If you’re wondering what to serve with your surf and turf, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 51 of the most popular side dishes for surf and turf.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with surf and turf are Potatoes Romanoff, truffle mac and cheese, cheddar biscuits, polenta fries, and boiled corn on the cob. You can also serve mushroom risotto, cauliflower mash, or onion rings. For salad options, try Mediterranean couscous or Caesar salad.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Starches
Starchy sides are the way to go if you want to make your surf and turf more satisfying.
Simple boiled potatoes tossed in butter will do the trick, but you can also whip up risotto for a luxurious meal.
Or go with a delicious pasta dish if you want to indulge.
Potatoes Romanoff
Make your surf and turf even more indulgent with a side of potatoes Romanoff.
It requires slightly more effort than the usual gratin or mash because you have to bake the potatoes in advance and shred them.
But once you take a bite of the cheesy goodness, you’ll see why it’s worth the extra effort!
Why we love this recipe: a few simple ingredients are transformed into a scrumptious side.
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Potatoes Romanoff
Stick with the basics
Cheesy twice-baked potatoes
Make it fancy
Rosemary fondant potatoes
Truffle macaroni and cheese
Make your surf and turf stand out with a serving of this luxurious truffle mac and cheese on the side.
Fresh truffles aren’t always easily available, so this recipe uses truffle oil, truffle cheese, and truffle salt instead.
These three ingredients combine to infuse the cheesy bechamel with the complex, earthy flavor we all love.
Why we love this recipe: it transforms a childhood classic into a restaurant-worthy dish.
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Truffle macaroni and cheese
Stick with the classic
Baked mac and cheese
Keep it simple
Spaghetti aglio e olio
Wild mushroom risotto
Elevate your surf and turf by serving it with a classic mushroom risotto.
The key to perfectly creamy risotto is continuously stirring the pot as you add the broth.
This process takes about 20 minutes – it sounds tedious, but sneaking a few sips of white wine in between the stirring will help pass the time!
Why we love this recipe: it uses a mix of mushrooms to ensure the best flavor.
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Wild mushroom risotto
Make it effortless
Tomato basil instant pot risotto
Take a shortcut
Lemon orzo faux risotto
Jalapeno cheddar biscuits
Serve your surf and turf meal with these biscuits and a side of salted honey butter for the ultimate comfort food.
These cheesy, slightly spicy biscuits are perfect for mopping up any leftover juices from the fish and meat.
Psst… freezing your biscuits for a few minutes before baking gives them a flakier texture.
Why we love this recipe: the biscuit dough is layered with cream cheese to give them an extra velvety flavor.
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Layered jalapeno cheddar biscuits
Make a classic
Cheddar bay biscuits
Make it different
Homemade garlic butter rolls
Garlic parmesan polenta fries
Polenta is often served as a porridge-like dish, but have you ever tried it as crispy fries?
Making the fries requires the extra step of chilling your polenta, or you can take a shortcut and use tubed polenta instead.
Psst…this also recipe includes a delicious lemon aioli dip. Is it only me that can’t get enough of aioli.
Why we love this recipe: these delicious fries will wow even the most demanding dinner guests.
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Garlic parmesan polenta fries with lemon aioli
Make a classic
Baked steak fries
Make it low-carb
Keto jicama fries
Ricotta gnocchi alla vodka
As much as I love pasta, ricotta gnocchi is on another level.
These dumplings are pillowy soft and will perfectly absorb any sauce you toss in them in.
I especially love it with alla vodka sauce because it’s the best of both worlds.
You get an indulgent cream sauce brimming with sweet-tangy flavors and a hint of spice to boot.
Psst…in a rush? Use store-bought gnocchi!
Why we love this recipe: it’s an elegant comfort dish.
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Ricotta gnocchi alla vodka
Keep it simple
Pan-seared gnocchi in brown butter sage sauce
Make it herby
Pesto gnocchi
Vegetables
Veggie sides are a classic accompaniment to surf and turf.
Boiled corn on the cob is a great option, but you can also go with steakhouse classics like creamed spinach or sauteed mushrooms.
You can also make onion rings from scratch for a crunchy twist.
Garlic butter roasted mushrooms
These roasted mushrooms are one of the most straightforward sides you can whip up for your surf and turf.
You only need 5 simple ingredients and 5 minutes to prep the mushrooms, then the oven does the rest.
Pro tip: don’t be tempted to open the oven door too often, by keeping it closed you’ll get a much better color on the mushrooms.
Why we love this recipe: your kitchen smell amazing.
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Garlic butter roasted mushrooms
Skip the oven
Sauteed mushrooms and onions
Make it creamy
Garlic butter Tuscan mushrooms
Green beans with brown butter breadcrumbs
Spruce up your plain old green beans with some brown butter sage breadcrumbs.
Not only do they add flavor, but they also bring a satisfyingly crunchy bite to the dish.
Simple but delicious.
Why we love this recipe: it’s super budget friendly.
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Green beans with brown butter breadcrumbs
Make it decadent
Garlic parmesan green beans
Preheat the oven
Herb-roasted green beans and potatoes
Boiled corn on the cob
You might think boiled corn on the cob sounds boring. But not when you boil it in a milk-butter bath (with garlic of course).
The milk and butter mixture infuses the kernels with creamy goodness right from the get-go.
Psst… save the leftover broth to use as a base for a soup.
Why we love this recipe: you probably have all the ingredients on hand already.
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Boiled corn on the cob
Make it Cajun-inspired
Corn maque choux
Add more veggies
Succotash
Onion rings
Stick with a steakhouse classic with these onion rings.
