What could be more classic than burgers? They’re an iconic part of American culture and cuisine, something that has become a part of life for many. Then there’s the flavor, as burgers can be stunning and the epitome of rich comforting goodness. It’s no wonder that we come back to them time and time again.
Burgers are also convenient, offering protein, carbs, and even a few greens in a single dish. They can be filling enough to be a meal in their own right or simple enough to serve as part of a more complex meal. Plus, you can eat them with your hands – no knife and fork needed here!
Today, we’re interested in the question of what to serve with burgers, as there are so many of these. Which sides complement your burgers the best? Which have the right balance of textures and flavors?
There are plenty of fantastic sides for burgers to consider, including classics like coleslaw, fries, and onion rings plus some more unusual sides, like fried green tomatoes, blistered cherry tomatoes, and even soup. Each type has its own powerful features, but some may meet your needs better than others.
What To Serve With Burgers (15 Sides To Try)
Refreshing Healthy Sides
A Salad
Burgers are traditionally high in protein and fat, with greens just making a token appearance. For such burgers, a side salad offers the perfect balance. The salad increases your nutrient and fiber intake while also adding a refreshing contrast to your meal.
If you’re most interested in contrast, a leafy green salad with a tangy vinaigrette is the way to go. This doesn’t need to be boring, though, especially since you can change the type of greens and the other ingredients. You might even build a salad with a dark leafy green like spinach instead of lettuce.
Coleslaw is an option too. This has an attractive creaminess that is a natural complement to burgers. Indeed, it’s one of the most popular burger sides.
Don’t forget that there are other types of salads too, including potato salad and pasta salad. Both of these work well with burgers too, as long as you don’t mind the extra carbs.
Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Potato Salad
As the name suggests, this Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Potato Salad is a traditional family recipe that has featured in countless family gatherings throughout the years. It’s a fantastic choice, as it is an incredibly easy recipe that happens to be packed with flavor as well.
Some of the salad ingredients will be familiar, including potatoes, eggs, mayo, and onion. However, the recipe also features pickles and pickle juice, which tweak the flavor profile considerably.
The recipe author mentions that you can use vinegar if pickle juice isn’t quite the right fit. However, doing so will change the flavor profile, making the potato salad a bit less tasty. Still… it’s always nice to have options for tweaking your dish.
Corn On The Cob
What about something much simpler, like fresh corn on the cob alongside your burger? This works wonderfully, as the corn offers a bright and vibrant flavor, plus plenty of juiciness. It’s a naturally refreshing side that’s also a breeze to prepare.
The sweetness of the corn works well too, as many burgers have rich savory flavors that can be a bit much without some type of contrast. You could even grill the corn before serving it to add some delicious smokiness.
Besides, burgers and sweet corn are both popular summer foods, often seen at barbecues and other outdoor events. This makes them a logical pairing. You might offer other similar foods at the same time, including coleslaw and grilled veggies, then allow guests to pick the burger sides they enjoy the most.
Mexican Street Corn
Elote or Mexican Street Corn is the ultimate way to eat corn. That’s because it’s much more than just a grilled ear of corn.
After grilling, the corn is smothered in a creamy sauce and topped with salty and cotija cheese. There are plenty of spices and a little lime juice too, which combine to give your corn a stunning flavor.
The extra ingredients do make the corn messier to eat, which isn’t ideal. Still, burgers are pretty messy on their own, right? So, why not add a little more messiness to your corn? If nothing else, you’re creating a unique and exciting meal.
Grilled Veggies
Grilled veggies are another brilliant choice. They have some smokiness from the grill, plus plenty of fresh flavors that contrast the rich savory notes of your burger.
You could simply serve a plate of different types of grilled vegetables – all your favorites. Or, you might just focus on one or two. Zucchini, bell peppers, asparagus, and mushrooms are great starting points, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Which grilled veggies do you love the most?
Some types of grilled vegetables could even be added in your burger instead of being served alongside. Grilled eggplant is a classic example of this. Why not try grilled mushrooms or grilled bell pepper in your burgers as well? The mushrooms add earthy notes, while grilled bell peppers are fresh and vibrant.
Grilled Zucchini Salad
This Grilled Zucchini Salad is packed with flavor and is perfect if you want something a little different. The zucchini slices in the salad have been charred and are contrasted by a vibrant dressing, bright corn kernels and fresh tomatoes.
Crumbled goat cheese is used as part of the salad’s lemon dressing, creating a fantastic visual contrast. Of course, you could easily sub this out for another type of cheese, like feta.
The bright colors and vibrant flavors of the salad make it ideal alongside a burger. In fact, the salad is tasty enough that you might end up focusing on it and neglecting your burger in the process.
Pickles
If you want something simple with minimal prep work, why not serve pickles with your burger? Or, simply put them inside.
Pickles are an obvious choice, given that they have such a delicious tangy flavor. They can also be purchased already prepared or made at home (with just a little energy and planning).
You don’t need to stop with pickled cucumbers here. Other types of pickled vegetables work just as well, including pickled beets and pickled cauliflower. What’s your favorite?
