The crackling sounds and irresistible smells of a barbecue are the best backdrop to the summer months, whilst catching up with friends and family in the garden. And no barbecue menu is complete without a classic dish of ribs. Sticky, smoky, or sweet, when it comes to the best side dishes for ribs, there’s no end to ideas for delicious pairings. Whether it's pork ribs or beef ribs, cooked in your favorite way, there are multiple side dishes that sit perfectly alongside melt-in-the-mouth barbecue ribs. For our top ribs side dishes, read on below for all the inspiration you need for what to serve with barbecue ribs and options across the board from salads to hearty plates of indulgence.
Baked beans have to be the ultimate comfort food and, what’s more, this dish tastes even more delicious the day after it’s made so it’s a great option for making ahead of time, ready to simply warm and serve once your guests arrive. The trick to getting it spot on is cooking the ingredients together low and slow and letting the flavors combine and take their time to come together. Rich, sweet, and savory, the ingredients list may be long, but the recipe itself is simple to follow. You can also whip-up an American version of the dish or a British version of the dish, depending on the theme of your barbecue. British baked beans tend to be tomato-based, and don’t usually include meat in the recipe. But, as with all of these side dishes, they can be varied and tweaked according to your taste preferences. Some chefs will even add a dash of rum to their baked beans to bring out the flavors and tap into that summertime party feel.
