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!
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.
FAQ’s for your next bbq
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 Sides
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
This Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Poole’s Diner is a Southern classic with a creamy base and crusty cheese topping. No bells and whistles, just pasta, cream and cheese. Comfort food at its BEST.
Pineapple and Bacon Baked Beans
A baked beans recipe (from South Your Mouth) with a Hawaiian twist made with sweet pineapple and smoky bacon or ham!
Southern Style Canned Green Beans
The trick to making perfectly cooked Southern-style green beans with canned beans (from South Your Mouth) the beans don’t fall apart but taste like they’ve cooked all day.
Fried Apples
Slowly cooked in browned butter and sugar, fried apples are an incredible Southern side that’s easy enough to make on a weeknight. This Cracker Barrel copycat recipe for caramelized apples will melt in your mouth.
Southern Collard Greens Recipe
These authentic Southern Collard Greens (from Grandbaby Cakes) are braised in a savory meat flavored and perfectly spiced pot liquor resulting in an amazing tender silky texture!!! Serve with this cornbread or corn muffins and hot sauce for a true down home meal. Looking for the real deal? This is a true Southerner’s dream!
Sweet Creamed Corn Casserole
This stupid easy Creamed Corn Casserole recipe (from The Food Charlatan) is made with a store bought Jiffy cornbread mix, and that’s not an apology. It is SO good! If you grew up with this Thanksgiving side dish you know what I’m talking about. It is creamy, corny, custardy, and sweet.
Lobster Mac & Cheese
Lobster Mac and Cheese is one of the most comforting dishes loaded with cheesy goodness, chunks of lobster meat, and al dente pasta. This dish is baked to perfection to achieve that cheesy goodness top. An absolute decadent meal, perfect for a fancy date night or simply as a treat to make an ordinary day feel extra special!
Southern Creamed Corn
Made with fresh corn, this Southern Creamed Corn (from Dude That Cookz) strikes the perfect balance of sweetness. It’s ideal for dinner and family gatherings and will surely impress. Plus, it’s made entirely on the stovetop making this an easy dish that is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Southern Fried Okra
No summer is complete without a few batches of homemade fried okra (from Spicy Southern Kitchen), dredged in flour and fried until golden. These fried nuggets with hints of green peeping through are so delicious, there’s no need to add anything to them except a light dusting of salt.
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
If you’re on the hunt for a casserole that blows all other casseroles out of the water, you’ve come to the right place. Sure, mashed potatoes are fine on their own, but they couldn’t hold a candle to this Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole. (from The Anthony Kitchen)
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes (from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen) are a time-honored Summer tradition in the South. Unripened tomatoes are coated with a perfectly seasoned cornmeal breading and fried until crispy and golden. They’re like slices of gold.
Southern Salads
Corn and Cucumber Salad
Jazz up your Summer salad menu with a Corn and Cucumber Salad. The light and healthy mixture of veggies along with a creamy yogurt, mayo and dill dressing will satisfy any palate when the warm weather hits.
Ranch Potato Salad
Ranch potato salad loaded with bacon, cheese and a sour cream ranch dressing is just what you need for a summer potluck. This red potato salad with crispy bacon is too good to pass up.
Pink Salad
If you want to make a nice fluffy sweet pink salad (from Southern Eats & Goodies), this will do it. It has fruit and just the right amount of fluff to make it super tasty.
Black Eye Pea Salad
Black-Eyed Peas (from The Anthony Kitchen) are bursting out of their comfort food tradition in a gorgeous, healthy salad loaded with light and refreshing ingredients.
Strawberry Asparagus Salad
Capture everything delicious about spring with this fresh and vibrant Strawberry Asparagus Salad recipe (from Southern Discourse) with an easy balsamic vinaigrette! Ideal for Easter, Mother’s Day, cookouts or as a light meal, this gorgeous seasonal salad is as pretty as it is tasty!
