What to Serve With Brisket (26 Delicious Sides)

Few dishes tantalize the taste buds and warm the heart quite like a succulent, slow-cooked brisket. Its rich, smoky flavor and fall-apart tenderness make it a favorite at gatherings, celebrations, and family dinners alike. But what in the world do you pair with a meat so tender and juicy? Marrying the perfect side dish to create a harmony of flavors is important when cooking to please. Sides for Brisket do have to be flavorful and succulent, but they don’t have to be hard to make. 

Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a festive holiday meal, or a cozy Sunday supper, the sides you choose can elevate your brisket experience to new heights. From the crunch of perfectly roasted vegetables to the comforting embrace of creamy mashed potatoes, the options are as diverse as they are delicious. From timeless classics to innovative creations, this recipe roundup is a celebration of the wonderful world of sides that dance harmoniously with the smoky allure of brisket.

1. Sides for Brisket: Perfect and Easy Rice Pilaf

Rice pilaf is easily a side for brisket that will hold up well. It’s hearty and can be prepared in a variety of ways with different flavors, depending on your personal preference. This recipe is perfect and easy, just like it states! This rice pilaf is made with orzo pasta, long-grain white rice, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and just a little salt.

2. Crispy Fried Okra

With how tender and juicy brisket can be, giving the side dish a bit of crunch with this crispy fried okra is a great way to marry textures. You can have this crispy fried okra done in just 15 minutes, so it makes a great side dish to whip up if your brisket has been simmering all day. 

3. Garlic Butter Zucchini and Mushrooms

Zucchini and Mushrooms both are the perfect vegetables to pair with brisket. They are mild in flavor but don’t take a long time to saute. Since they are both quick-cook veggies, they are ideal to pair together. Add in a bit of garlic and butter, and you’ve got a flavorful, healthy side for brisket! 

4. Sides for Brisket: Corn Salad

Corn salad isn’t just your regular corn-on-the-cob side dish. You can grill or boil the corn – it doesn’t matter because the flavor comes from what you add to it. When the corn is combined with the rest of the ingredients, you get a beautiful, quick corn salad that will pair perfectly with a big, tender brisket. 

5. Corn Fritters

We’re still on the corn train because it pairs so well! Corn fritters are known as an appetizer, but making them as one of your sides for brisket will make you a winning host. This recipe makes 8 corn fritters, so you might consider doubling it. They’ll go quickly, and leftovers are never a bad thing when they taste this good. 

6. Sweet Corn Spoon Bread

Typically a Thanksgiving side, we need to give this sweet corn spoon bread a bit more time throughout the year. It’s absolutely packed with flavor, and comfort, and will make your brisket feast seem all that more scrumptious. It has many names such as corn pudding, corn casserole, corn soufflé, and even Jiffy Corn casserole. But no matter what you call it, it’s delicious! 

7. The Perfect Potatoes Au Gratin 

Every meat entree deserves a good potato side dish. These Potatoes Au Gratin come from The Pioneer Woman, so you know it’s going to be cheesy and creamy. The great part is they are done in under an hour with very little prep needed from you. They bake in the oven while you enjoy time with your dinner guests. 

8. Sides for Brisket: Perfectly Baked Sweet Potatoes

A perfectly baked sweet potato normally has its place at a steak house, but bring that deliciousness home and you won’t regret it as a side for your brisket dinner. You could even use the brisket to top the sweet potato, for a “fully loaded” style. It’s hearty and filling. 

9. Pimento Cheese Grits

Two southern classics come together in this recipe to create a creamy, cheesy, comforting side dish. Add in a fried egg and a bit of brisket and you’ve got a hefty breakfast, lunch, or dinner that will have you craving this for the rest of the year. It’ll feed a hungry family for sure. 

10. Italian Stuffed Collard Greens

Instead of serving traditional collard greens, this recipe shows how to liven it up a little. Blanched collard greens make the perfect vessel for stuffing a delicious Italian mix into. These collards are stuffed with Italian chicken sausage, cheese, and herbs. Despite the fact that it does have meat already in it, they still make fantastic sides for brisket. 

11. Sides for Brisket: Fried Green Tomatoes

The best fried green tomato recipe, it is perfect every time! No messy, drippy batter is needed, and you’ll get crispy, crunchy cornmeal coating on the outside. This side dish is perfect in the spring and summer months if you want something cool, crispy, light, and refreshing to serve alongside a brisket entree. It’s made even better if the green tomatoes come right out of your own garden. 

12. Fluffy Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

There’s no denying the magic a fluffy southern buttermilk biscuit can bring to a dinner. Homemade biscuits are heritage bread of sorts, made using simple pantry ingredients. They are widely considered to be the house bread of choice in the South tying only with cornbread for first place. You can never go wrong when pairing a biscuit with brisket! 

