If you’re wondering what to serve with your brisket, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 57 of the most popular side dishes for brisket.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve with brisket are pickled red cabbage, corn and avocado salad, cowboy beans, and watermelon salad. You can also try Caprese potato skins, cornbread muffins, jalapeno popper mac and cheese, or chili lime pineapple. Cheddar polenta is a great budget option.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Great flavor pairings for brisket
Brisket is a common cuts of meat for barbecuing. It’s meaty and savory, with a tough texture that can be remedied by a long and slow cooking session.
It pairs well with:
- Tangy flavors – naturally tart and acidic ingredients like vinegar, mustard, and pickles cut through the meatiness of your brisket, giving you a more balanced bite.
- Smoky flavors – smoking is a popular way of cooking brisket because it adds a prominent smoky flavor that enhances the brisket’s meaty goodness. You can also achieve a similar effect with barbecue sauce and spices like cumin, smoked paprika,or cayenne.
- Creamy flavors – brisket’s bold savory flavors can easily stand up to creamy ingredients like cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream. Try pairing it with a luscious pasta dish or slather it with a cream-based sauce.
Starches
I always pair my brisket with a starchy side – and you have lots to choose from!
Cornbread and polenta are classic options, but you can also go with roasted potatoes or rice for something different.
Honey jalapeno cornbread muffins
These cornbread muffins are a superb addition to your barbecue spread.
I always like to save a few bites of cornbread for the end, because then you can use it to mop up any leftover juices or sauce on your plate.
It’s usually the tastiest bite!
Why we love this recipe: it uses brown butter, which adds a nutty note to these treats.
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Honey jalapeno cornbread muffins
Make it cheesy
Jalapeno cheddar cornbread
Make a casserole
Jiffy corn casserole
Caprese pesto potato skins
Jazz up your potato skins with classic Italian flavors of pesto and Caprese salad!
The combination of bright, zippy pesto, juicy tomatoes, and melted mozzarella cheese with lightly crisp potato skins is simply delightful.
Serve these with a slab of brisket for a fancy, indulgent meal.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun and unique way to enjoy potato skins.
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Caprese pesto potato skins
Go back to basics
Loaded baked potato skins
Go sweet
Loaded sweet potato skins
Cheddar polenta
This cheddar polenta is a fantastic budget-friendly side to serve with your brisket.
I like propping a couple of slices of brisket on top of the polenta and drizzling them both with barbecue sauce – yum!
Psst… you can save the leftovers for breakfast.
Why we love this recipe: it’s an easy one-pot dish.
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Cheddar polenta
Fire up the oven
Margherita baked polenta
Make it familiar
Cheesy grits
Mexican rice
Tired of plain old rice? Whip up this Mexican version instead!
It’s as easy as making regular rice and only takes about 30 minutes, prep time included.
The key to this dish is the combination of fire roasted tomatoes, spices, and tomato sauce, which gives the rice a zesty kick and a vibrant orange color.
Serve your brisket with this rice dish for a tasty Tex-Mex twist.
Why we love this recipe: it’s better than what you’d get at restaurants.
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Mexican rice
Make it refreshing
Cilantro lime rice
Go Chinese
Homemade fried rice
BBQ classics
Grilling your brisket for a cookout? Serve it with these classics for the ultimate BBQ feast.
Mac and cheese and collard greens are a must-have in my household, but you can also whip up deviled eggs.
Pssst… don’t forget about the BBQ sauce!
Bourbon honey BBQ sauce
Brisket needs a sauce. That’s a fact.
You can use bottled sauce, but I’m here to let you know how much better homemade sauces are!
You can adjust the ingredients endlessly, so you end up with just the right flavor for you. And there are no nasties in there.
Why we love this recipe: this sauce can last up to a month in your fridge.
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Bourbon honey BBQ sauce
Ditch the bourbon
Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce
Add a fruity note
Blueberry BBQ sauce
Cowboy beans
Also called frijoles charros, this dish involves cooking pinto beans slowly with aromatics, bacon, fire-roasted tomatoes, and jalapenos.
The resulting dish?
A warm, savory stew that will fill you up nicely.
Serve with slices of brisket and warm bread for the ultimate comfort meal.
