What Salad Goes With Pulled Pork? 13 Best Salads

Knowing what salad goes with pulled pork will save you a lot of time and stress when hosting a barbecue party.

The best salads to serve with pulled pork are the ones that can withstand the heat and won’t wilt easily.

Arugula, cabbage, and iceberg lettuce are some of the best greens to use for a pulled pork salad.

They can handle the dressing and toppings without getting soggy.

Aside from the greens, other ingredients such as fruits, nuts, and cheese also play an important role in making a great salad.

They add flavor, texture, and creaminess to the dish.

I’ve listed 13 of the best salads that go well with pulled pork.

Each salad has its own unique flavors that will surely elevate your pulled pork dish.

See Also: 13 Delicious Desserts that Go with Pulled Pork

What Salad Goes With Pulled Pork? 13 Best Salads

When it comes to pulled pork, the salad you choose can make or break the dish.

A good salad will complement the flavors of the pork and help to bring out the natural sweetness of the meat.

On the other hand, a bad salad can easily overwhelm the delicate flavor of the pork and leave you with a bland and unappetizing dish.

Fortunately, there are a number of great salads that pair well with pulled pork.

Here are 13 of the best salads for pulled pork:

Salad Caprese

Caprese salad is a simple salad made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

It’s a great salad for summer because it uses seasonal ingredients and comes together quickly.

This salad is also a good option if you’re looking for something light and refreshing.

Pro Tip: To make this salad even more flavorful, add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze.

3 Changes You Can Make to This Salad:

• Swap out the mozzarella for another type of cheese, like feta or goat cheese.
• Add some protein to the salad by adding grilled chicken or shrimp.
• Give the salad some crunch by adding chopped up bacon or nuts.

Nicoise Salad

This salad usually consists primarily of olives, tomatoes, anchovies, tuna, and beans – although there are many variations.

I love this salad because it is so flavorful and filling, but still light and refreshing. It’s perfect for a summer lunch or dinner.

Pro Tip: If you want to make this salad ahead of time, wait to add the dressing and greens until right before you’re ready to eat.

3 Changes You Can Make To This Salad:

• Add grilled chicken or shrimp for some extra protein.
• Swap out the green beans for roasted broccoli or asparagus.
• Use a balsamic vinaigrette instead of the traditional olive oil and vinegar dressing.

Cobb Salad

This protein-packed salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner.

It’s filled with all of the good stuff: chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, and cheese.

Plus, it has a ton of different textures and flavors going on.

And it’s so easy to make!

Pro Tip: To save time, cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time. You can also hard-boil the eggs in advance.

3 Changes You Can Make to This Salad:

• Swap out the chicken for shrimp or steak.
• Add in some chopped fruit, like grapes or strawberries.
• Use a different type of cheese, like goat cheese or feta.

Caeser Salad

This salad needs no introduction – it’s a classic for a reason.

The combination of crunchy romaine, creamy dressing, salty Parmesan cheese and croutons is just perfection.

Plus, it’s so easy to make!

Pro Tip: For an extra flavorful kick, try grilling or roasting your Romaine before chopping and adding to the salad.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Add some grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
• Mix in some diced avocado for creaminess and healthy fats.
• Use a different type of cheese like gorgonzola or feta for a change of flavor.

Waldorf Salad

I bet you’ve tried this salad before and thought it was just okay.

But trust me, this salad is awesome.

The key is in the dressing. Instead of using mayonnaise, use a mixture of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise.

It’s lighter and tangier, which perfectly complements the sweetness of the grapes and the crunch of the celery.

Pro Tip: If you want to add a little bit of extra flavor, try roasting the walnuts before adding them to the salad.

3 Changes You Can Make To This Salad:

• Use green apples instead of red apples for a tart twist.
• Add in some chopped up bacon for a smoky flavor.
• Swap out the grapes for raisins or dried cranberries.

Thai Chicken Larb Salad

This salad is a boldly flavored, yet perfectly balanced dish.

It’s a great way to use up ground chicken, and the fresh herbs give it a bright and fresh flavor.

The salad is also really versatile – you can serve it over rice, in lettuce cups, or on its own.

Pro Tip: To save time, you can use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Use ground turkey instead of chicken
• Swap out the cilantro for Thai basil
• Add some diced mango for sweetness

Tabbouleh Salad

Known for its fresh and bright flavors, tabbouleh salad is a Levantine dish traditionally made with bulgur, fresh parsley, mint, tomatoes and onion.

This particular recipe also includes cucumber and feta for an extra boost of flavor.

It’s the perfect side dish to any meal, or can even be eaten on its own as a light lunch.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can swap out the bulgur for quinoa.

Just make sure to cook the quinoa before adding it to the salad.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Add grilled chicken or shrimp for some protein
• Swap out the feta cheese for goat cheese
• Use lemon juice instead of vinegar

Russian Olivier Salad

How about something a little different for your next potluck or picnic?

This Russian Olivier Salad is a delicious and unique twist on the classic potato salad.

It’s full of healthy ingredients like potatoes, carrots, peas, eggs, and apples.

Plus, it’s mayo-free!

The dressing is made with olive oil and vinegar, so it’s light and refreshing.

Pro Tip: If you’re not a fan of dill, you can swap it for parsley or chives.

3 Changes You Can Make to This Salad:

• Add some chopped bacon for a salty and savory flavor boost.
• Use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream for a healthier option.
• Stir in a tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing for an extra zingy flavor.

Greek Salad

Greek salad goes great with pulled pork.

For example, if you have some leftover pulled pork from dinner the night before, you can easily add it to this salad for a filling and satisfying lunch.

This salad is also awesome because it’s packed with healthy ingredients like olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Pro Tip: To make this salad even more filling and satisfying, add a can of chickpeas.

3 Changes You Can Make to This Salad:

• Swap out the feta cheese for goat cheese.
• Add roasted red peppers for sweetness and extra flavor.
• Use Kalamata olives instead of black olives for a richer flavor.

Asian Slaw

With just a few ingredients, this salad is incredibly flavorful and versatile.

I love that it’s light but still filling, and the perfect mix of sweet and savory.

The best part?

It comes together in just a few minutes!

Pro Tip: For an extra boost of flavor, add a tablespoon of toasted sesame oil to the dressing.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Swap out the cabbage for kale or spinach
• Add grilled chicken or shrimp
• Use rice vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and bacon bits come together in this salad to create a delicious and well-rounded dish.

The sweetness of the cranberries pairs perfectly with the savory bacon and creamy dressing.

This salad is perfect for a potluck or picnic because it can be served at room temperature and doesn’t require any cooking.

Pro Tip: To save time, you can buy pre-cooked bacon bits.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Swap out the dried cranberries for raisins or chopped dates.
• Add in some shredded cheddar cheese for extra creaminess.
• Use ranch dressing instead of the recommended vinaigrette.

Healthy Brussels Sprout Salad

If you’re looking for something healthy, flavorful and satisfying, this salad is for you!

It’s packed with Brussels sprouts, bacon, almonds and a delicious dijon vinaigrette.

This salad is perfect as is, but if you want to mix things up you could:

• Swap out the bacon for grilled chicken
• Add in some dried cranberries or raisins
• Use a different type of nut, like pecans or walnuts

Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is family-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and can be made ahead of time, which makes it the perfect dish for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.

This particular pasta salad recipe has a zesty Italian dressing, fresh vegetables, and shredded cheese.

Pro Tip: If you’re making this salad ahead of time, wait to add the dressing until right before you serve it.

This will keep the pasta from getting soggy.

3 Changes You Can Make:

• Use a different type of pasta – spiralized noodles would be a fun option!
• Add some protein – grilled chicken or shrimp would be great in this salad.
• Change up the dressing – a balsamic vinaigrette or ranch dressing would also be delicious on this salad.