What are good sides to have with steak? A Guide to Perfect Pairings

October 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to culinary experts and steakhouse menus around the world, the right side dish can transform a simple piece of beef into a gourmet meal. Finding the perfect answer to what are good sides to have with steak? involves balancing flavors, textures, and richness to create a truly memorable dining experience.

Quick Summary

Explore a variety of classic and modern side dishes to serve with steak, including potatoes, roasted vegetables, vibrant salads, and decadent creamy options. This guide helps you choose the right pairings to balance richness and enhance your steak's flavor for a complete meal.

Key Points

Potato Power: Classic potato dishes like garlic mashed or crispy roasted offer hearty, familiar comfort that soaks up savory juices.
Vibrant Veggies: Roasted asparagus, sautéed mushrooms, or grilled broccoli provide a healthy, flavorful, and sometimes acidic contrast to the rich meat.
Rich and Creamy: Indulgent sides such as classic creamed spinach or cheesy mac and cheese add a layer of luxury and richness.
Refreshing Salads: Crisp salads, like a wedge or Caesar, cleanse the palate and balance a heavy meal with their light, tangy flavors.
Flavor Balancing: Match rich cuts like ribeye with acidic or lighter sides, and pair lean cuts like filet mignon with creamy or indulgent options.
Sauce is a Side: Enhance your steak with a flavorful finishing sauce like chimichurri or garlic butter to add an extra dimension of taste and moisture.

A well-cooked steak is a culinary masterpiece, but the perfect meal extends beyond the protein alone. The accompanying side dishes play a crucial role in complementing the steak's rich, savory flavor. When considering what to serve, think about balancing textures, flavors, and richness. This guide breaks down some of the best side dishes to pair with your favorite cut of steak.

Classic Potato Companions

Potatoes are a time-honored classic with steak for a reason. Their starchy, comforting quality and versatility make them an ideal canvas for soaking up savory steak juices and sauces.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes: A smooth, creamy side infused with garlic is a steakhouse staple for a reason. The garlic adds a pungent kick that stands up to a robust steak.
Crispy Roasted Potatoes: For a satisfying crunch, crispy roasted potatoes, seasoned with herbs like rosemary and thyme, offer a textural contrast to the tender meat.
Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes: Sliced potatoes baked in a rich, cheesy cream sauce are a luxurious and decadent choice that pairs beautifully with a leaner cut of steak.
Twice-Baked Potatoes: A fully loaded potato, scooped out and mixed with cheese, bacon, and sour cream before being baked again, provides a complete side dish with multiple textures.
Truffle Fries: A gourmet twist on a classic, truffle fries add an earthy, aromatic element that elevates any steak dinner.

The Vibrant Vegetable Mix

Vegetables can cut through the richness of a fattier steak, offering a fresh, crisp, or earthy contrast that cleanses the palate. Roasted, grilled, or sautéed, veggies bring important vitamins and fiber to the meal.

Roasted Asparagus: Perfectly roasted asparagus, drizzled with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, provides a hint of acidity and a tender-crisp texture.
Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions: The umami-rich flavors of mushrooms, often sautéed in garlic butter, are a natural partner for steak. Adding caramelized onions brings a touch of sweetness.
Creamed Spinach: This classic steakhouse side is a rich, velvety option that provides a comforting, savory contrast to the meat.
Brussels Sprouts: Whether roasted until crispy with bacon and balsamic glaze or simply pan-fried, Brussels sprouts add a nutty, savory flavor.
Grilled Corn on the Cob: A smoky, sweet addition to a summer steak dinner, grilled corn on the cob provides a charred, sweet flavor that complements grilled beef.
Garlic Green Beans: Simply sautéed with garlic and butter, these green beans offer a fresh, vibrant, and slightly acidic element.

Crisp and Tangy Salads

A fresh salad can be the perfect light and tangy counterpoint to a rich, heavy steak. Salads not only provide a crisp texture but can also help cleanse the palate between bites.

