26 Must-Try Side Dishes for Steak Lovers
By: Vickie
Updated on: 17th August 2024
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Steak dinners are a classic favorite, but the right side dish can make them truly unforgettable. From creamy mashed potatoes and garlic butter asparagus to gourmet salads and cheesy casseroles, these recipes will elevate your steak dinner to a new level of deliciousness.
Steak. Grilled to perfection, pan-seared, or slow-cooked, one thing is certain: it deserves a supporting cast of equally delicious side dishes to truly shine.
Whether you’re firing up the grill for a backyard barbecue, hosting a fancy dinner party, or simply treating yourself to a special meal at home, the right side dish can complement the rich flavors of steak, tantalize your taste buds, and leave you craving for more.
In this roundup, we’ve gathered a mouthwatering collection of side dish recipes that will elevate your steak experience to new heights. From classic pairings to unexpected flavor combinations, these sides are sure to impress your guests and satisfy your cravings.
Imagine sinking your teeth into a juicy, perfectly cooked steak accompanied by a creamy, cheesy potato gratin or a vibrant, fresh salad.
Or perhaps you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, like roasted Brussels sprouts with a balsamic glaze or a savory mushroom risotto. Get your apron on and get the party started.
Tips to Make The Best Side Dish for Steak
Consider Flavor Balance: Since steak tends to be rich and savory, aim for side dishes that provide a balance of flavors, textures, and colors. For example, if your steak is seasoned with bold spices, opt for a side dish that offers a refreshing contrast, like a crisp salad or grilled vegetables.
Complement the Steak: Choose side dishes that complement the flavors of the steak rather than overpowering them. For example, if you’re serving a juicy ribeye steak with a robust flavor, consider pairing it with a simple side dish like roasted garlic mashed potatoes or sautéed mushrooms to enhance its natural taste.
Add Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs can elevate the flavor of your side dishes and add a burst of freshness to the meal. Consider incorporating herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, or chives into your side dishes for an aromatic touch that complements the steak beautifully.
Presentation Matters: A little plating magic goes a long way. Arrange your sides carefully, drizzle with a finishing oil, or sprinkle with fresh herbs for an Instagram-worthy meal.
Side dishes for specific cuts of steak
Certain side dishes can complement specific cuts of steak. For example, a rich and creamy potato gratin pairs beautifully with a tender filet mignon, while a tangy coleslaw or crisp wedge salad can balance the richness of a ribeye or New York strip steak.
Can I make side dishes for steak in advance?
Yes, many steak side dishes can be made in advance to save time on the day of the meal. For example, you can prepare mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or salads a day ahead and reheat them just before serving.
Healthier side dishes for steak
To make healthier side dishes for steak, incorporate plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Opt for baked or roasted vegetables instead of fried, use olive oil or yogurt-based dressings for salads, and choose whole grain options like quinoa or brown rice over white starches.
Quick and easy side dishes
Steamed green beans with a sprinkle of lemon zest and toasted almonds come together in minutes. Sauteed mushrooms with garlic and herbs are another quick and flavorful option. More of our favorite sides include:
Are you ready for the list of side dishes for steak? Here you go! Click through if you want to find the full recipe.
Side Dishes for Steak
Discover the best steak side dishes with our mouthwatering recipes. From creamy mashed potatoes to vibrant salads, elevate your steak dinner to new heights with these perfect pairings. Whether hosting a fancy dinner party or a casual BBQ, these sides will impress your guests and satisfy your cravings.
You’re going to love this potato appetizer! These simple smash potatoes are loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives for the perfect appetizer! Make these for movie night, an after-dinner snack, or even a party favorite!
There’s no better way to cook carrots that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside than in the air fryer. Air Fryer Roasted Carrots are a healthy and flavorful side dish that comes together quickly and easily.
Perfectly seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper and finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, air-fried carrots make a terrific side dish or healthy snack.
A vibrant and flavorful dish that combines fresh seasonal vegetables with a zesty Moroccan-inspired sauce. The vegetables are typically roasted or grilled, bringing out their natural sweetness and caramelized notes.
These vegetables with chermoula sauce are an interesting side dish combination. Chermoula is an herb-based sauce. We enjoyed it on steamed green beans and carrots.
An accompaniment salad, embodying the characteristics of a side salad, is a delightful partner to a main course, particularly something richer like steak.
Serving as a refreshing and flavorful counterpoint and offering a delightful balance to the overall meal, it’s a simple way to add a refreshing and flavorful dimension to your plate.
Classic potato salad gets a delightful twist with the addition of tangy pickles, making it a surprisingly delightful side dish for your next steak dinner. This unexpected duo might just become your new favorite way to elevate your steak dinners.
These humble root vegetables transform into a vibrant and flavorful side dish, perfectly complementing your next steak dinner.
Grilled radishes are a simple yet impressive side dish that adds a burst of flavor and unexpected delight to your steak dinner. Their vibrant color, smoky sweetness, and delightful texture are sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Garlic asparagus with an immersion blender hollandaise sauce is so easy to prepare and full of flavor. The asparagus is perfectly roasted and the hollandaise sauce is the perfect consistency with the perfect amount of tanginess.
This dynamic duo offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes, perfectly complementing the richness of a well-cooked steak.
Steak night deserves a side dish that’s more than just an afterthought. Enter charred broccolini with lemon and chili! This vibrant and flavorful dish is the perfect partner for your next sizzling steak dinner.
Charred broccolini with lemon and chili is more than just a side dish; it’s an experience. It elevates your steak dinner to new heights with its vibrant flavors, contrasting textures, and effortless elegance.
