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April 23, 2026
Burger Sides: The Best Sides to Serve With Burgers
The best burger sides...
The best burger sides...
The burger gets the glory. But the sides make the meal.
A great patty deserves the right company. The sides you choose shape the whole experience. Get them right, and every bite is better. Get them wrong, and even a brilliant burger feels like something’s missing.
So, what are the best sides for burgers? The classics are classics for good reason: chips, onion rings, and a decent slaw cover most occasions. But there’s a lot more worth trying. Corn wheels, salads, and the right dipping sauce can all take a burger meal somewhere new.
This guide covers the best burger sides going. We’ll run through the tried-and-tested favourites, the ones worth ordering next time, and a few ideas to try at home.
At Honest, we’ve been doing this long enough to know what works. Here’s what we’d put on the table.
Chips are the default burger side for good reason. They’re filling, they’re easy to share, and they hold sauce well. The style you go for changes the feel of the whole meal.
Thick-cut chips bring the most potato flavour and a fluffy interior. Thin fries are crispier and saltier. Waffle fries have more surface area for sauce.
Our rosemary salted chips are skin-on, fresh, never frozen, and seasoned with rosemary salt. They’re made by us and gluten-free.
Pair with: BBQ mayo, chipotle mayo, or just a good ketchup.
Honest Tip: The chip style should match the burger. A big, loaded double patty suits thick-cut chips.
Onion rings are a level up from chips and one of the most satisfying burger sides going. The batter should be light and crispy without overwhelming the sweetness of the onion inside.
Honest onion rings are hand-coated in a light, gluten-free batter made fresh every day.
Pair with: BBQ mayo, smash burgers, or anything with cheese and bacon.
Honest Tip: Onion rings work just as well as a burger topping as they do on the side. One ring inside the bun adds crunch, height, and sweetness to any build.
A good coleslaw does something chips can’t. It cuts through the richness of the patty, adds freshness, and resets your palate between bites. That’s why it’s been a burger staple for as long as anyone can remember.
Classic coleslaw is creamy and simple: shredded cabbage, carrot, and a mayo dressing. More interesting versions bring in red cabbage, apple, fennel, or a mustard-based dressing for extra bite.
Pair with: Beef burgers, chicken burgers, anything with hot sauce or smoky bacon.
Honest Tip: Order slaw alongside your chips rather than instead of them. They’re doing completely different jobs.
A fresh salad is the lightest option on this list and the one most people underestimate. Done well, it brings balance to a heavy burger meal and stops the whole thing from feeling like too much.
The best salads for burgers keep things simple. A pickled cucumber salad adds briny freshness that pairs particularly well with smash burgers.
Our Big Leaf salad is made with Cos lettuce, ranch mayo, crispy onions, and chives.
Pair with: Any burger for that lighter, fresher side.
Honest Tip: For something with more substance, a salad with crispy onions, rocket, and a tangy dressing can hold its own against a loaded burger.
Not a classic burger side, but one that’s earned its place on the table. Halloumi fries are salty and satisfying in a way that’s completely different from potato fries. They also work well as a sharing side.
At Honest, our halloumi fries use organic Welsh halloumi and are served with chipotle jam.
Pair with: Beef or chicken burgers.
Honest Tip: The chipotle jam is the perfect dip for our halloumi fries. Don’t skip it.
Chicken wings are the sharing side that turns a burger meal into a proper spread. They bring heat, crunch, and a lot of flavour, and they work well ordered alongside burgers rather than as a replacement for them.
Buffalo wings are the classic: fried, coated in a hot, buttery sauce, and usually served with something cooling on the side. BBQ wings are sweeter and smokier, with a stickier finish. Sriracha wings bring more heat and a sharper, more vinegary kick than a standard buffalo.
Pair with: Ranch mayo, anything cold and creamy to balance the heat.
Honest Tip: Wings and a burger are a big order. It’s also the right order. Share the wings if you need to feel better about it.
Chicken tenders are the more accessible alternative to wings. Easier to eat, less messy, and just as satisfying for that crispy bite. They suit people who want something from the chicken side of the menu without committing to a full wing portion.
The key is the batter: it should be crispy, well-seasoned, and light enough not to overpower the chicken inside. A good dipping sauce is non-negotiable.
At Honest, our BBQ chicken tenders are fried, served with BBQ mayo and pickles, made in-house and gluten-free.
