My Go-To Burger Sides: 31 Options From Potato Salad to Grilled Veggies
Published May 12, 2026
31 side dishes to serve with burgers, including condiments and toppings, potato sides, salads, cold hearty sides, warm sides, and healthier options.
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Burgers weren’t really a regular thing in our house growing up. My mom cooked Lebanese food mostly, so when burgers did show up, it was usually at a backyard gathering or a restaurant, not a Tuesday night dinner. I didn’t start thinking seriously about what to pair with burgers until I was cooking for myself and realized I had no default answer beyond fries.
That’s basically why this list exists. Figuring out what sides to serve with burgers is harder than it sounds because the meal can go in a lot of different directions depending on who you’re feeding and what the occasion is.
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31 Side Dish Recipes to Serve with Burgers
The list covers potato sides, salads, and cabbage slaws; cold, hearty sides like potato and bean salads; warm sides; and healthy sides to serve with burgers when you want something that balances out the meal a little. I also threw in five bonus bun-topping ideas because if you’re looking for what to serve with burgers besides fries, the toppings are often the ones people forget about, and they make a real difference.
If you need something quick and easy or just a solid starting point, I hope this helps you figure out what to make.
Potato Sides to Serve with Burgers
Side Dish
Air Fryer French Fries
These air fryer french fries are made from scratch and oh so crispy! If you've been looking for the best homemade air fryer french fries recipe, this is it!
23 minutes
Side Dish
Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryer Potatoes cut into cubes, seasoned, and cooked in under 30 minutes. If you're trying to figure out what to serve with burgers besides fries, these are an easy answer that comes together without much thought.
28 minutes
Snack
Oven Baked Potato Chips
Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients, these oven baked potato chips are perfectly crunchy and a great option when you're thinking about simple sides to serve with burgers without a lot of effort.
30 minutes
Appetizer, Side Dish
Baked Potato Wedges
Made from scratch, these oven baked potato wedges are the perfect homemade treat and side dish. Deliciously seasoned and extra crispy!
1 hour 20 minutes
Side Dish
Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Fail-proof method for making crispy oven-baked sweet Potato Fries, no soaking required! They're easy to make with only 10 minutes of prep.
45 minutes
Side, Side Dish
Grilled Potatoes Recipe
These grilled potatoes are made with baby potatoes, seasoned and charred on the grill. One of my go-to quick and easy sides for burgers in the summer when the grill is already on anyway.
30 minutes
Side Dish
Crispy Smashed Potatoes Recipe
These roasted garlic and Parmesan smashed potatoes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It's like eating mashed potatoes and roasted potatoes in one!
50 minutes
Salads and Slaws to Serve with Burgers
Salad, Side Dish
Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe
Red cabbage slaw recipe with red cabbage, shredded carrots, red onions, and cilantro in a homemade vinaigrette dressing that is mayo-free.
18 minutes
Salads, Side Dish
Healthy Coleslaw
Add this easy Healthy Coleslaw recipe to your potluck, picnic and barbecue events this summer. It's a tangy, creamy, mayo-free coleslaw made with Greek Yogurt
15 minutes
Salads
Chopped Green Goddess Salad Recipe
This chopped green goddess salad recipe is made with homemade green goddess dressing with chopped cabbage, cucumbers, and green onions.
10 minutes
Salad, Side Dish
Garden Salad Recipe
Garden Salad made with lettuce and veggies, this is one of those simple sides to serve with burgers where you can mix and match whatever you have. I added a homemade vinaigrette but it works with anything.
10 minutes
Salad, Side Dish
Broccoli Salad Recipe
This creamy broccoli salad recipe is made with fresh, blanched broccoli so it's tender crips and tossed in a creamy homemade dressing made with Greek yogurt.
1 hour 20 minutes
Appetizer, Salad
Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe
Sweet watermelon, salty feta, fresh mint, and a lime honey dressing. No cooking, ready in about 10 minutes, and one of the more interesting healthy sides to serve with burgers when you want something a little different.
15 minutes
Cold Hearty Sides to Serve with Burgers
Side Dish
Mustard Potato Salad Recipe
Baby potatoes tossed in a creamy mustard and Greek yogurt dressing with celery, shallots, and chives. A solid cold hearty side when you're figuring out what sides to serve with burgers and want something that holds up well if you're making it ahead.
25 minutes
Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Bean Salad
This cold bean salad is a hearty, easy-to-prep all-season dish (or meal!) with lentils, beans, chickpeas, and vegetables, tossed in a light and tangy vinaigrette.
30 minutes
Pastas, Side Dish
Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Italian pasta salad with tri-color rotini pasta, a homemade creamy dressing made with Greek yogurt and fresh veggies, including cucumber, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
25 minutes
Salad, Side Dish
Macaroni Egg Salad Recipe
Elbow noodles, hard-boiled eggs, celery, red onions, and pickle in a creamy yogurt dressing instead of mayo. One of those what to serve with burgers besides fries answers that works just as well for a cookout as it does for a regular weeknight.
27 minutes
Salad
Chickpea Salad Recipe
This chickpea salad recipe takes 10 minutes to make with canned chickpeas, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, diced red onion, feta, and a simple vinaigrette.
10 minutes
Entree
Cauliflower Potato Salad
This Cauliflower Potato Salad is made with cauliflower instead of potatoes for a low-carb keto friendly summer salad – just as tasty as the original recipe!
35 minutes
Warm Sides to Serve with Burgers
Side Dish
Creamed Corn Recipe
This homemade creamed corn recipe is made with frozen corn, butter, milk, parmesan cheese, and is ready in under 30!
