Find your new favorite healthy sides for burgers and hotdogs in this list of 26 amazing options. From slaws to fries, chips, sauces, and lots of toppings, you're sure to find a few new favorites here!
Try Something New This Summer!
Any time burgers and hot dogs are on the menu it's easy to just reach for french fries and dill pickles as sides - but why stop there, when there are so many other, more fun, options out there?
If you're ready to switch it up this summer and try something new, I'm sure you'll find something you love in this collection. I gathered the 26 best sides I could find, from healthier fries and chips to slaws made many different ways, as well as some sauces and toppings.
These will all go great with any type of burger you choose - as well as with a hot dog, other heavier sandwiches, or just a regular old protein heavy main course.
Now let's talk quickly about "healthy". This can mean anything and everything, depending on who you ask. Here I focused on healthier rather than low fat or low carb, or something similar. For me this means:
- Veggie forward
- Cooking methods with less fat (a lot of air fryer recipes!)
- Veggie-loaded version of your favorites (like chips and fries!)
- Salsas & yoghurt sauces over mayo loaded versions
If you already know what you're after, just click the links below and jump straight to the section you want.
Enjoy!
Jump to:
Healthier Fries
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon
20 minutes
These sweet potato wedges are a great option to fries - perfectly baked with a delicious touch of salt and cinnamon.
Air Fryer Potato Wedges
20 minutes
Crispy on the outside and smooth and baked on the inside - that's the best potato wedges you'll ever have. Healthy with just a tiny bit of oil, and a dash of salt for extra flavor.
Air Fryer Turnip Fries
22 minutes
These simple turnip fries are great when you're looking for a healthier alternative to fries. With a simple seasoning they're air fried for extra healthy points!
Air Fryer Steak Fries
25 minutes
This rustic side dish is easy to make with just a few steps, and they come out crispy on the outside, and perfectly baked on the inside.
Japanese Sweet Potato Fries
35 minutes
Switch up the sweet potato fries by using Japanese sweet potatoes! Just as delicious, but sturdier and a bit sweeter than regular sweet potato fries.
Baked Zucchini Fries
45 minutes
Load up on veggies while having your fries with these zucchini fries. Coated with Panko breadcrumbs for a crispy treat.
Baked Carrot Fries
45 minutes
Make these carrot fries for a healthy side! Great on their own as well as with a dip.
Yuca Fries
50 minutes
Yuca fries are a fun exotic twist on fries. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside - just the way a good fry should be!
Healthier Chips
Air Fryer Beet Chips
20 minutes
Have your chips and your nutrients too with these deliciously crispy beet chips! Made in the air fryer for extra health points.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips
30 minutes
These sweet potato chips are sweet, salty and crispy. With just a little bit of oil and a delicious seasoning.
Snackable Veggie Sides
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
30-40 minutes
Buffalo cauliflower wings are a great healthier snack and an amazing side for burgers and hotdogs. This crispy and spicy goodness can be made either in the air fryer or in the oven.
Vegan Air Fryer Onion Rings
35 minutes
This list wouldn't be complete without a good onion ring recipe! This version is vegan and made in the air fryer with less oil, for a great helthier option.
Lemon Pepper Roasted Cauliflower
40 minutes
Cauliflower is great for making healthy, snackable sides and this version pairs perfectly with hotdogs and burgers!
Slaws & Salads
Caulislaw
10 minutes
This quick slaw is made with cauliflower, carrots and red onions all mixed with a perfectly balanced mayonnaise dressing. It's a fun twist on a regular coleslaw and so delicious it will probably become your new standard slaw.
Watermelon Salsa
10 minutes
A watermelon salsa is perfect to pair with anything barbecued, and this is almost like a fruit salad - the sweetness goes so well with both burgers and hotdogs.
Spicy Cilantro Lime Summar Slaw
10 minutes
This "Summer Slaw" has a fun flavor profile with cilantro and a spicy kick. A great way to change things up!
Blue Cheese Coleslaw
15 minutes
With lots of blue cheese flavor and well-balanced seasoning, this will quickly become your new favorite coleslaw version.
Creamy Greek Cucumber Salad
15 minutes
This Greek cucumber salad is made with yogurt for a healthier twist, and super easy to make. A must for any barbecue!
Ranch Coleslaw
15 minutes
With store-bought mayonnaise & ranch dressing this dish couldn't be easier to make - or more loaded with flavor!
Creamy Healthy Coleslaw
15 minutes
A quick coleslaw made with yogurt instead of mayo for a healthy choice. Loaded with flavor, and a touch of horseradish really makes it "pop"!
Jamaican Salad with Pineapple & Raisins
30 minutes
This Jamaican coleslaw is made without mayo and with pineapple and raisins, for a sweet & tangy side.
Elote - Mexican Street Corn
35 minutes
If you love corn on the cob but think they're annoying to eat (that's me) - don't worry, this Mexican is casserole Elote is the dish for you. All the great flavor, and none of the fuss.
Honey Mustard Coleslaw with Yogurt
70 minutes
This fun coleslaw is made healthier with yogurt instead of mayo, and has a delicious touch of honey and mustard. A great twist on a classic coleslaw, and so pretty to look at!
Sauces & Toppings
Garlic Dipping Sauce
5 minutes
Make this super simple sauce in just 5 minutes and use it to top your burgers or hot dogs or dip your (veggie) fries in. Loaded with delicious garlic flavor and made with a mix of mayo & Greek yogurt.
Quick Pickled Red Onions
10 minutes
Pickled onions are great on top of burgers and hotdogs, and a sure way to elevate your meal. And just to top it off, they're so quick and easy to make!
Guacamole
10 minutes
Guacamole is a great way to tweak your burgers and hotdogs. It's my favorite quick and easy way to add a great burst of flavor!
Turkish Ezme
15 minutes
This authentic Acili Ezme is super healthy loaded with veggies and not much else. It's a delicious spicy sauce, salad or dip that you will want to have with everything. And this version uses common ingredients you can find at your regular supermarket!
Pickled Cabbage
15 minutes
Pickled cabbage is a great option for topping burgers and hotdogs - it adds flavor, nutrients and a great acidic pop that balances all those heavier flavors.
Homemade Ketchup
40 minutes
Ketchup is a must when serving burgers and hotdogs, but the storebolught kind has so much sugar & other weird stuff. Make it yourself instead, with this easy recipe!
Kristen
What a great round-up! Thanks so much for including my pickled cabbage. 🙂