A great steak deserves great company on the plate. The classic sides for steak are some kind of potato (scalloped, fondant or fries), a crisp salad such as a wedge, and a green vegetable like green beans or Brussels sprouts, with a good sauce and fresh bread on the table. If you’re cooking steak at home for family or guests, here are 16 delicious side dishes that go perfectly with it, plus ideas for a steakhouse-style dinner, a summer BBQ, date night and lighter meals.
1. Onion Rings
All fans of crunchy snacks will be pleased to have onion rings on the table. Delicious, crispy, airy rings are a real treat for kids and adults alike. What’s more, it’s a classic side dish at any steakhouse. Don’t forget to bring your favorite sauces for an even more satisfying meal.
2. Oven-Roasted Vegetables
Vegetables baked in the oven are a veritable treasure trove of vitamins and minerals. Toss your favorite vegetables with oil and spices before roasting, and the caramelized flavor will stand up to the intense flavor of a juicy steak. Simple baking rules will help you make sure the dish turns out well and looks appetizing.
3. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Fresh Brussels sprouts are a striking ingredient for soups, salads, side dishes and as an accompaniment to meats. Roasted until crispy and tossed with smoky bacon and a little garlic, they become a quick, flavorful side that even sprout skeptics love, and the salty bacon is a natural match for steak.
4. Red Cabbage & Fennel Coleslaw
Crisp red cabbage combined with the perfect dressing makes this coleslaw unique, and thinly sliced fennel adds a light, fresh anise note. Combine carrots, shallots, cabbage and fennel for a crunchy, tangy dish that cuts through the richness of any red meat.
5. Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy, garlicky sauce until golden on top are one of the most loved steakhouse sides. The tender, rich layers soak up the juices from the meat and successfully complement its bold flavor. Scalloped potatoes are traditional comfort food, and they can be assembled ahead of time for an easy dinner.
6. Corn on the Cob
Put a few corn cobs on the grill next to your steak. No one can resist the smell of grilled corn. It’s so delicious that one would think there’s nothing more to want. For an easy upgrade, serve it Mexican street-corn style with mayonnaise, chili powder and lime juice.
7. Wedge Salad
Crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy red tomatoes, flavorful bits of bacon and blue cheese dressing are the best way to balance the rich, heavy flavor of the steak. The toppings can be mixed and matched to your liking.
8. Green Beans
Green beans are a popular vegetable throughout the world. They are eaten mostly cooked and used in a variety of salads and hot dishes. Sautéed with garlic and butter or topped with toasted almonds, green beans are a quick, fresh side that goes with any meat.
9. Fondant Potatoes
These classic fondant potatoes are perfect for holiday dinners and special occasions. They are crispy on the outside, buttery and soft inside, and look elegant on the plate. To make them, brown thick potato rounds in butter, add your favorite herbs, then pour in chicken broth and let them finish cooking until tender.
10. Tomato Couscous Salad
Couscous-based salads are very versatile. You can serve this salad as a stand-alone vegetarian dish or as an accompaniment to fish or steak. And if you’re grilling steaks, this cold salad is an excellent, refreshing alternative to a hot side.
More: 10 Fresh Summer Tomato Recipes
11. Baked French Fries
It’s hard to be indifferent to French fries, and steak frites is a bistro classic for a reason. Oven-baked fries come out tasty and crisp, no worse than in a restaurant. They are a healthier version of their famous fast-food counterpart, and they cook quickly and simply without all the oil and calories of deep frying.
12. Sauce
The standard ketchup and mustard get boring over time. A good sauce is an opportunity to spice up a dish and even discover new facets of flavor.
Classic choices for a juicy beef steak are peppercorn sauce, béarnaise, chimichurri, garlic butter or a creamy mushroom sauce. The possibilities are endless. Choose a sauce to your liking and take your steak to a new level of flavor and aroma.
13. Bread
How can you eat steak without soft, fresh bread on the table? You can pair steak with a crispy French baguette toasted to perfection or a warm loaf of Italian garlic bread.
14. Mac and Cheese
Creamy baked mac and cheese is a favorite comfort food for many families, and plenty of steakhouses serve it as a side. It’s a great choice for a family steak dinner, especially with kids at the table. For extra flavor, choose sharp cheddar cheese, add a crispy breadcrumb topping or stir in smoky bacon.
15. Sweet Potato Fries
Oven-baked sweet potato fries are a lighter alternative to regular fries, and sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and fiber. Just add salt, ground cumin or smoked paprika for a sweet-and-smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with grilled steak.
More: Recipe for Old Bay Baked Fries
16. Roasted Whole Artichokes
The artichoke is the edible flower bud of a large thistle-like plant. Roasting whole artichokes with salt, garlic and a drizzle of olive oil brings out their delicate, nutty flavor, and pulling off the leaves and dipping them in melted butter makes for a fun, elegant side next to a steak.
Best Sides for Every Kind of Steak Dinner
Classic steakhouse dinner
Recreate a steakhouse at home with creamy scalloped potatoes or mac and cheese, a wedge salad, Brussels sprouts with bacon and a rich peppercorn or béarnaise sauce.
Grilled steak and summer BBQ
When the grill is on, keep it simple: corn on the cob, grilled or roasted vegetables, crunchy coleslaw and a cold tomato couscous salad.
Date night
For a special dinner for two, serve your steak with elegant fondant potatoes, garlicky green beans or roasted artichokes, plus a glass of red wine.
Lighter and low-carb sides
If you want to skip the potatoes, pair steak with a wedge salad, green beans, Brussels sprouts or roasted vegetables.
Whether you’re grilling a ribeye for friends or cooking a filet for two, pick one hearty side, one fresh side and a good sauce, and your steak dinner will be memorable. What’s your favorite side dish for steak? Share it with us in the comments!
