Quick Answer: What Side Dishes go With Short Ribs?
Some of the mouth-watering side dishes to go with short ribs are— Polenta, Sautéed Mushrooms, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Italian Parmesan Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Caramelized Kimchi, Caprese Quinoa Salad, Potato Salad, French Bread, Roasted Root Vegetables, Broccoli, Macaroni Salad, Fried Plantains, and Noodles.
Here are 16 side dishes that go with short ribs and leave all your guests in awe of your food pairing selection.
Each of these imparts a unique character while accompanying short ribs and makes everyone shamelessly drool.
Short ribs are blissful. No arguments. But to make a whole meal out of them, they require a side dish.
With my experience as a foodie, I have enlisted in this guide, all those side dishes which waltz with the flavors of short ribs and deliver a remarkable satisfaction.
So let’s get to it!
Sides for Short Ribs – Quick Comparison
| Recipe | Total Calories (per 100g) | Total Preparation Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Polenta | 85 | 30 minutes |
| 2. Sautéed Mushrooms | 116 | 15 minutes |
| 3. Mashed Potatoes | 88 | 30 minutes |
| 4. Roasted Carrots | 70 | 40 minutes |
| 5. Brussels Sprouts | 43 | 20 minutes |
| 6. Italian Parmesan Potatoes | 126.8 | 30 minutes |
| 7. Corn on the Cob | 106 | 15 minutes |
| 8. Caramelized Kimchi | 21 | 10 minutes |
| 9. Caprese Quinoa Salad | 106 | 25 minutes |
| 10. Potato Salad | 143 | 25 minutes |
| 11. French Bread | 272 | 90 minutes |
| 12. Roasted Root Vegetables | 60 | 90 minutes |
| 13. Broccoli | 34 | 10-25 minutes |
| 14. Macaroni Salad | 202 | 35 minutes |
| 15. Fried Plantains | 272 | 12 minutes |
| 16. Noodles | 138 | 20 minutes |
1. Polenta
Total calories (per 100g): 85
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
Polenta is an underrated Italian dish.
It’s a north Italian porridge made of ground cornmeal; but unlike oats porridge, it’s not a breakfast item.
Polenta is a gorgeously creamy side dish that is slightly sweet and has a buttery corn flavor.
It tastes heavenly besides a plate of short ribs made with generous flavors of BBQ sauce.
Here is a quick recipe by Serious Eats-
2. Sautéed Mushrooms
Total calories (per 100g): 116
Total preparation time: 15 minutes
The beauty of Sautéed Mushrooms is their versatility. They can be made in a number of ways and will still taste amazing on the side of short ribs.
This side dish is quite delicious with intensified flavors. They are tender and juicy, just like short ribs, and complement the sweet and tangy flavors of BBQ sauce.
Want to impress your guests with your food selection? Go ahead and serve this with short ribs.
Check out this easy recipe by For Us Foodies –
3. Mashed Potatoes
Total calories (per 100g): 88
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
Mashed Potatoes is probably so popular because it is easy to make and incredibly tasty.
Made with simple ingredients of boiled potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper— Mashes Potatoes go well on the side of smoky, saucy short ribs.
The recipe of this dish can be tweaked by adding herbs, seasoning, and spices as per your need.
Here is a tasty recipe by Preppy Kitchen-
4. Roasted Carrots
Total calories (per 100g): 70
Total preparation time: 40 minutes
Fresh carrots, covered in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasted until tender and golden—that my friend is Roasted Carrots for you.
Unlike its simple name, Roasted Carrots are flavor robust and can easily be made to entertain a medium-sized crowd.
Carrots can be roasted with honey or garlic and herbs as well.
It’s a flavor thriving side dish that tangos well with the tender, saucy short ribs.
Check out this easy recipe by Café Delites –
5. Brussels Sprouts
Total calories (per 100g): 43
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
Brussels Sprouts are a healthy side dish for short ribs.
Fresh and crunchy— a number of side dishes can be made with them.
You can have them sautéed, roasted, or as a huge bowl of salad. Their crunchiness complements the tenderness of the short ribs and creates a wholesome meal.
As for flavors, their refreshing taste beautifully brings out the sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors of short ribs.
Here is an easy recipe by Tasty –
6. Italian Parmesan Potatoes
Total calories (per 100g): 126.8
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
A twist on classic roast potatoes— Italian Parmesan Potatoes are a tasty and filling side dish.
Made with garlic, parmesan, and Italian seasonings, this potato side dish will create a powerful meal when paired with short ribs.
Italian Parmesan Potatoes are buttery, cheesy and so flavorful that your guests won’t be satisfied with just one serving.
Check out this yummy recipe by MamaInTheKitchen-
7. Corn on the Cob
Total calories (per 100g): 106
Total preparation time: 15 minutes
Corn on the Cob is a very practical side dish as it is quick and doesn’t require a lot of culinary skills.
Sweet, juicy, and buttery— it’s an iconic side dish for accompanying short ribs on a cookout Sunday or a BBQ Saturday gathering.
You can make this side dish more flavorful by dressing it with butter mixed with roasted garlic or honey and cayenne.