Thanks to the beer batter coating, they boast a beautiful golden, lightly crisp crust.
And if you’d prefer to skip the beer, don’t worry – seltzer or other carbonated beverages like ginger ale will do the trick too.
Pro-tip: coat the onions with cornstarch first to help the batter stick.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a crowd favorite.
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Beer-battered onion rings
Make another favorite
Blooming onion
Make a starter
French onion soup
Mashed cauliflower
Mashed potatoes are a go-to side for most people, but if you’re looking for something lighter, this cauliflower version is the way to go.
The trick is to mash the boiled florets in a pot over a low-medium heat.
This technique cooks off any leftover moisture, ensuring you don’t end up with a watery mash – easy-peasy!
Why we love this recipe: each serving only has 53 calories.
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Mashed cauliflower
Another low-carb option
Parsnip puree
Make it dairy-free
Butter bean mash
Sauteed asparagus and cherry tomatoes
If you want something simple, healthy, and super tasty you’ve found it.
You’ve got sweet tomatoes, grassy asparagus, and a splash of parmesan and cream to finish the dish off.
Plus everything comes together in one pan, meaning less mess to clean up afterwards!
Why we love this recipe: it’ll add a brilliant pop of color to your plate.
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Sauteed asparagus and cherry tomatoes
Preheat the oven
Cheesy garlic roasted asparagus
Make a soup
Cream of asparagus soup
Salads
Salads are the perfect side dish for your surf and turf if you want something that’ll fill you up without weighing you down.
You can stick with the classics and put together a Caesar or wedge salad.
Or go with a pasta/grain-based salad to get your carbs in. My go-to is a quinoa salad studded with fresh veggies!
Microgreens and radish salad
Add a fancy touch to your usual leafy green salad with some microgreens.
The salad is a celebration of early spring, with microgreens and radishes being some of the first fresh produce available.
And everything is tied together with a classic lemon and poppy seed vinaigrette. YUM.
Why we love this recipe: it’s really unique.
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Microgreens and radish salad
Stick with the basics
Lemony arugula salad
Add a fruity note
Mango kale chopped salad
Caesar salad
Caesar salad might be basic, but it pairs particularly well with a protein-loaded meal like surf and turf.
Traditional homemade Caesar dressings use egg yolks to get that rich texture, but this recipe opts for mayonnaise instead.
An ingredient you can’t substitute though is the whole anchovies. They give the dressing a delectable umami flavor that can’t be replicated with a paste.
Why we love this recipe: it’s way better than pre-packaged salads.
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Caesar salad
Make it fun
Roasted garlic and kale Caesar salad
Make it Italian-inspired
Everyday Italian salad
Buttermilk coleslaw
If you’re planning a surf and turf grilling party, this buttermilk coleslaw is the perfect accompaniment.
Buttermilk is just as creamy as mayonnaise, but has an addictive tangy bite and less calories.
Psst… don’t skip the horseradish. Its heat pairs so well with steak.
Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect when you’re feeding a big crowd.
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Buttermilk coleslaw
Make it dairy-free
Vinegar coleslaw
Make it different
Broccoli slaw
Mediterranean couscous salad
If you’re tired of leafy green salads try this couscous salad instead.
The couscous acts like a sponge, soaking up all the citrusy goodness from the lemon dressing.
Pro-tip: don’t boil instant couscous – a five-minute soak in hot water is enough to cook it.
Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.9 rating from 676 votes.
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Mediterranean couscous salad
Make it different
Autumn pearl couscous salad
Make it Middle-Eastern inspired
Tabbouli
Spring quinoa salad
Another hearty salad you can try with your surf and turf is this spring quinoa salad.
Aside from the quinoa, it’s loaded with bacon, peas, fresh herbs, and feta tossed with a honey lemon vinaigrette.
It’s fresh and zesty, with hints of savory goodness in every bite.
And the best part? Leftovers are even tastier once everything has soaked the vinaigrette.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for meal preps.
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Spring quinoa salad
Add a fruity twist
Strawberry spinach quinoa salad
Go Asian
Crunchy Thai quinoa salad
The best side dishes to serve with surf and turf
- Potatoes romanoff
- Truffle macaroni and cheese
- Wild mushroom risotto
- Jalapeno cheddar biscuits
- Garlic parmesan polenta fries
- Ricotta gnocchi alla vodka
- Garlic butter roasted mushrooms
- Green beans with brown butter breadcrumbs
- Boiled corn on the cob
- Onion rings
- Mashed cauliflower
- Sauteed asparagus and cherry tomatoes
- Microgreens and radish salad
- Caesar salad
- Buttermilk coleslaw
- Mediterranean couscous salad
- Spring quinoa salad
What To Serve With Surf And Turf (51 Ideas)
Ingredients
- 1 portion potatoes romanoff
- 1 portion onion rings
- 1 portion mashed cauliflower
- 1 portion caesar salad
- 1 portion buttermilk coleslaw
- 1 portion truffle macaroni and cheese … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your surf and turf according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: potatoes romanoff, truffle macaroni and cheese, wild mushroom risotto, jalapeno cheddar biscuits, garlic parmesan polenta fries, ricotta gnocchi alla vodka, garlic butter roasted mushrooms, green beans with brown butter breadcrumbs, boiled corn on the cob, onion rings, mashed cauliflower, sauteed asparagus and cherry tomatoes, microgreens and radish salad, caesar salad, buttermilk coleslaw, mediterranean couscous salad, and spring quinoa salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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