What to Serve with Red Beans and Rice – 20 Tasty Sides
Red beans and rice is a classic dish that is often served as a main course. However, it can also be served as a side dish.
The other day, I was in the mood for red beans and rice, but I didn’t want to serve it alone without a suitable pairing.
I wanted to find some side dishes that would complement it perfectly. So, I went on a hunt for the best side dishes for red beans and rice.
Making that decision wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.
There were so many options!
However, I finally found a few really good ones – the best of the best side dishes for red beans and rice.
If you’re ever in a bind and don’t know what to serve with your red beans and rice, you’ve come to the right place.
Here is the ultimate guide to side dishes for red beans and rice.
Side Dishes For Red Beans And Rice
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Spicy Collard Greens
- Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers
- Southern-Style Biscuits
- Best Simple Tossed Green Salad
- Fried Okra Salad
- Andouille Sausage
- Cornbread
- Okra Jalapeno Fritters
- Fried Chicken
- Cajun Roasted Potatoes with Creole Dipping Sauce
- Seafood Stuffed Potatoes
- Fried Pork Chops
- Shrimp and Crab Dip Stuffed Tomatoes
- Savory Black Pepper and Gruyere Beignets
- Cajun Seasoned Roasted Vegetables
- Brisket
- Easy Southern Ratatouille
- Cajun Corn Maque Choux
- Smoked Ribs
Fried Green Tomatoes
This is a classic side dish that pairs well with red beans and rice. They are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And they’re absolutely delicious!
The key to making good fried green tomatoes is to make sure that they’re ripe. If they’re not ripe, they won’t be as sweet and you may end up with a sour taste in your mouth.
Spicy Collard Greens
This is a great side dish if you like your food with a little bit of a kick. The collard greens are cooked with bacon, onions, and garlic. And they’re seasoned with cayenne pepper, black pepper, and vinegar.
If you don’t like your food to be too spicy, you can always adjust the amount of cayenne pepper that you use.
Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers
These skewers are perfect if you’re looking for something to serve as an appetizer or a main course. They’re packed with flavor and they’re relatively easy to make.
You can make them as spicy or as mild as you like. And they go great with a dipping sauce.
Southern-Style Biscuits
These biscuits are fluffy and buttery. They’re the perfect side dish to soak up all of the delicious gravy from the red beans and rice.
And they’re so easy to make! You can have them ready in under 30 minutes.
Tossed Green Salad
This salad is the perfect side dish if you’re looking for something light and refreshing. It’s made with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and a simple vinaigrette.
Tossed green salad is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. And it pairs well with red beans and rice.
Fried Okra Salad
This salad is a wonderful way to combine your vegetable and protein in one meal. It’s made with fried okra, black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, and bacon. And it’s tossed in a homemade dressing.
Fried Okra salad is a great side dish for your red beans and rice meal.
Andouille Sausage
This sausage is a must-have if you’re making red beans and rice. It’s spicy and full of flavor. And it pairs well with the other ingredients in the dish.
If you want to blend the sausage into the dish, you can always cook it before adding it to the pot. Just know that it will add a bit more spice to the dish.
I would advocate Andouille sausage for this dish since it has a wonderful, rich flavor. If you don’t have Andouille sausage, use Kielbasa instead! It has a similarly strong and somewhat spicy taste profile.
Cornbread
This is a classic side dish that goes great with red beans and rice. It’s moist and fluffy on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. And it has a sweet flavor that pairs well with the savory flavors of red beans and rice.
Cornbread is best served warm. But it’s also good at room temperature.
Okra Jalapeno Fritters
These fritters are a wonderful way to combine your veggies and protein in one dish. They’re prepared with okra, jalapenos, cornmeal, and flour. And they’re pan-fried until golden brown and crispy.
If you want to tone down the heat, you can always remove the seeds from the jalapenos. Or you can substitute them with bell peppers.