslaw

Easy Healthy Quinoa Cabbage Salad

This hearty quinoa salad is so easy to make and a wonderful side dish for any BBQ. The homemade dressing and crunchy carrots and sunflower seeds make this a must-have side for your next pulled pork meal.

Quinoa Cabbage Salad

What to Serve with Pulled Pork easy-cabbage-salad-recipe thriftyfrugalmom

Other Great Side Dishes

Beans, salads, and more finalize this list of great recipes. It will be hard to pick which ones to make but I have my eye on the chipotle beans - spicy, savory, & sounds so good with any slow-cooked meat.

Chipotle Baked Beans

These Chipotle Baked Beans are the ultimate side dish packed with flavor! Wow, a must-try!

Chipotle Baked Beans

Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad

This roasted sweet potato salad is nourishing and refreshing, with a dressing full of Moroccan spices and flavor.

Sweet Potato Salad

Charred Corn Couscous Salad with Feta

Charred corn couscous salad makes a tasty light meal or side dish! I used whole wheat couscous to increase fiber; however, quinoa, rice, or any other favorite grain will work too for a gluten-free option.

Corn Couscous Salad

Simple Summer Panzanella

This essential Italian Summer side dish is filled with pieces of tasty sourdough bread, juicy Summer tomatoes, and, of course, some mozzarella cheese balls. It makes the perfect side dish for Labor Day, a Summer BBQ, or family get-together.

Panzanella

Desserts too!

A meal of pulled pork is savory and satisfying. But if you are like me you crave something sweet at the end of a great BBQ meal.

Here are my favorite desserts to serve along with any kind of grilled, smoked, or barbecued meats, especially pulled pork. This includes southern dessert favorites like cobbler and peanut butter pie.

Southern Peach Pound Cake

Homemade sweet & fresh southern peach pound cake is a wonderful summer dessert. A classic loaf pound cake recipe with loads of fresh diced peaches puts this over the top.

Southern Peach Pound Cake

North Carolina Lemon Pie

The sweet-tart combo of North Carolina lemon pie has a saltine cracker crust with a creamy lemon curd filling all topped with fresh whipped cream. Enjoy a big cold slice of this chilled pie all summer. This Southern classic dessert is a copycat of the famous Atlantic Beach pie from Crooks' Corner in Chapel Hill. This easy pie bakes in just 30 minutes and is a great make-ahead recipe.

North Carolina Lemon Pie

Easy 4-Ingredient Key Lime Pie

This easy 4-ingredient key lime pie recipe is a slice of heaven. The creamy filling is tart, sweet, tangy, & the perfect summer dessert.

Easy 4-Ingredient Key Lime Pie

Graham cracker crust filled with key lime pie filling and topped with whipped cream on a plate with a fork.

Graham Cracker Crust Sweet Potato Pie

This fun version of a Southern classic dessert has a modern twist. Instead of an old-fashioned pie crust, made this recipe for sweet potato pie with a graham cracker crust. The crispy texture & cinnamon honey flavor paired with a creamy rich pie filling is heavenly. A wonderful fall or autumn holiday recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Graham Cracker Sweet Potato Pie

Graham Cracker Crust Sweet Potato Pie Slice plated with dollop of whipped cream

Raspberry Cream Jell-O Pie

This easy no-bake dessert is a summer favorite. The 3-ingredient JellO pie is creamy, cool, & sweet. Serve slices cold after chilling in the fridge overnight. This foolproof recipe will set, slice easily, & can be made with any flavor of gelatin. Best make ahead treat for birthday parties & BBQ cookouts.

Raspberry Cream Jell-O Pie

Strawberry Peach Cobbler

Homemade peach and strawberry cobbler made in a cast-iron skillet is a classic American recipe. Fresh fruit and a biscuit topping make this the best old-fashioned dessert. It is easy to make all in one pan from stovetop to oven. Top with ice cream for cobbler ala mode - the best summer dessert ever!

Strawberry Peach Cobbler

Old-Fashioned Skillet Peach & Strawberry Cobbler featured overhead of skillet for recipe card

Easy Blueberry Cobbler

This simple old-fashioned recipe for blueberry cobbler is so easy. It has a classic southern biscuit topping & fresh blueberries bursting with the perfect sweet tart combination. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for the best summer dessert.

Easy Blueberry Cobbler

Plate of blueberry cobbler made from scratch with biscuit topping & served a la mode.

Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler

For the easiest recipe, this Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler is a fun twist on a Southern dessert classic. The fluffy topping is a great timesaver versus a traditional biscuit crust. It pairs perfectly with the fresh fruit filling in a yummy freshly-baked treat to enjoy in summer or any season. Serve warm with the icing drizzle plus add whipped cream or ice cream for a decadent idea. Makes a good brunch or breakfast casserole too.

Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler

Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream

This homemade chocolate ice cream has double the marshmallow fun. The ice cream is loaded with swirls of gooey marshmallow fluff and tons of soft mini marshmallows too. It's rich, sweet, chewy, creamy, & over-the-top amazing. It's like rocky road without the nuts & no one can resist it.

Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream

Peaches and Cream Ice Cream

The ultimate summer fruit dessert is this homemade peaches and cream ice cream recipe. Swirls of fresh peach puree in vanilla ice cream are creamy & sweet. Make this ice cream from scratch in your Cuisinart or other brand machine for a freshly churned smooth & cold treat. Gluten-free, nut-free, & real cream & sugar - no additives.

Peaches & Cream Ice Cream

Grilled Pineapple Sundaes

Rum raisin caramel sauce drizzled over ice cream and grilled pineapple is the boozy tropical treat to enjoy all summer. This dessert is the best for BBQ backyard cookouts & pool parties.

Rum Raisin Ice Cream Sundes

No-Bake Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie

Easy recipe for the best No-Bake Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie. A simple dessert great for hot summer days. It's creamy, cool, sweet, & yummy. The chocolate and peanut butter freezer pie with Cool Whip & cream cheese is a slice of heaven.

Frozen Oreo Peanut Butter Cup Pie

Frozen No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie in a Oreo cookie crust on a plate topped with Reeses cjp

Keto Chocolate Mousse with Sugar-Free Pudding

For an easy low-carb chocolate mousse that is thick, rich, and decadent, this recipe is the best. With just 2 ingredients and ready in minutes, this is the quickest keto dessert recipe.

2 Ingredient Keto Chocolate Mousse

Easy Low-Carb Chocolate Mousse glass dessert cup filled ready to eat

Fresh Strawberry Mousse Parfait

Fresh strawberry mousse is an easy parfait dessert. It’s light and healthy with mounds of yummy berry whipped cream and puree layer making for a great no-bake recipe.

Strawberry Mousse Cups