Classic Wedge Salad: The crisp, refreshing iceberg lettuce, paired with creamy blue cheese dressing, bacon, and tomatoes, is a quintessential steakhouse choice.
Italian Chopped Salad: This salad, with a zesty vinaigrette, fresh herbs, and various crisp vegetables, offers a tangy contrast.
Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan: The peppery kick of arugula, combined with a simple lemon vinaigrette and nutty Parmesan, provides a sophisticated and light side.

Creative and Flavorful Sauces

While not a side dish in the traditional sense, the right sauce can be a complete side element, adding moisture and a final layer of flavor to your steak dinner.

Chimichurri: This bright, herby, and acidic sauce, made with parsley, oregano, garlic, and vinegar, is a fantastic option for cutting through the richness of a fatty ribeye.
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce: For those who prefer a rich, classic accompaniment, a creamy peppercorn sauce offers a savory, spicy kick.
Garlic Butter: Simply topping your finished steak with a pat of compound garlic butter infused with herbs like rosemary or thyme is an effortless way to add moisture and flavor.

How to Choose the Right Side Dish: Balancing Flavors

Choosing the best side depends on the cut of steak and your overall menu. The goal is to create a balanced meal where flavors and textures harmonize, not compete.


Steak Cut / Style	Pairing Strategy	Example Sides
Fatty Ribeye	Cut the richness with acidity or lightness.	Chimichurri, Arugula Salad, Roasted Asparagus
Lean Filet Mignon	Add richness and moisture to the tender, mild meat.	Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Au Gratin Potatoes, Creamed Spinach
Grilled Steak	Complement the smoky, charred flavor with complementary elements.	Grilled Corn on the Cob, Baked Potatoes, Spicy Slaw
Pan-Seared Steak	Enhance the buttery, savory crust with indulgent or herby flavors.	Garlic Butter Mushrooms, Crispy Roasted Potatoes, Truffle Fries

Conclusion

Ultimately, the perfect steak dinner is a personal choice, but the best sides will always enhance and balance the main event. Whether you prefer the comforting simplicity of potatoes, the refreshing snap of roasted vegetables, or the tangy bite of a fresh salad, you have plenty of options to elevate your meal. By considering the interplay of flavors and textures, you can create a restaurant-quality experience right at home, making every bite of steak even more satisfying. For more culinary inspiration, consider exploring a resource like Allrecipes for creative and classic pairings.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most classic side dishes for steak often include a potato preparation and a vegetable. Think garlic mashed potatoes, a loaded baked potato, or crispy roasted potatoes, often accompanied by creamed spinach or sautéed mushrooms.

For a fatty, rich cut like a ribeye, choose sides that provide contrast and cut through the richness. Acidic options like a fresh salad with a vinaigrette, chimichurri sauce, or roasted vegetables with a hint of lemon work best to balance the flavor.

A leaner cut like filet mignon benefits from sides that add moisture and richness. Creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes au gratin, or a decadent mac and cheese are excellent choices to complement the steak's tenderness without overpowering its delicate flavor.

For healthy side options, consider roasted asparagus, sautéed green beans, grilled broccoli, or a vibrant wedge salad with a lighter dressing. These options add nutrients, fiber, and a fresh contrast to the meal.

Yes, a salad is a great side dish for steak. A crisp, fresh salad, such as a wedge salad with blue cheese or a simple arugula salad with a tangy dressing, helps to cut through the richness of the meat and cleanse your palate.

For a smoky, grilled steak, pair with sides that complement that char. Options like grilled corn on the cob, roasted vegetables with a hint of smoke, or a spicy, tangy slaw work well.

Cheesy and creamy sides, like creamed spinach or mac and cheese, are an excellent choice for adding a rich, indulgent element to a steak dinner, especially with leaner cuts. They provide a comforting and luxurious texture that contrasts with the meat.

To add a final layer of flavor, consider using a delicious sauce. A simple pat of garlic butter melting over a finished steak or a vibrant chimichurri can tie the entire meal together beautifully.