Beef stew is filled with beef and a variety of other ingredients concocted into a wonderful, hearty stew and often served as a main dish.

Beef stew has beef and a variety of vegetables. Common additives for beef stew are potatoes, carrots, corn, peas, celery, herbs, and spices all in a savory broth.

Even though beef stew is usually served as a main dish, you can serve it with a side. Read on to find 17 delectable side dishes to serve with your beef stew.

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17 Side Dishes to Serve With Beef Stew

When trying to find a side dish to serve with your beef stew there are a couple of directions you can go and all of them will make an incredible meal. Starchy sides, fresh sides, and vegetable sides can all go well with beef stew.

1. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes go with almost anything and beef stew is no different. Beef stew can remind you of grandma’s cooking and mashed potatoes only add to the comfort food element.

Your beef stew will be delightful on top of a mountain of creamy and buttery mashed potatoes. If you go with mashed potatoes, I’d leave potatoes out of the stew.

2. Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes

Another style of mashed potatoes that goes well with beef stew is garlic red skin mashed potatoes. Savory meets savory when you serve them together.

Simply add sour cream, garlic, butter, milk, dried basil, and salt and pepper to boiled red potatoes and mash together. These will taste great with the gravy from the stew!

3. Red Roasted Potatoes

Red roasted potatoes are not only delicious when they’re mashed. Roast the red potatoes in the oven with some olive oil, salt, and pepper for a great flavored side.

For added flavor, add fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme. Dress them up by adding some mushrooms or colorful vegetables like asparagus or green beans.

4. Rice

Beef Stew would sit perfectly on top of a bed of rice. White rice is a good option as it will take on the flavor of the savory broth from the stew.

If you like rice with more flavor, you can go with brown rice that has a nuttier flavor and can add a nice firm texture to your tender beef stew.

5. Mushroom Wild Rice

Quick and easy to prep, let the slow cooker do all of the work. Mushroom wild rice will have your mouth watering by the time it’s ready.

Consisting of brown and wild rice, French onion soup, condensed beef consommé, butter, water, and mushrooms this rice will complement the beefy flavor of your stew.

6. Quinoa Salad

A healthy and delicious substitute for rice, quinoa is packed with vitamins, minerals, and protein. It has a nutty flavor and a soft and fluffy texture.

While a little bland on its own, sprucing up your quinoa is easy. Chopped fresh vegetables, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice make a great quinoa salad.

7. Couscous

Simple to prepare and equally delicious is couscous. Couscous has a nice grainy texture and will soak up the flavors of your beef stew.

There are different types of couscous: Moroccan, Israeli, and Lebanese with the main difference being the size. Israeli couscous is similar to pasta and has a chewy texture and savory flavor.

8. French Bread

French bread has a nice, crunch outside and light, fluffy inside making it a perfect side for beef stew. The crunch adds a nice texture to your meal.

The fluffy inside serves its purpose of soaking up the wonderful juices from your beef stew. Slather on a little butter and you’ve got it all.

9. Dinner Rolls

Dinner rolls are another yeasty favorite to eat with beef stew. While they don’t have the crunch of French bread, they share the fluffy inside that is great for soaking up juices.

The golden-brown top of dinner rolls will look beautiful alongside your beef stew. Serve with butter for the stew or serve with some jam to add a sweet, dessert-like element to the meal.

10. Green Salad

If starchy foods are a little too heavy for you, you can think fresh instead. A simple green salad can add a refreshing component to your meal and the flavor will contrast nicely with your savory beef stew.

Green salads can consist of any green from lettuce and arugula to spinach and kale and be topped with a simple vinaigrette dressing. Throw in some cherry tomatoes and red onion for some beautiful color.

11. Wedge Salad

Classic and simple, a wedge salad adds a hint of elegance to any meal. It is a crisp and refreshing side that contrasts beautifully with the heartiness of beef stew.

Using iceberg lettuce cut into a thick wedge, this salad is traditionally topped with bacon crumbles, diced cherry tomatoes, chives, blue cheese dressing, and blue cheese crumbles.

12. Tomato Salad

Beef stew is hearty and bold. To balance out the flavors, you may want to go with a simple tomato salad that will be light, fresh, and tasty.

The great thing about tomato salad is you can make it to suit your tastes. Some options are fresh basil, parsley, garlic, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. For a creamy element, add fresh pieces of mozzarella.

13. Spinach Salad

Spinach salad is another highly versatile salad that can be customized to suit your preferences. Fresh spinach leaves set the tone for a salad that can be sweet, savory, or simple.

For a sweet salad consider an apple spinach salad that uses fruit and goat cheese. For a savory salad, try a spinach salad featuring ingredients like avocado and balsamic vinegar. Or you can keep it simple by adding parmesan cheese with oil and lemon juice dressing.

14. Cauliflower Mash

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes, try a cauliflower mash. It’s all the yumminess of mashed potatoes without the carbs and calories that will still absorb the flavor of your stew.

The secret to good cauliflower mash is getting lots of flavor by adding garlic, butter, sour cream, and parmesan cheese. For some vibrant color, top with fresh parsley, chives, or dill.

15. Buttered Cabbage

Simple, savory, and delicious, buttered cabbage can go great with beef stew. Four ingredients are all you need to make this delicious dish. Cabbage, butter, salt, and pepper.

If you’re short on time, try softening the cabbage in an instant pot in chicken or beef broth instead of water to get a little added flavor.

16. Broccoli

Effortless yet appetizing. Broccoli is a side that will taste great with your beef stew and add a nice pop of color. There are a few different ways to prepare broccoli and all of them will taste great!

One way to keep the flavor light and simple is to steam it. To add some crispiness and earthier flavor, try roasting it. If you want a little more flavor, drizzle it in a balsamic glaze.

17. Grilled Vegetables

Sometimes food just tastes better on a grill. Grilled vegetables are a delightful and healthy side you can serve with beef stew. All you need is a grill, some olive oil, and a little salt and pepper.

Almost any vegetable can be grilled. Some popular options for grilling are zucchini, tomatoes, red onions, cucumber, bell pepper, eggplant, corn on the cob, and cabbage.

Wrap-Up

Choosing a side to serve with your beef stew is only difficult because there are so many delectable sides to choose from depending on what flavor profile you’re going for.

Now you have a list of 17 sides that all pair wonderfully with beef stew and offer unique flavors. From mashed potatoes to mashed cauliflower, your dinner is sure to be a delight.