While pulled pork or brisket might be the focus of your next bbq or cookout, there’s nothing like Southern BBQ sides to transform your party. Read on for 34 great ideas!

The Best BBQ Sides
With Memorial Day just around the corner, there’s nothing like bbq to celebrate the summer season. Depending on what area of the country you’re from, you might be serving pulled pork, brisket, chicken or burgers and hot dogs.
Whatever the main course or type of barbecue sauce, I’ve gathered together 34 of some delicious Southern BBQ sides so you can choose the perfect side dish for your next barbecue. There are a few classics but also some with a twist. All easy recipes so you can have some great options.
What type of meat should you serve for a bbq?
A traditional bbq, in North Carolina, is going to include pulled pork. It serves a crowd and you can serve it by itself or on slightly sweet Hawaiian roll.
If pork’s not your thing, everyone loves grilled chicken especially with an apricot glaze glaze bbq sauce. Or you can go simple with burgers and hot dogs.
Of course if you want to smoke a brisket or cook one in the slow cooker, it’s another great choice for a cook out.
BBQ Sides FAQs
The general rule is a half a pound per person but that will depend on the type of meat and how many sides you are serving. I’ve got everything you need to know to calculate in my planning guide.
While they all look amazing, you’re going to have to choose. Start with an appetizer and add one starchier side, like mac and cheese or potato salad, and one more veggie based side dish. If you’re not serving your bbq on a bun, then there’s always room for rolls or biscuits or cornbread.
No bbq is complete without dessert. I like one that can be made ahead of time. It can be a simple as brownies or wow your friends with a strawberry poke cake.
Traditionally you’ll find cole slaw, baked beans, classic potato salad, hush puppies and banana pudding. I’ve given you lots more to choose from.
Southern BBQ Sides Recipes
Regardless of what type of meat you want to serve, delicious sides can really shine at a bbq. While I love meat, sides are my favorite whether it’s a bbq or Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve included some family favorites that I make over and over again and also some truly Southern staples from some of my favorite bloggers.
Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (Southern)
Pineapple Baked Beans
Southern-Style Green Beans
Fried Apples
Southern Collard Greens
Creamed Corn Casserole
Lobster mac and cheese
Southern Creamed Corn
Fried Okra
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Fried Green Tomatoes
Southern Sides for a BBQ: Salads
Corn and Cucumber Salad
Loaded Ranch Potato Salad with Bacon
Fluffy Sweet Pink Salad
Black-Eyed Peas
Strawberry Asparagus Salad
Classic 7 Layer Pea Salad
Classic Southern Coleslaw
Best BBQ Sides: Southern Bread
Any cookout or bbq needs some bread to go with the saucy flavors from your main course. You don’t want cold bread so see how you can keep rolls warm using a slow cooker.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Hawaiian Rolls
Brown Butter Cornbread
Hush Puppies
Southern BBQ Side Dishes: Starters and Drinks
While everyone is gathering, start out with some amazing appetizers and some refreshing drinks.
Deviled Eggs
Bread and Butter Pickles
Fried Oyster Crackers
Cajun Boiled Peanuts
Chick-fil-a Lemonade
Homemade Pink Lemonade
Southern Sweet Tea
Southern Sides for BBQ: Desserts
The best part about any bbq or cookout is ending with a delicious dessert, and no Southern cook would let her guests leave without something sweet. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, you could make something as simple as a brownie. For a pulled pork bbq the classic Southern dessert will be a Peach Cobbler or Banana Pudding.
However, I prefer a sheet pan cake like a chocolate poke cake or a strawberry poke cake. Both are so moist and will feed a crowd, great if you have unexpected guests drop in. Here are a few more ideas to finish off your meal.
Best Blueberry Cobbler Recipe
Peppermint White Chocolate Ice Cream
Banana Pudding
Cherry Pie Bar
Strawberry Poke Cake
Now comes the hard part, trying to choose what to make! I try to choose as many make ahead things as I can, then you can just focus on the meat and enjoy yourself the day of the get together.
Barbecue is the most American food. There are numerous regional variations including the Memphis sticky ribs and Central Texas smoked brisket, along with Kansas City’s burnt ends and the Carolinas vinegar and mustard-sauced meats. But there’s more to the iconic cuisine than meets the eye.
I love to try all them all when I travel to those regions of the country.