Beyond the Bun: 30+ Irresistible Side Dishes to Elevate Your Burger Experience

There’s nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a juicy hamburger or a perfectly melted cheeseburger. It’s a quintessential comfort food, a staple of backyard barbecues, and a go-to meal for families and friends alike. But let’s be honest, a burger, no matter how delicious, is truly complete only when paired with the right supporting cast of side dishes. The perfect side can transform your meal from good to unforgettable, adding texture, flavor, and balance.

Whether you’re firing up the grill for a summer cookout, hosting a casual weeknight dinner, or simply craving that classic burger experience, choosing the right accompaniment is key. From refreshing salads and hearty potato dishes to unexpected delights, these easy-to-make options are guaranteed to complement your main course beautifully. Get ready to explore over 30 must-try side dishes that will take your burger feast to the next level!

Classic Pairings & Fresh Ideas: Your Ultimate Guide to Burger Sides

Grilling season kicks off early in the spring and hits its peak during the long, sunny days of summer. Burgers are, without a doubt, the undisputed champion of any cookout. But while the burger itself might be the star, the sides are the unsung heroes that complete the culinary narrative. We’ve curated a collection of phenomenal side dish ideas to ensure your barbecue lineup is nothing short of spectacular, offering something for every taste and preference.

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

When it comes to classic burger side dishes, few can rival the simple perfection of sweet corn on the cob. Its natural sweetness and satisfying crunch make it an ideal companion to savory hamburgers and cheeseburgers. While summer cookouts often mean grilling, you don’t need a fiery barbecue to achieve that delightful, tender-crisp texture. Our easy air fryer method allows you to enjoy perfectly cooked corn, with a hint of smoky char, any day of the year. This versatile vegetable is not only delicious but also incredibly simple to prepare, ensuring a stress-free addition to your meal.

Air Fryer Onion Rings

While French fries will always hold a special place in our hearts as a fantastic side for burgers, crispy onion rings offer a delightful alternative for those who appreciate their slightly sweet and savory flavor. These golden-fried rings provide a wonderful textural contrast to the soft bun and juicy patty of your burger. Elevate your onion ring experience even further by pairing them with our Copycat Outback Bloomin’ Onion Sauce, adding an extra layer of zesty, onion-infused deliciousness to every bite. They’re a perfect side dish for any burger aficionado looking for something beyond the usual.

Caprese Pasta Salad

As the weather warms, we naturally gravitate towards lighter, more refreshing dishes. This Italian-inspired Caprese Pasta Salad is the epitome of summer dining, offering a vibrant and zesty contrast to a hearty burger. It beautifully combines sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves, all tossed with pasta and a light dressing. The refreshing flavors and cool temperature make it an ideal side for any outdoor gathering. Plus, it’s one of those magical dishes that tastes even better the next day, making leftovers a welcome treat.

Kidney Bean Salad

Burgers are often rich and indulgent, so a side dish that offers a refreshing counterpoint can be truly delightful. This Kidney Bean Salad starts with simple canned kidney beans and gets a burst of freshness from crisp celery and vibrant green peppers. Its balanced acidity and savory profile perfectly cut through the richness of your burger, offering a satisfying flavor contrast. A beloved Southern potluck favorite, this salad is incredibly easy to prepare and can be effortlessly scaled up to feed a large crowd, making it perfect for your next big barbecue.

Hasselback Potatoes

For an elevated potato side that truly impresses, look no further than Hasselback Potatoes. We like to think of these as a gourmet, often cheesier, starch option that instantly upgrades any burger meal. Their accordion-like slices create a beautiful presentation on any dinner plate, yet they are surprisingly easier to make than they appear. The exterior becomes wonderfully crispy while the interior remains tender and fluffy, offering a fantastic textural experience. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs for an added touch of elegance and flavor, making them a truly great burger side dish.

Broccoli Slaw

If you’re seeking a lighter, veggie-forward alternative to traditional creamy coleslaw, our Broccoli Slaw is an absolute winner. This recipe swaps the mayonnaise for a zesty, flavorful dressing made with honey, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. It’s then enhanced with the addition of crunchy almonds, crisp apples, sweet onions, and tangy blue cheese, creating a dynamic array of textures and tastes. This fresh, vibrant side dish offers a perfect, bright contrast to the richness of a decadent burger, making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for healthy burger sides without sacrificing flavor.