Pair with: BBQ mayo, chipotle mayo, or Honest hot sauce.
Honest Tip: Tenders and chips are a reliable combination. Add a slaw, and you’ve got a proper spread without ordering half the menu.
Gravy as a burger side is underrated. Not as something poured over the burger, but as a dipping sauce for chips. A rich, well-seasoned gravy transforms a portion of chips into something closer to a loaded side, and it pairs particularly well with beef burgers.
At Honest, our bacon gravy is homemade by the chefs in our kitchens. It’s the kind of thing that turns a good chips order into a great one.
Pair with: Thick-cut chips, rosemary salted chips, beef burgers.
Honest Tip: Order a pot of homemade gravy to dip your beef burger in. It’s not on every table, but it should be.
Corn is a burger side that doesn’t get enough credit. Fried corn on the cob or corn wheels brings natural sweetness and a crisp finish that pairs well with beef, and the texture adds something different to the spread.
Corn works particularly well at a BBQ alongside burgers, but it’s just as good in a restaurant setting as a sharing side. It’s simple, crowd-pleasing, and fills a gap that chips and slaw don’t cover. Ours is a cajun corn fried and served with a dip.
Pair with: Our creamy ranch mayo to dip into.
Honest Tip: Corn and a slaw together cover the fresh, sweet end of the sides spectrum. Order both if you’re sharing.
A good sauce ties the whole meal together. It’s the finishing touch on your chips, the thing that makes onion rings worth ordering, and the detail that separates a good burger meal from a great one.
The classics are ketchup, mustard, and mayo. Beyond those, BBQ mayo adds smoky sweetness, chipotle mayo brings a touch of heat without overwhelming, and ranch is the cooling option for anything spicy. A hot sauce on the side gives you control over the heat level of the whole meal.
At Honest, every sauce is made in-house and gluten-free.
Pair with: Everything. That’s the point.
Honest Tip: Don’t share a dipping pot between chips and onion rings. Order two. One never lasts.
Not every side works equally well with every burger. The best pairings bring balance: something to contrast or complement the main event. Here’s what works best depending on what you’re eating.
Beef burgers are rich, savoury, and bold. The best sides cut through that richness with freshness, acidity, or crunch. Rosemary salted chips are the natural partner. Add a coleslaw to reset the palate between bites, and pickles for sharpness. If you’re ordering a loaded beef burger with cheese and bacon, a salad does the balancing work. Bacon gravy alongside chips or to dip your burger in is the indulgent (but recommended) option for those who want to lean into the richness rather than away from it.
Smash burgers have crispy, lacy edges and a higher ratio of crust to meat. They’re saltier and more intensely flavoured than a classic thick patty. The best sides for smash burgers lean towards freshness and acidity: a pickled cucumber salad, our Big Leaf Salad, or a slaw.
Chicken burgers are lighter and softer in flavour, so the sides can carry more weight. A slaw with some bite works well, especially one with a mustard or lemon-based dressing. Buffalo wings alongside a chicken burger might sound like doubling up, but if you’re sharing the wings or ordering our small portion, it might make you feel better.
A salad keeps things fresh. Corn is a versatile vegan-friendly side that adds sweetness and texture to complement a plant patty well.
Chips and onion rings cover the essentials and are our top favourite sides when you visit Honest. But if you’re at home and putting together a proper burger meal, there’s a wider world of sides worth considering. The options below are all straightforward to make at home.
Pickles are one of the best things you can put on or alongside a burger, and they’re just as good as a side as they are a topping. The sharpness and acidity cut through fat and richness in a way that no other side quite manages.
Pickled cucumbers are the classic choice. Pickled red onions bring a milder, sweeter tang. Pickled jalapeños add heat on top of the acidity. A small dish of mixed pickled veg on the table makes every bite of the burger better, and it costs almost nothing to put together at home.
Honest Tip: If you like pickles on your burger, try ordering a side of pickled veg as well. It keeps the flavour going between bites.
Sweet potato fries sit in an interesting middle ground between chips and something more interesting. They’re sweeter, slightly softer, and pair well with spicier builds or anything with a smoky finish.
The key is getting enough crunch on them. Sweet potato fries go soggy faster than regular fries, so they need a hot oven or a proper deep fry to hold their texture.
Honest Tip: Pair sweet potato fries with a chipotle mayo or a hot sauce. The heat and acidity balance the sweetness well.
