Enhance the natural flavor of pork chops with a variety of delicious side dishes and sauces to bring a touch of sweetness, spice, and complexity. From loaded potatoes to mustard sauce, discover what to serve with pork chops today.
Juicy, tender, and satisfying to eat, pork chops are regularly served at family dinners around the world. On their own, pork chops have a slightly sweet, slightly gamey taste that pairs well with a variety of spices—most notably paprika, thyme, and parsley.
From cheese-covered roasted vegetables to ultra-decadent sauces and stuffings, these pork chop sides and serving ideas will take your meaty main to the next level.
Cauliflower Gratin
While cauliflower is a neutral-tasting vegetable, this means it works beautifully in a range of dishes. Whether it’s mixed into pizza dough, used as a rice substitute, or slathered in a copious amount of cheese and seasonings – as is the case with cauliflower gratin.
Whether you’re looking for a low-carb option to eat alongside your pork chops or simply want to add in a big dose of flavor, roast up some cauliflower, combine it with a rich and creamy roux sauce, and throw some crispy breadcrumbs on top with a generous helping of additional cheese. You definitely won’t be able to get enough of this indulgent side dish!
Try This Recipe: This cauliflower au gratin has a good mix of seasonings and cheeses for a complex flavor, including cheddar, gruyere, and mustard powder.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sure, regular fries are great—but if you’ve ever had sweet potato fries that are cooked to perfection, you’ll know that making fries this way is the superior choice. Crispy, caramelized, and slightly sweet, you’ll definitely be reaching for a second and third helping, so make sure to prepare a large batch.
Freshly cut sweet potatoes are carefully cut and then coated in cornstarch or flour and a variety of different spices. From there, the option to air fry, bake, or deep fry your fries will depend on your taste preferences and how decadent you want your side dishes to be. Whatever cooking style you choose, the natural sweetness of the sweet potato is sure to pair beautifully with the natural sweetness of the pork chops.
Try This Recipe: These crispy grilled sweet potato fries are tossed in seasoning before being fired over high heat on the grill for extra crispy edges.
Dijon Cream Sauce
The star of the show when it comes to Dijon cream sauce is the inclusion of Dijon mustard, a type of mustard originating from Burgundy, France. This element is crucial for the complex and sharp flavor profile of the sauce, which cuts through the white wine and heavy cream that is included as ingredients.
When all of these elements are mixed together, you get a rather special and tangy sauce that many chefs pair with meat, including fish, chicken, and pork. And if your pork chops don’t have a particularly strong herb rub as a coating, this will make the flavor shine even brighter.
The inclusion of wine shouldn’t scare away those wanting to cook this sauce for younger children, as the wine will cook off, leaving behind an intense umami essence. You won’t want to skimp on the wine for the best taste!
Try This Recipe: This Dijon cream sauce combines Dijon with popular aromatics like finely minced shallots and garlic.
Pea & Lemon Salad
Brighten up your table spread and add a much-needed dose of freshness to your palate with pea and lemon salad. Reminiscent of springtime and sunny weather, peas are one of the most versatile vegetables loved by children and adults alike. And when you add in some lemon vinaigrette or fresh lemon zest, you’ll only accentuate the brightness of flavor. Plus, who doesn’t love lemon?
Peas are also able to absorb the spices and seasonings that are included in the sauce well, so don’t skimp on the herbs. You can also go crazy on the add-ons, by playing around with the sweetness and spice of the salad. Candied nuts are fun to make and even more fun to eat, while fresh chili and jalapenos add a touch of heat. Add in some protein with various types of cheeses, and if you don’t just want to have it as a side with pork chops, add a protein of your choice on top.
Try This Recipe: This fresh English pea salad with lemon vinaigrette also includes candied hazelnuts and fresh goat’s cheese, making it a summertime staple.