Cracker Barrel Green Beans

While green beans might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of comfort food, these copycat Cracker Barrel green beans are here to change that perception. Slow-cooked to perfection and generously loaded with savory bacon flavor, they transform a simple vegetable into an irresistibly comforting side dish. Their rich, meaty essence makes them an ideal complement to a juicy, meat-based entree like your favorite burger. Beyond burger nights, this versatile side is also a beloved addition to holiday feasts and family dinners.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries have surged in popularity, becoming a delicious and often preferred alternative to classic French fries at many restaurants. Now, you can easily bring that gourmet experience to your home burger night! Our guide shows you how to transform a bag of frozen sweet potato fries into perfectly crispy, golden-brown delights using your air fryer. They offer a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors, pairing exceptionally well with a variety of burgers. Dress them up with your favorite seasonings or dipping sauces for a personalized touch.

Air Fryer Hot Dogs

Burgers and hot dogs are practically inseparable when it comes to classic American cookouts. They’re the dynamic duo of summer grilling! While the grill is often fired up for burgers, our air fryer method offers a fantastic alternative for preparing hot dogs, ensuring you can enjoy this beloved classic alongside your burger, come rain or shine. The air fryer delivers perfectly cooked hot dogs with a satisfying snap, allowing you to easily prepare a variety of options to please every guest. Serve them up with all your favorite toppings for a complete and satisfying meal.

Southwest Black Bean and Corn Salad

Add a burst of vibrant flavor and texture to your burger spread with this refreshing Southwest Black Bean and Corn Salad. This lively dish combines sweet corn, hearty black beans, protein-rich garbanzo beans, and diced tomatoes, all tossed in a zesty dressing. It’s not only incredibly delicious but also vegetarian and vegan-friendly, making it a versatile option for diverse dietary needs. This salad is an excellent companion, especially for Southwest, Tex-Mex, or south-of-the-border-inspired burgers, offering a light and tangy contrast to rich patties.

BLT Pasta Salad

Imagine all the delicious flavors of a classic BLT sandwich, but in a refreshing and convenient pasta salad form! This cold salad is a guaranteed hit at summer cookouts, potlucks, and any burger gathering. It takes the beloved combination of crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and ripe tomatoes, and swaps the bread for tender pasta noodles, creating a unique and satisfying experience. If you’re a big fan of this iconic deli sandwich, consider pairing this delightful side with our BLT Burger with Avocado Aioli for an ultimate flavor celebration.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato

Bring the indulgence of a steakhouse right to your burger night with our Copycat Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato. Texas Roadhouse is renowned for its hearty steak-and-potato dinners, and now you can recreate one of their most beloved sides in your own kitchen. This Texas-sized loaded sweet potato is so substantial and flavorful, it could almost be a meal in itself! Wrapped in foil, these sweet potatoes stay warm for an extended period, making them perfect for serving at gatherings. They offer a wonderfully sweet, savory, and comforting accompaniment to any burger.

Grilled Avocados

If it’s burger time, chances are your grill is already fired up, so why not take advantage and add some creamy avocados to the lineup? Grilling avocados transforms their already rich, buttery texture into something even more luscious and imparts a delightful smoky flavor. These Grilled Avocados are incredibly versatile. Keep the Greek-inspired toppings of feta cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, Kalamata olives, and sundried tomatoes if you’re serving a Mediterranean-style burger, or switch them up to match whatever burger you’re craving. They’re a healthy, flavorful, and unique side dish that will impress your guests.

Watermelon Salad

This Watermelon Salad is like summer in a bowl, offering a vibrant burst of sweet-meets-savory flavors that will perfectly complement any burger you’re serving. It’s an incredibly delicious, refreshing, and surprisingly easy dish to make, even for a crowd. The combination of juicy watermelon with the tang of balsamic glaze creates a delightful palate cleanser that beautifully contrasts the richness of your main course. You’ll find yourself reaching for the required balsamic glaze for many other dishes too, making this a versatile ingredient to have on hand.

Marinated Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter

Looking to elevate your burger night with a sophisticated twist? These Marinated Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter offer a fantastic “surf-and-turf” option that will truly impress. Hailing from the 200 Easy Mexican Recipes Cookbook, this recipe is perfect for those who want to add a unique protein and a burst of flavor to their meal. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re trying to conquer any lingering fears of cooking seafood, as the simple grilling process yields tender, flavorful shrimp every time. The creamy avocado butter is the perfect finishing touch, adding richness and a fresh herbal note.

