A Southern delight, an American favorite, and a weeknight staple all around the world - pork chops are a dish that everyone seems to enjoy.
They're easy to cook, relatively inexpensive, and can be dressed up or down depending on your mood.
Whenever you think of serving pork chops on the dinner table, applesauce probably comes to mind as the perfect accompaniment.
Perhaps it's time to think outside the box and explore other options.
Here are our top favorites for what to serve with pork chops.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Pork Chops?
When preparing a pork chop dinner, there are two schools of thought - to serve them with one or two simple sides or to load up the plate with a variety of dishes.
Going the latter route is probably your best bet if you're looking for a heartier meal.
After all, pork chops can be a little dry and bland on their own, so they really benefit from being paired with flavorful side dishes.
Not to mention, having a few sides also helps to round out the meal and makes it more filling - which is always a bonus.
What to Serve with Pork Chops? 7 BEST Side Dishes
Since pork chops have mild flavors, finding side dishes to serve with them is easy.
Take a look at these seven dishes to transform your meal into something unforgettable.
1 - Applesauce
It's hard to beat the goodness of applesauce while trying to come up with a side dish for pork chops.
Sure, prepping and cooking it will take almost an hour, but it's truly worth the work if you're not in a hurry.
The secret to adding a deeper punch of flavor is adding 2-3 lemon peel strips and ACV or lemon juice while the apples are cooking.
This sweet and slightly sour side dish complements the fattiness of the pork chops very well.
Don't miss out on this utterly delicious food if you want to add contrasting elements to your meal.
2 - Vegetable Fried Rice
Asian cuisine lovers know that rice is one ingredient that blends with any pork dish, and it's the same with pork chops.
Don't want to serve plain rice? How about tossing some veggies into it?
Adding carrots, beans, onions, peas, or your favorite veggies will level up the rice and give it a new, sophisticated flavor.
There's no strict rule for how to make your vegetable fried rice, but for the best texture, we prefer basmati rice.
Serving a bowl of this side dish with your pork chops is unmistakable.
Plus, you'll only need 30 minutes to cook it.
3 - Corn Pudding
Corn pudding will add a Southern twist to your pork chops.
So, give it a try the next time you want to create a colorful, creamy, sweet side dish for your meal.
Since pork chops lack all the elements this custard has, they make a balanced combo.
The most convenient thing about this side dish is that you don't even have to hit the store to get the ingredients.
The recipe only requires canned corn, cornstarch, sugar, eggs, and milk.
It's amazing how delicious a dish you can make with these simple pantry-friendly items.
4 - Cranberry Pecan Salad
Are cranberries in season? Prepare a refreshing salad for your pork chops to create a balanced meal.
While other green salads also work, there's potential for more creative dishes by adding a few more ingredients.
For the salad dressing, combine mustard, sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar, sugar, and olive oil.
You can use your favorite green leafy veggies, nuts, and cheese to make a delicious bowl of cranberry pecan salad.
If you can't get your hands on pecan, you can always alternate them with other nuts like pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, peanuts, or macadamia nuts.
5 - Butternut Squash Soup
If you're a fan of soup, try making butternut squash soup to serve with pork chops.
It adds a creamy and rich flavor to the meal.
For this dish, you'll need butternut squash, yellow onion, ginger, garlic, olive oil, and vegetable broth.
Add rosemary and sage for extra flavoring.
This 30-minute recipe works well as an appetizer too.
So, prepare to amaze your guests with some easy yet creative cooking.
6 - Deviled Eggs
Pork chops are a little dry.
So balancing it out with a creamy and decadent side dish like deviled eggs is ideal.
Did you know? They are called deviled eggs because of the combination of spicy and hot seasonings like Tabasco sauce, red pepper, and mustard.
Deviled eggs require only a few simple ingredients, and they are super easy to make.
If you have eggs, mayonnaise, vinegar, paprika, and Dijon mustard, you can create this filling dish for serving with pork chops.
Feel free to replace mayonnaise with hummus if you want to reduce the calories.
TIP: Make sure the eggs are hard-boiled, as soft yolk will make the mixture runny.
7 - Scalloped Potatoes
We sure can't leave out potatoes.
They are a fantastic addition to any meal, and you can create a variety of dishes with them.
With pork chops, we suggest going for rich and creamy scalloped potatoes.
They will bring a burst of exciting flavors to your meal.
It will take about an hour to create six servings of this side dish.
But they are incredibly easy to make, so don't fret.
The recipe requires some simple ingredients like potatoes, flour, onion, milk, butter, and your favorite seasonings.
