Yummy Synergy: Top 7 Side Dishes to Serve with BBQ Meatballs

Meatballs are a very versatile food.

You can serve them as an appetizer, entrée, or main meal, or even as a snack after dinner.

There are so many different types of meatballs you could make using so many sorts of ingredients.

Using BBQ sauce gives your meatballs even more flavor and aroma.

There are many different types of BBQ sauce like Traditional, Spicy, Honey Chipotle, Sweet Chili, Teriyaki, and so much more.

Of course, you can make your sauce or purchase it from the store.

These BBQ meatballs are great for you because they are low in fat and high in protein.

You can serve these tasty treats with a side of veggies to make the meal healthier, but seven different dishes would go perfectly with these BBQ meatballs.

Read on to find out what they are.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for BBQ Meatballs?

Meatballs are a great party food that can easily fit into any theme or season.

If you’re hosting a summer barbecue, it’s easy to serve meatballs along with the typical side dishes that come along with barbecuing.

However, if you’re looking to mix things up, consider switching out the traditional sides for some fun twists on the barbecue classics.

When deciding what side dishes to serve with meatballs, think about how they can work together.

For example, if your ingredients include tangy sauces or marinades, opt for items like coleslaw and potato salad.

If you want to go sweet, choose things like grilled veggies or green beans.

Coleslaw and potato salad are both crunchy, slightly tangy options that work well with meatballs.

Grilled veggies are excellent ways to get a little more fresh produce into your meal, and they go well with spicy meatballs.

Once you’ve got your side dishes down, it’s time to figure out what kind of meatballs you’re going to make.

They can be an excellent base for lots of different flavors and mix-ins.

If you want something sweet or spicy, try adding some fruit or peppers into the mix.

What to Serve with BBQ Meatballs – 7 BEST Side Dishes

So without further ado, let’s see what kind of excellent sides you can serve up with your BBQ meatballs.

1 – Grilled Corn on the Cob

If you’re looking for a good summertime side dish to go along with your BBQ meatballs, grilled corn is a great option.

It goes well with both sweet and spicy meatballs, and it’s one of the hallmark dishes of summer barbecues.

Take your fresh ears of corn, remove the husk, and soak them in water for about half an hour.

Then place them directly on a hot grill to cook them evenly.

You can also wrap the cobs in aluminum foil if you want to speed things up.

Once the corn is ready, remove it from the grill and season as you please.

Whether you want to add salt and pepper, make fantastic compound butter, or whip up a tasty sauce for dipping, grilled corn is a dish that goes well with any meatball dish.

2 – Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is a great side dish to serve with BBQ meatballs because it works well with sweet and spicy flavors.

It’s also easy to create, mainly if you use store-bought mayonnaise.

Mix up some macaroni, celery slices, eggs, pickles or relish (if you like), onion (optional), and mayonnaise for an excellent, creamy side dish.

You can also switch out the veggies for bell peppers or broccoli if you want to experiment.

Or, you can opt to add some ham, bacon bits, or other types of meat into the mix for a tasty twist on a BBQ classic.

3 – Coleslaw or Potato Salad

Whether you’re going sweet with BBQ sauce and sugar or tangy with vinegar and fresh veggies, coleslaw is a great side dish option for meatballs.

There’s something about crunchy vegetables and juicy meats that go well together.

Potato salad also goes well with most BBQ dishes, including meatballs.

It provides a creamy element to the meal, and it tastes great when mixed with mayonnaise too.

If you’re looking for something different, try replacing the potatoes with chickpeas or beans instead.

You can also mix in other veggies like celery, carrots, or cauliflower.

4 – Grilled Veggies

Grilled veggies are a great option if you want to get in some more fresh produce or cut down on carbs.

There are many different ways to prepare your grilled vegetables, but the simplest way is, to begin with, whole, unpeeled veggies.

For example, try pairing zucchini with onions and bell peppers for an easy-to-make, flavorful side dish.

Another way you can go is to cut your veggies into chunks and grill them directly in a grill basket.

Just take care not to overcook them, as they’re great when they’re slightly al dente.

You can also experiment with different spices or marinades to add some extra flavor to your grilled veggies.

5 – Baked Beans

Everyone loves a good baked bean recipe, and they’re an excellent side dish for BBQ meatballs and many other types of meat and sauce dishes.

But don’t think that you have to stick with the traditional flavor of BBQ beans.

There are so many different twists on this classic dish that you can try out.

For example, if you want to keep things traditional, try doubling up on your BBQ sauce ingredients and experimenting with different flavors of beans.

You can also add meat like bacon or sausage into the mix for some extra flavor and protein.

Try making a Mexican-style version with jalapenos or tamarind, or try going Italian by adding mozzarella and oregano.

6 – Cornbread

Cornbread goes well with so many different meat dishes that it’s hard not to like it.

It also goes well with sweet BBQ sauces (especially if you add sugar into the mix) and is a great way to use any extra veggies in the fridge.

Try making a cornbread batter from scratch with fresh veggies and spices if you want to go traditional.

For a tasty twist on classic cornbread, try adding cheese into the mixture instead.

Or, you can mix up the type of flour you use by trying out different types of grain – cornmeal, quinoa flour, whole wheat flour, you name it.

Another idea is to make some cheesy muffins instead.

This way, you get all the delicious BBQ flavors in a handheld form that’s easy to eat and enjoy.

Just add cheese (or vegan cheese for a vegan version) into your mixture before popping it in the oven.

7 – Potato Chips

Yes, you read that right. Potato chips are a great side dish for meatballs – mainly burgers.

They’re crispy, crunchy, and super tasty when paired with condiments like ketchup or mustard (or BBQ sauce if you want to get creative).

Another way to make your potato chips different is to opt for specialty flavors.

For example, try pairing BBQ meatballs with sour cream and onion-flavored chips for a taste explosion in your mouth.

Or, you can mix things up by trying out flavors like jalapeno, BBQ ranch, or even dill pickle chips.

Potato chips are great because they’re so versatile and easy to eat at the end of the day.

There’s just something about that thin, crispy texture that goes well with many different dishes – not just burgers and meatballs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, BBQ meatballs and other meat dishes go well with so many different side dishes.

However, if you’re looking for the best, you can never go wrong with grilled veggies, baked beans, cornbread muffins, or potato chips.

That being said, if you have a favorite side dish that goes well with BBQ meatballs and other types of meat dishes, please share in the comments below.

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