Your quick guide to the best sides for brisket! A delicious and juicy brisket deserves the perfect sides to complement its big flavors. Whether you’re looking for classic dishes or unique and creative options, we’ve got you covered on what to serve with brisket.
Brisket is a staple on barbecue menus. As wonderful as smoked brisket is by itself, it’s really the sides that bring it all together and make for the most memorable meal. Sides that complement the smoky, super-rich flavors are. Classics like coleslaw, potato salad and pickled red onions deserve a spot on the table every time. Lighter salads and veggie sides add some healthy nutrition to the spread.
A Few Tips for Throwing the Best BBQ
- Use butcher paper as your tablecloth. It’s super fun and you can even write right on it for the buffet table and make cool signs. Or give the kids crayons.
- Provide plenty of napkins or just bring out the roll of paper towels. Things are going to get messy. Make some DIY wet wipes with lemon to clean hands after a messy meal.
- Batch a signature cocktail. Try this classic whiskey sour or a mezcal margarita which is great with smoked meat.
- Don’t do too much. A few sides is really all you need to go along with the main attraction, which in this case is brisket.
- It’s all in the prep. Start early and even smoke your brisket overnight. Make sides the day before. They are usually easy to store in the fridge and re-heat when you need them.
- Give away the leftovers – Pick up some to-go containers so your guests can bring something home with them.
Now let’s get to the sides!
Classic Side Dishes For Brisket
Here are some classic sides that pair perfectly with juicy, smoky flavorful brisket.
Creamy Coleslaw
Enhance your brisket experience with a beautifully delicious, bright, fresh, and zesty creamy coleslaw salad. This perfect balance of crunchy, creamy, and sweet is a must-try dish that will leave you craving for more.
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Classic American Potato Salad
Indulge in the perfect creamy, tangy, and well-balanced potato salad that perfectly complements your brisket. Made with love and delicious potatoes, this classic American potato salad recipe is one that you won't be able to stop eating.
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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Indulge in the tropical flavors of our rich and creamy Hawaiian macaroni salad, complete with a refreshing crunch of crisp veggies. Perfectly paired with brisket, this classic side dish is a must-try for any BBQ or potluck event.
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Pickled Red Onions
Elevate the flavor of your brisket with the bright and delicious taste of pickled red onions. Quick and easy to make with just 5 minutes of prep, these beautifully bright onions are ready in just 30 minutes.
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Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Sauce
This amazing homemade BBQ sauce is the perfect complement to your brisket (if using sauce on brisket is something you believe in). It's surprisingly easy to make and adds a delicious flavor to your meat.
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Baked Beans
No BBQ or potluck is complete without a classic side of sweet, smoky, and bacon-y baked beans. This essential side dish pairs perfectly with your favorite brisket, or any comfort food for that matter. Ready to devour in just 90 minutes, our easy-to-follow baked beans recipe is sure to impress.
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Bread and Butter Pickles
Transform cucumbers into delectable sweet & tangy bread and butter pickles that are perfect for snacking or adding to brisket sandwiches. These pickles can be canned for later or stored conveniently in the fridge.
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Unique and Creative Sides
Elevate your BBQ menu with some unique and creative side dishes that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
Grilled Corn Salad
Take your corn game to the next level with a mouthwatering grilled corn salad. Loaded with fresh veggies and zesty flavors, this salad or salsa is perfect as a side dish for your brisket or as a standalone snack with corn tortilla chips. It's really great in brisket tacos.
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Blistered Shishito Peppers
A quick and delicious appetizer or side dish that adds a little spicy side of brisket. Try blistered Shishito Peppers, ready in just 5 minutes. These peppers are super tasty and highly addictive, so be prepared to want the whole bowl to yourself!
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Crispy Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
A delicious and easy-to-make side dish that's crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside. These smashed fingerling potatoes make the perfect accompaniment to your juicy brisket.
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Smoked Mac and Cheese
Creamy, easy to make and OMG good. This recipe from Girls Can Grill is one you want to try!Recipe photo and link to Girls Can Grill
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Scalloped Potatoes
This classic and indulgent scalloped potato recipe features thinly sliced potatoes layered with a rich and creamy sauce made of milk, cheese, and butter and infused with thyme. Baked to golden perfection, these potatoes are a definite "wow" when paired with smoky brisket for dinner.
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Simple Sautéed Corn
This simple sautéed corn recipe is the perfect solution for brisket and a summer party. Sweet, crunchy, and delicious with just 4 ingredients, this dish is ready in just 5 minutes of cooking. Give it a try and taste the sweetness of this classic side dish.
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Smoked Baked Beans
Take your baked beans to the next level with our smoky and delicious smoked baked beans recipe. Perfectly balanced between smoky, sweet, and a little zesty, this dish is an essential side for any BBQ or potluck event. Plus, it's super easy to make and even more delicious to eat.
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Chimichurri Sauce
This easy-to-make Chimichurri Sauce Recipe has the most wonderful fresh flavor and a fantastic contrast to the smoked meat and other BBQ sauces!
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Grilled Potatoes
Grilling potatoes is the perfect way to round out a meal on the grill. Cooking them outside along with the brisket is a great pairing. You can even use them to make potato salad.
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Super Easy Cucumber Salad
Cool down that hot brisket and spicy sides with a light and refreshing cucumber salad. It's easy, beautiful and tasty.
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Grilled Broccolini
A healthy and flavorful side dish to complement smoked brisket. Grilled Broccolini, featuring tender broccolini tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then grilled to perfection. Finished with charred grilled lemon and shaved Parmesan, this dish is both delicious and nutritious.
