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Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with BBQ Hamburgers? 10 BEST Side Dishes

For BBQ Hamburgers, go with Watermelon Salad, Grilled Corn on the Cob, BBQ Baked Beans, Tangy Coleslaw, and Creamed Spinach.

Watermelon Salad -

If the juicy fruit is readily available or in season, a watermelon salad is a perfect item to serve with BBQ hamburgers.

For a lighter option, try Creamed Spinach. Creamed spinach is a simple but flavorful dish that matches nicely with burgers.

You're lucky because we will list the ten best dishes to serve with burgers.

While you can eat BBQ burgers on their own, and they're versatile.

So you can include them in various events.

The burgers taste good with many items, such as corn on the cob, sweet potato fries, tangy coleslaw, and roasted tomatoes.

Burgers are delicious, and everyone loves them.

So, make sure to include a large number, or some of your guests will not manage to enjoy them.

Table of Contents

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  • 10 Ideal Side Dishes for BBQ Hamburgers
    • 1 - Watermelon Salad
    • 2 - Grilled Corn on the Cob
    • 3 - BBQ Baked Beans
    • 4 - Tangy Coleslaw
    • 5 - Creamed Spinach
    • 6 - Cucumber and Tomato Salad
    • 7 - Pickled Veggies
    • 8 - Creamy Potato Salad
    • 9 - Garlic Roasted Tomatoes
    • 10 - Sweet Potato Fries
  • Frequently Asked Questions

10 Ideal Side Dishes for BBQ Hamburgers

Look below to see what dishes you can serve with BBQ burgers - including vegetarian picks like BBQ tofu side ideas for weeknight meals.

1 - Watermelon Salad

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If the juicy fruit is readily available or in season, a watermelon salad is a perfect item to serve with BBQ hamburgers - see watermelon salad side suggestions for summer menus for full ideas.

The fresh salad cleanses your palate and adds a fresh element to your meal.

The meat dish and veggies combine nicely to make you full, and it completes your meal.

The juicy and slightly sweet salad also needs a few ingredients, so you don't have to search here and there.

Watermelon, onion, herbs (mint and basil), feta cheese, and lime juice are sufficient.

But buy a fruit only after checking it carefully.

For example, choose a fruit that has a symmetrical shape with smooth and firm skin.

It must feel heavier than its appearance and have a light yellow spot where it sits on the ground.

2 - Grilled Corn on the Cob

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It will seem odd not to add grilled corn on the cob when you have BBQ burgers as one of the main dishes - for surf-and-turf variations, consult grilled swordfish side pairings for backyard meals.

The two pair up perfectly and are a favorite with everyone.

Hence, you won't regret the choice.

Of course, making grilled corn is also easy.

All you need to do is sprinkle some salt, and red pepper flakes, slather butter, and grill them to perfection.

You can grill the corn with the husks on or off.

Corn tastes best when it's fresh and in season.

Hence, it's essential to check each ear when making purchases.

Pick each corn and gently give a squeeze.

Each veggie must feel firm, and its tassels must be pale and silky.

3 - BBQ Baked Beans

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How is it possible not to include BBQ baked beans with BBQ burgers? For international twists that pair with smoky mains, check Filipino BBQ side ideas to expand the menu.

Everyone loves the pair, too, so baked beans are a must-have on the list.

BBQ baked beans aren't complicated, but it takes a little more time to cook.

Hence, you should be prepared to spend some time.

However, the beans taste so good that you'll forget the effort and time spent.

Dried red beans are the usual variety for making BBQ baked beans.

They're delicious and have a deep hue, making the dish more flavorful.

So, you can use the red beans and go for another variety only if you can't find them.

4 - Tangy Coleslaw

-

Besides baked beans and corn, coleslaw is another dish that has to be a part of the menu when serving BBQ hamburgers.

It's one of the most versatile side dishes served frequently with different items.

Coleslaw is fresh and adds a crunchy element to your meal.

You'll have a complete meal and also fill up your belly.

Besides, your palate will stay fresh and not feel overloaded.

Coleslaw originated in the Netherlands, but every nation has a recipe.

So, you have plenty of options.

But since the burgers have meat, you can make the salad with a creamy and tangy dressing.

5 - Creamed Spinach

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It's always nice to have variety on your menu because it makes your meal exciting, and you can experience various flavors - pair creamy greens with sweeter options like creamed corn side ideas for comfort cooking.

