Looking for side dishes for burgers that go beyond a plain pile of fries? Think colorful pasta salads, golden zucchini sticks and corn with plenty of toppings.
There’s lots to choose from here, whether you’re planning a cookout or just switching up burger night.
You can keep things simple or go all out with cheese-covered tots. Most of these pictures show sides, though two feature loaded burger combinations rather than separate dishes. There’s still a little inspiration to borrow from both.
Burger sides and serving ideas to try
golden orange fries
We’re starting off strong with this overflowing cup of orange fries. I love the golden coating and those uneven edges.
The little serving cup makes the whole pile look even more inviting.
Try individual cups alongside your burgers if you like this presentation. You could put your favorite dipping sauce beside each one.
potato salad with bacon and egg
This potato salad may just be one of my favorites here. There are big potato chunks, pieces of egg and browned bacon scattered throughout the pale dressing.
The sliced green onions are such a pretty finishing touch. Serve yours in a wide bowl like this so those toppings don’t disappear underneath.
an onion-ring burger stack
Now that is a tall burger! The oversized golden onion ring sits above bacon and layers of melted cheese.
This picture shows a loaded main dish rather than a separate side.
For your own burger plate, borrow the onion-ring idea and serve the rings alongside instead. You don’t have to recreate the whole stack.
colorful cabbage slaw
If you are looking for a classic burger pairing, this one is for you. Pale cabbage, purple strips and orange carrot fill the bowl, all coated in a creamy-looking dressing.
I love how much color there is in such a simple side.
charred corn with lime
I am obsessed with how this corn looks. The browned patches, chopped green herbs and little red flecks make it so inviting. Lime halves sit beside the bowl.
Try serving lime wedges with your own corn so everyone can add a squeeze. Keep the corn in a big shared bowl if you like this piled-up presentation.
cowboy baked beans
Don’t want another salad on the table? No problem!
These cowboy baked beans have visible meat crumbles, chopped onion and green pepper pieces in a reddish-brown sauce.
I’d serve a small scoop beside a burger and leave room for one of the vegetable sides too.
creamy macaroni salad
There’s something so inviting about a big bowl of macaroni salad. This one mixes elbow pasta with celery, red onion and bright red vegetable pieces in a pale dressing.
The little chopped pieces are worth borrowing for your own version. They fit right in between all those pasta curves.
grilled watermelon salad
Want something a little different from potatoes? Look at this watermelon salad.
The wedges have dark grill marks and sit over leafy greens with thin onion rings and crumbled white cheese.
I especially love the big wedges. Keep that shape if you want a platter that looks like this one.
fried pickle rounds
The pickle fans are going to love this! Golden battered rounds surround a bowl of white dipping sauce, with one uncovered pickle slice peeking out near the middle.
For your own plate, you could pair fried pickles with ranch or another favorite dip. Don’t forget a little bowl for the sauce.
cheese-dusted fries
These fries are anything but plain. I love the browned edges and the fine layer of grated cheese over the top.
Chopped herbs add little spots of green throughout.
A basket lined with paper is a cute way to bring a shared portion to the table. Add your preferred red dipping sauce alongside.
spiral pasta and broccoli
This is another pasta salad idea, but it’s a little different from the macaroni above. There are spiral noodles, broccoli florets, carrot strips, cheese cubes and small reddish sausage slices.
If you like a side with plenty going on, save this combination. The big broccoli pieces are my favorite part.
cheese-covered tots
Don’t want to go all out with lots of toppings? No problem!
These golden potato tots have a generous blanket of yellow cheese sauce and nothing else competing for attention. I’d leave this combination just like this.
broccoli salad with colorful extras
How pretty is this broccoli salad? The green florets are mixed with red onion, dark red dried fruit and browned bacon pieces. A pale dressing coats the mix.
Read also: 20 Cookout Side Dish Ideas From Pasta Salads to Grilled Corn
This is a lovely option if you want a vegetable side that still has plenty of extras. Keep the broccoli in small pieces for your own bowl.
golden zucchini sticks
If you’re looking for a change from potato fries, these zucchini sticks are worth saving. You can see the dark green skin beneath the golden crumb coating.
I love the bowl of red sauce tucked right into the platter. You could serve yours with marinara for dipping.
cucumber curls and red onion
This cucumber salad keeps things simple. Thin cucumber curls and red onion rings fill the bowl, with sesame seeds scattered over the top.
The curled pieces make it look a little different from a bowl of regular cucumber slices.
a loaded potato burger
Here’s another picture that shows a burger combination rather than a separate side. The cut potato holds a thick meat center with bacon, yellow cheese and a white topping.
If you want a side instead, borrow the loaded-potato idea without the burger filling. Bacon, cheese and a dollop of sour cream would be one way to try it.
avocado corn and tomato salad
I love all the color in this bowl. Yellow corn, avocado chunks and halved tomatoes sit alongside red onion and chopped green herbs.
That lime wedge at the edge is a lovely finishing touch.
Read also: 20 Side Dishes for Chicken and Dinner Pairing Ideas
Choose this idea if you want a salad without a thick, creamy dressing covering everything.
vegetable skewers
How cute are these rows of vegetables? Green zucchini rounds, yellow squash and darker vegetable slices alternate along the skewers, with browned edges showing throughout.
Try alternating the colors on your own skewers to get a similar look. A separate bowl of dipping sauce keeps the platter simple.
peach and avocado salad
This may be my favorite salad presentation here. The peach slices and fanned avocado look so pretty over the greens.
Crumbled white cheese, chopped nuts and strips of herbs fill the spaces between them.
Read also: 20 Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss to Inspire Your Meal Planning
Use a wide, shallow bowl if you want to show off those slices rather than tossing everything into a deep pile.
loaded corn cups
Last but definitely not least, we have these little loaded corn cups. I love how the yellow kernels show through the sides.
Pale sauce, reddish-brown crumbles and chopped herbs cover the tops.
Borrow the individual-cup idea for your next cookout. You could offer cheese, herbs and your favorite sauce separately so everyone can finish their own.