What To Serve With Short Ribs?

Short ribs can be transformed into many different dishes, but the most common way is to serve them as an entrée or main course. People usually slow-cook their short ribs for hours to get tender and juicy meat that melts in their mouth. The best thing about this dish is that it’s easy to make and you don’t need special equipment to prepare it.

Moreover, short ribs are often served with mashed potatoes and gravy, which is delicious. But you can also pair them with other classic side dishes like vegetables, salads, rice, pasta, couscous, polenta, etc. You can even make soup out of them!

Here are some of the best favorite recipes you can make and serve:

1. Potato Salad

Nothing beats the classic American potato salad. This side dish is perfect for slow-cooked short ribs and will surely make your guests happy. The classic potato salad mixes boiled potatoes with mayonnaise, celery, pickles, onions, salt, pepper, and vinegar.

2. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are the answer if you want something green with your short ribs. They are very healthy and nutritious, so they go perfectly well with beef. Just boil the brussels sprouts until soft and mash them. Add some butter, seasonings for earthy flavors, and cheese on top, and you have yourself a great side dish.

3. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is known to be a festive food, especially during holidays. It’s one of the easiest creamy side dishes to make, and it goes well with many things. If you want to try macaroni salad with short ribs, mix cooked macaroni with mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper.

4. Mashed Potatoes

Another American dinner party staple food: mashed potatoes! Whether you have short ribs, steak, or roasted chicken, mashed potatoes are always a good idea. Combine cooked potatoes with milk, butter, salt, and pepper, and you’ll have a delicious side dish. To add some twist, you can add parmesan cheese on top of your mashed potato for a nutty flavor.

5. French Bread

French bread is often used as a base for sandwiches, but it’s also great when paired with short ribs. Cut the bread into cubes and fry them in oil until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot with the short ribs.

6. Noodles

Did you know that short ribs can also complement noodles? Try making spaghetti or fettuccine with short ribs. Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the package and add the sauce. Then, toss everything together and enjoy! You will surely experience mouth water when you have noodles and short ribs for your family dinner.

7. Creamy Polenta

Creamy polenta is made from boiled cornmeal and water. It has a smooth texture and is creamy in consistency. It pairs well with short ribs because it adds a nice flavor to the meat. Melt butter in a pan and stir in the polenta. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

8. Roasted Carrots

Roasted carrots are easy to make and go well with short ribs. Peel the carrots and cut them into slices. Toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

9. Broccolini

Have you ever heard about broccolini? If you haven’t yet, this is one vegetable you should include in your diet. It’s a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale and tastes fantastic. To cook broccolini, wash it thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Then, cut off the stems and slice the leaves thinly. Finally, place the broccolini in a large pot filled with salted water and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and serve immediately.

10. Raspberries with Whipped Cream

To perfectly balance your taste buds from short ribs, whip up some whipped cream and pair it with fresh raspberries. You can use either store-bought or homemade whipped cream. In addition to being delicious, whipped cream is also very low in calories.

11. Wine Pairings

Similar to steak, short ribs are also best dined with wine. However, unlike steak, which pairs well with red wines, short ribs go better with white wines. White wines like chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, and gewürztraminer are all excellent.

12. Sautéed Mushrooms

Classic mushrooms are one of the best tasty side dishes for short tibs. They’re full of fiber, protein, and iron. Heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and add sliced mushrooms. Let them cook for 3 to 4 minutes before adding salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mushrooms start to turn golden brown.

13. Lemon Bars

Lemon bars have natural sweetness and tanginess, so they’re an ideal dessert to end a meal. The combination of lemon zest and sugar makes these bars extra special. Combine flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder, and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix well and pour the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting them into squares.

14. No-knead bread

This might sound impossible, but there is such a thing as no-knead bread. This type of bread takes less than half an hour to prepare and requires only four ingredients, including water. First, mix yeast, honey, and salt in a bowl. Add milk and melted butter, and combine everything. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it out overnight. The next day, bake the bread for 25 minutes at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

15. Bitter greens and fennel salad

This delicious salad recipe is perfect if you want to get more vegetables into your diet. It includes bitter greens like arugula, radicchio, frisée, fennel, and apple. Toss everything together in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

16. Mantou

Mantou is a Chinese steamed bun usually stuffed with meat and veggies. Try this simple dish when eating short ribs because it goes great with beef. Heat some sesame oil in a wok or large saucepan over high heat. Once hot, add garlic and ginger paste. Cook for 30 seconds before adding ground beef.

Stir fry the meat until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the stovetop and allow the meat to cool down. When cooled, chop the meat into small pieces. Fill each mantou with the beef and top it off with scallions. Serve immediately.

17. Buttered vegetables

Another classic American side dish is buttered vegetables. This is not only a superfast vegetable dish, but you can always choose the vegetables you want to use. Start by boiling potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, or any other vegetable you’d like. Drain the water and set it aside. In a separate pot, melt butter over medium heat. Pour the butter into the vegetables and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper, and serve warm.

18. Lobster mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is always a crowd’s favorite, but pairing it with lobster? Amazing! You’ll need three types of pasta: elbow macaroni, rotini, and shells. Boil all of the pasta separately in salted water. While the pasta cooks, whisk together heavy cream, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise. After the pasta has been drained, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the cheese and mayonnaise mixture and mix well. Next, add the lobster meat and mix again. Transfer the mac and cheese to a lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with paprika and bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

19. Garlic-herb potato salad

Potato salads are one of those dishes that everyone loves. They go perfectly with barbecues and picnics and pair well with short-rib recipes. To make this potato salad, boil potatoes and cut them into cubes. Place the cubed potatoes in a bowl and season them with salt and pepper. Add chopped green onion, parsley, dill, chives, and tarragon.

20. Green papaya salad

Green papayas are primarily used in Thai cooking, but they’re delicious on their own too. To make this salad, peel, and cube the papaya. Mix the papaya with lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, and crushed red chili flakes. Toss the papaya with the rest of the ingredients except for peanuts. Top the salad with roasted peanuts and serve chilled.

21. Boiled corn on the cob

Boiled corn cob will always be an excellent accompaniment to barbecue. The corn should be cooked in salty water so that it becomes tender. Cut the kernels off the cob and place them in a serving bowl. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and freshly cracked black pepper. This delicious vegetarian dish is best for everyone of all ages.

22. Grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers

Skewers are easy and fun to make. Use wooden skewers to grill these shrimp and pineapple skewers. First, marinate the shrimp in soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Grill the shrimp for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Meanwhile, slice the pineapple into 1/4-inch thick slices. Thread the pineapple onto the skewers and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes per skewer. Serve the grilled shrimp and pineapple with your short ribs, and your guests will love you!

23. Parsnip mash

Parsnip is a root vegetable that tastes similar to sweet potatoes. It’s often paired with lamb, but it works great as a side dish for beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. Peel and chop the parsnips and cook them in salted water until soft. Mash the parsnips with milk, cream, and butter. Season with salt and white pepper.

Drinks To Accompany Short Ribs

The best drink to pair with short ribs are wine and beer. Why? Wine goes well with any food, and beer pairs with almost anything. However, if you want to try something different, here are some drinks you can enjoy with short ribs.

Desserts To Serve With Short Ribs

Since short ribs are savory and rich, desserts are usually not necessary. However, if you’d like to serve dessert after dinner, some of the best ideas and the decadent dish can be chocolate cake, ice cream, or pie.