25 Vegetable Sides for Steak

Steak and vegetable sides are a great pairing because they work together in a way that makes for a balanced meal. You can choose from a variety of side dishes, from salads to creamy mashed potatoes, to help fill you up.

When it comes to the perfect steak, it’s a matter of taste.

There’s something to be said for cooking a steak medium rare, but if you’re trying to make a good steak for yourself, you’re going to want to try your hand at the perfect vegetable side to go with it.

In this post, we’re going to share some of the best vegetables for steak that you can try.

25 Best Vegetable Sides for Steak

When you’re pairing steak with a vegetable side dish, you want to go with something hearty, like mashed potatoes or sauteed spinach.

If you’re looking to have a more light side dish, you’ll want to opt for a salad, such as a green salad or a pasta salad.

Looking for more options?

Then keep scrolling!

1. Mashed potatoes

If you’ve got steaks in your freezer, this is the perfect opportunity to prepare a side serving of mashed potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are such an easy dish to make, and they go well with everything from steak to fish and poultry.

You’ll need to choose your favourite recipe though, as different potatoes have different levels of starch content, so you want to match the right type to your dish.

Some popular options here include butternut, new potato, and sweet potato.

2. Sautéed vegetables

A healthy side dish is often best served alongside steak, and sautéed vegetables are a good option for this.

Choose whatever vegetables you like best, like peas, broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, peppers, and onions.

Just don’t forget that you need to drain any excess water from the vegetables, otherwise you could end up with a soggy dinner!

3. Roasted potatoes

Potatoes and steaks go together really well, so it’s no surprise that roast potatoes are a popular side dish for a steak dinner.

You can serve them hot or cold, depending on the time of year.

For a quick side option, you could use some of those lovely pre-prepared bags of oven ready potatoes from the supermarket, but you’ll still need to peel and chop them yourself.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you could make your own roasted potatoes.

4. Creamed Spinach

This is one of my favourite side dishes!

I love the rich and smooth taste that it adds to a meal, and I think that a portion of this will work really well with a serving of steak.

It’s really simple to make, so it’s the perfect choice if you’re in a hurry!

5. Roasted Broccoli with Garlic

This is a delicious and easy side dish that is really good when it comes to preparing ahead of time.

I always roast a huge bag of broccoli, then keep it in the fridge until needed.

I like to stir it into pasta dishes, but it’s also super tasty alongside steaks or as part of a salad.

A few minutes in the oven with some olive oil and garlic will make it taste fantastic.

6. Chopped Salad with Tomatoes and Avocado

Chopped salad is one of my favourite side dishes because you can play around with it so much!

I’m a huge fan of adding avocado to salads, as it adds such a lovely creamy texture and a delicious richness to the mix.

It also works really well to bulk out the salad by adding in chopped tomatoes and cucumbers.

This particular recipe is very simple.

Simply toss all of your ingredients together in a bowl and you’re good to go!

7. Sweet Potato Fries

I’m a huge fan of sweet potato fries.

They’re simple to make, easy on the stomach, and go really well with a steak.

Just cut up a whole new potato (or two) into chips, coat them in seasoned flour and bake at 180°C for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

The secret is to flip the chips halfway through cooking to avoid them turning brown and becoming soggy.

8. Roasted Zucchini and Squash

Roasting vegetables at the same time is a brilliant way to cook them, because it keeps all the flavours in one place.

If you do decide to do this, make sure that you’ve prepared your vegetable beforehand, so that they’re ready to go when you put them in the oven.

A good trick for this is to cut your zucchini and squash into equal sized cubes before you start roasting them.

9. Potato Salad

When it comes to potato salad, I like to serve a big bowl of it alongside my steak!

It’s one of those meals that’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

You can make it as simple or as fancy as you want; just make sure that the ingredients are fresh, and that you use quality ingredients like home made mayonnaise and freshly chopped spring onions.

10. Arugula Salad

Arugula is one of my favourite salad vegetables, so I always try to include a little in my salad when I’m preparing a meal.

It works really well with steak, and has a fresh, peppery flavour that contrasts really well with the meat.

Just make sure to dress it with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing, as anything too heavy will dull its flavour.

11. Roasted Asparagus

Roasting asparagus is one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday evening when I’m craving a quick and easy dinner.

Just pop them into a baking tray and roast in the oven for around 15 minutes.

You can add in some sliced fresh garlic cloves here, if you’d like.

It adds an extra depth of flavour that’s great with steak!

You can also throw in some cherry tomatoes or baby bellas here if you’d like, though you could try this with other vegetables like carrots or broccoli too.

