11 of the Best Sides For Burgers

There is nothing better in this world than a thick, juicy and flavorful burger with a side dish of salty fries. But this can get repetitive and boring. So, today we will look at other side dishes for burgers that the whole family will love!

What To Serve With Burgers

There are so many options that you have never thought of, and here are a few of the best!

1. Potato Fries

Yes, of course, potato fries are first on the list! There is a reason that potato is globally recognized as the best accompaniment for burgers.

Potatoes are the perfect food because they have a very neutral flavor that will not overpower the main dish, yet will still add to the entire meal.

Over the decades, what started as deep-fried potato sticks or wedges has evolved and transformed into many other forms.

A personal favorite is potato crisps which are thinly sliced potatoes that are deep-fried until crispy.

Other forms of potatoes include fully baked potato, tater tots, spiral potatoes and roasted baby potatoes.

Fries, such as Wingstop fries are usually served with an accompanying sauce like ketchup or mayonnaise, however, can also use any leftover sauce from the burger or scoop up burger juices on the plate.

2. Onion rings

This is the second most popular side dish that is always served with potatoes. It is often served alongside potato fries – that’s how good they are!

Onion rings are onion slices that are covered in flour or batter and deep-fried to create a crispy, juicy and salty-sweet side dish.

Onion rings can be any size; some establishments even deep-fry a whole onion!

The sweet onions perfectly complement the salty flavors of any burger – it’s a culinary law! Salty and sweet go together.

3. Sweet potato fries

This very clever trend has been around for decades before becoming main-stream. The idea was to have an accompaniment, similar to potato fries, but with a much lower carb-content. These are a healthier alternative to potato sides that can be made in exactly the same ways.

However, these aren’t necessarily healthy, only healthier than potatoes. The reason being that the way you prepare the sweet potato will also affect how healthy it is. Frying food in oil will automatically make the dish unhealthy.

Rather opt to bake or pan-fry your sweet potatoes to reduce the cholesterol intake.

Sweet potatoes taste great with burgers. They are still seasoned with salt and pepper, but naturally, contain sugars to compliment the salty burgers.

4. Coleslaw

Good old fashioned coleslaw. Is there anything that this magnificent side cannot be served with?

Coleslaw is a mixture of cabbage and mayo, but these days it can be so much more. You can add cranberries, herbs, nuts, and virtually anything you can think of. Customize your coleslaw to complement the ingredients in your burger.

5. Roasted vegetables

If you already feel like you are cheating your diet by having burgers, at least opt for a healthier side dish like roasted vegetables.

You can choose any vegetable you want, or a mix of them, and roast them with some spices. This option is great because you can have as many varieties as you like and customize it according to your guests as well.

6. Baked beans

Now, I know that this isn’t the most popular dish with everyone, but I am a firm believer that somewhere out there is a recipe for baked beans for every person.

I would eat baked beans from a can if I could, but there are tons of delicious options out there to make. You can make a baked bean casserole which consists of homemade baked beans topped with breadcrumbs and cheese. Another option is to make a vegetable baked bean stew or slow-cooked baked beans.

You can also play around with flavor profiles to make, for example, pineapple and BBQ baked beans or Chipotle baked beans.

7. Chargrilled corn on the cob

Here we have another great example of a salty-sweet fusion that works incredibly. Corn is naturally sweet and adding some char (burnt bits) to it will elevate its flavor even more. The sweetness of the corn can be neutralized by adding some butter or a yogurt, like a tzatziki, dressing or sauce.

8. Macaroni and cheese

Believe it or not, macaroni and cheese can be an amazing side dish. It has very neutral flavors, like potatoes, which makes it perfect to elevate the burger.

A clever way to serve macaroni and cheese with burgers is to make deep-fried macaroni balls or bake them in individual ramekins.

9. Jalapeno poppers

If you have never fried a jalapeno popper, it is a must! It is a jalapeno stuffed with a filling, usually cheese, crumbed and deep-fried.

These add extra flair to your meal and are delicious and easy to make.

10. Stuffed mushrooms

If you love mushrooms, then you will love them crispy and fried. Rather than adding mushrooms to your burger, use them as a side dish. Especially if that includes stuffed mushrooms.

11. Salad, salad and more salad

This last category has such a wide variety of options; it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly which salad would be best.

Salads are my favorite concept of all time. The reason being is that is so easily customized to each person’s personal preference.

These are many types of salads. Some are made up of cold and raw ingredients, for example, a classic Greek salad.

Some salads have some cooked ingredients in them. You can start with a Greek salad as your base and add boiled eggs, crispy bacon, roasted nuts, etc. Try to use flavors that compliment your burger.

You also get what I call, mayonnaise salads, where you have vegetables like potato, carrots, or beets and toss them is mayonnaise with beautiful seasonings. These are very similar to coleslaw and the tangy mayonnaise flavors go great with the burger.

The bottom line is that there are thousands of salads out there and you can choose whatever you feel like on the day!

Conclusion

Now that you have so many delicious side dishes for hamburgers to choose from, the only thing left to do is try them all.

They are very versatile so you can choose whatever suits your mood for the day or even the occasion. They are all quick and easy and will impress your friends at the next barbeque. Next time you’re asked about what to serve with hamburgers, you’ll know.