What to Serve with Short Ribs: 15 Mouthwatering Side Dishes

I often wonder what to serve with short ribs. I want a mouthwatering side dish, but I also like easy healthy sides.

Of course, the flavors of the sides also have to pair well with juicy, meaty short ribs.

It can be so hard to find just the right side! Luckily, I have quite a few reliable side dishes I always serve with short ribs.

I love to serve short ribs with vegetable side dishes. Adding healthy veggies and bright colors to the dinner plate is always a great idea.

Starchy sides like noodles, rice, and potatoes are great ways to go. These heavier side dishes are perfect for times when you want a really hearty meal.

Keep the juicy, meaty flavor of short ribs in mind as you browse through all your side dish options.

Short Rib Sides: 15 Recipes You’ll Love

Take a look at these delicious recipes and see which side dishes make your mouth water. I guarantee you will find quite a few recipes to create your perfect short rib meal!

1. Asparagus

A simple, roasted asparagus side dish is exactly what you need to make a great meal. Our easy green beans go so well with fork-tender short ribs. It may quickly become your favorite recipe!

Fresh asparagus spears are tossed in oil, salt, and pepper. We use a little paprika to give the asparagus a very subtle spice.

Squeeze fresh lime juice over the asparagus to make the veggie a little brighter. This is especially great in the summer.

Roasted asparagus spears will add a beautiful green color to your braised short ribs plate.

2. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes may be the most traditional side dish to serve with short ribs. Having a perfect recipe for mashed potatoes is very important.

We love these creamy mashed potatoes from Gimme Some Oven. They may just be the best mashed potatoes we have ever tried!

Potatoes are chopped and boiled until tender. The soft potatoes are mashed with butter, cream cheese, garlic, and milk. The cream cheese and butter make the mashed potatoes so insanely rich.

Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes make the best mashed potatoes. They have the perfect amount of starch to make any mashed potatoes recipe creamy and hearty.

3. Egg Noodles

Slow-cooked short ribs are often served with a side of noodles. Sometimes, the ribs are placed right on top of the noodles.

Any extra red wine cooking juices can be poured right over the meat and noodles, making a delicious sauce.

Try this recipe for homemade egg noodles from Tastes Better From Scratch. Not only is it a delicious recipe, but the egg noodles are also fun to make.

Cutting those perfect strips of noodles can be very satisfying!

You only need four ingredients to make these yummy homemade noodles. Keep this side dish in mind for other nights too. They are always a hit!

4. Creamy Polenta

Creamy polenta and flavorful meat is a match made in heaven. This recipe for creamy polenta from Jo Cooks is sure to become a classic dinner in your house.

Polenta is actually very easy to make. Bring water to a boil and then whisk in the cornmeal.

A little butter, salt, and parmesan cheese are stirred into the thick polenta. The cheese adds a very delicious twist to traditional polenta.

Scoop the warm, creamy polenta onto a plate and place your short ribs right on top. Sprinkle with a few fresh herbs to give the meal a nice presentation, then enjoy!

5. Baked Potatoes

A good baked potato is a classic steakhouse restaurant. Baked potatoes are just really great with hearty meats.

Try this recipe for baked potatoes from Crunchy Creamy Sweet. The potatoes are cooked in the Instant Pot.

They bake so much faster than using the oven that you can make perfect potatoes in just a few minutes. It’s amazing!

Top your baked potatoes with sour cream, chives or just use the juice from the short ribs pan to drizzle over the potatoes.

You can’t go wrong with baked potatoes and gravy with tender ribs!

6. Sauteed Mushrooms

These sautéed mushrooms from A Spicy Perspective are simply perfect. It is hard to believe such a great side dish can be made using only six ingredients!

Small button mushrooms are sauteed with butter and olive oil. Cook the mushrooms over medium heat to let them slowly soften and brown.

Garlic, fresh thyme, and sherry are added to the sautéed mushrooms. The mushrooms simmer over low heat to cook the sauce perfectly.

Serve your short ribs with sautéed mushrooms and mashed potatoes for an even more deluxe meal. The mashed potato recipe above is super delicious!

7. Green Beans

Roasted green beans are one of the easiest side dishes to serve with short ribs. They cook in just a matter of minutes! Skinnytaste will show you how to make this yummy side!

Toss fresh green beans in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spread the beans on a rimmed baking sheet and roast.

Cook the beans in the same oven you use to cook your short ribs. A true chef can make sure all the components of the meal are ready at exactly the same time!

We know you can do it!