12. Grilled Corn on The Cob

Another option to add some extra crunch to your meal is to serve up a grilled corn cob!

This is great when you want to go a little lighter with your side dish, but still have something satisfying to munch on alongside your steak.

13. Baked Potatoes and Sour Cream

Steak and potato is one of my favourite meals, so I always make sure that my side dish of choice is also delicious!

Baked potatoes are super easy to make, and the added bonus is that they’re not greasy at all.

They also make a great vessel to pack in some tasty toppings like sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives.

If you’re a potato fan, don’t forget to top your potatoes with a sprinkling of salt before baking to maximize their flavour!

14. Roasted Root Vegetables

I love serving roasted root vegetables alongside my steak.

They’re a great way to up your vegetable intake, and they make a great alternative to mashed potatoes or pasta.

Just add them to a roasting tray with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and bake in the oven for about half an hour at around 220°C.

Once cooked, you can serve them with steak or roast beef for an authentic, flavourful taste.

15. Maple-Glazed Carrots

Carrots are one of my favourite vegetables to serve alongside steak.

They’re high in iron and potassium, which helps to keep your blood pressure under control.

They’re also low in calories and full of flavour, and the best thing about them is that they take a little bit of preparation time but they’re so easy to do that you can make them ahead of time.

16. Baby Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

For a healthy and tasty salad, serve this one up! It’s a really simple recipe, so you won’t need to spend much time preparing it.

I love using this strawberry vinaigrette, as it’s full of flavour and has the added benefit of being low calorie.

17. Steamed Green Beans

Steamed green beans are a delicious side dish option, and they’re particularly healthy if you choose to prepare them with unsalted butter rather than salt.

This way you don’t have to worry about salting the water you’re cooking them in and you get a nice dose of omega 3 fatty acids in the bargain!

18. Creamed Corn

Creamed corn is another classic side dish option that’s delicious served hot or cold.

It doesn’t take long to make at home, so you can be ready to serve when your guests arrive!

Just heat some milk until it’s steaming, add some corn, season with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for 5 minutes before serving.

19. Broccoli Bacon Salad

Bacon is one of my favourite foods, and I really love the combination of flavours that it brings to a salad.

A little bit of crunch, some protein, and a punch of flavour!

If you’re lucky enough to have a glut of broccoli on the go, then this recipe works perfectly as a way to use it up.

The key to this is the addition of bacon.

Just chop your broccoli into small pieces, toss it in a bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients, and enjoy!

20. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

A baked zucchini stick is a great veggie option to serve alongside your steak dinner.

If you’re looking for something extra special, then you can make them extra crispy by frying them in a pan before baking!

To do this, cut each zucchini into long sticks, brush with a little olive oil, and then sprinkle with salt.

Cook on a medium heat for about 10 minutes until golden brown.

21. Green Bean Casserole

You can never go wrong with classic green bean casserole, so I’d recommend keeping this one on hand as a side dish for steak or any other meaty main course.

It’s really easy to make, just saute some onions, garlic, and mushrooms in a large pan, then add your chopped green beans and stir fry for a couple of minutes.

Add some chicken stock and milk to the pan, and bring it all together in a baking dish.

Top with crumbled feta cheese and you’re done!

22. Balsamic-Roasted Cauliflower

A great choice of vegetable side dish for steak, this cauliflower is roasted in balsamic vinegar to give it a lovely sweet flavour.

There are few ingredients in this dish, so it’s an easy one to make if you’re short on time or just want something quick and easy.

If you like, you can add some extra crunch by topping the cauliflower with toasted cashews, too.

23. Zucchini and Corn Fritters

When it comes to sides to serve with steak, you’re spoilt for choice, as there are plenty of options to choose from.

Zucchini and corn fritters are a great option because they’re so quick and easy to prepare, and taste really nice alongside a hearty meal.

Simply combine a large handful of grated zucchini, half an ear of corn kernels, a pinch of salt, and two eggs in a bowl, then spoon out the mixture onto a non-stick baking tray to form into fritters.

Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil, followed by your fritter mixture. Cook for around five minutes per side, until the bottom is golden, and serve hot.

24. Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

Sweet and sour cucumber salad is a traditional Chinese side dish which is typically served alongside rice or noodles, but it’s actually super versatile!

You can enjoy it hot, warm, or cold, and it makes a delicious accompaniment to chicken, beef, pork, and seafood.

25. Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a super easy option to make if you want to add a veggie side to your steak meal.

Just chop up some vegetables and add them to the cavity of an eggplant or bell pepper, then cover the top with breadcrumbs and drizzle with oil and balsamic vinegar.