Spicy Pickled Green Beans
These Spicy Pickled Green Beans feature green beans, jalapenos, and cayenne peppers, plus vinegar, sweetener, and spices. The author uses Swerve products to create a low carb version dish, but sugar works just as well for sweetness.
This is a great recipe for beginners, as it provides plenty of details about how the different recipe components come together. Plus, these are refrigerator pickles, meaning they’re ready to eat the day after making them.
This style of pickles needs to be kept in the fridge so they stay safe. They don’t last as long as fermented pickles either, but you should easily keep for a month or so.
Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
Blistered cherry tomatoes are an interesting and unusual choice alongside your burgers. They offer a bright, sweet, and acidic flavor that’s particularly good with the richness of a beef-based burger.
You can make this dish even more exciting by serving it with different varieties of cherry tomatoes, including yellow or even black cherry tomatoes. They’re also a straightforward side to cook, which is always a good thing.
Super Easy Blistered Tomatoes
If you’ve never made blistered tomatoes, these Super Easy Blistered Tomatoes are just what you need. They take just five minutes to cook and you only need the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, pepper, and salt.
The tomatoes don’t even need to be used immediately. They can be stored for up to three days, without much loss of flavor. This is perfect if you accidentally prepare too many blistered tomatoes or if you enjoy cooking in bulk.
Fried Sides
Of course, you mightn’t always want a fresh and healthy side next to your burgers. If you’re looking for a meal that’s simply comforting and delicious, then fried sides are the way to go.
Fries
Fries are easily the most famous burger side and with good reason. They’re crispy, crunchy, and absolutely delicious. Even their mild flavor works well, as they help cleanse your palate between bites of your burger.
There are also many types of fries to experiment with, including shoestring fries, sweet potato fries, waffle fries, curly fries, and more. You could even go all out and make a plate of loaded fries to go with your burger.
Baked Avocado Fries
These Baked Avocado Fries take a very different approach to the idea of fries. They’re made from avocado pieces, which means they’re nice and soft on the inside, while the breading ensures they’re still crunchy on the outside.
You don’t even need a deep frier for these treats as they can be baked in the oven. There’s also a delicious seasoning mix on top that makes the avocado fries taste even better. Plus, you’re getting plenty of healthy fats from the avocados, which really seals the deal.
Onion Rings
Onion rings are another classic and have plenty of features in common with fries. The big difference is the onion (of course), which gives onion rings a sweeter flavor and an interesting texture.
You might even serve onion rings and fries together with your burger. This gives you the best of both worlds and more variation in your meal.
Sweet Vidalia Onion Strings
These Sweet Vidalia Onion Strings are a great alternative to regular onion rings. They’re much thinner, meaning you need less batter and the onion strings end up being healthier. The thinness also creates a fantastic texture.
The recipe has another fantastic feature, a delicious horseradish aioli. This aioli makes a great dipping sauce for the onion strings and could even be used on your burger for extra flavor.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes aren’t a classic burger side. They are, however, too good to pass up. They give you a crispy exterior similar to fries and onion rings but with a very different interior flavor and texture.
The tomatoes could be served alongside a Southern-inspired burger, like one that includes collard greens and even pickled okra as ingredients. Remoulade sauce is an excellent addition too, giving your meal even more flavor.
Fried Green Cherry Tomatoes
These Fried Green Cherry Tomatoes are unusual in that you’re using cherry tomatoes instead of green tomato slices. The flavor profile is much the same as usual, but there’s a different ratio of tomato flesh to skin, which gives the tomatoes a unique texture.
This is a fantastic option if you’re growing cherry tomatoes at home. It’s easy to get up with far too many tomatoes, including some that might not ever ripen. Making fried tomatoes is the perfect way to ensure none of your tomatoes are wasted.
Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks and burgers are a match made in heaven. The mozzarella sticks provide plenty of melty cheesy goodness that are contrasted by a perfect crispy coating.
Besides that, these are both comfort foods, which is reason enough for serving them together.
The one catch is that mozzarella sticks and burgers are both rich and often greasy. You may need an extra side to balance the meal, like some coleslaw or perhaps grilled vegetables.
Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites
Are regular mozzarella sticks a little boring? If so, these Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites could be perfect. It’s a copycat recipe, based on the famous treats from Texas Roadhouse.
The little bites are creamy and cheesy, but they don’t use mozzarella. Pepperjack is the cheese of choice, although you can also go with Monterey jack or cheddar instead if you wish.
That said, pepperjack is the natural choice, as these little bites also use small pieces of diced jalapenos. The jalapenos add just the right amount of spicy kick to the bites, making them taste simply fantastic. You end up with cheese bites that are reminiscent of a jalapeno popper – bringing your meal to a whole new level.
Chips
Chips are one of the easiest sides to serve with a burger, as you can buy them in a variety of flavors and simply dump them next to your burger when it’s time to eat.
Much of the appeal comes from the crunchiness of the chips, which is a perfect contrast to the softness of your burger. You can even try to match the flavor of your chips to the flavors in your burger.
