Brisket is the definition of comfort food. Brisket is simple, delicious meat that is brimming with flavor.
Brisket is typically seasoned with barbecue sauce, onions, and carrots before being smoked or slow-braised to perfection. Whatever method you use, the objective is to give the meat enough time to cook to produce that trademark soft, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that every good brisket has.
You may roast it in the oven, use a crockpot, an instant pot, or even a sous vide machine to cook it. Brisket is well worth the time and work, no matter which method you use! Perfect for a weeknight supper or a holiday feast!
You’ll learn how to serve this wonderful beef brisket in various ways, whether you want to keep it traditional, feed your family and guests, or keep it simple with sandwiches.
Best Side Dishes to Pair with Your Brisket
Corn on the Cob
Who doesn’t enjoy a simple side dish like corn on the cob? You can’t go wrong with boiling some corn as a terrific side dish to brisket, and it’s especially important to have on hand for a BBQ or potluck.
Husk the corn and place it in a pot to boil for around 20 minutes. Add a bit of sugar to the water if you want the corn to taste sweeter.
Wrap the corn with bacon and smoke it on the grill if you want to wow your family or friends.
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
This dish complements the brisket well since the sauce’s richness brings out new flavors with each bite.
While it takes a little more time to prepare, it is worth the extra work.
To make this side dish, heat olive oil in a large saucepan or pot over medium-high heat before adding mushrooms and onion slices.
Stir constantly for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
Then toss in the parsley and garlic before adding the balsamic vinegar.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for a few minutes before serving.
Coleslaw
Hosting a party can be stressful at times. Why not serve an extremely easy side dish with the brisket to make your life easier? Coleslaw takes about 5 minutes to make and is tasty!
The sweet and acidic flavors and the crunchiness of the cabbage and carrots balance out the richness and tenderness of the brisket, making them the ideal pairing.
And because coleslaw is such a popular meal, you can be confident that it will never disappoint. A vibrant coleslaw will always be a crowd-pleaser, whether you use the usual creamy mayo dressing or the refreshing apple cider vinaigrette.
Baked Beans
This is a sophisticated Southern meal. Season with bacon, BBQ sauce, bell pepper, onions, and seasonings! Plus, the homemade sauce will add a sweet and spicy taste boost to your baked beans!
The best part about this side dish is that it just takes 15 minutes from start to finish but tastes like you “slaved” over the stove for hours.
Mac n Cheese
Mac ‘n’ Cheese is one of those comfort foods that go well with almost anything and even taste well on its own. When used with brisket, it adds a creamy smooth texture that complements the tenderness of the brisket. The best part is that it just takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and if you want a more creamy sauce, use fewer noodles!! It’s that easy!
If you have any leftovers, combine the mac & cheese and the brisket to make another dinner!
Dinner Rolls
Brisket is a fantastic and saucy dish, so pair it with something that can soak up all that amazingly delicious sauce. What better accompaniment than some soft, buttery dinner rolls?
Dinner rolls are not only fantastic for mopping up the excess sauce on your plate, but they are also filling. With this brisket and bread combination, you and your guests will leave the dinner table satisfied and delighted.
Collard Greens
For many people, a bowl of collard greens evokes recollections of family dinners. Adding turkey, onion, and garlic to a traditional southern dish enhances the flavor.
This is one delightful way to consume your greens.
Pour some spicy sauce or vinegar over your serving for an extra kick of flavor. However, for some, nothing is required to make this dish successful.
This dish’s ingredients are neither sophisticated nor mysterious; rather, the way they all fit together so perfectly makes it such a satisfying supper.
Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is traditional comfort food that will complement your brisket feast well. It’s often a sweet meal, but you can add a salty flavor to make it more interesting.
This minor modification will make corn pudding a better match for your brisket. If you want to try it, infuse your standard corn pudding recipe with thyme and onions.
Check for doneness with a knife in the center of the corn pudding for the best results. The pudding should be jiggly but not runny when cut with a knife.
Baked Beans
Baked beans, like brisket, have a sweet and smokey flavor, which is why they go so well together. You could always give canned beans to your guests, but why settle for that when you can cook them a delicious homemade dish instead?
For a delectable feast your visitors will never forget, flavor your beans with cider-molasses barbecue sauce and infuse them with bacon, peppers, and onions.
Roasted Brussels Sprout
Roasted Brussels sprouts are a terrific alternative for the right green to go with your brisket! When you try this recipe, you’ll quickly forget how healthy Brussels sprouts are. They are an excellent choice for a side dish because they are high in fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Green Beans
Green beans are often a hit-or-miss veggie, but with a little garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, you’ll have a side dish that will have your guests return for more.
If you want to spice it up, try a dab of cayenne seasoning, curry powder, or chili powder. Whatever you select, green beans are a delicious side dish to any main course.
Mashed Potatoes
A serious query. What person does not enjoy mashed potatoes? Quick, simple, and delicious without sacrificing flavor.
Simply cube potatoes, rinse, cover with plastic wrap in a microwave-safe bowl, microwave on high for 10-12 minutes, mash with butter and milk, and you’re done! The quickest mashed potatoes you’ll ever make!
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Do you want some Vitamin A? Then roasted sweet potatoes are an excellent option. Plus, if you want extra texture, skip peeling the skin, cut them up with some garlic, and go!
When you use maple syrup to offer only a hint of sweetness and a bit of crispness and color to your potatoes, they complement the brisket well.
Hasselback Potatoes
Some side dishes are so delicious that you have to try them again after the first time. That was the case for me with Hasselback potatoes. This dish is really simple to prepare, enhancing the flavors and making the presentation visually appealing. Make sure you make plenty because they disappear too quickly in my house.
Some Best Drinks to Pair with Your Brisket
Beer
You’ve probably heard the expression ‘Beer and BBQ,’ especially when talking about cookouts with friends or neighbors. Consider the sort of barbeque and how it was seasoned and cooked before choosing a beer. Mustard-based barbecue sauces pair well with American IPA, while Texas slow-cooked beef brisket and pork ribs pair well with a local brew or malty and hoppy brews. If you’re eating Kansas City-style barbecue, pair it with a Belgian Dubbel or a beer with fruity sweetness undertones.
Wine
When pairing wines with barbecue, a smart place to start is by matching a prominent component in the sauce or style, bearing the sort of meat used, and looking for a comparable aspect in a certain wine. Keep the smokey meat flavor in mind when pairing Texas barbecue, and select a plummy Italian red with high acidity. This sort of BBQ would go well with Sangiovese or Shiraz.
Soda
It doesn’t get any easier than this. Soda can be purchased at almost any restaurant. Is it too simple? If you want to be extra adventurous, consider only drinking sodas from the region where the barbeque was developed. For example, if you’re chowing down on some Texan’ Q, wash it down with a soda from Dublin Bottling Works, Texas. When you look at pairing from a geographical standpoint, you might discover a unique blend of flavors.
Wrap Up
An excellent side dish completes a barbeque by providing light and shadow to an otherwise meat-heavy dinner. Most side dishes are quick and simple to prepare, and the ones on this list will go great with any barbeque. With the addition of a few cocktails, your smoked brisket has transformed into a feast.