Loaded fries are the side that doubles as a dish in its own right. Cheese sauce, bacon bits, cajun spice, spring onions or whatever toppings you choose! Or opt for our buffalo chicken loaded chips if you want to really go for it. The combinations are well-established for good reason.
They work best as a sharing side rather than an individual portion. Ordered alongside a round of burgers, they turn a straightforward meal into something more generous.
Honest Tip: Loaded fries and a burger can be a big plate. You might want to split them between two people and add a slaw to balance things out.
Mac and cheese as a burger side sounds indulgent, and it is. But a small portion of a well-made mac and cheese alongside a beef burger is one of the better comfort food combinations going. The creaminess of the cheese sauce works well against the char on a grilled patty.
It works particularly well with smash burgers, where the crispy, lacy edges of the patty benefit from something rich and soft on the side.
Honest Tip: Keep the portion small. Mac and cheese as a main is a different meal entirely.
Baked beans are a classic burger side that’s more popular than the restaurant world gives them credit for. A good portion of smoky, slightly sweet baked beans alongside a beef burger and chips is one of those combinations that just works. They add moisture, sweetness, and a different texture to the plate.
Homemade baked beans are worth the effort if you have time. Cook haricot beans with smoked paprika, tomato, mustard, and a touch of treacle for something substantially better than the tinned version. They keep well in the fridge for days and reheat brilliantly.
Honest Tip: Baked beans work best alongside plain chips or wedges. Don’t pair them with loaded fries or anything already sauced; the plate gets too busy.
Potato salad is the side that sits between chips and a green salad. It’s starchy enough to be substantial, but dressed and seasoned enough to add freshness. A good potato salad made with new potatoes, a mustard dressing, and fresh herbs is one of the most reliable BBQ burger sides going.
The key is not overdressing it. The potatoes should taste like potatoes, not disappear under a heavy mayo coating. A lighter, vinaigrette-based dressing works better alongside burgers than a thick, creamy one.
Honest Tip: Make potato salad a couple of hours ahead and serve it at room temperature. Cold potato salad straight from the fridge doesn’t taste of much.
Simple and underrated as a burger side. A good garlic bread adds butter, salt, and crunch without competing with the burger itself. It’s the kind of side that works at a BBQ or a casual dinner without requiring much effort.
Honest Tip: Garlic bread works better at home or at a BBQ than in a restaurant setting. It travels well and takes minutes to prepare.
Wedges occupy a different space to chips. They’re chunkier, more filling, and better at holding toppings like soured cream or a sharp dip. Skin-on wedges with a good seasoning are one of the most reliable home burger sides going.
Honest Tip: Season wedges with smoked paprika and garlic before roasting. It takes them from a basic side to something worth talking about.
Not every side works alongside a burger. Some compete with it, some overwhelm it, and some just don’t earn their place on the plate. A few to avoid:
Heavy rice dishes. A burger and chips is already a lot of starch. Adding rice makes the meal too heavy and one-note. If you want grains, a couscous salad or orzo is a better option because the dressing adds contrast.
Overly creamy dips as a standalone side. A pot of dipping sauce alongside chips is great. A full bowl of hummus or a rich cheese dip alongside a loaded cheeseburger is too much richness without enough contrast. Keep the creamy elements small and purposeful.
Complicated composed salads. A burger meal isn’t the time for a salad with twelve ingredients and a honey-tahini dressing. The side should support the burger, not compete with it for your attention. Keep salads simple, sharp, and well-dressed.
Restaurant sides are hard to beat. But if you’re cooking burgers at home, a few straightforward sides can make the whole meal feel more complete. None of the options below take long, and most require very little effort.
The obvious starting point. Oven chips are the easiest option and perfectly respectable when done properly. For something better, par-boil floury potatoes, rough up the edges, and roast them in a hot oven with plenty of oil and seasoning. They won’t be identical to a deep-fried chip, but they’ll be good.
For fries, a deep fryer or a large pan of oil gets you closer to the real thing. Season immediately after cooking while the salt is still sticking.
Honest Tip: Rosemary salt is easy to make at home. Blitz dried rosemary with flaky sea salt and add a bit of lemon zest, keep a jar of it in the cupboard. It improves most things, not least your roast potatoes.
