Planning the perfect steak dinner involves devoting adequate time to your side dishes, too. Served with a simple salad, a steak can be a lean, nutritious supper, while adding puddles of sauce and mountains of fries makes the whole thing much more decadent.

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Choose your favourite dish from our top steak recipes, then get inspired by our selection of steak sides, from sauces to vegetables, potatoes and beyond. Want to know the insider tips on judging steak doneness? Check out our guide on how to check steak is cooked to get your favourite every time, then take a look at how to serve the perfect steak dinner. If you need some advice on cuts of meat, read up on how to choose your steak with our handy infographic. For dinner in a flash, discover the 10 steak sauces you can make in minutes.

How to cook steak

First, make your ideal steak with our guide on how to cook the perfect steak – this will help you to choose your cut of meat, accompanying drinks and cooking methods.

For help with techniques and timing, watch our video on how to cook the perfect steak:

10 steak side dish ideas

1. Macaroni cheese

Macaroni cheese in a white oven proof dish next to a plate with some of the macaroni cheese

Go US-style and serve a small portion of mac ‘n’ cheese on the side. Try our best ever macaroni cheese recipe for a deliciously savoury pasta dish with a rich, creamy sauce and crunchy topping.

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2. Tomatoes

Half a grilled tomato is a steakhouse classic. Bring out the sweet flavour with a splash of vinegar. Our simple roast tomatoes take on a fantastic depth of flavour, with a hint of herby thyme and garlic.

3. Spicy slaw

A simple slaw can be a great way to add freshness and bite to your meal. Our smoky steak with Cajun potatoes & spicy slaw is easy to make and packed with flavour. Make a basic dressing using chilli paste, soured cream and mayo. Try a whole range of flavours like our Teriyaki steak with fennel slaw or our red cabbage & pickled chilli slaw.

4. Refried beans

Homemade refried beans aren't just for nachos. Try our steak with homemade refried beans for all the flavours of a hearty chilli con carne. Serve with avocado, soured cream and a pinch of paprika.

5. Spiralized veg

Instead of standard fries, why not try spiralizing and roasting your favourite veg for a shoestring fry effect. Our steak with rosemary celeriac fries, kale & garlic butter is a delicious modern take on the classic steak and chips.

6. Corn on the cob

Close up shot of chipotle bavette steak with lime corn and chunky salsa, served on a white dinner plate

Our chipotle bavette steak with lime corn and chunky salsa is a real summer sizzler. Corn chargrilled to perfection and smothered with a herby butter is hard to resist.

7. Creamed spinach

Try coating your greens in indulgent single cream with our recipe for creamed spinach. Get in even more fresh flavours with our stir-fried curly kale with chilli & garlic or try a bowlful of buttery peas.

8. Mushrooms

Another traditional accompaniment – try them devilled, roasted or with cream. Our roasted herby mushrooms are a a wonderfully rich, savoury side dish. Mix with garlic, parsley and a little balsamic vinegar, then roast until tender.

9. Garden salad

Keep it minimal and go for a classic watercress or flat-leaf parsley salad. A whole host of greens and dressings go well with a simple steak supper, check our out green salad recipes for more leafy inspiration.

10. Onion rings

Onion rings in a small blue side dish

Although it may not be the most romantic food, onion rings are a popular accompaniment for steak on Valentine's Day. Follow our video guide to deep-frying onion rings, or try them baked if you prefer.

Top 10 steak sauce recipes

Some would say you can’t have a steak supper without a dollop of sauce. If you agree, try one of our favourites below. Don't miss out on a delicious spoonful of flavourful sauce, try our 10 steak sauces you can make in minutes.

1. Peppercorn sauce

The classic steak sauce. Ditch the packet version and whip up your own in mere minutes with our clever cheat's version. If we've whet your appetite, try our fillet steak, chips & quick pepper sauce.

2. Bearnaise sauce

Bowl of Bearnaise sauce

A classic French sauce with a slight vinegar tang and peppering of fresh tarragon. Perfect for steak purists. Make our steak haché with pommes frites & cheat's Béarnaise sauce for a simple French recipe the whole family will enjoy.

3. Pesto

Not the traditional basil-based green sauce as you know it, but a steak-friendly blend of watercress, chilli and hazelnuts. Whip up a satisfying main for two with our griddled rump steak with watercress, hazelnut & red chilli pesto.