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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Air fryer baked potatoes deliver restaurant-worthy results in a fraction of the time. Enjoy light & fluffy insides with irresistibly crispy skin, perfect for all your favorite toppings.
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German Potato Salad
Looking for a savory and smoky side to pair with your brisket? Look no further than this flavorful German potato salad. Packed with smoky bacon and finished off with fresh green onions, this dish strikes the perfect balance between creamy potatoes, rich bacon, and tangy dressing.
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Green Bean + Bacon Salad
This green bean and bacon salad with walnuts is a perfect side dish to lighten things up, while still being flavorful! The tender green beans are tossed with crispy bacon and a tangy dressing.
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Add a twist to your regular baked potatoes with these flavorful Hasselback sweet potatoes. Thinly sliced crosswise, these potatoes are infused with a buttery and thyme flavor as they bake to crispy perfection. Perfect as a hearty and savory side dish to your brisket.
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Roasted Sweet Potato Bites
These roasted sweet potato bites that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Perfect as a side dish for any meal, including your favorite brisket barbecue.
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Perfect Green Beans
A simple and foolproof way to cook green beans that are a great brisket. This recipe ensures perfectly cooked green beans every time with minimal effort. Crunchy, buttery and delicious.
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Healthy and Light Options
Explore some healthier options that are on the lighter side to complement the savory and rich brisket.
Baby Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Parmesan
Enjoy a light and refreshing Baby Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Parmesan as the perfect complement to your rich and savory brisket. The tangy dressing and flavorful Parmesan elevate the simple, healthy salad to a whole new level. With only 9 ingredients and 5 minutes, you can have fresh salad perfection in no time.
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Kale and Sweet Potato Salad
A hearty and flavorful salad that can stand up to the bold flavors of brisket. Both nutritious and delicious. Raw kale is combined with roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, cranberries and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Plus, it's vegetarian and gluten-free.
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Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
These crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are ready in just 15 minutes and only require three ingredients. Perfectly crispy and delicious, they're sure to be a hit with everyone at the table and a great with brisket.
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Heirloom Tomato Salad
This versatile and delicious heirloom tomato salad is the perfect complement to your smoked brisket, featuring plump and juicy tomatoes that add a burst of summer flavor to your plate. Customizable with a variety of vinegars, olive oils, cheeses, and herbs, it's a side dish that is sure to impress.
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Desserts
The feast wouldn’t be complete without the desserts. And you really have to “wow” everyone after the impressive brisket.
Individual Berry Trifle
Individual portions of layers upon layers of fresh summer berries, lemony whipped cream, pound cake and lemon curd. Berry trifles are a dessert that is so easy to make you will be making it again and again.
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Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream
Indulge in a cool and refreshing dessert that's perfect for any BBQ occasion with this super simple-to-make mint chocolate chip ice cream. The smooth and silky texture of the ice cream is complemented by the refreshing taste of mint, making it the perfect pairing for a brisket feast. And, for a true Southern touch, enjoy this delicious treat alongside a classic mint julep cocktail.
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Smoked Apple Crisp
Add a unique twist to your dessert spread with a smoky apple crisp. The crispy topping and tender, slightly smoky apples are perfect for rounding out a smoky brisket meal.
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Individual Peach Crisps
Enjoy the sweet taste of juicy summer peaches with these individual peach crisps. The easy recipe features a crunchy topping that complements the flavor of the fruit perfectly, making it an ideal dessert after filling up on brisket.
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Apple Crisp Ice Cream
A decadent creamy vanilla bean and cinnamon ice cream infused with delicious apple crisp is the of the best of both worlds of ice cream and apple pie.
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Grilled Peach-Bourbon Ice Cream
Take your taste buds on a sweet and boozy ride with this Peach Bourbon Ice Cream. The smooth and creamy grilled peach ice cream is infused with a hint of bourbon, adding a perfect balance of flavors to the sweetness. A delightful dessert to serve alongside your brisket meal.
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Pairing the right sides for your brisket feast is so important to making the most memorable meal. While you might not need many, having a few diverse options is a great way to make sure everyone gets something they will love.
After you feast, be sure to check out all the leftover brisket recipes for using up all that amazing brisket. And learn a ton more about brisket in the Brisket 101 Guide.
34+ Best Brisket Sides
Elevate your brisket feast with this mouthwatering array of sides. From classic coleslaw and potato salad to creative new favorites and decadent desserts, these complementary dishes enhance every flavorful, tender bite.
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Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
- 2 Tbsp vinegar (distilled, red wine or apple cider)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/4 cup sweet pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 Tbsp scallions or green onions, sliced thin
- Diamond kosher salt and pepper
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (Best Foods or Hellmann's brand)
- 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Wash and peel the potatoes, then dice into 3/4" pieces. Add to a pot and cover with 1" of cold water.
- Cook the potatoes – Bring to a boil over high heat and add 1 Tbsp Kosher salt, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook until fork-tender but not mushy, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Prep the remaining ingredients while the potatoes cook and make the dressing by whisking the dressing ingredients in a large bowl until combined.
- Drain the cooked potatoes in a colander, then add back to the pot and gently toss with the vinegar. Let cool slightly.
- Add the potatoes to the dressing bowl while still warm along with the hard-boiled eggs, pickles, onion and scallion. Gently fold together to combine.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust with more salt or vinegar as needed.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve with a sprinkle of chopped scallion or parsley on top.
Notes
- Recipe can easily be scaled up or down.
- Add salt to the potato water once it is boiling to season the inside of the potatoes.
- Optional Add-in Ingredients: bacon or smoked pork belly, ham, celery, chopped dill or even pickle juice.