Food & Cooking 12 Tasty Sides to Serve With Burgers (Other Than Fries) Keep these easy sides in mind the next time you fire up the grill. By Teri Tsang Barrett Teri Tsang Barrett Teri is a southern California native who left it all to work in magazines in New York City. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, she completed the Culinary Arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education, skipped out on music journalism for the food world and never looked back. She eats everything -- except for water chestnuts -- and does not believe in reduced-fat anything. Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 23, 2024 Close Photo: Jason Donnelly If you've ever wondered what to serve with hamburgers besides fries, we've got you covered. Sure, fries are a classic pairing to beef, turkey, fish, or veggie patties, but who wants to deep fry in the summer? Plus, there are so many delicious, fresh, and crunchy options that are healthier, too—recipes that come together in the same amount of time it takes to grill burgers. From crunchy slaw and pasta salads to full-bodied pickled veggies, we've gathered the best companions for any burger. The Right Way to Grill Burgers for a Crowd 01 of 12 Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing Petrina Tinslay A fresh salad of romaine, radishes, and corn with a creamy dressing cuts right through the heft of a burger-centric meal. Bonus: The avocado is in the dressing so you can make this salad ahead and not worry about it browning while you're tending the grill. View Recipe 02 of 12 Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Buttermilk Marcus Nilsson A tangy dill dipping sauce is the perfect foil for these burger-worthy wedges—the sauce can do double-duty as a patty condiment, too. View Recipe 03 of 12 Tomato and Avocado Salad Add color and fresh flavor to your meal with this vibrant salad. You can even slip a few slices in as a burger topping if you like! View Recipe 04 of 12 Seasoned Roasted-Corn Salad Cups linda xaio Corn is a natural partner for a summer burger, whether on the cob or off. This tasty recipe calls for charring the corn and tossing it with jicama, chiles, cilantro, oil, lime juice, and queso fresco. It's sweet, juicy, and a little bit spicy. View Recipe 05 of 12 Melon and Cucumber Salad GENTL & HYERS If you're looking for something sweet and refreshing to serve on the side of a burger, you've found it in this gorgeous, couldn't-be-easier salad. View Recipe 06 of 12 Grilled Potato Slices With Salt and Vinegar This might be a more healthful take on salt-and-vinegar chips, but we promise that it's just as satisfying. View Recipe 07 of 12 Garlic-Ginger Cucumbers Ren Fuller Crisp, refreshing, and with a one-two punch from the garlic and ginger, these lively cucumbers might steal the show. View Recipe 08 of 12 Crisp Zucchini-Panko Fries Linda Pugliese Mix it up with these vegetable (not the usual potato) fries. These panko-crusted wonders transform the ubiquitous zucchini into an irresistible side. View Recipe 09 of 12 Shaved Fennel, Zucchini, and Celery Salad Marcus Nilsson Try this for a crunchy, fresh, and substantial side to that meaty patty. Shavings of fennel, zucchini, and celery pair well with butter beans and almonds in a white-wine vinegar and olive oil dressing. View Recipe 10 of 12 Simple Coleslaw Jason Donnelly Crunchy and refreshing, slaw might just be the ultimate summer side for meaty mains like a burger. This tangle of cabbage and carrot is dressed with a balance of tangy mustard, mayonnaise, and sour cream to create the standard slaw. View Recipe 11 of 12 Cucumbers With Lemon and Basil Toss this quick, fresh, and healthy summer side together—it's ideal for noshing alongside a juicy burger. You can make this fast dish up to eight hours in advance of your cookout. View Recipe 12 of 12 Pickled Vegetables Turn gorgeous summer vegetables into a zesty pickle using our quick, easy recipe—you only need to simmer these veggies in a vinegar solution for 10 minutes. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit