This article was updated on 3/8/2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your steak, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 60 of the most popular side dishes for steak.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve with steak are fondant potatoes, caramelized onions and mushrooms, blue cheese salad, onion rings, or truffle mac and cheese. For a surf-and-turf meal, try creamy garlic shrimp. For healthy alternatives to carb-loaded sides, try zucchini fries or whipped parsnips.
Great flavor pairings for steak
Steak is a deliciously decadent cut of meat that’s usually grilled or seared. It has a rich, savory flavor, which you can further enhance with seasoning and herbs.
- Umami flavors: Steak is rich in glutamates, making it naturally packed with umami. You can enhance this flavor with other naturally umami-rich ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, soy sauce, and cheese.
- Creamy flavors: Steak’s savory flavor is robust enough to withstand rich, creamy additions like mashed potatoes or a blue cheese sauce. Even a simple knob of butter works well with steak.
- Bitter flavors: Bitter elements help offset the richness of your steak. You can try pairing it with veggies like Brussels sprouts or arugula. A bitter cocktail on the side like Negroni also works.
Restaurant favorites
Whether you’re looking to impress someone or simply want to treat yourself, these restaurant-worthy sides are perfect for your steak. They may look fancy, but they’re way easier to make than you think.
Fondant potatoes
I love mashed potatoes as much as anyone, but fondant potatoes are my go-to side for a perfectly cooked steak.
They do require a bit of work since you’ll have to sear the spuds and then bake them. But this unique technique is what gives them those delightfully crisp, golden crusts and soft, buttery interiors that are to die for.
Pro-tip: for best results, use russet or Idaho potatoes.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for an elegant dinner.
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Rosemary fondant potatoes
Make it sweet
Fondant sweet potatoes
Ditch the stove
Lemon-roasted potatoes
Truffle mac and cheese
Give your usual mac and cheese a tasty twist with this recipe.
It starts off like any regular mac and cheese, but the addition of white truffle oil truly makes a difference. This truffle oil brings a bolder earthy flavor that works really well with the nuttiness of the gruyere cheese and complements the meatiness of your steak.
Psst… you’ll probably need a nap after finishing off your steak and mac and cheese.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a one-pot dish so less washing up for you ( = more time for napping).
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Truffle mac and cheese
Ditch the macaroni
Gnocchi truffle alfredo
Make it low-carb
Zoodles cacio e pepe
Buttermilk onion rings
For a little treat, serve your steak with a (big) helping of onion rings.
Not frozen store-bought onion rings, though— they won’t do steak any justice. Homemade is the only way to go.
And the key to extra crispy homemade onion rings is to double-coat them. They take a bit more time to make, but they’re worth it.
Psst… don’t forget your favorite dipping sauce.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a no-frills approach to a traditional side.
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Onion rings
Bust out the air fryer
Air fryer onion rings
Make it different
Baby bloomin’ onions
Instant pot lemon risotto
Love risotto, but don’t feel like stirring for over 30 minutes? Use an instant pot. All you need to do is prep the ingredients and then leave them to cook.
Five minutes later (yes 5 minutes), you’ll have a perfectly cooked, buttery risotto with a citrusy note to contrast a rich or fatty steak.
I always make this dish when I’ve left everything to the last minute!
Why we love this recipe: it’s an effortless way to enjoy this Italian classic.
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Instant pot lemon risotto with peas
Change the flavor
Instant pot mushroom and spinach risotto
Go back to basics
Spinach risotto
Peppercorn sauce
This is an obvious choice, but I’m always surprised by how often people forget the sauce so I thought I’d remind you.
My absolute favorite sauce to serve with steak is peppercorn sauce. It goes great with the steak, and it’s great for dipping your fries into or spooning over some mash.
Psst… don’t sub out the heavy cream for this sauce – it’s a must.
Why we love this recipe: it’s easy to make with pantry staples.
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Peppercorn sauce
Add heat
Horseradish sauce
Make it cheesy
Blue cheese sauce
Orzo stuffed tomatoes
These orzo-stuffed tomatoes are great for a group dinner because they’re the only side you need. The tomatoes are the vegetables, and the orzo stuffing on the inside provides the carbs.
Not a fan of orzo? You can use leftover risotto or lentil ragu as a filling instead.
Pro tip: Emily from Inside the rustic kitchen suggests making a pasta sauce with the leftover tomato pulp from this recipe.
Why we love this recipe: you can eat the leftovers cold the next day for lunch (and it’s still yummy).
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Baked orzo-stuffed tomatoes
Go for mushrooms
Stuffed portobello mushrooms
Go for a salad
Lemon orzo salad
Garlic butter rolls
Let’s go back to basics by whipping up a batch of these dinner rolls.
They’re made with a simple enriched dough, which yields the fluffiest rolls you’ll ever taste. I especially love tearing them apart and using them to mop up my steak’s juices and sauce.
And brush the rolls with the garlic butter mixture as soon as they’re out of the oven so it can sink right into them.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for baking novices.
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Garlic butter dinner rolls
Make it cheesy
Cheesy garlic crack bread
Keep it simple
Easy garlic bread
Vegetables and salads
Veggie sides or salads are a great accompaniment for steak if you want to keep your meal light but filling. You can get away with boiled greens if you’re in a rush, but there are loads of other options!
Caramelized onions and mushrooms
These caramelized onions and mushrooms are a winning combination. They’re tender, slightly sweet, and packed to the brim with umami flavors.
A splash of red wine vinegar deepens the flavors, while some chopped parsley adds a hint of brightness.
Spoon this mixture over freshly seared steak and you’ve got a delicious meal that looks like it came from a professional kitchen.
Why we love this recipe: it turns humble ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish.
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Caramelized onions and mushrooms
Skip the onions
Garlic butter mushrooms
Change the flavor
Garlic mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes
Whipped parsnips with fresh herbs
You can’t go wrong with whipped parsnips – you’ll get a delightful velvety mash, chock-full of fresh, herby flavors, excellent for soaking up your steak’s juices and sauce.
And the best part?
It has fewer calories than your usual mashed spuds, while still giving you a satisfyingly creamy bite. I also like to add in some celeriac if I have it handy to add a unique nuttiness.
Why we love this recipe: it’s paleo-friendly, and you can make it dairy-free by using almond milk.
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Whipped parsnips with fresh herbs
Make it a starter
Parsnip and leek soup
Make it decadent
Parsnips gratin with gruyere and thyme
Garlic parmesan spaghetti squash
This recipe combines creamed spinach, a steakhouse classic, with roasted and shredded spaghetti squash. Everything is then baked in the oven, resulting in cheesy noodle-like strands with tender spinach – absolutely delish.
The cream cheese in this recipe is optional, but I highly recommend adding it if you’re looking to indulge. A recipe reviewer also suggests using low-fat cream cheese if you find the real deal a bit too decadent.
Why we love this recipe: it’s like eating creamy pasta without all the extra carbs.
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Garlic parmesan spaghetti squash
Make it dairy-free
Spinach stuffed spaghetti squash with vegan feta
Go back to basics
Fresh creamed spinach
Baked zucchini fries
Put a spin on the traditional steak Frites by replacing potato fries with these zucchini fries.
Making them involves a three-step breading process, but I guarantee you they’re worth the effort. The breading gives these fries a delightful crispy bite like the real deal but with fewer carbs.
And if you don’t like zucchini, you can make veggie fries out of asparagus, carrots, green beans, eggplant, or even beets.
Why we love this recipe: the zucchini fries are baked instead of fried.
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Baked parmesan zucchini fries
Another low-carb option
Air fryer jicama fries
Go back to basics
Oven-baked steak fries
Autumn crunch salad
If you want to let the steak do all the talking, then a light side salad is your best option.
And salads aren’t only for summer. This one has a more wintery feel with ingredients like radicchio, fennel, and radish.
It also features a fabulous tart champagne vinaigrette that brightens the whole dish and cuts through your steak’s fattiness.
Why we love this recipe: it adds a delightful burst of colors and flavors to your main dish.
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Autumn crunch butter lettuce salad
Make it savory
Shaved brussels sprout salad with bacon
Keep it simple
Easy garden salad
Miso-ginger eggplant
Bring a tasty Japanese twist to your steak with a serving of this glazed eggplant.
It’s full of umami flavors from the soy sauce-based glaze, which also helps enhance the natural glutamates in your steak. I like to add some ginger too, because it adds a nice tang and keeps everything from getting too sweet.
The classic recipe involves cooking the eggplant over an open fire to char the skin, but this version makes it more accessible by toasting and broiling the eggplant instead.
Why we love this recipe: it will turn any plate into an Insta-worthy meal.
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Miso eggplant
Skip the oven
Roasted root vegetables with a miso glaze
Add heat
Gochujang-glazed eggplant
Surf-and-turf
How about serving up another protein alongside your steak? Traditional surf-and-turf pairs steak with shellfish like shrimp and lobsters, which have a mildly sweet taste that contrasts with your steak’s meaty flavor.
Creamy garlic shrimp
Turn your steak into a protein-filled surf-and-turf meal with a side of this decadent shrimp.
It features juicy shrimp drenched in a luxurious white wine and parmesan sauce. And the best part? It only takes 10 minutes of prep work.