Air Fryer French Fries

Some food combinations are simply iconic, and a burger with a side of crispy French fries is undoubtedly one of them. For those times when only classic, traditional fries will do, the air fryer is your best friend. It offers the perfect way to achieve that sought-after crispy exterior and fluffy interior without the need for a deep fryer or excessive amounts of oil. Enjoy a basket of perfectly golden French fries, made effortlessly in your air fryer, making your burger experience complete and utterly satisfying every time. They’re quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Kale and Apple Potato Salad

For a fresh and exciting twist on the traditional potato salad, try this vibrant Kale and Apple Potato Salad. This recipe utilizes new potatoes, which boast delightfully soft, waxy skins, eliminating the need for peeling and saving you prep time. The addition of nutrient-rich kale and crisp, sweet apples brings a refreshing crunch and a unique flavor profile that pairs wonderfully with savory burgers. We also lighten things up by using Miracle Whip as a tangier, lighter alternative to mayonnaise, binding all these fantastic ingredients together for a truly memorable side dish.

CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans

Baked beans are a barbecue essential, and these CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans take the classic side to a whole new level of deliciousness. The magic of the CrockPot allows you to set it and forget it, yielding fantastic, deeply flavored beans without constant attention. The rich, smoky notes of bourbon, combined with crispy bacon, create an irresistible sweet and savory profile that is the ultimate pairing for any red meat, especially a hearty burger. This universally loved combination guarantees a crowd-pleasing side dish that will have everyone exclaiming, “Hello, YUM!”

Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream

Cornbread is one of those timeless, versatile side dishes that complements virtually any meal, from breakfast to dinner. Our Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream is no exception, offering a wonderfully moist and tender crumb with a hint of tang. Beginning with two boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, this recipe significantly simplifies the baking process by eliminating the need to measure multiple dry ingredients. This makes it incredibly easy to scale up for a crowd without denting your budget or spending excessive time in the kitchen, ensuring a comforting and delicious accompaniment for your burgers.

Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Potato wedges are a fantastic carb choice because they offer more of the potato’s soft, fluffy interior while providing ample surface area for delicious dips and seasonings. Once you realize how incredibly easy it is to make these from scratch in your own kitchen, perfectly crisped in an air fryer, you’ll find it hard to justify buying them when dining out. These homemade potato wedges achieve an ideal balance of crispy exterior and tender inside, making them a hearty, satisfying, and utterly irresistible side dish for your burgers.

Broccoli Casserole

This family-approved Broccoli Casserole is a holiday favorite that deserves a permanent spot at your dinner table all year round, especially alongside a juicy burger. It’s an ingenious way to “trick” yourself and your family into enjoying vegetables, thanks to its irresistible cheesy goodness that embodies true comfort food. This casserole is not only vegetarian-friendly but also make-ahead friendly, offering a convenient option for busy days and ensuring you have an easy path to a fantastic side dish that caters to various dietary needs.

Air Fryer Kale Chips

Always on a mission to incorporate more vegetables into our meals, these Air Fryer Kale Chips are a fantastic solution. These 100 percent vegetable chips offer a terrific, guilt-free alternative to traditional fries when you’re aiming for a healthier option but still crave that satisfying salty crunch alongside your burger. Crispy and flavorful, they provide a delightful textural contrast. Plus, any leftovers are super snackable and make a wonderful addition to next-day grain bowls for a nutritious and delicious lunch!

Kool-Aid Pickles

For a truly unique and conversation-starting side dish, these Kool-Aid Pickles are an absolute must-try! The fun part is you can customize your pickles to any of Kool-Aid’s 22 flavor-based colors, making this recipe incredibly versatile and entertaining. Imagine serving them in festive red and blue for a Fourth of July barbecue, or vibrant purple with grape Kool-Aid mix for a fun Halloween party. Their surprising sweet and sour kick offers an unexpected contrast to the savory richness of your burger, delighting taste buds and adding a playful element to your meal.

Air Fryer Asparagus

Asparagus is a beloved grilled vegetable, but it also cooks up beautifully in the air fryer, offering a convenient and equally delicious alternative. This elegant and healthy side dish is perfect for adding a touch of green to your burger plate. While the air fryer delivers perfectly tender-crisp asparagus with minimal effort, feel free to toss them on the grill if you’ve already got it fired up and prefer that distinct smoky, slightly charred flavor. Either way, you’ll get a vibrant, flavorful vegetable that complements any burger effortlessly.

