55 Side Dishes for Ham to Serve on Christmas, Easter and Every Day in Between
There’s no doubt that ham gets plenty of love during the winter holidays, but it’s also one of the most popular spring entrees around. (You can thank Easter for that.) The only question: What should you serve on the side? It may seem tough to build a menu around ham at first, but there are actually endless pairing options to consider. Whether you’re craving rich, indulgent comfort food like mashed potatoes or a light, tasty side of roasted vegetables, there’s something for everyone on your guest list. Here are 55 side dishes for ham that are begging for a spot at your Easter (or Christmas) table.
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1. One-Pot Mac and Cheese
Consider salty, savory ham and creamy, cheesy orecchiette the new PB&J. This crowd-pleaser is only seven ingredients and 30 minutes away.
2. Loaded Baked Potato and Cauliflower Soup
Substitute cauliflower for half the spuds for a lighter take on potato soup. Pile on all the essentials: cheddar cheese, bacon and sour cream.
3. Whole Roasted Radishes
Radishes are so underrated. It just so happens that they're at peak deliciousness in the spring, just in time for Easter.
4. Winter Citrus and Pomegranate Salad
Fact: A salad is only as tasty as its toppings. Luckily, this one boasts juicy pomegranate arils, crunchy hazelnuts, tender farro, fresh oranges and shaved Parmesan cheese.
5. Kale Quiche with a Cheddar-Rice Crust
It's just the unexpected dish your Easter brunch is missing. We're betting leftover diced ham would also taste great inside this eggy favorite.
6. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
We’ve found that roasted Brussels go with just about everything—especially when sprinkled with Parmesan and plenty of black pepper.
7. Green Beans with Garlicky Pistachio Vinaigrette
Forget the gloppy casseroles of yore. Not only are the green beans coated in a simple homemade dressing, they're also blanched and served cold, which none of your guests will see coming.
8. Apple, Grape and Pecan Pasta Salad
This side dish is beyond versatile. It fits in at Thanksgiving just as well as it does a spring picnic.
9. Sweet Potato Casserole
Speaking of Thanksgiving, this autumn staple is always a crowd pleaser. So, we're guessing no one will mind if it makes an appearance at Easter dinner.
10. Whole Roasted Carrots
Eat them any time of year, but they'd be particularly yummy alongside an Easter ham.
11. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
It’s a must-have dish for family gatherings, and reigns supreme when it comes to classic comfort food. The tang from the cream cheese and sour cream is the perfect match for salty-sweet ham.
12. Spring Pea Soup with Mint
There's a reason ham is such a popular addition to split pea soup. Celebrate the produce of the season by pairing your main with this 40-minute gem that's full of fresh herbs and spring peas.
13. Red Potato Salad with Creamy Cashew Dijon Dressing
No mayonnaise, no problem. Try this vegan take on a picnic essential from Coterie member Gena Hamshaw if you have plant-based eaters coming to Easter dinner.
14. Orecchiette with Spring Greens
This seasonal pasta salad comes together in just 15 minutes, thanks to the garlic and spinach sautéing while the pasta boils.
15. Scalloped Potatoes
"Sorry, I don't really like potatoes and cheese," said no one ever. This decadent dish calls for both sharp cheddar and Parmesan.
16. Joanna Gaines’s Spring Vegetable Risotto
Who said comfort food is just for the wintertime? This creamy soul-soother boasts a ton of spring produce, from radishes to spinach to mushrooms.
17. Grain-Free Mushroom, Spinach and Leek Pasta
Paired with ham, this is spring on a plate. (The best part is the pine nut-garlic crumble on top.)
18. Hasselback Butternut Squash
You should have no problem finding one in the produce section come fall. But if you want to make something similar for Easter, try using carrots or sweet potatoes and roasting them until they're fork-tender.
19. Dorie Greenspan’s Maple Syrup and Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Any veggie side topped with thick-cut bacon is one we want on our dinner table. We recommend using grainy mustard for a rustic presentation.
20. Rhubarb Applesauce
All pork dishes pair amazingly with applesauce. Coterie member Maria Lichty also adds spring rhubarb, which cuts its sweetness and adds a tart kick.