Sprinkle the beans with shredded parmesan cheese. This gives the beans a salty, savory taste. Everyone is sure to love this delicious side dish!

8. Strawberry Spinach Salad

Our fresh spinach salad is delicious when paired with tender short ribs. The crisp lettuce and tender meat are an ideal combination.

Our salad is made with baby spinach. Spinach is an extremely healthy green that will add lots of nutrition to your dinner.

The sweet strawberries taste great next to the juicy meat. The salty goat cheese is the perfect finishing touch.

Use chopped lettuce or mixed greens in place of the spinach. Skip the sliced almonds or use chopped pecans instead.

Almost any berry will make this salad delicious. Use whatever is in season near you. A fresh blueberry salad will be quite yummy alongside your tender short ribs!

9. Honey Glazed Carrots

A beautiful plate of orange honey-roasted carrots is an amazing side dish for short ribs. Carrots add nutrition but also a lovely sweetness to your dinner plate.

Use this recipe from Show Me The Yummy for perfect baked carrots.

Use baby carrots, so you do not have to chop or cut carrots at all. This will save you lots of time in the kitchen!

Replace the butter in the recipe with olive oil for a healthier side dish. However, butter does make the carrots super-rich and delicious!

The feta cheese on top of the carrots adds a nice, salty touch to the carrot side dish. You can skip the cheese if you want to save on calories.

Don’t skip the honey in this recipe. You want that sweet flavor! One bite, and you will be in love with these carrots.

10. Homemade Bread

There is nothing quite as tasty as a loaf of fresh, homemade bread.

This easy recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is the perfect loaf to make and serve with your short ribs.

Bread is especially great for soaking up any leftover short rib sauce. That slow-simmered beef stock and red wine meat sauce taste amazing on a piece of fresh bread!

Be sure to allow yourself enough cooking time to make bread. Breadmaking can be a lengthy process!

However, the result is definitely worth the effort.

Add butter to your perfectly baked bread and serve it alongside your favorite slow-roasted short ribs. You can’t go wrong with beautiful bread.

12. Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts may be one of the healthiest veggies out there. However, they are also one of the tastiest veggies, as long as you have a great recipe to follow!

These sauteed brussels sprouts from Well Plated By Erin are totally perfect for dinner time.

Fresh Brussels sprouts are sliced in half and tossed with some olive oil. A little salt and pepper are the only seasonings you need.

A splash of balsamic vinegar is a great touch. Try using cabernet sauvignon in place of balsamic for an interesting red wine twist.

Serve the same glass of cabernet sauvignon next to your short ribs for perfect wine pairings. Everyone at your next dinner party will be very impressed by your cohesive meal.

13. Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is a great side to serve with picnic-ready short ribs. This recipe from Love and Lemons will be your favorite pasta salad recipe ever.

If you plan on grilling your short ribs outside in the summer, there is nothing quite like a pasta salad side! Pasta salads are the classic picnic food.

Use tri-colored pasta noodles to give your meal a beautiful color. Fresh red tomatoes will add a nice pop of red, as well.

We love the fresh arugula and pine nuts that are added to the pasta salad. This is a unique twist on a classic dish that we think you will enjoy too!

14. Egg Salad

Egg salad is one of our favorite side dishes. It goes well with bone-tender short ribs!

This delicious recipe from Once Upon a Chef will make you swoon with just one bite. The tender eggs and creamy dressing is truly irresistible.

Make the egg salad at least a day in advance. The flavors will grow as the mix has time to marinate. Making the egg salad ahead of time will also give you more time to focus on cooking perfect short ribs!

If you are wondering what to serve with short ribs in the summer, keep this egg salad in mind. It is a great hot weather side!

15. French Fries

There is nothing quite as tasty as a pile of fresh, homemade French fries. Fries are one of the best side dishes ever!

These baked French fries from Rasa Malaysia are really amazing. We know they will be one of your favorite side dishes too!

Yukon gold and russet potatoes will both work well in this recipe. No need to peel the potatoes. The skin will be crisp as it bakes!

Toss the sliced fried in olive oil and spread them in a single layer on a tray. Bake the fries until they are golden brown.

You may want to flip the fries halfway through baking to make sure both sides are perfectly crispy.

Amazing Sides for Braised Short Ribs

Try one of these delicious recipes to serve with your favorite recipe for short ribs. We know that many of these side dishes will put a smile on your face.

Let us know which side dishes are your favorite! Now all you need to focus on is finding the perfect wine pairings for serving with short ribs…

Enjoy.