Chili Lime Baked Potato Chips
Potato chips are common and inexpensive, yet you might still choose to make them at home instead. Doing so gives you complete control, allowing you to choose the flavor, the texture, the amount of saltiness, and more. You could even make them using sliced sweet potatoes or another vegetable.
These Chili Lime Baked Potato Chips keep things simple, while still offering plenty of flavor. The combo of chili and lime is a classic one, which should work perfectly with most burgers. That said, you could easily create your own flavor combination.
There’s just one catch – you might need to experiment a little to get the desired crispiness. The recipe creator, Katerina, includes details on time and temperature but mentions that the time may vary. This isn’t a limitation of the recipe; it is simply a side effect of how ovens are all a little different from each other.
Other Types Of Sides
Mac And Cheese
Few foods are as consistently popular as mac and cheese, partly because the dish is such a classic comfort food.
Mac and cheese is surprisingly versatile as well. For example, you can use multiple types of cheese and add some extra ingredients to create a more refined and nuanced version. Or, you can prepare it straight from a box with just a few ingredients. Those are just two ways to tweak it. There are hundreds of other options out there.
The flavor and versatility is why mac and cheese pairs well with so many different dishes. Certainly, the combo of mac and cheese with burgers is exceptional. The flavors naturally work well together, plus the creaminess of the mac and cheese perfectly offsets the texture of your burgers.
Southern Baked Mac And Cheese
Baking mac and cheese is one of the best ways to improve its flavor – and this Southern Baked Mac and Cheese certainly proves that point. However, this isn’t just any ol’ baked mac and cheese, as it also includes Creole seasoning.
The Creole seasoning provides the mac and cheese with a stunning Southern hit of flavor and makes the dish much more interesting.
The other featured ingredients are much more familiar, including macaroni, butter, flour, evaporated milk, and half and half. These give the dish the classic flavors and textures of mac and cheese.
Stuffed Jalapeños
If you want a bit of bite next to your burger, stuffed jalapenos are an excellent choice. Not only do you get heat from the peppers, but you get a texture and flavor contrast from the stuffing as well.
You can also experiment with the type of stuffing. A cream cheese based stuffing is a popular option, as this offers a lovely coolness and creaminess. The creaminess works well with the burgers too.
Of course, that’s just one option out of many. You could even wrap your stuffed jalapenos with bacon to make them even more delicious.
Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
Speaking of bacon wrapped jalapenos, what do you think of these Smoked Jalapeno Poppers? The smoky flavor partly comes from the use of smoked paprika, which adds to the flavor complexity.
The recipe also includes details for changing the spiciness. So, you can cut up the inner parts of the jalapenos and mix them in, as those are the spiciest parts. You can even add cayenne to increase spiciness even further. Or, you can skip both those steps to create a much milder version.
Baked Beans
If you’re looking for something hearty, baked beans are hard to pass up. They offer plenty of protein, plus a delicious rich smoky flavor. There’s a touch of sweetness too, which works well against the savory notes in your burger.
Baked beans and burgers are also served at many of the same events, including barbecues. This makes them an easy and natural pairing.
There’s some room for variation too, like whether you add bacon on top of the beans and whether you make them spicy or not.
Cowboy Baked Beans
These Cowboy Baked Beans follow the flavors of your burgers more than normal, as they include browned hamburger meat along with the bacon and beans. There are multiple types of beans too, which make this dish even more impressive.
You have two options for preparing the beans. You can make them in a slow cooker, making them a perfect hands-off meal. Or, you can bake them in the oven instead. Either way, you’ll get a decent amount of baked beans to serve with your burger.
Plus, baked beans aren’t limited to being a burger side. You can serve them with plenty of other meals as well. That’s perfect, as you’ll end up with plenty of leftovers.
Soup
What about serving soup alongside your burger? Offering a liquid and a solid food together might seem a little strange, yet the combination actually works pretty well.
This is also a versatile approach, given that there are so many different types of soup. You might go with a clear broth soup or try something loaded with veggies and flavor instead. Or, what about a creamy soup?
Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup
This Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup has plenty going for it. The recipe even uses an entire head of roasted garlic, which gives it an incredible flavor profile.
Plus, the creaminess in the recipe simply comes from the blended cauliflower. This makes it much healthier than any cream-based soup.
You get plenty of nutrition from the cauliflower too. That’s perfect if you’re serving it alongside a meat-heavy burger.
Another Burger
For some avid fans, the only suitable burger side is another burger. There’s some merit to that idea too. After all, a burger already has all the components of a good meal, especially if it contains plenty of greens.
And, sometimes one burger isn’t quite enough to fill you up. Or perhaps you are simply enjoying the flavors to stop. In those cases, you might simply want to grab another burger. You could also make multiple small burgers instead of eating a single large one.
Pizza Burgers
These Pizza Burgers are the ultimate combination of two classic comfort foods – burgers and pizza. The burgers really do include the best of both worlds, featuring pizza sauce, pepperoni, and plenty of cheese, all served in a burger bun.
And, as the author points out, there are endless ways to experiment with the recipe. Most pizza toppings would work well in the burger, with each offering its own unique features. Don’t forget the cheese either. You could even try using aged cheese or blue cheese to further elevate the meal.
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