13. Black Pepper Cheddar Bacon Biscuits

And the great thing about biscuits is you can flavor them in a variety of ways. These southern biscuits are the perfect example. Filled with black pepper, cheddar, and bacon, these biscuits pair with brisket and add texture as well as flavor to the whole meal. Make extra biscuits and store them in the freezer for a quick, savory snack when needed. 

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14. Sides for Brisket: Texas Roadhouse Rolls

A good roll is never too far from a classic Southern dish either. The Texas Roadhouse Roll is a classic, and having a copycat recipe in your back pocket is never a bad thing. Combining these with tender brisket will make fantastic hand-held sandwiches for any snack or meal. You could even add a bit of the easy apple coleslaw listed below. 

15. Easy Apple Coleslaw

Apples in coleslaw will give a refreshing bite to this side dish and apples are a great fruit to pair with a hefty chunk of meat. They hold their own well, and you definitely want that tender crunch in a coleslaw. This recipe calls for two different apples, so you get a good mix of flavors. 

16. Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

Roasted root veggies hold up very well when paired with brisket. They bring a great crunch with a bit of added sweetness. Fresh carrots and parsnips are the best option for this dish, as they are full of healthy vitamins and minerals. Butter and honey combine perfectly to make the most delicious glaze. 

17. Sides for Brisket: Foil Pack Grilled Vegetables

These Foil Pack Grilled Vegetables are made using Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil and are insanely delicious. They go well with just about any main dish, especially brisket though. The best part about these vegetables is you get the grilled taste with an easy clean-up option. It’s a win-win! 

18. Loaded Baked Potato Salad

If it’s spring or summer, you’re less likely to want a hot baked potato for a side. Use this loaded baked potato salad recipe to cool off but still enlighten your taste buds. You’ll get all the flavors of a loaded baked potato, in a creamy, cheese-filled potato salad. It can even be made ahead of time to develop the flavors more. 

19. Paula Deen’s Mac and Cheese

You can never go wrong with a Paula Deen recipe if you need something to pair with a Southern classic like brisket. This mac and cheese will do nicely. You have the option of baking it in the oven or slow cooker, so the schedule is your own. Her addition of eggs and three types of cheese keeps this dish ultra-creamy. 

20. Sides for Brisket: Zesty Corn Pasta Salad

This is similar to the corn salad above, but with the addition of pasta to make it even more hearty. It’s also a hearty healthy version as it uses lightened-up dairy such as light mayo and nonfat Greek yogurt rather than heavy sour cream. With all of the flavors from herbs and spices packed in, you won’t miss the calories. 

21. Marinated Vegetable Salad

If you need a make-ahead side for brisket that is light, refreshing, and healthy, this marinated vegetable salad is just the ticket. This recipe uses onion, celery, carrots, cucumber, and cauliflower, as well as cherry tomatoes that are halved and minced garlic and chopped fresh parsley in the dressing. It also uses Kosher salt, ground white pepper, and ground mustard powder for lots of flavor. 

22. Sides for Brisket: Broccoli Apple Salad

This recipe is a genius marriage of textures and flavors. You get a good crunch from the broccoli and apple, plenty of creaminess from the mayonnaise dressing, and a punch of flavor from the dried cranberries and bacon. The ingredients on their own don’t seem like they’d go together, but once combined, they make a fantastic side for brisket. 

23. Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad

Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is amazing for potlucks because no matter how long it sits, it holds its crunchy texture. The sesame dressing is flavorful without being too heavy, so you still get the best of the crunchy veggies and noodles. Despite the fact that it packs a ton of flavor, it will still allow brisket to be the star of the show. 

24. Roasted Garlic Herb Potatoes

We’re ending this list of sides for brisket with three different potato recipes because there really is nothing like a good potato to accompany tender, juicy brisket. Roasted garlic herb potatoes are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The roasted texture complements a tender brisket, while the garlic and herbs packs a punch. 

25. Pioneer Woman’s Mashed Potatoes

We’re back to The Pioneer Woman because when it comes to Southern dishes, she is an expert. These mashed potatoes are creamy, delicious, and easy to whip up and store if you need to make them ahead of time. The roasted garlic is her delicious twist on the classic dish, and you will love it. 

26. French Onion Poutine

For an all-out decadent feast, make this French Onion Poutine to pair with your brisket. French Onion Poutine is a French-Canadian dish made with crispy French fries, brown gravy, and cheese curds. It is ready in under two hours and makes a delicious gathering feast. Your guests will be delightfully surprised at this pairing. 

Sharpen your knives, and prepare your taste buds. Get ready to make these sides for brisket that will not only fill your table with vibrant colors and textures but also fill your home with the irresistible aroma of a perfectly cooked meal. Let’s dive in and uncover the secrets to crafting an unforgettable brisket feast!

And here’s the full recipe for my Zesty Corn Pasta Salad.