Beef tips and noodles is a classic comfort food that’s easy to make and enjoy. However, choosing the right side dishes to complement the beef and noodles is key to taking this simple meal to the next level. Having the right supporting sides can add extra flavors, textures, colors, and nutrition to make your beef tips and noodles a complete and balanced dinner.
The Importance of Sides with Beef Tips and Noodles
Beef tips braised in a flavorful sauce served over noodles or rice is delicious on its own. However, having complementary sides can enhance the entire dining experience in many ways:
- Add more flavors – Side dishes provide an opportunity to add more flavors that go well with the beef. This could come from fresh herbs, spices, sauces or condiments.
- Contribute texture – Sides can add contrasting textures like crunchy, creamy, crispy to balance the soft and tender beef and noodles.
- Provide nutrition – Side dishes allow you to incorporate more vitamins, minerals and nutrients to create a more balanced meal.
- Add color – Vibrant colors from vegetables, sauces or other sides make the plate more visually appealing.
- Satisfy cravings – Additional sides can satisfy cravings for something crunchy, sweet, salty, or nutty to make the meal more satisfying.
- Soak up sauce – Breads or rolls are great for dipping in the flavorful sauce from the beef tips.
- Make it a meal – Side dishes help turn a humble main into a complete dinner by rounding it out.
Thoughtfully choosing complementary sides can take your basic beef tips over noodles dinner to restaurant-worthy heights. Keep reading for tips on fantastic sides to serve.
Best Vegetable Side Dishes
Vegetables pair beautifully with beef to add color, texture, nutrients and flavor. Here are some excellent vegetable side dish ideas:
Sauteed Green Beans
Fresh green beans sauteed with garlic, onion and seasoning are a classic pair with beef entrees. The vibrant green color is appealing next to the brown beef tips. The crisp-tender bean texture contrasts the soft noodles and fork-tender beef. Sauteeing boosts the flavor, and garlic complements beef wonderfully.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roasted until caramelized and crispy on the edges offer sweet nuttiness and texture. Brussels sprouts contain vitamin C, K, folate and potassium to add nutrition. The tiny cabbages pair perfectly with hearty meats like beef tips.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Sweet honey glazed carrots balance the savory umami flavors in beef. The bright orange carrots cooked until tender but still firm provide beta carotene. Their natural sweetness offsets the rich sauce while adding color appeal.
Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach makes a delicious accompaniment for beef tips and noodles. The velvety spinach enriched with cream or cheese sauce provides vitamin A, C, K and folate. Its rich, soft texture contrasts the beef while the verdant color enhances the plate.
Best Starch Side Dishes
Hearty starches are welcome additions to soak up the delicious sauce and provide comforting carbs alongside beef tips and noodles. Recommended options include:
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
What better match for beef tips than fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes? Russets or Yukon golds mashed with butter, milk and seasoning are the perfect blank canvas for the flavorful sauce. Potatoes offer potassium, vitamin C and fiber as well.
Baked Sweet Potato
A sweet baked potato brings more nutrients to the plate. Sweet potatoes provide an extra serving of carbs along with vitamins A and C, manganese and antioxidants. The natural sweetness balances the beef beautifully.
Warm Biscuits
Fresh baked biscuits are simple to make and ideal for sopping up the rich gravy from beef tips. Flaky, warm biscuits can be served plain, with honey butter or jam. They make the meal feel extra homey and comforting.
Buttered Egg Noodles
While beef tips are usually served over egg noodles, having extra buttered egg noodles on the side soaks up more of that scrumptious sauce. The extra noodles also provide added carbs and satisfaction.
Best Bread Side Dishes
Breads and rolls complete the meal and soak up delicious sauce. Ideal options include:
Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy dinner rolls are perfect for dipping in the savory sauce. Bread offers carbs and fills up the plate. Hot rolls right out of the oven take the meal over the top.
Cornbread
Moist, sweet cornbread is a southern staple with beef entrees. Cornbread made from scratch or a high-quality mix provides carbs, fiber and antioxidants from corn. Its mildly sweet, crumbly texture soaks up the sauce beautifully.
Garlic Bread
Sliced Italian or French bread slathered in garlic butter offers tons of flavor and the ideal vessel for sopping up sauce. The aroma and savory quality enhances the beef even more.
Crispy Flatbread
Warm flatbread such as naan or pita that’s been brushed with oil or butter and crisped in a pan provides a crisp outer layer and soft interior for dipping. The lighter texture balances the hearty beef and noodles well.
Best Sauce and Condiment Sides
Sauces, dressings and condiments also complement beef tips and noodles fabulously. Top options include:
Horseradish Sauce
Creamed horseradish sauce provides a kick of flavor and pairs incredibly with beef. Its spicy, pungent quality cuts through the richness of the beef and enhances the flavors.
Sour Cream
Cool and creamy sour cream makes a great topper for beef tips to balance the warmth. It also adds a tanginess that complements the flavors beautifully and cools your mouth.
Blue Cheese Dressing
Bold, crumbly blue cheese dressing packs a punch of flavor next to beef. Its saltiness and creaminess pair perfectly to bring out the best in the beef tips.
Au Jus
For an extra hit of meaty flavor, serve beef tips with au jus sauce on the side for dipping. The concentrated beef broth has incredible savory depth.
Onion Gravy
A classic partner for beef is onion gravy, made from onions, broth, seasonings and a thickener. The flavors marry together impeccably, and the gravy is perfect for the noodles.
| Side Dish | What it Adds |
|---|---|
| Sauteed Green Beans | Crisp texture, green color, vitamins |
| Roasted Brussels Sprouts | Sweet nuttiness, texture, vitamins |
| Honey Glazed Carrots | Natural sweetness, color, beta carotene |
| Creamed Spinach | Velvety texture, vitamins, richness |
| Mashed Potatoes | Creamy comfort, potato nutrients |
| Baked Sweet Potato | Natural sweetness, vitamins A and C |
| Warm Biscuits | Flaky comfort, carbs, sauce absorption |
| Buttered Egg Noodles | Extra richness, carbs, sauce absorption |
| Dinner Rolls | Soft, fluffy carbs and sauce absorption |
| Cornbread | Sweet crumbly carbs, antioxidants |
| Garlic Bread | Savory flavor, sauce absorption |
| Crispy Flatbread | Crisp exterior, soft interior for dipping |
| Horseradish Sauce | Spicy kick, cuts richness |
| Sour Cream | Cool tanginess, balances warmth |
| Blue Cheese Dressing | Bold creaminess, saltiness |
| Au Jus | Concentrated meaty flavor |
| Onion Gravy | Savory flavors, perfect for noodles |
Choosing the Best Side Dishes
When deciding which sides to make with beef tips and noodles, consider these tips:
- Pick 1-2 vegetables to add color and nutrients.
- Include a starchy side to soak up sauce and add carbs.
- Incorporate a bread for dipping in the savory sauce.
- Add a sauce or condiment to enhance flavors.
- Balance flavors and textures between the different sides.
- Make sure the sides don’t overwhelm the beef and noodles.
- Consider favorites and cravings of those eating.
- Take advantage of seasonal or fresh ingredients.
With a balanced combo of well-chosen sides, you can create a plate that looks like a restaurant meal with your home-cooked beef tips and noodles. Don’t be afraid to get creative and customize the pairings to please your palate.
Sample Side Dish Menus
Here are a few recommended side dish combinations to give you inspiration for plating up the perfect accompaniments:
Menu 1
- Honey glazed carrots
- Buttered egg noodles
- Warm biscuits
- Horseradish sauce
Menu 2
- Sauteed green beans
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Dinner rolls
- Onion gravy
Menu 3
- Roasted brussels sprouts
- Baked sweet potato
- Cornbread
- Sour cream
Menu 4
- Creamed spinach
- Buttered egg noodles
- Garlic bread
- Blue cheese dressing
Cooking Tips
To get the best results when making sides for beef tips over noodles:
- Prep veggies and start any longer cooking items first.
- Space out cooking times so everything finishes together.
- Keep sauteed items warm in a low oven if needed.
- Heat breads or rolls at the last minute to serve warm.
- Let beef tips simmer until very tender and noodles cook fully.
- Stir sauces and gravies well before serving.
- Check seasonings and adjust if needed before serving.
With good timing, all the components should be hot and ready at the same time for a seamless dinner straight to the table. Plate individual servings attractively to create a visually stunning, restaurant-quality meal.
Conclusion
Serving up the perfect sides with beef tips and noodles elevates a straightforward dinner into a mouthwatering meal. Thoughtfully chosen vegetable dishes, starches, breads and sauces enhance flavors, textures and visual appeal while providing more nutrition. Combining complementary sides also allows you to satisfy additional cravings at dinner with minimal effort. With so many delicious options, get creative with pairings that make your beef tips over noodles spectacular. Using fresh, seasonal produce will maximize flavors and quality as well. Follow the guidance in this article to whip up the ideal accompaniments that make your beef tips over noodles a stellar, balanced dinner.