The best date night dinner ever is Surf and Turf, which is both fancy and easy. Buttery, tender lobster goes great with perfectly cooked filet mignon steaks. Serve this protein-packed dish with your favorite fresh greens and a glass of wine for a dinner you’ll never forget. You deserve it!
Surf and turf – a mouthwatering combination of juicy steak and tender lobster tail. An indulgent splurge and celebration meal perfect for special occasions. But a fabulous steak and lobster dinner needs some equally amazing side dishes to make it a feast fit for a king!
At our house, whenever we fire up the grill for surf and turf night, the sides are just as important as the stars of the show. After all, you need something to soak up all that delicious butter from the lobster! And you can’t have steak and lobster without a few crispy, veggie, and starchy sides to balance out the richness.
So if you’re looking for the perfect additions to your surf and turf dinner you’re in luck! We’ve rounded up 20 sensational sides that will take your meal from great to extraordinary. Keep reading for our best side dish recommendations!
Savory Potato Dishes
Steak and lobster crave a little something rich and starchy alongside Potatoes are always a crowd-pleasing option! Try one of these potato recipes
1. Loaded Baked Potatoes
No surf and turf dinner is complete without a loaded baked potato! Russet potatoes baked until crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, then piled high with all the fixings – butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, and chives. Baked potatoes are filling, delicious, and the perfect match for steak and lobster.
2. Scalloped Potatoes
For an indulgent, creamy potato dish, scalloped potatoes are the way to go. Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce until tender and crispy on top. Scalloped potatoes complement the lobster butter beautifully!
3. Potato Gratin
Similar to scalloped potatoes, but with the addition of cheese! A potato gratin has layers of thinly sliced potatoes and cheese like gruyere, baked until the potatoes are fall-apart tender and the top is crispy and golden brown.
4. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes amped up with plenty of butter and garlic! Creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes are like a warm hug for your steak and lobster. Irresistible and delicious!
5. Crispy Roasted Potatoes
For a lighter potato dish, roasted potatoes are so tasty. Diced potatoes roasted in the oven with oil, garlic, and herbs until deliciously crispy and caramelized.
Fresh Vegetable Sides
Surf and turf needs something fresh and green on the side. Here are some stellar veggie options:
6. Sauteed Green Beans
Green beans sauteed with olive oil, garlic, and lemon are a simple, yet amazing side. The bright, fresh flavors complement the steak and lobster beautifully.
7. Grilled Asparagus
Grilled asparagus turns an ordinary veggie into something extraordinary. Charred and caramelized, with a slight smoky flavor. Butter or olive oil, salt, and pepper are all it needs!
8. Creamed Spinach
Everyone needs more greens! Creamed spinach is so delicious, no one will guess it’s good for you. The creamy, cheesy sauce pairs perfectly with seafood.
9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
For an unexpected veggie side, roasted brussels sprouts are it! Roasted with olive oil, garlic, and bacon until deeply caramelized and irresistibly crispy.
10. Salad with Vinaigrette
A fresh, simple green salad in a light vinaigrette dressing balances the richness of surf and turf. We love pairing it with a classic balsamic vinaigrette.
More Sensational Sides
Looking for a few more options? Here are some of our favorite recipes:
11. Dinner Rolls
Warm, fluffy dinner rolls for soaking up all that delicious butter! Soft and pillowy on the inside with a golden, buttery crust.
12. Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf, with rice toasted in butter then cooked in broth and seasoning, is the perfect accompaniment to steak and lobster.
13. Pasta
Pasta in any form is excellent with seafood! Garlic butter shrimp over pasta, creamy lobster mac and cheese, or a simple tomato pasta.
14. Risotto
Creamy, cheesy risotto is a nice change of pace from rice. The creamy rice has fabulous flavor and texture.
15. Corn on the Cob
Don’t forget the corn on the cob! Brushed with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper, grilled corn is an essential summer side.
16. Breadsticks
Crunchy, garlicky breadsticks are irresistible dunked in lobster butter. An easy side that everyone loves!
17. Creamed Corn
For an indulgent corn dish, creamed corn is phenomenal. Sweet corn in a rich, velvety creamy sauce.
18. Lobster Bisque
A rich, seafood bisque is incredible with surf and turf. And you can’t beat flavorful, creamy lobster bisque!
19. Coleslaw
A fresh, tangy coleslaw adds zing next to the richness of steak and lobster. We love a classic creamy mayo-based coleslaw.
20. Sauteed Mushrooms
Sauteed mushrooms are a savory, earthy side that complements steak wonderfully. Garlic butter mushrooms are superb!
Make it a Meal Fit for Royalty
A spectacular steak and lobster dinner deserves equally spectacular side dishes. With delicious options like loaded baked potatoes, creamy risotto, fresh green veggies, warm dinner rolls, and more, you can create a surf and turf meal worthy of your special occasion. Don’t be afraid to mix and match either – variety makes any dinner feel extra special.
Any of these sensational sides would make excellent additions to your surf and turf feast. Try out a new recipe or two, make your favorites, and get ready for an incredible meal! Your guests will be so impressed. And of course, don’t forget an exceptional wine to go with your spectacular steak and lobster dinner. Cheers!
Can I use shrimp or scallops instead of lobster?
You sure can! Garlic Butter Shrimp and Creamy Garlic Scallops are both tasty options.
Steak and Lobster Dinner
Remember when all the restaurants closed down for the summer? We had to make our own restaurant recipes at home, and for many of us, it was a summer full of mistakes. Those long summer days are what I’m sure made me come up with the BEST surf and turf recipe EVER! Trust me, it’s better than any restaurant version.
When you cook steak and lobster at home, you can make it exactly the way you like it. You can make sure it’s all right without having to ask a server. For example, if you like your steak pink in the middle and your lobster extra buttery, you can do it yourself. If you follow these very simple steps, you can make a meal at home that would be good enough for a Michelin star!