Psst… fresh shrimp is best for this dish, but you can use frozen ones in a pinch.
Why we love this recipe: it has a rating of 4.9 from over 40 reviews.
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Creamy garlic shrimp
Make it heartier
Creamy garlic shrimp pasta
Skip the shrimp
Pan-seared scallops with lemon caper sauce
Grilled lobster tails
Grilling steaks? Go all out and make some room for lobster tails too.
The smokiness from the grill really adds an exciting layer of flavor to the mildly sweet lobster.
Recipe Critic also takes this dish a step further by brushing the lobster tails with Cajun seasoning mixed into melted butter. It infuses these lobster tails with a creamy, zesty bite that’ll have your guests coming for seconds.
Why we love this recipe: it’s show-stopping but easy to make.
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Grilled Cajun garlic butter lobster tails
Make it basic
Butter poached lobster
Make it fancy
Lobster thermidor
Summer delights
Summer is the ideal time to grill a steak, so why not whip up these summer-themed sides to go along with it?
Blue cheese and green bean salad
Bid boring summer salads goodbye with this gorgeous green bean salad.
Instead of leafy greens, this salad is purely made with blanched green beans tossed in a Dijon dressing and topped with crumbled blue cheese and walnuts. Each bite is delightfully crisp-tender, with a tangy, mildly spicy kick.
Enjoy this salad with a freshly grilled steak for the ultimate midweek summer treat.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ridiculously easy to make.
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Blue cheese and green bean salad
Make it fruity
Pear and blue cheese salad
Go traditional
Classic blue cheese wedge salad
Lemon and feta grilled asparagus
This asparagus dish is an excellent accompaniment to grilled steak.
Grilling gives your spears a crisp-tender texture and a charred, smoky flavor that pairs well with the lemon and feta vinaigrette.
This spring side is bright and tangy, which is just what you need to prevent your steak meal from getting heavy.
Why we love this recipe: you can hit two birds with one stone and grill the asparagus alongside your steak.
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Lemon and feta grilled asparagus
Make it different
Grilled asparagus with marinated peppers
Ditch the asparagus
Grilled broccoli
Grilled bacon-wrapped corn
Grilled corn is a staple side for steak cookouts. But have you tried wrapping the corn in bacon and brushing it with a honey chipotle glaze before grilling?
It takes extra work, but each wrapped corn cob is packed with a combination of sweet, savory, and spicy notes that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Psst… this is a great way to get kids to try some corn.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a creative and delicious way to enjoy corn.
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Sweet & spicy grilled bacon-wrapped corn
Make it easy
Grilled corn ribs
Make a salad
Mexican street corn kale salad
Greek yogurt coleslaw
Do you love creamy slaws but wish they were less calorific? This Greek yogurt slaw is what you’re looking for.
Using Greek yogurt instead of the usual mayo cuts down the calories of your slaw’s dressing without sacrificing the creamy goodness we all love. Greek yogurt is also naturally tangy, giving this slaw an extra acidity that goes nicely with your steak.
Pro-tip: let the slaw rest in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
Why we love this recipe: no one will notice the difference.
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Greek yogurt coleslaw
Make it fun
Tex-Mex bell peper slaw
Skip the cabbage
Jicama and green apple slaw
Sparkling lime mint punch
Complete your feast with a pitcher (or two) of this lime mint punch.
This gorgeous drink is light and refreshing, with just the right amount of sweetness. Plus, you only need four ingredients to make it: limeade concentrate, club soda, fresh mint leaves, and lime slices.
I also like adding smooshed blackberries for an extra fruity twist, but you can skip this if you only prefer the flavors of lime.
Why we love this recipe: kids and adults can enjoy this.
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Sparkling lime mint punch
Make a classic
Honey lemonade
Add alcohol
Tequila smash
What To Serve With Steak [60 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion truffle mac and cheese
- 1 portion grilled lobster tails
- 1 portion caramelized onions and mushrooms
- 1 portion fondant potatoes
- 1 portion coleslaw
- 1 portion lemon and feta-grilled asparagus
- …and more
Instructions
- Prepare your steak according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: fondant potatoes, caramelized onions and mushrooms, creamy garlic shrimp, truffle mac and cheese, blue cheese and green bean salad, buttermilk onion rings, garlic butter rolls, instant pot lemon risotto, lemon and feta grilled asparagus, whipped parsnips with fresh herbs, grilled bacon-wrapped corn, garlic parmesan spaghetti squash, baked zucchini fries, peppercorn sauce, orzo stuffed tomatoes, autumn crunch salad, and miso-ginger eggplant.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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