BBQ hamburgers are versatile, so you'll always have a suitable pairing when you add veggies.

Creamed spinach is a simple but flavorful dish that matches nicely with burgers.

The two dishes are different from each other but make a great pairing.

Spinach belongs to the amaranth family, and older leaves can be bitter.

So, you can use baby spinach instead of more mature leaves.

6 - Cucumber and Tomato Salad

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After adding a creamy dish, a juicy and crunchy dish will be the perfect accompaniment for BBQ hamburgers - for chilled cucumber options, read cucumber soup side pairings for light menus.

The pairing will complete your meal, and the freshness will cleanse your palate.

Cucumber and tomato salad is delicious and easy to make too.

All the ingredients are readily available so your dish will be perfect to go with the burgers.

Red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper make the salad pleasant.

But cucumber and tomato are both high in water content.

So, you mustn't use overripe veggies or the salad will become mushy.

You should check each veggie carefully before making the salad.

7 - Pickled Veggies

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Besides grilled, roasted, and salad dishes, pickles can serve as suitable side dishes with BBQ hamburgers - similar tangy pairings appear in pickled herring side ideas for briny flavors.

They're easy to make, add a fresh aspect, and balance the flavors of your meal.

Cucumbers are the usual veggie for pickles, but you can make them with various other ingredients.

Most vegetables are available all year round, so that you can work with wide varieties.

Radishes, turnips, onions, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, fennel, green beans, and cauliflower are all suitable for making pickles.

So, you can choose those veggies that are in season.

8 - Creamy Potato Salad

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You must add this dish for many reasons if you love potatoes - for another comforting starch option, consider creamy polenta side ideas for hearty plates.

Creamy potato salad is versatile, pairs with BBQ hamburgers, and is easy to make.

With so many positive features, adding the dish to the list is only fair.

We promise that you won't regret your decision.

The salad is also flavorful and a favorite with everybody, so it's the perfect dish to have.

While it's easy making potato salad, it's necessary to use the right spuds for the dish.

Waxy varieties like fingerling, new and red are the perfect potatoes for salad as they hold their shape.

But you can work with Yukon Golds too.

9 - Garlic Roasted Tomatoes

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A lot of times, tomatoes serve as additional ingredients in dishes.

But they can be a dish on their own too.

Roasted tomatoes are pleasant and also pair wonderfully well with burgers.

Roasted tomatoes are also easy to make.

You will need only five ingredients including tomato, salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic.

While any tomato variety can work, grape tomatoes are the best for the dish.

They're usually smaller than cherry tomatoes so it's hard to miss them at the store.

They also have a longer shelf life than cherry tomatoes.

10 - Sweet Potato Fries

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We'll complete the list with one of the most popular side dishes.

It's the yummy and crispy fries.

But instead of using regular potatoes, we'll go with sweet potatoes.

You'll have more variety and the dish goes well with BBQ hamburgers.

If you make fries regularly, you won't have trouble making sweet potato fries.

It's simple and you have to use only a few items for the dish.

Olive oil, sweet potatoes, salt, pepper, and paprika are the only items needed for fries.

But see that you have the best sweet potatoes.

They must be smooth, flawless and firm.

Else your fries will become like mashed sweet potatoes.

What to Serve with New Orleans BBQ Shrimps? New Orleans BBQ shrimp side pairings complements many summer menus. What to Serve with BBQ Chicken? BBQ chicken side ideas for backyard cookouts offers additional crowd-pleasing options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for BBQ Hamburgers?

The fresh salad cleanses your palate and adds a fresh element to your meal. The two pair up perfectly and are a favorite with everyone.

Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.

What sides work well when feeding a crowd?

For large groups, go with sides that can be made in big batches and hold well at room temperature. The fresh salad cleanses your palate and scales up easily.

Grain-based dishes and roasted vegetables stay good on a buffet without becoming soggy.

What is the lightest option to round out the plate?

A simple green salad or steamed vegetable is the easiest low-effort option. It adds color and nutrients without heavy prep or additional richness.

How do you serve sides for a large group?

Sheet-pan sides and big-batch grains scale easily.

Roast everything on one or two trays and serve from the pan.

Avoid delicate sides that wilt or lose texture when held warm.

Explore more: This post is part of our Side Dish Pairing Guide.
Andrew Gray

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