30 Best Sides for Hamburgers

Updated April 23, 2020
Credit: Greg DuPree

These easy side dishes perflectly complement any kind of burger. From French fries and potato salads (our recipe seriously can't be beat) to healthy alternatives to the classics (like these Baked Zucchini Chips and these Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites), you'll find something for everyone in the collection of hamburger sides. 

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Fried Asparagus

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Fried Asparagus Recipe

Fresh asparagus is delicious many ways, but it’s especially tasty when fried—that’s because asparagus isn’t fat soluble, meaning that when you cook it in oil, you don’t lose any of the asparagus flavor. Our Fried Asparagus has a crunchy crust and good spice level, with a tender interior, while the mayo is perfect for dipping.

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Super-Crispy Oven Fries

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Super-Crispy Oven Fries Recipe

These unbelievably crispy oven fries cut the grease and calories of a standard French fry and taste way better. While this process isn't as fast as a deep fryer, the extra time is worth it. You can even parboil the potatoes ahead of time and wait until it's closer to serving time to bake them. 

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Grown-Up Pasta Salad

Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Elise Christiansen; Food Styling; Jasmine Smith

Grown-Up Pasta Salad Recipe

You know that pasta salad from childhood (you know the one—rotini, canned olives, underripe grape tomatoes, cubed cheese)? It showed up at cookouts, sleepovers and every occasion in between, and it holds a special place in hearts a plenty—or at least it does around our office.

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Classic Potato Salad

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Classic Potato Salad Recipe

No need to rush to the store—we’ve got the perfect potato salad recipe right here. Creamy and rich, with hints of tangy vinegar and crunchiness from fresh vegetables, this classic potato salad is hearty and perfectly delicious. Russet potatoes are the ideal here, because they break down a little and make the potato salad creamier.

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Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Fresh, grilled corn on the cob is a hallmark of warm and sunny summer days. Paired with grilled hamburgers, smoked pork or other grilled vegetables, grilled corn is an important part of your outdoor meals. For a pretty presentation and to make handling hot ears easier, use the husks as handles.

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Crispy, Sweet Air-Fried Beet Chips

Credit: Anna Theoktisto

Crispy, Sweet Air-Fried Beet Chips Recipe

Specialty root chips can cost $5 to $6 per bag at the grocery store; save big bucks by whipping up a couple batches in your air fryer. The secret to crispy beet chips is to slice the beets super thin; if your knife skills aren’t Top Chef level, use a mandolin to get wafer-thin slices. Don’t overcrowd the basket; air flow is crucial to getting the chips nice and crispy.

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Poblano Mac and Cheese

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Poblano Mac and Cheese Recipe

Fresh, grilled corn on the cob is a hallmark of warm and sunny summer days. Paired with grilled hamburgers, smoked pork or other grilled vegetables, grilled corn is an important part of your outdoor meals. For a pretty presentation and to make handling hot ears easier, use the husks as handles. After

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Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Yukon Gold Potato Salad Recipe

A middle ground between waxy red potatoes and starchy russets, buttery Yukon Golds are great in potato salad.

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Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Everyone will gobble up these spicy grilled sweet potato fries topped with honey and salty queso fresco. Serve them as a fun appetizer or alongside burgers or your favorite grilled protein. Microwaving the sweet potatoes before they hit the grill ensures the fries will be tender throughout and helps them cook up quickly.

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Caprese Pasta Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe

This Caprese Pasta Salad recipe is made up of delicious mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. We love the way our Basic Vinaigrette complements this refreshing summer side or main dish, but you can always customize the recipe if you prefer a milder taste. 

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Fried Pickled Jalapeños with Sour Cream Ranch

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Fried Pickled Jalapeños with Sour Cream Ranch Recipe

If you like fried pickles, you’ll love fried pickled jalapeños. These jalapeños have a light kick without being overly spicy. Plus, they’re tangy from the brine and packed with flavor thanks to taco seasoning. They’re delicious on their own, but dipping them in the sauce takes things up a notch.

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Grilled Corn Pasta Salad

Credit: Photo courtesy of The Food Gays

Grilled Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

This vibrant, flavor-packed summer side dish combines a bounty of favorite seasonal flavors into a single, epic pasta salad. The recipe comes from our friends The Food Gays, and they developed this colorful grilled corn dish as a fresher, brighter alternative to the typical mayo-based pasta salads that often show up a summer parties.

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Creamy Potato Salad

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Creamy Potato Salad Recipe

Here's a salad you can feel good about eating at your next cookout or picnic.

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Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad

Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad Recipe

While corn and tomatoes are at their peak later in the summer, you can enjoy this simple salad all season long. White miso--the kind that's lowest in sodium--adds a powerful umami punch to the mix, enhancing the meaty flavor that tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese provide.

