I'm looking at getting an AR-15. I was debating between iron sights or a scope and can't seem to make up my mind. What would y'all recommend?

Scope or red dot.

I prefer iron sights on most of mine. I run aim points on a few and highly recommend them. Eotechs reticle always was too big and covered target at distance.

What's the intended purpose of the rifle?

I like the 1x optics, or a 1x-4x scope.

This. Also, what caliber? The answer would change depending on the use and caliber. I use both of mine for hunting. NV on my 5.56 and scope on my .300BLK, although I am contemplating changing the .300 to a red dot with flip up irons as a backup.

5.56 and mainly just having fun at the range as well as varmint hunting occasionally.

For just banging around I prefer standard A2 iron sights on a 16" carbine. Set them and forget them and ring steel out as far as you can see. Any kind of hunting situation I prefer a scope, which scope depends on which kind of hunting.

Skip iron sights and I would 1x6 or red dot at minimum

Budget?

To me the Burris RT6 is about perfect for typical AR uses. And it’s not overly expensive.

Scope!

My favorite setup is a good 1-4x scope, a back up iron sight for the rear and the a fixed A2 sight on the front.

I see no reason to not have both. My AR has BUIS and a scope.

Take the money you will spend on b/u irons and put it toward an optic

I would go red dot or low power scope.

And what barrel configuration? Mine is a Remington R15 like the one in the classifieds here, except mine is not camo. It wears a Nikon 3x9 and shoots 50 gr Hornady ZMax into little clusters. Cats and foxes don't like it.

Papalote

I agree with the 1x to whatever your budget allows. I run a 1-4 on all my guns. Patrol rifle and home/fun gun.

1-6 or similar is my favorite setup. Right now I have a 5.56 with a P.A. 1-6 and a very similar rifle with a Vortex 1-8. However, both carbines spend most of the shooting time at 1x.

I like the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8. Does great at close range (under 50 yards) but still deadly at long ranges. My personal range has targets set from 50-400 yards is why I started using the 1-8 instead of the 1-6.