8 Classic Sides To Complement Pork Spare Ribs

If you’re looking for something delicious to serve with pork spare ribs, look no further than this list of mouth-watering sides.

There are many traditional recipes to please everyone at your table.

So fire up the grill and get cooking – your perfect meal is only a few clicks away!

What are pork spare ribs?

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Pork spare ribs are a popular cut of pork that is located in the belly side of the hog, below the back ribs.

They have more bones than meat, which gives them more flavor and is perfect for a summer barbecue.

Pork spare ribs are relatively flat, therefore, it is easier to cook the whole rib on the grill or smoker.

Normally, this cut of pork is marinated in a flavorful sauce (often BBQ sauce) for at least hours prior to cooking to allow all the mouth-watering flavors to penetrate into the meat.

The resulting dish should have a beautiful caramel color, a tender texture, and an incredibly flavorful taste.

What to consider when choosing a side dish to serve with pork spare ribs?

There are some things that you should keep in mind when choosing a good side dish to accompany pork spare ribs.

And here we mentioned the two most important tips that make sure that your decision is always right:

Pork spare ribs go well with a Southern side

The first thing you should consider is to go with a Southern side dish to accompany pork spare ribs.

BBQ pork spare ribs are actually a favorite Southern thing too, therefore, what is better than serving them with another dish from this cuisine?

Pork spare ribs should be served with something milder in flavor

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a side dish for pork spare ribs is to serve them with something that has a milder flavor.

Pork spare ribs are often packed with a bold and flavorful taste, so it is great to be paired with something bland or mild in flavor to soak up the rich sauce of this main dish.

8 best side dishes to serve with pork spare ribs

The following eight side dish recipes will help complement your pork spare ribs and satisfy your taste buds without any fuss.

Check out to see which one attracts you the most:

1.     Mac and cheese

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Let’s start the list with mac and cheese, a classic combination of macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce.

This dish can be done quickly at home or bought from any grocery store.

Processed mac and cheese only needs to be microwaved, then you can have a delicious side dish to enjoy with pork spare ribs in no time.

2.     Baked beans

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You can serve your pork spare ribs with baked beans, true comfort food that has existed in every American kitchen for centuries.

Black beans are slow-cooked until they are tender and have a sweet earthy flavor.

They are also available in the store-bought version that can be served immediately.

3.     Corn on the cob

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A Mexican staple can now appear on your table as a great side dish for pork spare ribs, no matter how this meat cut is cooked.

Corn on the cob, or Mexican street corn, is a buttery and delicious dish that goes well with many meat-based dishes.

This dish is also very simple to make without breaking your budget.

4.     Corn fritters

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One more corn-based side dish to go along with pork spare ribs is corn fritters.

The crispy pastries that are loaded with corn kernels will definitely satisfy your taste buds.

The sweet flavor of corn is just enough to offset the savory taste of pork spare ribs instead of turning your meal into a sweet party.

5.     Pasta

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What about a plate of pasta on the side of pork spare ribs?

Pasta comes in plenty of shapes and sizes, so there are many options for you to choose from.

Normally, boiled pasta is just enough to accompany pork spare ribs as it can absorb the delicious and sticky sauce of BBQ pork spare ribs.

If you want something more adventurous and flavorful, sauteed pasta with some garlic and cheese will be great too. 

6.     Collard greens

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Another option that goes well with pork spare ribs is collard greens.

This combination will be so Southern and classic because they are both staples of this cuisine.

Collard greens are affordable and nutritious, and unlike other cuisines, they are often slow-cooked in the United States.

Canned collard greens are also very popular here, therefore, you can even have a good accompaniment to enjoy with pork spare ribs without any time and effort in the kitchen.

7.     Steamed green beans

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Steamed green beans are healthy, delicious, and easy to make.

They are low in calories and fat while being high in fiber and nutrients, which makes them a perfect choice to accompany pork spare ribs that are relatively high in calories and fat.

Green beans do not only help balance your meal in flavor but also in appearance because the vibrant green color of this veggie is in contrast to the beautiful and attractive brown color of pork spare ribs when cooked.

8.     Fruit salad

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The last option to serve with pork spare ribs is a fruit salad.

There are many types of fruits that are great for making salads, such as berries, grapes, apples, mangoes, avocados, or pineapples.

You can add to the mixture whatever you like, from vegetables to meat or seafood, and a delicious dressing to achieve a complete salad that can elevate your savory pork spare ribs.

The bottom line

As of now, you can see that there are a variety of side dishes that are perfect on the side of pork spare ribs.

But with so many delicious options to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one to make.

We highly recommend you to try all of these eight side dishes every time you serve pork spare ribs on your meal to figure out the best recipe that satisfies the whole family.