Here is a quick recipe by The Domestic Geek –
8. Caramelized Kimchi
Total calories (per 100g): 21
Total preparation time: 10 minutes
If you are just looking for a dish that will solely enhance the flavors of your short ribs then go with Caramelized Kimchi as a side dish.
If you have seen enough K-dramas, you know how inviting kimchi looks.
Caramelized Kimchi is one level up. It is less sour, more flavorful, and aids the flavor scheme of smoky short ribs.
Check out this zingy recipe by Epicurious- Checkout!
9. Caprese Quinoa Salad
Total calories (per 100g): 106
Total preparation time: 25 minutes
Caprese Quinoa Salad is a colorful and delicious side dish that will light up your meal table.
Usually made with toasted quinoa, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil— each bite of this dish is a flavor bomb.
This salad goes beautifully on the side of short ribs and complements its flavor robust taste and tender texture.
Quick tip: You can skip the cheese if you wish to make it vegan.
Here is a tasty recipe by Clarkstar Culinary –
10. Potato Salad
Total calories (per 100g): 143
Total preparation time: 25 minutes
Potato salad is a must-have at cookouts or barbeque weekends.
A classic recipe of it consists of boiled potatoes, crunchy vegetables, salivating seasoning, hardboiled eggs and topped with a creamy mayo dressing.
It has a creamy and delightful taste with a bit of crunch from vegetables— all these characteristics blend with tender short ribs which have a sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor.
Check out this easy and quick recipe by Inspired Taste-
11. French Bread
Total calories (per 100g): 272
Total preparation time: 90 minutes
French bread is crisp and golden on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside.
Serve it with some butter besides a plate of tender short ribs with generous flavors and have a delightful feast!
DIY recipe—
12. Roasted Root Vegetables
Total calories (per 100g): 60
Total preparation time: 90 minutes
Roasted Root Vegetables are an easy, flavorsome, and colorful vegetable side dish.
Sweet, earthy flavors of root vegetables make them perfect for roasting. With the addition of some spices and garlic, it gets an aromatic smell.
When served on the side of saucy short ribs, they’ll make everyone drool on the table.
DIY recipe—
13. Broccoli
Total calories (per 100g): 34
Total preparation time: 10-25 minutes
Side dishes made from broccoli go well with short ribs.
Broccoli adds a crunch to the tenderness of the short ribs and can be prepared in a number of ways.
Serve it roasted with garlic and lemon, or serve it stir-fried or even as a salad.
DIY recipe—
14. Macaroni Salad
Total calories (per 100g): 202
Total preparation time: 35 minutes
A good Macaroni Salad is something that everyone craves in summertime gatherings.
It is has a mayo dressing that makes it creamy and with added vegetables, like celery and red onions, it has a crunch to it.
Serve it cold with some hot and juicy short ribs.
DIY recipe—
15. Fried Plantains
Total calories (per 100g): 272
Total preparation time: 12 minutes
If you wish to serve something crispy with a soft interior, Fried Plantains go great with short ribs.
They have a crispy, caramelized texture and a sweet taste.
DIY recipe—
16. Noodles
Total calories (per 100g): 138
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
A flavorful and exciting side dish to serve with juicy and tender short ribs— noodles are easy to make and are quite satisfying.
You can serve simple egg noodles, or if you want something spicy, Schezwan noodles are an excellent option.
DIY recipe—
Appetizers That go With Short Ribs
You can start your short ribs meal with something simple like a salad or soup.
Creamy Butternut Squash Soup is recommended. If you wish to go with salad, Roasted Beet, and Quinoa Salad, Broccoli Crunch Salad, and Pasta Salad are good options.
Fried Plantains and Corn on the Cob are excellent options for appetizers too. Roasted Baby Carrots and Sweet and Sour Green beans will also work.
Other appetizer suggestions for short ribs are— Cheeseburger Sliders, Pulled Pork Sliders, Pigs in a Blanket, Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels, and Potato Skins.
Drinks That go With Short Ribs
Wines and short ribs go well with each other and make any meal festive.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon has some of the rich fruit of California wines with a bit more structure, like Bordeaux. This combination makes them a great partner for short ribs.
Southern French Reds offer spicy fruit and coarser tannins that become soft and delicious with heavy dishes like short ribs.
Sangiovese from Tuscany is also a great option.
Cocktail suggestions for short ribs are— Watermelon Margarita, Limoncello Collins, Blue Long Island Ice Tea, Jack Honey and Grapefruit, and Mint Julep.
Mocktails that go with short ribs are— Virgin Pina Colada, Cool Passion Mocktail, Virgin Mojito, and Mai Tai.
Desserts That go With Short Ribs
After having some tender and juicy short ribs, the dessert after it must be light but enjoyable.
If you wish to serve some kind of cake, go with Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Icebox Cake, Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake, and Lime Lemon Poke Cake.
Butterscotch Bars, Lemon Bars, Peanut Butter Bars, Nutella Stuffed Cookies, and Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars are also great dessert options to have after short ribs.
Some fancy dessert suggestions are— Raspberry and Cream Parfait, Peanut Butter Pie, Triple Berry Trifle, Cream Cheese Brownies, and Pina Colada Cupcakes.
To Sum Up
We hope this wholesome guide aided you in your fix of deciding which side dish to serve with short ribs.
If you have any tips or suggestions, please let us know below!
Do share this guide with your friends and family.