25 minutes
Side Dish
Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic
Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic ready in 10 minutes on the stovetop, these are one of those quick and easy sides for burgers that double as a topping. Pile them on the burger or serve them alongside, either way works.
10 minutes
Entree, Side Dish
Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Sharp cheddar and gruyere mixed into a roux, tossed with elbow macaroni, and baked with a panko topping. If you're asking what sides to serve with burgers for a crowd, this is the answer that never gets argued with.
45 minutes
Side Dish
Instant Pot Baked Bean Recipe
This Instant Pot baked beans recipe starts with a flavorful sauce made of spices, ketchup, honey, and Dijon mustard, and slow-simmering dried pinto beans.
1 hour 10 minutes
Side Dish
Roasted Cauliflower Au Gratin Recipe
This easy cauliflower au gratin recipe is made with a head of cauliflower that is roasted in the oven in a Gruyerè cheese sauce and has a crispy panko topping.
1 hour
Healthy Sides to Serve with Burgers
Salad
Zucchini Salad Recipe
This zucchini salad recipe is made with raw zucchini ribbons, walnuts, and shaved parmesan. It is tossed in a homemade lemony dressing.
10 minutes
Side, Side Dish
Grilled Romaine Lettuce Recipe
Romaine hearts brushed with a homemade vinaigrette and grilled for two minutes to add some char. One of the better healthy sides to serve with burgers that still feels substantial enough to belong on the plate.
11 minutes
Appetizer, Side Dish
Baked Zucchini Fries
These Baked Zucchini Fries are a must-try! They're coated in crispy panko and served with a creamy yogurt dipping sauce. You'll love them!
40 minutes
Side Dish
Air Fryer Broccoli
Air fryer broccoli produces tender florets with a savory, crispy texture, making it a quick and easy veggie side!
20 minutes
Side, Side Dish
Grilled Veggie Kabobs
Grilled Veggie Kabobs smoky, colorful, and slightly charred. A good option when you're looking for simple sides to serve with burgers, and the grill is already going anyway
1 hour 2 minutes
Side Dish
Roasted Cauliflower Steak Recipe
Roasted cauliflower steaks seasoned with olive oil, lemon, paprika, and garlic, baked until caramelized, and served with an easy, optional chimichurri.
30 minutes
Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Crispy Onion Rings
Crispy Onion Rings are a viral TikTok recipe made with just 4-ingredients in 20 minutes. They're a fun appetizer to enjoy with ranch dip or even as a sandwich or burger topping
35 minutes
Condiments and Toppings for Burgers
Condiments
Spicy Mayo 3 Ingredient Recipe
Made with mayo, sriracha, and lime juice, no cooking required. One of those simple sides to serve with burgers that technically lives in the condiment category but changes the whole sandwich. Also works on sushi, bowls, and fries.
3 minutes
Condiments
Garlic Aioli Recipe
Easy homemade aioli made in the food processor with garlic, lemon and pantry staples. A creamy dip or spread for any meal.
5 minutes
Condiments, Dips
Avocado Crema
Silky, smooth lime avocado crema made with Greek yogurt, fresh avo, lime, and garlic. A delicious sauce for tacos, burritos, bowls, and more!
7 minutes
Condiments
Pickled Red Onion Recipe (Quick and Slow Method)
A quick tutorial covering two methods: a fast version ready in half an hour and a slower method for a crunchier bite. If you're thinking about what to serve with burgers besides fries, having a jar of these in the fridge is a good place to start.
1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredient, Side
Caramelized Onions
Learn how to caramelize onions with this easy tutorial. Slowly cooked onions turn soft, sweet, and golden – great on burgers, pizza, pasta, and more!
40 minutes
Tips for Making Sides to Serve With Burgers
- Use seasonal produce. Take advantage of seasonal vegetables to create fresh, flavorful, and healthy sides to serve with your burgers. It adds variety to your meal and is also more cost-efficient.
- Choose make-ahead side dishes. If you’re doing a large cookout, consider a few recipes that can be made a day or two ahead of time so you’re not in the kitchen all day.
- Make it a joint effort. You can also ask your guests to bring a side to take some of the cooking off your hands. They will love being a part of the fun day, and it’ll take some pressure off of you.
- Have a variety of sides. If you’re planning food for a fun weekend, plan a mix of fresh salads, hearty cold sides, and hot dishes, so there’s something to satisfy everyone’s taste preferences and diet restrictions.
- Simple is best! Side dishes don’t have to be complicated. In fact, quick and easy sides for burgers are often the best. They don’t steal the show from the burgers and instead make a wonderful accompaniment in flavor, taste, and texture.
How To Store Leftovers
- Follow the recipe instructions. Some dishes need to be refrigerated immediately, while others are fine to keep at room temperature for a few hours. It’s always best to consider the storage instructions provided in the individual recipe post to ensure food safety and maintain freshness.
- Store dry and wet foods separately. Store wet foods like sliced tomatoes and onions separately from the cooked burger patties. Same with salads – if possible, serve the salad dressing on the side to keep the salad fresh longer.
- Freeze for longer storage. Many recipes are freezer-friendly, providing the convenience of having ready-made meals on hand for busy weeknights. Follow the individual recipe recommendations for freezing instructions.
- Pack a complete meal for your guest. If you’re having a burger cookout with friends, consider creating a well-balanced meal for your guests to take home with them using compartmentalized containers.