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Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

This creamy, savory topping perfectly complements sweet corn on the cob. 

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Baked Zucchini Chips

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Baked Zucchini Chips Recipe

Opt for oven-baked zucchini chips as a light alternative to fries. This baked zucchini chip recipe is a fun and easy way to use up summer zucchini, and it’s one your family will request time and time again. The high oven temperature will evaporate moisture from inside the zucchini and crisp the breadcrumb coating to a beautiful golden brown.

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Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips

Credit: Karen Rankin

Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips Recipe

Welcome to your new go-to snack food—kale chips 2.0! These flavor-packed nutritious chips come out of the air fryer even crispier than they do from your regular oven. Store-bought everything bagel seasoning can be gorged with sodium.

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Three-Bean Pasta Salad

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Three-Bean Pasta Salad Recipe

We combined two potluck classics—pasta salad and three-bean salad—to make one tasty new side dish. Blanched celery is the unexpected star in this side dish; it has a tender-crisp texture and bright green color. Swap out the canned beans for your favorite cooked field peas.

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Blue Cheese Mac-And-Cheese

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Blue Cheese Mac-And-Cheese Recipe

This incredibly rich baked mac and (blue) cheese might be the one dish that even the most staunch blue cheese hater will embrace with open arms. If a side dish better suited to accompany your next steak dinner exists, we sure don’t know what it could be.

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Slow Cooker Bourbon-Peach Baked Beans

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Slow Cooker Bourbon-Peach Baked Beans Recipe

Skip the canned baked beans in favor of our fuss-free version, which saves up to 300mg sodium per serving. Adobo sauce and bacon build a smoky backbone, while peak-season peaches offer sweet contrast. Bonus: The beans will stay warm in a covered slow cooker for up to 2 hours after being unplugged.

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Street Corn Salad

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Street Corn Salad Recipe

Mexican street corn salad, also known as esquites, combines the fresh flavors of summer in a bright, citrusy and irresistible dish. This summery side gets a pop of sweetness from the fresh corn kernels and a creamy, salty component from the crumbled cotija cheese. With just a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, the flavorful ingredients come together in one balanced bowl. This simple salad is easy to whip up for a last-minute cookout, and it can easily lighten up any heavy summer meal. 

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Caprese Mac and Cheese

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Caprese Mac and Cheese Recipe

Inspired by the classic Caprese combo of mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, this decadent baked macaroni and cheese recipe is sure to wow. Roasted tomatoes add a touch of sophistication, as well as a burst of bright flavor to cut the richness of this creamy pasta bake.  

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Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Quick Pickled Slaw

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Quick Pickled Slaw Recipe

This light, healthy slaw recipe is mildly acidic and full of flavor. The veggies will soften slightly but retain their crunch that will add texture to any meal. This bright slaw is the ideal summer side to pair with kebabs, pulled pork, fried catfish, or any classic warm-weather main dishes.

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Maple-Bacon Baked Beans

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Maple-Bacon Baked Beans Recipe

Think of this dish as classic baked beans turned all the way up to 11--sweet, smoky, and saucy, with extra richness from the slow-simmered beans. The starchiness from the cooked beans will help bind the casserole. Curry powder adds a hint of earthiness, but you can leave it out for a more straightforward flavor.

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Spicy Grilled Watermelon

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Marianne Williams; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Spicy Grilled Watermelon Recipe

This bold and beautiful grilled watermelon recipe features a kick of heat, balanced with bright lime and salty cotija cheese. With a bit of cilantro for a pop of freshness and color, this summery side dish is ready for your next cookout. For a more dynamic spice experience, we love Tajin seasoning

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Lemon-Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Lemon-Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Air-Fried Dill Pickle Fries With Ranch Breadcrumbs

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Air-Fried Dill Pickle Fries With Ranch Breadcrumbs Recipe

Pickle spears are one of those foods that’s meant to be fried, and sticking them in the air fryer makes for a fun finger food. The combination of juiciness and crunch remains fantastic, while the ranch breadcrumbs bring in so much flavor you won’t need a dipping sauce. 

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Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Credit: Anna Theoktisto

Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe

Whether you’re having vegetarian friends over to watch the game or you just enjoy recipe mash-ups starring your favorite flavors, these spicy air-fried cauliflower bites check all the boxes. It just takes a smidgen of blue cheese to add a lot of flavor to the quick stir-together sauce.

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Broccoli-and-Kraut Slaw

Credit: Greg DuPree

Broccoli-and-Kraut Slaw Recipe

Using fresh broccoli instead of bagged broccoli slaw makes for a sweeter, more flavorful end product. Look for refrigerated sauerkraut either in the deli or by the tofu in your local grocery store (canned lacks probiotics).

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