Classic 7 Layer Pea Salad
Bright & crisp, Classic 7 Layer Pea Salad (from Southern Discourse) wows with pops of green peas, salty bacon, cubed cheddar, lettuce, tomato and green onions all topped with a creamy dressing! Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, holidays and even family meals, this easy salad is as pretty as it is tasty!
Classic Southern Coleslaw
Classic Southern Coleslaw (from House of Yumm). This quick and easy recipe comes together in minutes using only a handful ingredients. The cold, tangy flavors are perfect for pairing with some smokey BBQ meats.
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
It’s hard to beat a warm, tender buttermilk biscuit straight from the oven. Learn how to make homemade biscuits from scratch that will become a family favorite you’ll turn to again and again.
Sweet Pineapple rolls
Hawaiian Rolls have just a hint of sweetness and are so so fluffy. EASY to make and perfect every time. The BEST yeast rolls you’ll ever make.
Southern Cornbread
Southern cooking at its best with Brown Butter Cornbread baked in a skillet using fresh corn and sour cream. Make it sweet with something unexpected. A guaranteed crowd pleaser and great for summer cookouts or winter chili.
Hush Puppies
If you have never tried Homemade Hush Puppies, now is the time. They are not hard to make from scratch, and trust me, you’ll love this recipe!
Southern Starters and Drinks
While everyone is gathering, start out with some amazing appetizers and some refreshing drinks.
Best Deviled Eggs
This recipe details the best deviled eggs ever (from Pip and Ebby). An American classic known for their appearances at summer potlucks and Easter dinner!
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles
This recipe for homemade bread and butter pickles (from Sugar and Soul) is easy, delicious, and doesn’t require canning. Just 20 minutes of prep and let your refrigerator do the rest of the work!
Fried Oyster Crackers
Whether you love to snack on oyster crackers straight from the bag or use them as a topping for your favorite soups, bisques and chowders, these easy (and delicious) fried seasoned oyster crackers are for you. (from Garlic and Zest) They’re super crunchy, golden and lightly seasoned. Use pantry staples for the simple spice blend and bring these bite-sized beauties a whole new level.
Instant Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts
Spicy and salty, cajun boiled peanuts (from Basil & Bubbly) are the perfect summertime snack. Making them in the Instant Pot is MUCH faster than traditional methods, and they turn out perfectly tender each time.
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Lemonade
Copy Cat Chick-fil-a Lemonade recipe (from Eating On A Dime) is so refreshing and incredibly simple to make. Enjoy your favorite lemonade at home for a fraction of the price in just minutes!
Homemade Pink Lemonade
With just a few simple ingredients, this Homemade Pink Lemonade (from The Country Cook) is the perfect, sweet and refreshing drink to cool you down this summer!
Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
This Southern Sweet Tea recipe (from Add A Pinch) is smooth, sweet, and delicious! It includes tried-and-true tips for how to make sweet tea that everyone loves! Includes Sweet Tea Concentrate!
Southern 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.
Blueberry Cobbler
A Southern blueberry cobbler topped with biscuits is the perfect way to showcase delicious summer blueberries. A hint of lime and coconut put these over the edge. Use fresh or frozen blueberries for an easy, no fail dessert you can prepare in no time.
White Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream
A Peppermint + creamy white chocolate = ice cream heaven! (from Kickass baker) These two flavors combine to create a divinely refreshing, smooth frozen treat perfect for the winter holidays.
Banana Pudding
This Banana Pudding (from The Country Cook) is a no-cook recipe made with sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, pudding, fresh bananas and Nilla wafers!
Cherry Pie Bars
This is cherry pie made into an easy recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite! With a golden brown crust and loads of cherry flavor, this Cherry Pie Bar recipe (from Kickass Baker) is one delicious dessert.
Strawberry Poke Cake
Loaded with fresh strawberry sauce and a cream cheese frosting, this easy Strawberry Jam Cake will be your new go-to dessert for potlucks and gatherings. It’s so much better than a traditional strawberry poke cake, you’ll never go back to Jello again!
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.