Bake at 180C for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

4 Tips for Serving Vegetable Sides for Steak

When planning a dinner party menu, I tend to let the main course decide what will be served.

For example, if steak is on the grill, I know that vegetable sides need to be chosen that will complement it.

Here are 4 tips for serving vegetable sides for steak:

1. Keep it simple

I like to keep vegetable sides for steak simple so as not to overwhelm the meal.

Steak is usually pretty flavorful on its own, so I don’t want to add too many competing flavors into the mix.

A simple steamed artichoke with lemon butter is a perfect side dish for steak, especially if that steak has been rubbed with garlic and herbs before grilling.

2. Serve a salad

Adding a green salad to your dinner menu is one way to make it healthier and more filling.

Since salads are an excellent source of fiber and healthy greens, they can help balance out the fat in steak and other higher-calorie dishes.

Just be sure to ask guests in advance if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies so you can accommodate them with a gluten-free or dairy-free salad dressing option.

3. Pick seasonal veggies

A great way to find high-quality, affordable veggies is to pick ones that are in season in your area.

Vegetables like asparagus and artichokes are only available in the spring, while squash and cabbage are only available in the fall.

By selecting seasonal vegetables, you can get fresh produce at a good price point.

4. Don’t Overcook

Vegetables will lose much of their color and nutritional value if they are overcooked.

Stir fry or steam vegetables whenever possible, rather than boiling them in water.

You can also saute veggies in a bit of olive oil on your stovetop.

Always rinse vegetables before cooking them, but don’t soak them in water because they may lose some of their flavor and nutrients – steaming is the exception to this rule.

Most vegetables take just 5 minutes or so to cook, but use a food thermometer if you’re not sure how long to cook them.

7 Reasons To Serve Vegetable Sides for Steak

There are few things better than a juicy steak with nothing but salt and pepper to cover the rich, beefy flavor.

The simplicity of that meal is part of what makes it great, but sometimes you want more out of your food — not just in terms of taste, but also in terms of nutrition, texture, and visual appeal.

One easy way to add all three to your next steak dinner is to serve a side dish of vegetables with it.

Here are 7 reasons you should be serving vegetable side dishes for steak:

1. It complements and balances out the flavor

I love steak as much as the next guy, but I have to admit that it can be a bit one-dimensional.

There’s only so much you can do with a medium-rare hunk of meat, and if you serve the same side dish with every steak — like mashed potatoes or baked beans — you can get bored pretty quickly.

This is why you should always serve a vegetable with your steak.

It complements and balances out the flavor. It also adds color and texture to the plate.

Finally, it gives you another chance to show off your culinary skills and make use of fresh seasonal produce.

2. Vegetables Can Add Contrast

Steak can be heavy (depending on what cut you choose), so pairing it with a light veggie side dish helps balance out the meal.

I personally love a charred vegetable salad or roasted broccoli alongside a big ribeye or New York strip steak.

Vegetables can provide contrast in color as well — bright green beans next to a seared red steak adds another dimension to the plate.

3. Vegetables Can Add Color

As mentioned, serving veggies alongside your meat adds color and contrast to your plate, making it look more appetizing overall.

This is especially true if you use colorful vegetables like carrots or bell peppers, which may seem boring on their own but add an appealing pop of color when served with steak.

4. Vegetables Can Help You Eat Less Meat

When you’re trying to eat healthy, one of the best things you can do is cut down on the amount of meat you eat.

This can be difficult when meat is so filling and flavorful, but offering some vegetable side dishes for steak could make things easier for you.

5. Vegetables Can Enhance Flavors

Vegetable side dishes can enhance the overall flavor of the dish they’re accompanying by providing a bright complement.

For example, grilled corn can be paired with a rich sear on steak because the sweet taste of grilled corn actually brings out the rich sizzle of the steak.

6. They’re more nutritious than potato sides

When it comes to a classic steak dinner, nothing accompanies the main event quite like a heaping pile of mashed potatoes or a fluffy baked potato.

But as much as we love these classic side dishes, there’s no denying that they’re not the healthiest option out there.

And since steak is already loaded with fat and calories, adding in another high-calorie food isn’t the best idea.

Luckily, there are so many other vegetable side dishes that you can serve with steak that aren’t only delicious but also nutritious and low in calories.

7. They help you make sure you’re getting a balanced meal

Steak is delicious, but it’s not the most balanced meal.

It can be fatty and full of protein but lack important nutrients like fiber and vitamins.

Vegetable side dishes are an essential component of a well-rounded meal, especially when you’re serving a steak that’s heavy on the fat or calories.