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Home » Side Dish Recipes

What to Serve with Hamburgers

Published: Mar 25, 2023 Last Updated: Jun 4, 2023 by Marye 891 words. | About 5 minutes to read this article.

A collage of side dish images with a title text overlay for Pinterest.

Wondering what to serve with hamburgers that will make the whole family excited for dinnertime?

Need more ideas for a cookout spread? From iconic, classic sides to quick and easy ones, we’ll discuss all of the options that are sure to make burger night a hit! 

A finished hamburger on a plate.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why we love it
  • 🥦 Vegetable Sides
  • 🥖 Other Sides
  • Desserts
  • 🍷 Wine and cocktails
  • 🍇 Garnish
  • 💭 Things to know
  • These side dishes also go with...
  • These side dishes DO NOT go with...
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why we love it

  • Classic American comfort food with so much flavor
  • Both hamburgers and delicious sides can be made without an oven
  • A good burger is versatile and easy to pair with simple ingredients

Perfect side dishes don’t have to be complicated! Sometimes all you need is a simple recipe with great flavors—thankfully, this post is loaded with awesome ideas!

You'll definitely want to try this Lipton Onion Burger recipe, too.

Pickled onion rings on a fork being removed from the jar.

🥦 Vegetable Sides

There’s nothing like a crisp vegetable dish served alongside a juicy burger. Whether you’re searching for healthy sides or, well, not so health-focused dishes, here are some great options.

  1. Sweet potato fries
  2. Cucumber salad
  3. Quinoa salad
  4. Sweet corn
  5. Sweet potatoes 
  6. Black bean dip
  7. Cucumber tomato salad
  8. Southern green beans 
  9. Baked zucchini chips 
  10. Frito Salad
  11. Fresh corn on the cob
  12. Crunchy cole slaw
  13. Fresh veggie tray and dip
  14. Maple roasted carrots
  15. Guacamole and chips 
  16. Grilled veggie kebabs 
  17. Creamed spinach 

🥖 Other Sides

Some people say the best part about a burger is all the yummy sides that go with it! These easy side dishes will make a great addition to your dinner or cookout!

  1. Classic French fries 
  2. Pasta salad 
  3. Crispy fried potatoes
  4. Onion rings
  5. Fruit salad
  6. Dr Pepper baked beans
  7. Potato wedges
  8. Tortilla chips and salsa
  9. Classic potato salad 
  10. Tater tots
  11. Macaroni salad
  12. Watermelon salad
  13. Grilled pineapple 
  14. Baked potatoes 
Cookies cooling on a cooling rack.

Desserts

After a satisfying, yet simple meal, treat your taste buds to dessert! These sweets make a classic pairing with your main meal.

  1. Southern pineapple casserole
  2. Boston cream pie 
  3. Chocolate chip cookies
  4. Lemon meringue pie 
  5. Popsicles 
  6. Homemade fudge
  7. Ice cream with Red Velvet fudge sauce
  8. Pig Pickin’ cake
  9. Brownies
  10. Fruit “pizza”

🍷 Wine and cocktails

Wash down each bite of savory burger with something a little more fun than soda. Any of these beverages would make the perfect choice!

  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Tropical pineapple sangria
  3. Rum and Coke cocktail
  4. Syrah
  5. Merlot
  6. Electric lemonade cocktail
  7. Vodka strawberry lemonade
  8. Shiraz
  9. Rioja
  10. Peach Whiskey Mule
  11. Lagerita
top view of a jar of candied jalapenos

🍇 Garnish

When planning out what to serve with your hamburgers, don’t forget the garnish. It might not seem like a main ingredient, but trust me—these items are still essential to a great burger!

  1. Lettuce
  2. Tomato slices
  3. Pickles/relish
  4. Pickled onions
  5. Candied jalapeños
  6. Cheese (we like American, Cheddar, Pepper-Jack, and Swiss)
  7. Sautéed mushrooms and onions 
  8. Red onion or sweet onion slices
  9. Jezebel sauce, or other favorite dipping sauce

And, don’t forget the buns! 

  1. Burger buns
  2. Cornmeal “Torpedo” rolls
  3. Pretzel rolls 
  4. Potato rolls
  5. Sesame seed buns

💭 Things to know

Even the best sides can’t save an underwhelming main dish. No matter what type of hamburger you’re making, use these tips to make it the best!

  • Don’t overwork the meat or your burgers will be tough. 
  • Taste the meat for seasoning before forming the burgers. Pinch off a piece of beef and brown it in a sauté pan. Taste and adjust, if needed! 
  • Making hamburgers is a great way to use up leftover meat! You can use a blend of ground beef, turkey, pork, chicken, or venison. Throw in whatever you have!
  • You can prevent your burgers from shrinking too much by using a beef blend with less fat. I prefer 90/10 for a good balance. 
  • If you want to make sure all of your burgers are the same size, weigh each patty on a kitchen scale.
  • Burgers always puff up in the middle? Before placing them on the grill, use your thumbs to gently indent the center of each patty.
  • The best way to check burgers for doneness is with a meat thermometer. At 145 degrees F they’re considered rare, and 165 degrees F is well-done!
  • No grill? No problem! Place burgers on an oven-safe rack over a baking sheet and cook them in the oven. Or, use a stovetop grill pan. 
  • Prep your burger patties ahead of time for busy weeknights. Store the uncooked burgers in an airtight container, refrigerating according to the “use by” date on the meat packaging. 
  • Good news: you can freeze cooked or uncooked burger patties for up to three months! Wrap them well to avoid freezer burn.

These side dishes also go with...

Hamburger sides are versatile, so they go well with a variety of other easy recipes.

  • Hamburger Steaks are made with tender beef (just like burgers!) and smothered in a thick, rich gravy you’ll want to eat by the spoonful.
  • Flavorful, juicy, and just like Mom used to make, Old-Fashioned Meatloaf has that homestyle taste that goes great with burger sides.
  • Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are super easy to make (hello, Crockpot!) and packed with beefy flavor!

These side dishes DO NOT go with...

Delicious side dishes, but not as great of a pairing with these mains. Save them for another time!

  • Ground Beef Mexican Casserole is a complete meal in one dish, and great for prepping ahead! No sides necessary.
  • Cowboy Casserole is packed with flavor and only takes about fifteen minutes to prep. Serve with chips or guac and dinner is done!

What is your favorite thing to serve with burgers? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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About Marye

With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

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NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

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