15 Sides for Pulled Pork Sandwiches Beyond Coleslaw

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

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

Plantain Chips

"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

"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

"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

Ranch Potato Salad

"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)

"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

"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

"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

Air Fryer Onion Rings

"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

"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 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

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

Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad

"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

"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

"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