Easy Fruit Salad

Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too, especially when it comes to balancing a savory meal? This no-stress Easy Fruit Salad adds the perfect touch of natural sweetness and refreshing lightness to counter a rich, salt-heavy burger meal. It’s a year-round favorite for us, equally enjoyable as a vibrant summer side or a bright winter fruit salad when seasonal options might be limited. Bursting with fresh flavors and beautiful colors, this simple fruit salad is a delightful palate cleanser and a welcome addition to any gathering.

CrockPot Mushrooms

While gourmet burgers are often piled high with toppings, these savory CrockPot Mushrooms offer a delicious solution that doubles as both a fantastic side dish and an excellent burger addition. Slow-cooked to tender perfection, these garlic-infused mushrooms add an earthy, umami richness that complements a hearty burger beautifully. Whether you prefer them spooned alongside your patty or generously piled on top for an extra layer of flavor and texture, these mushrooms are a versatile and mouthwatering choice that will enhance your burger experience, even for those massive creations like the Carnival Cruise Guy’s Burger Joint Pig Patty Burger or the Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburger.

7 Layer Salad

When you’re feeding a large crowd at a cookout, this impressive 7 Layer Salad is the perfect side dish to serve. Designed to yield eight to ten generous servings, it’s both practical and visually stunning. We particularly love assembling and serving it in a clear trifle bowl, allowing each vibrant layer to pop and create an eye-catching centerpiece. Each spoonful delivers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, from crisp greens to creamy dressing and savory toppings, making it a guaranteed hit and a fantastic complement to your burgers.

Macaroni Salad

No list of classic burger side dishes would be complete without the inclusion of creamy, comforting Macaroni Salad. This perennial favorite is a staple at barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings for a reason. Its tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and rich, tangy dressing create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that perfectly complements the savory notes of a burger. Easy to make and always satisfying, our Fresh Macaroni Salad recipe is a timeless choice that promises to be a beloved addition to your next burger feast.

Greek Cucumber Salad

For a truly refreshing and light side that expertly balances out a meat-heavy plate, our lettuce-free Greek Cucumber Salad is an excellent choice. This vibrant salad is bursting with authentic Greek flavors from sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives, pungent red onion, and salty feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon-oregano dressing. Its crisp texture and tangy profile will leave you craving more. While delicious as-is, you can easily add grilled chicken for an extra boost of protein, making it a versatile and healthy option for any burger night.

Hawaiian Mac Salad

Anyone familiar with our blog knows our deep affection for Hawaii, especially from our college days on the Big Island. This Hawaiian Mac Salad is a beloved staple of any authentic Hawaiian lunch plate, making it a fantastic and unique side for a summertime luau or tiki party. Its creamy, slightly sweet, and tangy profile offers a distinct flavor that pairs wonderfully with a variety of burgers. Don’t forget to complete your Hawaiian feast with other island favorites like Hawaiian Pulled Pork, Hawaiian Chicken, and Hawaiian Hurricane Popcorn as a fun snack between meals!

Keep an eye out for upcoming recipes including avocado salad, zucchini chips, and a ton more dip recipes to further enhance your culinary adventures.

Great Recipe Collections to Explore

Once you’ve mastered the art of pairing the perfect side with your burger, delve into our other fantastic recipe collections for every occasion:

Potluck Recipes – Discover easy-to-make potluck recipes ideal for work parties, holiday gatherings, church picnics, or any event where you need to feed a crowd of any size.

Finger Foods- Explore a variety of effortless finger food recipes that are perfect for any potluck or festive holiday party.

Vegetable Side Dishes- Find the perfect easy vegetable side dishes suitable for both special events and everyday family dinners.

Dump Cake Recipes – Indulge in surprisingly easy dump cakes, many of which require as few as 3 ingredients to bake!

Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes – Simplify your meal prep with easy ground beef Crockpot recipes perfect for every occasion, from family dinners to potlucks.

BBQ Sides – Elevate your barbecue feast with a medley of delicious sides that are quick to prepare, easily scale up for a crowd, and perfectly complement whatever’s cooking on the grill.

Do you love discovering new recipes? Be sure to check out our extensive copycat recipes, delightful dessert recipes, and our incredibly convenient CrockPot Recipes.

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