4. Barbecue sauce

This diner condiment may not be the most refined of sauces, but making your own is a nice touch. Get your sizzle on try our steak with barbecue sauce, an easy and speedy main course that's easily doubled for a crowd.

5. Mushroom sauce

A close up of Bavette steak with a tarragon & mushroom sauce, served on a white plate

A blend of wild ceps, white wine, soft herbs, parmesan and crème fraîche makes for an earthy accompaniment. Try our budget-friendly supper of bavette steak with chips, tarragon & mushroom sauce & watercress salad, for a cosy night in. If you need something comforting for two, try our rump steak with quick mushroom and red wine sauce.

6. Flavoured butter

Try garlic & parsley, chilli, coriander & lime, or horseradish & chive. Our top steak & chips recipe uses a garlic and parsley butter to top your masterpiece. Add some spice to your plate with our rib-eye steaks with chilli butter or try our horseradish butter steaks to turn a standard meal into something special.

7. Chimichurri

A coarse South American sauce of chopped parsley, garlic, shallots and chilli. Great served with a glass of malbec. Once you've tried our steak with chimichurri sauce, you'll never look back.

8. Hollandaise sauce

Rib-eye steak with basil hollandaise on a white dinner plate with a glass of red wine in the background

Try adding fresh basil to this buttery French sauce for an instant lift to your dish. Treat any steak lover to our rib-eye steak with basil hollandaise, it's ideal for sharing.

9. Shallot & red wine reduction

Deglaze the pan using a traditional bistro sauce, it's ideal for rib-eye steak or a sirloin cut. Try our steaks in red wine sauce for a simple way to add a final flourish to your steak dinner.

10. Pizzaiola sauce

A pizza-style sauce to give an Italian edge to your steak supper. Our sirloin steaks with pizzaiola sauce are a fun take on the classic dish.

Top 10 potato side dishes for steak

Sometimes, nothing other than classic steak and chips will do. Try one of our favourite recipes below, then dive into our ultimate chips recipes for more twists on everyone's favourite side dish.

1. Chunky oven chips

Bypass a bubbling vat of oil and cook these thick-cut chips in the oven.

2. Traditional chips

If you’re feeling a bit cheffy, you could deep-fry your chips. You can use the oil for onion rings, too.

3. Matchstick chips

Thin and crispy chips that are great for dipping. These deep-fried golden beauties are seasoned with cayenne pepper, or try our thyme & oregano chips for a herby twist.

4. Shoestring fries

Shoestring fries on a white plate with steak

Make burger restaurant-style thin potato fries to add something special to elevate your meal. Indulge in our chimichurri-style steak sarnies & cheat's spicy fries. This next level steak sandwich is filled with punchy flavours like spicy chipotle mayo, Cajun-style fries and fresh chimichurri.

5. Sweet potato fries

A little lighter than your average spud, sweet potatoes make delicious wedges and work well in the oven. Try a healthy version of your favourite meal with our steaks with goulash sauce & sweet potato fries.

6. Potatoes dauphinoise

If you have an hour or two on your hands, create this classic layered potato bake. It's equally delicious using different veg such as butternut squash, fennel and celeriac. For an eye-catching presentation, try our domino dauphinoise or our ultra-indulgent next level dauphinoise potatoes.

7. Potato salad

Skip the retro mayonnaise and dress your potatoes with vinegar and olive oil for a lighter, more sophisticated serve. Make the most of this versatile side dish with our favourite potato salad recipes.

8. Mashed potatoes

Try creamy mashed potatoes with garlic, mustard or horseradish and pair them with a fabulous fillet. Mash is so simple to make and easy to switch up to your liking. You can even swap in different veg like sweet potato or celeriac.

9. Baked skinny fries

If you’re concerned with the calorific hit of a full-on steak dinner, try baking your fries. These baked skinny fries don't skimp on the flavour, coat your potatoes in paprika and garlic powder for an extra dose of indulgence.

10. Potato wedges

Potato wedge with soured cream dip

Chunky potato wedges are perfect for mopping up steak juices and sauces, and they're very simple to make. Serve this simple side with your favourite cut of steak. Try it in the form of our balsamic steaks with peppercorn wedges.

Enjoyed these suggestions? Try our top steak recipe ideas...

Video: healthy steak with goulash sauce
Steak salad recipes
Fillet steak recipes
Sirloin steak recipes

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What do you like to serve alongside your steak? Share your ideas with us below, and be sure to look through our steak recipe

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