Homemade coleslaw takes about ten minutes and is almost always better than shop-bought. Shred white or red cabbage, grate a carrot, and dress with mayo, a squeeze of lemon, and a little mustard. Add apple for sweetness or fennel for something more interesting.
Make it a couple of hours ahead and let it sit in the fridge. It improves as it rests.
Honest Tip: Squeeze the shredded cabbage with a little salt before dressing it. It removes excess moisture and stops the coleslaw from going watery.
One of the best BBQ burger sides going. Grill or char corn directly over a flame for the best flavour. Finish with butter, flaky salt, and a squeeze of lime. If you want more heat, add a little chilli flakes or smoked paprika.
Corn takes about ten minutes on a hot grill and needs almost no preparation.
Honest Tip: Soak corn in cold water for twenty minutes before grilling. It steams inside the husk and stays juicier.
A well-dressed green salad is one of the most underrated burger sides. Rocket, little gem lettuce, spring onions, and a sharp vinaigrette is all you need. Add crispy onions or croutons if you want texture.
The dressing matters more than anything else. A good vinaigrette is three parts oil to one part acid, with a little mustard to hold it together.
Honest Tip: Dress the salad just before serving. A salad dressed too early goes limp quickly, and a limp salad alongside a burger is a sorry sight.
Quickest side on this list. Slice cucumbers thinly, cover with white wine vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and a pinch of salt, and leave for at least thirty minutes. That’s it.
Quick-pickled red onions work the same way and are worth making in a larger batch to keep in the fridge. They last a week and improve almost every burger meal.
Honest Tip: Add a few slices of fresh chilli to your quick pickles for a bit of heat. It makes them more interesting without adding any extra effort.
Halloumi fries are straightforward to make at home and well worth the effort. Cut a block of halloumi into thick chunks, coat lightly in flour or cornflour, and fry in a little oil until golden on each side. They take about five minutes and hold their shape well.
Honest Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry halloumi in batches and serve immediately. It can go rubbery once it cools down.
Wedges are one of the most reliable home burger sides. Cut floury potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, and dried herbs, and roast at a high heat until crispy. They take about thirty-five minutes and need very little attention once they’re in the oven.
Honest Tip: Don’t crowd the roasting tin. Wedges need space around them to crisp up properly. Use two tins if you need to.
Or skip the washing up and let us handle the sides. Find your nearest Honest Burgers here or have it delivered straight to your door.
The best sides for burgers are chips, onion rings, coleslaw, and a fresh salad. Between those four, you’ve got crunch, richness, and freshness covered. Chicken wings or tenders are worth adding if you’re sharing. A good dipping sauce ties everything together.
Good burger sides beyond fries include onion rings, coleslaw, corn on the cob, halloumi fries, chicken wings, chicken tenders, or a fresh salad. Pickles and pickled veg are also worth having on the table, particularly alongside beef burgers. They add sharpness and acidity that no other side quite replicates. Baked beans and potato salad are two other reliable options that suit a BBQ setting especially well.
The best salads for burgers are simple and well-dressed. A house green salad with rocket, little gem lettuce, spring onions, and a sharp vinaigrette works with almost any build. A pickle and cucumber salad pairs particularly well with smash burgers. Avoid anything too heavy or creamy alongside a loaded burger.
The best vegetables to serve with burgers are pickles, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and a simple green salad. Pickled cucumbers and pickled red onions are particularly effective alongside beef burgers, as the acidity cuts through the richness of the patty. Charred corn works well with anything smoky or BBQ-finished.
The best BBQ burger sides are corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad, potato wedges, and a simple green salad. Corn is the standout: it takes minutes on a hot grill and pairs naturally with chargrilled beef. A homemade slaw made a couple of hours ahead travels well and improves as it rests. Keep the sides fresh and simple so the burger stays the focus.
The best sides for smash burgers lean towards freshness and acidity. A pickled cucumber salad, thin fries, or a sharp green salad all work well. Smash burgers are saltier and more intensely flavoured than a classic thick patty, so the sides should provide contrast rather than more richness.
There’s no single right answer to what goes with a burger. But the best combinations get the balance right. Crispy with fresh. Rich with sharp. Simple with something a bit more interesting alongside it.
Use this guide as a starting point. Go with the classics if that’s what you’re after. Try something new if you’ve got the appetite for it. And if you want to see how we do it, check out our menu and find your nearest Honest restaurant.
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