Parmesan Green Beans
Seriously, is there anything that doesn’t taste better when you add cheese on top of it? Parmesan green beans are a great way to bring a twist to a beloved vegetable while adding some complexity to the taste and texture. Roasting green beans also means you get the satisfying combination of charred edges and crunch—no soggy beans here!
Adding on a variety of herbs, like thyme and garlic powder, alongside bread crumbs, will enhance the naturally savory taste of the parmesan. And while this dish makes for a satisfying Thanksgiving classic, it’s also one of the best ways to improve the vegetable intake for picky eaters.
Try This Recipe: With crunchy breadcrumbs and a wonderfully garlic and cheesy aftertaste, these crispy parmesan green beans will have you coming back for more.
Loaded Baked Potatoes
Regular baked potatoes are great, but if you want to take your dinner to the next level, try out some loaded baked potatoes. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or making this side dish for your family, everyone can get in on the fun by choosing their favorite ingredients and topping their potatoes just how they like. We recommend crispy bacon, a generous dose of sour cream, and some cheese—but hey, it’s your chance to get crazy here.
Adding numerous toppings on top of a baked potato not only makes the dish moreish but it can up the nutritional content. A plain baked potato is carbohydrate-heavy, but with some guacamole and cheese, you can up the fat and protein intake.
Try This Recipe: These fully-loaded smoked baked potatoes combine crumbled bacon with a punch of freshness from the sour cream and chopped chives.
Buttery Herb Stuffing
Let’s face it, stuffing is one of the most popular Thanksgiving dishes for a good reason. And while it was originally created to stuff the cavity of turkeys or other types of meat, it tastes just as great when it’s eaten on its own. Buttery herb stuffing is intensely flavorsome, golden-brown, and crunchy, but most importantly, the neutral herb flavor makes it a natural pairing for pork chops.
Stale toasted bread is combined with a buttery, herby, and garlic-infused mixture, before it’s placed in the oven to brown nicely. For further structural integrity and taste, some home chefs swear by folding through additional stock and eggs before placing it in the oven, but this will depend on how thick you like your stuffing to be.
Try This Recipe: This stuffing recipe has generous amounts of diced celery and onion for added sweetness.
Honey Mustard Sauce
Another popular sauce option for pork, honey mustard sauce is one of those flavor combinations that work exceptionally well. With a warm combination of spices from the mustard, honey mustard is equal parts sharp and sweet, and when good-quality honey is used, this can make the taste of pork chops shine.
Unlike popular belief, honey mustard sauce doesn’t take a long time to whip up. In fact, you’ll only need a handful of ingredients to be incorporated with the help of a blender, before it can be served.
Try This Recipe: This honey mustard sauce only takes five minutes to make, and has a nice zing to it, with the inclusion of distilled vinegar and cayenne pepper.
Bacon Avocado Salad
Delicious on its own, or as a side to protein options like pork chops, a bacon avocado salad should be a staple in every home cook’s repertoire. The smokey and salty taste of bacon goes well with the natural creaminess of avocado, resulting in a variety of tastes and textures with every bite.
And while lettuce, bacon, and avocado go just as well on their own, it doesn’t hurt to add in a delicious vinaigrette. Traditionally, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic make for a well-loved dressing, but you can jazz it up with extra spices or mustard.
Try This Recipe: This bacon avocado salad also has crumbled feta cheese, tomatoes, and red onion for variety.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Perfect as finger food for gatherings, a sunny day picnic, or as a side to different types of dishes like pork chops, you can’t go wrong with classic deviled eggs. Plus, they’re extremely fun to make—you only need to gently scoop out the yolks of hard-boiled eggs and combine them with a variety of fillings before piping them back in.
The fillings can be customized with your taste preferences, but popular ones include sweet pickle relish, spices like paprika and cayenne pepper, mayonnaise, and mustard. These eggs are incredibly addictive, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Try This Recipe: These deviled eggs include a generous amount of mayo, mustard, and dill and can be made in under 20 minutes.
