Easy to make Sides for Ribs for all seasons, so you can enjoy dinners with ribs year-round! There’s a little something for everyone with 40+ recipes, from potato and pasta side dishes to fresh salads and veggies. You’ll also find my menus for all four seasons, plus appetizers and dessert options too!
Ribs are pure comfort food year-round in my book! Tender meat with caramelized BBQ sauce is always welcome!
Everyone has they’re favorite ribs that take a full day to make. But the ones I make the most often are my Oven Baked BBQ Ribs. They’re super easy to make, way faster, and perfect for all your favorite simple side dishes.
Today, I have all my favorite sides in one place, plus menus for four seasons so you can enjoy ribs all year long.
From potato and pasta side dishes to veggies and fresh salads, these easy side dishes for ribs are all you need for your next feast.
Potato Sides for Ribs
- Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Potatoes & Carrots
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes
- Pan-Fried Rosemary Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato
- Mashed Sweet Potato
- Roasted Sweet Potato
Both sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are perfect partners with ribs. In the summer months, I love to serve ribs with my Grilled Potatoes (below) or my mom’s potato salad (coming soon).
In the winter months, any kind of mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes is perfect. My cheesy mashed potatoes are a special favorite because they can be made ahead, and no one ever complains about anything cheesy with ribs.
Pasta Side Dishes for Ribs
If you don’t go with the above potatoes, pasta is also pretty hard to beat. I lean towards creamy/cheesy options like Garlic Parmesan Pasta and Mac & Cheese in the winter months.
But in the summer, any of the pasta salads are incredible with ribs and full of fresh flavor. And they’re a fun departure from the classic American-style macaroni salad.
Fresh Salads
- Apple Spinach Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Easy Green Salad
- Caesar Salad (made w/o the chicken)
- Best of Summer Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Best Broccoli Salad
- Bacon Kale Caesar Salad
- Citrus Spinach Salad
- Cilantro Lime Slaw
A fresh salad is the perfect backdrop to decadent barbecue pork ribs. Choose whatever salad works for the season you’re in.
I love every single salad in this section and just choose whatever is in season. My Cilantro Lime Slaw is a flavorful version to replace the coleslaw I grew up with.
From the Grill
In the height of summer, I like to make side dishes from the grill. Pick any veggie that works with the season to grill along with some grilled potatoes for an understated but no less impressive dinner with ribs.
In the spring, I grill asparagus and onions. In the height of summer, I love grilling peppers, corn, zucchini, and eggplant.
If you’re entertaining, it’s fun to have some snacks and/or sauces as well. Deviled Eggs are always a hit at any gathering, and the 10 toppings make them extra special.
Instead of BBQ sauce to glaze the ribs, try using my Honey Mustard Sauce. Or serve my BBQ ribs with a drizzle of cilantro chimichurri for something different. Both the strawberry salsa and pineapple salsa are so good with ribs.
And of course, if you want the ultimate easy appetizer, try my antipasto or charcuterie boards. There’s no cooking needed, and everyone can snack until dinner is ready.
Or go with the classic ranch and veggies I grew up with. Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli are all great on a platter with fresh zesty ranch to dip in.
FAQ’s
Both carbs and veggies go well with ribs. In the summer, we serve ribs with pasta salad, salads, and a veggie. In the winter, we serve creamy pastas or potatoes, roasted veggies, and a seasonal salad.
A combination of cooking ribs low and slow while keeping them moist, then finishing over higher heat with a brush of BBQ sauce.
Ribs for Dinner Ideas
- Start with: Antipasto – Summer Antipasto – Charcuterie – Deviled Eggs
- Enjoy while snacking: Strawberry Mocktails – Mango Blackberry Mocktails – Cranberry Mocktails – 5 Easy Kombucha Mocktails
- Spring – Oven Baked Ribs + Prosciutto Asparagus + Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Summer – Oven Baked Ribs + Grilled Veggies + Grilled Potatoes + Watermelon Feta Salad
- Fall – Oven Baked Ribs + Mac & Cheese + Easy Green Salad
- Winter – Oven Baked Ribs + Cheesy Mashed Potatoes + Apple Spinach Salad
- Add dessert: Death by Chocolate – Raspberry Ice Cream – Gluten Free Chocolate Cake – Funfetti Cupcakes – Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches
I really hope you enjoy these Sides for Ribs! If you do get a chance to make these recipes, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. And I hope you find the perfect side dish for your next dinner with ribs!