15 Sides for Pulled Pork Sandwiches Beyond Coleslaw

Move over, coleslaw! There's room for so much more to accompany pulled pork sandwiches, and I have 15 recipes to prove it.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published January 17, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Bowl of Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad With a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl of Seasoning, a Glass of Water, a Bowl of Chives, Stack of Plates With Utensils, and a Blush Table Napkin

Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

Peanut butter and jelly. Strawberries and cream. Pot roast and potatoes. Pulled pork and coleslaw. Some things just go together! I'm not here today to say you can't eat your pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw. I'm here to give you a few options should coleslaw not be in the cards.

Maybe you have some family members who don't like it, you aren't a big fan, or you just had it the other day and want to switch things up tonight. There are 15 tasty options below that will have you second guessing the pulled pork sandwich and coleslaw constellation, and might lead you to a new pairing that fits.

  • Classic Potato Salad

    Side view of homemade potato salad in a white bowl.
    Eliezer Martinez

    "Start the potatoes in cold water. This ensures that they will cook evenly throughout." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

  • Plantain Chips

    Plantain Chips Topped With Salt on the Counter

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "When shopping, look for plantains that are a vibrant green all over. Some brown spots are okay, but they shouldn’t be turning yellow." —Kayla Hoang, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Easy Cucumber Salad

    Fresh & Easy Cucumber Salad

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "English or Persian cucumbers have thin skins which you do not need to peel. Regular market cucumbers may have thicker peels that can be tough and bitter, so it's best to peel those." —Elise

  • Instant Pot Baked Beans

    Pressure Cooker Baked Beans
    Coco Morante

    "This recipe uses an electric pressure cooker. Pressure cooking times will be slightly less if you're using a stovetop pressure cooker." —Coco Morante, Simply Recipes Contributor

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Ranch Potato Salad

    bowl of ranch potato salad, and in the background, a platter wtih more and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "I used Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning (the packet that says “salad dressing”). If you want to use a different brand, such as Trader Joe’s ranch seasoning, add it to taste." —Megan Scott, Simply Recipes Senior Editor

  • Esquites (Warm Mexican Corn Salad)

    Bowl of Esquites Topped with Cilantro, Cotija Cheese, and Ancho Chile Pepper Surrounded by Bowls of Toppings

    Simply Recipes / Susy Villasuso

    "If you can't find cotija cheese, use queso fresco, feta, or even Parmesan cheese." —Susy Villasuso, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar

    Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar in a Bowl Surrounded by Chips

    Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

    "I like to serve this salad with corn chip dippers, which are sturdy enough to hold this hefty dip-slash-side." —Sara Tane, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Jalapeño Cornbread

    A slice of jalapeno cornbread on a plate
    Elise Bauer

    "If using fresh jalapeños, taste test them first. Some jalapeños can be very hot and some can be as mild as bell peppers. If you get scorching chiles, you may want to scale back a bit. If the chiles just aren't hot, add some chile pepper flakes to the batter." —Elise

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Air Fryer Onion Rings

    Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings stacked on a plate with a dipping sauce.
    Nick Evans

    "I would avoid red onions for this recipe; they have too much of a bite to be a good frier onion." —Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Creamy Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

    "I’d recommend using Persian cucumbers for this salad because they’re more flavorful, less watery, and have thinner, smoother skin in comparison to English cucumbers. You can opt to use one large cucumber or several smaller ones." —Sara

  • Trinidadian Boiled Corn

    Trinidadian Boiled Corn in a Pot

    Simply Recipes / Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse

    "Trinidadian boiled corn is usually made with fresh coconut milk, but for convenience canned coconut milk works perfectly. I don’t recommend using light or sweetened coconut milk." —Alicia Ramkirpal-Senhouse, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

    Sweet potato fries on a baking sheet.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

    "For extra caramelization, sprinkle fries with a little sugar before putting in the oven." —Elise

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad

    Bowl of Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad With a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl of Seasoning, a Glass of Water, a Bowl of Chives, Stack of Plates With Utensils, and a Blush Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "This salad is best made an hour or two ahead of time so the flavors can meld in the fridge. It will stay perfectly creamy for up to 4 hours, and still very much edible for a few days." —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Senior Editor

  • Spicy, Citrusy Black Beans

    Spicy Citrusy Black Beans
    Elise Bauer

    "Soaking is optional but will speed up the cooking process. If you soak, discard the soaking liquid after soaking." —Elise

  • Green Chile Mac and Cheese

    Green Chile Mac and Cheese
    Green Chile Mac and Cheese.

    "We used a mixture of hatch, anaheim, and poblano chiles for this dish, but any combination of those you'd like will work. Just remember to taste test the chiles before adding them to the casserole. Even though these are mild green chiles, once in a while you'll get a hot one!" —Elise

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