16 Perfect Side Dishes for Steak

Hot off the grill, charred sweet corn gets slathered in tangy lime mayonnaise and topped with extra-large crunchy quicos, or corn nuts, in Traci des Jardins' version of elote. For a plated version, cut the kernels from the cobs and toss with lime mayo and quicos, then scoop and serve.

Resplendent with mixed citrus and jewel-toned roasted beets, this peppery arugula salad gets elevated to holiday status courtesy of crispy halloumi croutons.

Asparagus is first baked with olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and garlic, then coated with Parmesan butter during the last few minutes of cooking, creating a creamy, luxurious sauce as it finishes baking. When you add the Parmesan butter, be sure to toss until a sauce is formed to prevent the cheese from forming clumps as it cooks.

The three-part core of a classic salade Catalane includes roasted red pepper, anchovy, and hard-boiled egg. Beyond this, there are endless interpretations. This one, from Steve Hoffman's time in the French town of Autignac in Languedoc-Roussillon, takes the form of a very approachable chopped salad, which pays its respects to the region's love of wild bitter greens and fire-based cooking.

Serve Tom Colicchio's fresh-tasting chickpea salad with warm, soft pita bread to soak up the olive oil dressing.

This fresh broccoli and corn salad pairs tender vegetables with a lemony vinaigrette, making it a great 15-minute side dish.

This dish combines tomatoes, spinach, and feta to create a satisfying salad that pairs well with a savory steak. 

A quick, high-temperature oven roast on a baking sheet yields crispy, golden brown brussels sprouts and almost-charred, smoky broccoli. Tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce studded with tart cranberries, Fresno chiles, and shallots, the vegetables become an easy, elegant side dish.

In this rich, beautiful gratin, potatoes and onions are arranged in concentric circles, coated in a creamy cheese sauce, and topped off with a few more handfuls of shredded cheese. Cheddar and Gruyère work wonderfully here, but feel free to substitute with another one of your favorite melting cheeses, such as Fontina or Havarti.

Smoky, charred Broccolini and chickpeas give this take on Caesar salad the heft it needs to be a main course. Texture is the secret to a salad's wow factor. Here, Little Gem lettuces, hearty kale, and crisp-tender Broccolini bring three levels of crunch, and provide plenty of leafy nooks and crannies to catch the thick, anchovy-laced dressing.

Using wild rice instead of the traditional bulgur wheat makes this an easy gluten-free version of the classic Middle Eastern salad.

Smoky and spicy, cured Spanish chorizo infuses melted butter with its rich color and flavor, balancing the natural sweetness of these tender roasted sweet potatoes. Scoring baked sweet potatoes and then broiling them gives them a hint of smoke and lets the chorizo butter soak into every bite.

Butcher Erika Nakamura makes a mean creamed spinach, using a combo of Cognac and Pernod to add complex flavor to the steakhouse staple.

This brilliant take on steak frites is a specialty of chef Andrew Carmellini. He tops seared strip steaks with a butter infused with tarragon, shallots and vinegar—key ingredients in béarnaise sauce—and serves them with tangy French fries made with vinegar-brined potatoes.

These mashed potatoes are a speedy, nearly effortless dish thanks to a flavor-packed special ingredient: a garlic-and-herb-flecked spreadable cheese (such as Boursin). For a colorful twist, use purple Peruvian potatoes instead of Yukon Golds to make purple mashed potatoes.

To achieve good color and caramelization on carrots, chef Hugh Acheson sautés them in olive oil and butter before finishing them in the oven. The carrots should be tender on the outside and have some crispiness in the middle, he says.