Pulled pork is a delicious main dish any time of year, but especially as we get into summer! So today I wanted to share some tasty pulled pork sides that pair super well (and are easy to make)!
From sweet potato fries to white bean slaw and quinoa salad, these side dishes are all great options to serve with pulled pork at your next potluck BBQ!
The Best Side Dishes for Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is popular not only because it’s tasty, but also because it’s mostly hands-off when it comes to cooking it. (My Instant Pot pork roast is even quicker!). Fortunately, that gives you time to whip up a delicious side dish or two!
Here’s some recipe inspiration for what to make:
These spiced sweet potato fries are delicious paired with pulled pork, and are super easy to make! Just slice, toss with seasoning, and bake until crispy.
The cumin adds a lovely smoky flavor that really makes these stand out!
Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Feta
Stuffed mushrooms are a popular side dish, and for good reason! These are piled high with goodness, including spinach, artichokes, white beans, feta, and sun dried tomatoes.
Then, they’re topped with parmesan and baked to golden perfection. For a mini appetizer-friendly version, try stuffing the ingredients into baby bella mushrooms instead of Portobello mushrooms.
This veggie-packed pasta salad is tossed in a flavorful, zesty Italian dressing for the perfect summery side.
Cucumbers, artichokes, olives, cherry tomatoes, arugula, shallots, and fresh mozzarella pair with cooked pasta to make up this tasty dish!
This is one of my absolute faves all year round – it makes great leftovers for a packed lunch, too.
Apple Cabbage Slaw with White Beans
What better to pair with pulled pork than tangy coleslaw?! Crunchy apples adorn this red cabbage slaw with white beans, all tossed in a delicious apple cider vinaigrette.
Sunflower seeds add an extra crunch and light nutty flavor, too!
Sauteed String Beans with Garlic & Lemon
This super easy veggie side dish only takes a few minutes to make (but is also fancy enough for a holiday gathering)! Garlic and lemon zest add tons of flavor to these quick sautéed string beans.
This unique take on coleslaw is totally delicious and reduces waste by using leftover watermelon rinds! It’s perfect for summer, with plenty of refreshing crunch.
Quinoa & Grains
Lemony Quinoa Salad with Spinach
This quinoa salad comes together in a snap, with fresh herbs and bright lemony flavor. Kidney beans and feta cheese add staying power and extra flavor!
Curried Chickpea Salad with Barley
This curried chickpea and barley salad is perfectly spiced, with curry powder, lemon, and garlic, and so easy to make.
It’s vegan and dairy free, too, but tastes deliciously cheesy thanks to the nutritional yeast!
Mushroom Quinoa (Vegan)
This creamy quinoa side dish is packed with sautéed mushrooms, kale, and baby bok choy. This would pair wonderfully with any main – including pulled pork!
Mediterranean Bulgur Salad with Lemon Mint Vinaigrette
This side dish features Mediterranean flavors like lemon, mint, and salty feta cheese. Bulgur is a quick-cooking whole wheat grain, too, so it’s healthy and doesn’t take very long to make!
This is one of my favorite pulled pork sides for summer; it’s refreshing, easily portable, and colorful. 🙂
Salads
Crunchy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This crunchy salad with broccoli, cauliflower, and pumpkin seeds is dressed in a tangy yogurt sauce for ultra creaminess. Grapes add a nice hint of sweetness, too.
And there’s no cooking required!
This shredded brussels sprouts salad is especially perfect for fall and winter. It’s packed with crunchy apples, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries (for a bit of sweet tartness), all topped with shaved parmesan and tossed in a lemon garlic mustard dressing.
Even if you aren’t a fan of brussels sprouts, you should try this tasty side! It just might convert you into a sprout lover. 🙂
Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad with Peaches
This side salad just screams summer, with juicy peaches, plump heirloom tomatoes, shallots, basil, and creamy fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s essentially a caprese salad, but with a lovely sweetness from the peaches.
So quick to throw together, and no cooking required!
Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpea Croutons (Vegan)
This caesar salad gets an upgrade with a bed of massaged kale, crunchy pepitas (pumpkin seeds), and roasted chickpeas for the “croutons.” Plus, it’s vegan and gluten free, so everyone can enjoy it!
The creamy dairy-free dressing is super flavorful. To make it, all you need to do is toss the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and whirl away!
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There you have it: some of my favorite sides to serve with pulled pork! I hope you find something you love in this list. 🙂
What are your favorite side dishes to serve/enjoy with pork? Let me know in the comments!
