Side dishes for pork chops can go far beyond applesauce. (Although that is a delightful pairing, and an applesauce recipe is definitely included among our best side dishes for pork chops!) Try roasted vegetables, buttery biscuits, salads, and casseroles to complement your top-notch chops.
Oven-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
When you can’t quite decide between a fruit or vegetable side dish for pork chops, we say, “serve both!” You need not go to the effort of whipping up two separate recipes, though. This quick and easy sheet pan creation checks both boxes. Caramelized roasted Brussels sprouts meet sweet-tart sliced apples, chewy dried cherries, and buttery pecans for a tempting and crowd-pleasing option.
Fried Smashed Potatoes
Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these oven-fried red potatoes consistently rank among our most popular potato recipes. Their savory Parmesan and bright parsley accents also make these smashed spuds one of the top side dishes for pork chops.
Test Kitchen Tip: As written, this makes 12 side dish-sized servings. For smaller crews, simply halve the recipe or make the full batch and reheat leftovers to enjoy alongside eggs for breakfast the next day.
Cabbage and Potato Gratin
Scalloped potatoes (aka potatoes au gratin) are a classic side dish for pork chops. Here, we give that concept a vegetable-forward spin with pretty purple cabbage. The visual appeal—and the lure of the garlic-thyme cream sauce, potatoes, and panko bread crumbs—will win over even the pickiest of eaters.
Butter Swim Biscuits
No Southern-style dinner spread is complete without a basket of buttery biscuits, if you ask us. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat of a hassle and a certified messy scenario to knead, roll, fold, and cut out traditional biscuits. This viral recipe will coach you through how to make what is essentially one supersized drop biscuit, which then bakes in a pool of butter; hence the name. The finished products are just as tender as their cut-out competition. Plus they “are light, airy and buttery,” according to one BHG home baker. “In my opinion this recipe is 10 stars,” they add—on a scale of 1 to 5.
Honey-Cumin Roasted Carrots
Glazed, roasted, air-fried, or casserole-d, carrots any which way make for a stellar side dish for pork chops. We’re particularly fond of this easy carrot side dish because if you have 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to spare, you can have the sweet-and-savory vegetable recipe ready for the oven.
Test Kitchen Tip: If you’re in a cozy mood, blend the roasted carrots with 3 cups of vegetable broth for a creamy carrot soup to pair with your pork.
Celery and Apple Salad with Walnuts
If your juicy, savory, and hearty pork chops come breaded or coated in a rich cream sauce, consider serving them with a raw and refreshing complement. This apple and celery recipe is crunchy, fresh, and simply dressed in a honey- and lemon-spiked dressing. Instead of croutons, add a handful of buttery walnuts to round out the 20-minute masterpiece.
Creamy Corn and Macaroni Bake
Creamed corn meets mac and cheese in this side dish for pork chops (as well as chicken, steak, seafood…pretty much anything your heart desires). The two-cheese, corn- and pancetta-studded macaroni bake is tempting on its own. But a shower of Parmesan bread crumbs really takes this golden, bubbly casserole to new flavor heights.
Spiced Applesauce
The combo meal of pork chops and applesauce was popularized in 1971 by Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch. That’s far from the first time applesauce has been recommended as a side dish for pork chops, though. Food historians have found mention of the apple recipe as a partner for pork in cookbooks dating back to the 1740s. Celebrate the timeless duo in this classic sauce that you can simply refrigerate or water-bath can. Either way, you’ll only need apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, and apple pie spice. Sweet!
Cauliflower Steaks with Hazelnuts and Browned Butter
For a low-carb yet still surprisingly hearty twist on meat and potatoes, pair your pork chops with caramelized cauliflower steaks. Thick slabs of the mild vegetable sear to a tempting golden-brown in a skillet, just like their pork partners. To ensure that the vegetable side dish for pork chops feels just as luxe as the protein, we call for finishing the dish with crunchy toasted hazelnuts and a generous drizzle of nutty brown butter.
Honey Milk Bread Rolls
These might look like your typical pillowy yeast bread rolls—which certainly wouldn’t be a bad choice as a side dish for pork chops. But they’re actually milk bread yeast rolls, which means they start with a very simple technique called tangzhong, which essentially involves heating a paste of milk and flour (and here, water), which inspires the starch in the flour to retain more moisture. The result: A surprisingly soft crumb that’s “light and flaky; good for slathering with butter,” according to one BHG fan. Another says that this recipe “makes beautiful rolls! [I’m] making again tonight to go with some smothered pork chops.”
Copycat Coleslaw
Inspired by KFC’s famous coleslaw recipe, this is among the best side dishes for pork chops if you’re seeking a make-ahead option. That’s because the easy copycat recipe gets even more flavorful as it sits. The cabbage coleslaw mix (go ahead and buy it pre-shredded in a bag) soaks up the sweet, creamy sauce. After combining all of the slaw ingredients, cover and chill the blend for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Roasted Vegetables with Sorghum
Part roasted vegetable salad, part whole grain side dish; this side dish for pork chops is overflowing with flavor. Nutty sorghum, earthy and sweet beets, mildly licorice-like fennel, and punchy red onions are infused with pleasant smokiness from paprika. Just before serving, toss that dream team with blanched green beans, fresh arugula, and a bright lemon-honey dressing. This colorful side tastes like springtime, but is a winner year-round.
Green Bean and Mushroom Skillet
Hit fast-forward on green bean casserole by using thin, quick-cooking green beans and making the entire side dish for pork chops in a skillet (rather than a baking dish). Oh, and that skillet? It’s the same one you’ll use to crisp up the bacon, which means you not only get to enjoy the savory bites of pork throughout the green bean side dish, but you also get to experience the flavor of the delicious drippings, which soak into the garlicky vegetables. Instead of canned cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions, finish your thoroughly modern green bean creation with crumbled herb goat cheese and a handful of crispy fried shallots.
Corn Ribs
If your pork chops pack some barbecue energy (say, like this Grilled Pork Chops with Bacon and Tomato, Beer-Marinated Pork Chops, or Summer Pork Chops with Corn-Mango Salsa), add these saucy corn ribs to your menu. They’re as eye-catching as they are tasty, due to the unique strip shape that curls and crisps up nicely as the corn bakes or air fries. A brown sugar spice rub and a brush of barbecue-mayo will make your taste buds think they’re at a summer cookout no matter what time of year it actually is.