17 Best Steak Sides That Your Whole Family Will Actually Eat
Steak night is already a win. But what goes on the rest of the plate?
That’s where things get interesting.
Whether you’re firing up the grill in July or doing a cozy pan-seared dinner in January, these work. Some are pure comfort food.
A few feel fancy, but not in a stressful way.
Most can be prepped ahead, which is a lifesaver when you’re trying to get everything on the table at the same time.
Here are 17 sides I keep coming back to on steak nights.
The Best Potato Sides for Steak
Potatoes and steak are basically soulmates. Here are the versions worth making.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes are great. Loaded mashed potatoes — with sour cream, sharp cheddar, crumbled bacon, and chives on top — are a completely different thing.
This one saved me on a Friday night when we had steak thawing, and I needed a side that felt like an actual dinner, not something I threw together.
My kids cleaned their plates without being asked. Honestly, that rarely happens.
Potatoes Au Gratin
Sliced potatoes layered with cream and cheese, baked until the top turns golden and bubbly.
It’s rich, a little indulgent, and it makes steak night feel like you went somewhere nice without leaving the house.
Great for Sunday dinners or when you want to impress people without panicking in the kitchen.
Scalloped Potatoes
Similar to au gratin but with thinner slices and a creamier sauce throughout.
Great for feeding a crowd because you can make a big pan, and it holds its own for a while without drying out.
This is my go-to when family comes over — it looks like I tried harder than I actually did.
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
These look like something off a steakhouse menu, but they’re not complicated once you know the technique.
Fan-sliced, seasoned, and cooked in the air fryer until the edges go crispy and the centers stay soft.
If you’ve never tried Hasselback potatoes, steak night is a good reason to start.
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Cold potato salad next to a hot steak is one of those combinations that just makes sense, especially at a summer cookout.
The Instant Pot gets the potatoes perfectly tender without babysitting a pot on the stove.
Make it in the morning and let it chill — it’s noticeably better after a few hours anyway.
Green Veggie Sides That Go Great With Steak
You need something green on the plate. Here are the ones that don’t feel like a chore to eat.
Parmesan Bacon Green Bean Casserole
Not the canned-soup version from Thanksgiving.
This one has green beans cooked with actual bacon and finished with parmesan — savory, a little crispy on top, and somehow works in August just as well as in November.
It’s the side you make when you want a vegetable on the plate, but you also want people to be happy about it. Yes, it still counts as a vegetable.
Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
When you want something faster and lighter, roasted green beans are the answer.
Olive oil, parmesan, salt, pepper — 12 minutes in a hot oven and you’re done.
My 9-year-old will eat these without complaint, which puts them in a very short category.
Creamed Kale
If you’ve hit your limit with spinach, creamed kale is genuinely worth trying.
It’s hearty enough to hold its own next to a thick ribeye, and done right — with garlic and a good pour of heavy cream — it tastes like something you’d order on purpose, not something you made because you had kale to use up.
Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Bacon
This one sounds like a lot, but it comes together fast.
Crunchy greens, sweet apple slices, smoky bacon — it works as a real contrast to a rich piece of meat.
My husband, who does not normally get excited about salads, went back for seconds the first time I made this.
That was all I needed to know.
Crowd-Pleasing BBQ Steak Sides
These are the sides for cookouts, backyard parties, or any time you’re feeding more than four people.
Cajun Corn on the Cob
Regular corn on the cob is fine.
Cajun corn — heavy on the butter, seasoned all the way through, with a little kick at the end — is the kind of side people ask you about after.
Bold and smoky and genuinely fun to eat. It turns a simple cookout plate into something that feels thought out.
Broccoli Slaw
Cold, crunchy, ready in minutes.
Broccoli slaw is a good lighter option when everything else on the table is heavy and rich.
It cuts through the fat of a steak nicely and holds up in the heat without going soggy — which, at an outdoor party, matters more than people think.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Hear me out on this one.
Cold Caesar pasta salad next to hot steak sounds a little random, but it works at a cookout because you need something on the table that doesn’t require a warming tray.
It’s filling, familiar, and people eat a lot of it.
I brought this to a Fourth of July thing last summer and came home with an empty bowl.
Cheesy Comfort Sides for Steak Night
These are for when you just want something that hits.
Baked Velveeta Mac and Cheese
I know Velveeta has a reputation.
But when it comes to baked mac and cheese that comes out creamy and gooey every single time without fail, it earns its spot.
This is the side my husband requests specifically when I make steak at home.
Your kids will be thrilled. Maybe don’t announce the ingredient list until after they’ve eaten it.
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
For a slightly more grown-up version, white cheddar mac and cheese has a sharper, more complex flavor that pairs really well with a bold steak.
Creamy but not heavy.
This one is worth knowing for when you want something that feels a little special without making it a whole thing.
Sweet and Lighter Steak Sides
These are the sides that balance out a rich, savory main.
Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes with a light orange glaze — just enough citrus brightness to keep them from tipping into dessert territory.
They add color to the plate and work well against a heavy cut. Different from the usual, in a good way.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy outside, soft inside, and way easier than making fries in the oven.
These have become my default when I want something that feels like a treat but isn’t deep-fried. Kids love them, adults love them, and they disappear fast — so maybe make extra.
Air Fryer Carrots
This one surprises people every time.
Carrots in the air fryer get slightly caramelized and tender in about 15 minutes, and they’re actually good — not “fine for a vegetable” good.
I make these at least once a week because they’re fast, they make the plate look like I tried, and everyone eats them without a fight.
FAQ
What are the best steak sides for a weeknight dinner? Roasted parmesan green beans and air fryer sweet potato fries are both under 20 minutes with minimal cleanup. If you want to make something ahead and forget about it, Instant Pot potato salad is the move.
What sides go well with steak at a BBQ? Cajun corn, broccoli slaw, potato salad, and Caesar pasta salad are all solid. They don’t need to stay hot; they travel easily, and you can make most of them the night before.
What’s a good fancy-looking side for steak when you have guests? Potatoes au gratin or scalloped potatoes make people think you worked harder than you did — both are mostly hands-off once they’re in the oven. Loaded mashed potatoes also look great on a dinner table without requiring much effort.
Can I make any of these ahead of time? Quite a few of them are actually better made ahead of time. Potato salad, pasta salad, and broccoli slaw all benefit from a few hours in the fridge. The potato casseroles can be assembled earlier in the day and baked when you’re ready to eat.
What sides will picky kids eat? Air fryer carrots, roasted parmesan green beans, and sweet potato fries tend to work. The air fryer texture — a little crispy — seems to be the thing that makes the difference for kids who normally skip vegetables.
Are any of these good for meal prep? Potato salad, pasta salad, and broccoli slaw all hold up in the fridge for a few days. The casseroles reheat well, too, so making a big batch on Sunday and eating it through the week is completely doable.
Go Make Steak Night Something Worth Looking Forward To
Pick two sides from this list. Grab the ingredients on your next grocery run.
That’s it — steak night doesn’t have to be complicated to be really good.
And honestly? Your family doesn’t need a fancy restaurant.
They just need you in the kitchen with a plan. That’s already more than enough.