Why we love this recipe: it details three methods of cooking this dish – in a slow cooker, instant pot, or simply over your stove.
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Cowboy beans
Make it different
Drunken beans
Try another classic
Southern-style black-eyed peas
Southern collards and cabbage
Adding cabbage to the Southern classic of collard greens helps mellow out any leftover bitterness.
It’s a great dish to serve if you have guests that have never tried collard greens before.
Just remember these greens have different cooking times – start cooking the collard greens first!
Why we love this recipe: it’s the perfect veggie addition to grilled meats like brisket.
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Southern collard and cabbage mixed greens
Make it quick
Instant pot collard greens
Make it indulgent
Creamed collard greens
Chili lime grilled pineapple
Take advantage of the open grill at your barbecue party and chuck some pineapples on it!
They’ll taste great plain, but to take things to the next level, try seasoning them with a mix of chaat masala, chili powder, and lime juice.
This will give you smoky-sweet pineapples that remind you of being on a Caribbean island.
Why we love this recipe: you only need four ingredients.
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Chili lime grilled pineapple
Add a savory note
Bacon-wrapped pineapple
Change the flavor
Watermelon tajin skewers
Jalapeno popper mac and cheese
This easy recipe marries mac and cheese and jalapeno poppers into one delectable side dish for your brisket.
The addition of chopped jalapenos to the cheese sauce’ bechamel base brings a subtle smokey note and adds depth to your usual cheesy pasta dish.
And the cherry on top is a buttery panko mixture that adds a delightful crunch to every bite.
Why we love this recipe: your guests are guaranteed to ask for second helpings of this.
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Jalapeno popper mac and cheese
Make it Italian-inspired
Caprese mac and cheese
Back to basics
Stovetop mac and cheese
Salads
Salads are an excellent accompaniment for your brisket.
You can put together a crisp slaw or leafy salad for a nourishing boost. Or go with a creamy pasta salad for a more satisfying meal.
Fiesta corn and avocado salad
This vibrant salad is the ultimate accompaniment for some barbecued meat.
It’s a medley of sweet corn, creamy avocado, spicy jalapenos, and salty cheese.
And the ‘fiesta’ part comes from the sumac in the dressing which lends a tartness to the whole dish.
Psst… if you can’t find sumac, you can sub it for paprika.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a nourishing and delicious salad with no leafy greens!
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Fiesta avocado corn salad
Make it hearty
Avocado corn couscous salad
Make it healthy
Succotash
Cucumber jicama slaw
Coleslaws are a go-to for cookouts, but they can get quite heavy with the mayo dressing.
If you fancy something lighter, try this cucumber jicama slaw.
The julienned cucumber and jicama slices are tossed with just a spritz of lime, salt, and cilantro.
The acidity will cut right through your fatty brisket.
Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect for a baking hot summer’s day.
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Cucumber jicama slaw
Add a fruity note
Mango jicama slaw
Make it Tex Mex
Mexican coleslaw
Watermelon arugula and feta salad
This watermelon arugula salad is the ultimate summer salad.
It’s loaded with peppery, sweet, and salty flavors tied together by a tangy balsamic dressing – perfect for a cookout.
And the juicy watermelon with your tender brisket… it’s a match made in heaven.
Why we love this recipe: it looks as good as it tastes.
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Watermelon arugula and feta salad
Skip the watermelon
Mango arugula salad
Make it different
Fresh peach salsa
Ranch pasta salad
There’s a reason you always see creamy side dishes served with barbecued meats like brisket – they just work together!
And pasta salad is guaranteed to be a winner.
Psst… this salad tastes best once you’ve let it rest for 1-2 hours so all the flavors can meld together.
Why we love this recipe: you can use any pasta and veggies you have on hand to make this salad.
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Creamy ranch pasta salad
Change the flavor
Lemon basil pasta salad
Go for potatoes instead
The BEST potato salad
German potato salad
Classic potato salads typically involve a creamy mayo-based dressing, but this German version uses a bacon-based vinaigrette instead.
It makes the potato salad lighter, and adds a layer of tangy-savory goodness that cuts through your savory brisket.
This potato salad is best enjoyed warm, but you can also prep it ahead of time and reheat it before serving.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for cookouts and picnics.
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German potato salad
Make it basic
Creamy red potato salad
Make it herby
Pesto potato salad
Vegetables
Brisket is a huge hunk of protein and you need a veggie side to add more nutrients to your meal!
You don’t need to get fancy – even sauteed green beans or grilled vegetables will get the job done.
But you can also add indulgence with a cheesy veggie casserole or creamed spinach.
Pickled red cabbage
My favorite side for brisket is pickled red cabbage.
It has a satisfying crunch and a bright, tangy flavor that contrasts perfectly with some tender and rich brisket.
For best results, let your cabbage rest in the pickling solution for three days before digging in.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a breeze to make – aside from heating the pickling liquid, you don’t have to do any cooking.
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Pickled red cabbage
Make it warm
Braised German red cabbage
Skip the red cabbage
Pickled sweet peppers
Balsamic marinated grilled vegetables
Grilled veggies are a fantastic healthy side to serve with brisket.
They’re all charred and tasty, and you can season them with whatever you want (balsamic in this case, but a tasty garlic butter would work amazingly too).
You can grill any veggies you like – just take a look and see what’s in your fridge.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for last-minute emergencies.
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Zesty balsamic marinated grilled vegetables
Turn them into skewers
Vegetable kebabs
Skip the grill
Balsamic roasted vegetables
Broccoli and cheese casserole
Want something warm and comforting to go with your brisket?
You can’t go wrong with this casserole – or any cheesy casserole really! Think corn casserole, creamed peas, spinach gratin.
Psst… I sometimes add in a sprinkling of blue cheese as well.
Why we love this recipe: you can make it the day before to save you time.
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Broccoli and cheese casserole
Use corn
Corn casserole
Make it low-carb
Cheesy cauliflower rice
Skillet garlic green beans
Want a quick but nourishing side dish for your brisket? These skillet green beans have your back.
They’re first sauteed then steamed, allowing them to retain their vibrant green color and to develop a perfectly crisp-tender texture.
I love using fresh green beans, but you can also use frozen ones in a pinch – just adjust the cooking time to avoid soggy green beans.
Why we love this recipe: these are great for busy weeknights.
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Skillet garlic green beans
Make it zesty
Green bean salad with lemon and dill
Make it decadent
Green bean casserole
Creamed spinach
Creamed spinach may not be super healthy, but it’s still a tasty veggie side you can serve with your brisket.
Most recipes call for either fresh or frozen spinach, but I Wash You Dry’s version is specifically made for the latter.
The amount of cream this recipe calls for, combined with the extra moisture from the frozen greens make for the perfect silky, cheesy cream sauce!
Why we love this recipe: it’s budget-friendly.
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Creamed spinach
Fire up the oven
Spinach gratin
Keep it fresh
Spinach salad
The best side dishes for brisket
- Honey jalapeno cornbread muffins
- Caprese pesto potato skins
- Cheddar polenta
- Mexican rice
- Bourbon honey BBQ sauce
- Cowboy beans
- Southern collards and cabbage
- Chili lime grilled pineapple
- Jalapeno popper mac and cheese
- Fiesta corn and avocado salad
- Cucumber jicama slaw
- Watermelon arugula and feta salad
- Ranch pasta salad
- German potato salad
- Pickled red cabbage
- Balsamic marinated grilled vegetables
- Broccoli and cheese casserole
- Skillet garlic green bean
- Creamed spinach
What To Serve With Brisket (57 Ideas)
Ingredients
- 1 portion honey jalapeno cornbread muffins
- 1 portion southern collards and cabbage
- 1 portion cucumber jicama slaw
- 1 portion creamed spinach
- 1 portion german potato salad
- 1 portion jalapeno popper mac and cheese … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your brisket according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: honey jalapeno cornbread muffins, caprese pesto potato skins, cheddar polenta, mexican rice, bourbon honey bbq sauce, cowboy beans, southern collards and cabbage, chili lime grilled pineapple, jalapeno popper mac and cheese, fiesta corn and avocado salad, cucumber jicama slaw, watermelon arugula and feta salad, ranch pasta salad, german potato salad, pickled red cabbage, balsamic marinated grilled vegetables, broccoli and cheese casserole, skillet garlic green bean, and creamed spinach.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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