Red Chimichurri, also known as chimichurri rojo, is a vibrant and flavorful sauce from Argentina. It’s known for its bold taste and striking red color. It’s a variation of the traditional green chimichurri sauce.
Red Chimichurri is more than just a side dish; it’s an experience. It transforms your steak dinner into a flavor explosion, offering a vibrant contrast of color, texture, and taste.
This flavorful slaw combines crisp cabbage, creamy dressing, and smoky chipotle peppers, creating a delightful counterpoint to the richness of your steak.
Chipotle coleslaw is more than just a side dish; it’s an exciting flavor adventure. It adds a smoky, spicy, and refreshing element to your steak dinner, making every bite a delightful surprise.
Delicate oyster mushrooms, tender and succulent, gently sautéed to perfection in a luxurious blend of white wine, garlic, and butter. With each bite, you’re greeted by the irresistible aroma of garlic mingling with the subtle sweetness of the wine, creating a tantalizing scent that awakens the senses.
This simple yet flavorful side dish offers the perfect textural and taste contrast, making it a delightful partner to your juicy steak.
Sauteed portobello mushrooms are a simple and delicious dish featuring these large, meaty mushrooms cooked in a skillet with oil or butter and seasoned to perfection.
These large, meaty mushrooms transform into a delicious, hearty, and satisfying accompaniment. They’re a flavorful and satisfying partner for your steak dinner. Their meaty texture, earthy flavor, and ease of preparation make them crowd-pleasers.
Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes are a delicious and savory side dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses, from roasted chicken to grilled steak. The sweet and savory flavor of the caramelized onions adds depth and richness to the creamy mashed potatoes.
Baked Stuffed Tomatoes with White Beans and Spinach is a delicious and nutritious dish that combines the natural sweetness of tomatoes with the creaminess of white beans and the freshness of spinach.
This vibrant dish offers a delightful burst of sunshine, perfectly complementing the richness of your sizzling steak.
Creamed leeks are a simple but decadent side dish that combines tender leeks with an obsession-worthy cream and parmesan sauce. They make the perfect pairing for a wide range of main courses and are also delicious served with a steak.
A classic comfort food made by boiling potatoes until they are tender, then mashing them and mixing them with butter, milk or cream, salt, and pepper. The result is a creamy and fluffy dish with a rich potato flavor.
Mashed potatoes can be served as a side dish with a wide variety of meals, from roast chicken to steak, and they are often enjoyed with gravy or other sauces.
ir Fryer Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish that combines the natural sweetness of roasted carrots with the savory flavors of garlic and Parmesan cheese.
They elevate your steak dinner with their bright flavors, delightful texture, and healthy appeal. So, ditch the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary with this quick and easy side dish on your plate!
This grilled vegetable salad is a great side dish for a Mediterranean-style barbecue or steak. Made with fresh Summer vegetables like zucchini, eggplants, and red peppers, this healthy salad is seasoned with only fresh basil, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil.
Grilled Vegetable Salad isn’t just a side dish; it’s a celebration of summer on a plate. It offers a delightful symphony of fresh flavors, contrasting textures, and vibrant colors, perfectly complementing your steak dinner.
Easy Italian Oven-Roasted Red Peppers are a simple yet flavorful dish that celebrates red bell peppers’ natural sweetness and vibrant color. They are the perfect partner for your next steak dinner.
Asparagus and Radish Potato Salad is a refreshing and vibrant side dish that combines tender asparagus spears, crisp radishes, and creamy potatoes tossed in a flavorful dressing.
A vibrant and flavorful side dish that bursts with springtime freshness and complements your steak beautifully.
Crispy fried green beans are a delicious appetizer or side dish made by coating fresh green beans in a seasoned batter or breading and frying them until they’re golden brown and crispy.
This simple recipe transforms humble green beans into a delightful partner for your next sizzling steak dinner.
Spicy garlic edamame is a delicious and addictive Japanese-inspired appetizer featuring young soybeans (edamame) seasoned with spicy chili sauce and garlic.
More than just a side dish, this spicy garlic edamame is a flavor adventure waiting to be explored. It adds a delightful pop of spice, contrasting textures, and a touch of interactive fun to your steak dinner.
Mashed butternut squash is a delicious and creamy side dish made from cooked butternut squash and mashed until smooth. This vibrant side dish offers a delightful contrast in texture and flavor, making it the perfect partner for your next sizzling steak dinner.
Corn pudding is a creamy and comforting dish made primarily from corn kernels, eggs, milk, and sometimes flour or cornmeal for thickening. It is a surprisingly delightful side dish that adds a touch of sweetness, creaminess, and unexpected texture to your steak dinner.
Mashed cauliflower is a nutritious and low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. It's made by cooking cauliflower until tender and then mashing it into a creamy consistency.
It's a delicious and versatile side dish. Its creamy texture, lighter profile, and ease of preparation make it a perfect partner for your next steak dinner.
As we conclude our savory journey through the realm of steak side dishes, it becomes clear that these flavorful accompaniments are more than mere complements; they’re culinary companions that elevate the dining experience to new heights.
The perfect steak is not just about the protein itself but the harmonious balance of flavors and textures that create a truly unforgettable meal. Whether you’re a steak aficionado or just looking to spice up your dinner routine, these side dishes offer a world of possibilities to explore.
Here’s to many more delicious steak dinners, memorable gatherings, and the joy of sharing good food with the people you love.
May your plate always be filled with flavor, your belly always be happy, and your heart always be full.