21. Green Beans with Browned Butter Almondine
Can you believe you're only eight minutes away from this side dish? The beans steam right in the butter before they're finished with lemon juice.
22. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Bonus points for slathering both the ham and the fries in honey mustard.
23. Roasted Asparagus with Miso Butter
Warning: This asparagus by Coterie member Liz Harris is dangerously addictive. The crunchy sesame seeds on top make for a delicious finishing touch.
24. Goat Cheese, Apple and Honey Tarts
They’re tastiest when served warm, but feel free to toast and reheat the leftovers the next day…if you have any, that is.
25. Make-Ahead Farro and Brussels Sprouts Salad
This crunchy side is a refreshing contrast to a rich main dish like ham. How pretty are the sliced radishes and pomegranate arils on top?
26. Delicata Squash Agrodolce
“Agrodolce” sounds (and looks!) super impressive, but nailing that sticky, sweet-tart sauce couldn’t be easier. Even better, we're betting you have most of the ingredients you need in your kitchen right now.
27. Cheesy Polenta Bites with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta
You know how the crispy corner pieces of cornbread are always the tastiest? Each one of these bites is like a Parmesan-infused corner piece topped with goat cheese, pancetta and veggies.
28. Slow-Cooker Garlic-Herb Mashed Cauliflower
For when you’re feeling mashed potatoes but dreading the inevitable food coma. Cauliflower really *can* do anything.
29. Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta-Garlic Bread Crumbs
Because you can never have enough smoked pork in one meal. (OK, fine, there are some veggies in there, too.)
30. Bean Salad with Herb Lemon Dressing
We adore this protein-packed option from Coterie member Carlene Thomas. It stars butter, kidney beans and pink beans.
31. Asparagus and Brie Puff Pastry with Thyme Honey
Frozen puff pastry comes to the rescue in this simple but impressive dish. Just wrap it around fresh asparagus, bake the bundles and drizzle them with honey. Everyone will think you ordered them from a fancy bakery.
32. Mini Cranberry Potpies
The only thing better than pie? A pie you don't have to share. Enter Erin McDowell’s mini cranberry potpies, which are festive, unfussy and—best of all—portioned for just one person. (OK, maybe two.)
33. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Mushroom Gravy
Why have one vegetable when you can have three? Feel free to drizzle the gravy allllll over your ham, too.
34. Stuffing Muffins
Why does Thanksgiving get dibs on stuffing? We're in the mood for this bready, buttery masterpiece year-round.
35. Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
The most delicious way to eat more greens? Smother them with Gruyère cheese and heavy cream.
36. Baked Potatoes Three Ways
A good baked potato is a no-brainer, but they can be a little boring. So instead of going the butter-and-sour cream route, consider these alternatives, topped with creamy mushrooms, spicy Brussels sprouts or balsamic caramelized onions.
37. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini
It’s practically effortless and packed with bright flavor...not to mention really good for you. (Oh, and you'll only need five ingredients and ten minutes to pull it off.)
38. Crispy Mushrooms
Toss cremini mushrooms in olive oil, garlic salt and a little vinegar, then slow-roast them in the oven until they're crunchy and snackable.
39. Spring Panzanella Salad
Fresh spring produce + zippy mustard dressing + sourdough bread = a salad your guests will actually *want* to eat.
40. Chrissy Teigen’s Garlicky Cauliflower ‘Rice’
This herbaceous side is neutral enough to pair beautifully with any main, but we think its mild garlicky flavor is quite the match for ham.
41. Spicy Broccoli Sauté
Once you snag broccoli at the farmers market, odds are you'll have all the ingredients you need. Don't forget to go ham (sorry) with the fried breadcrumbs.
42. Asparagus Flatbread
Much like puff pastry and cauliflower, store-bought pizza dough is endlessly versatile. Top it with the freshest asparagus you can find, season with a few pantry staples and it's ready for your Easter spread.
43. Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup
The pressure cooker is an absolute miracle worker for pulling this coconut milk-based soup off in just 30 minutes. We'll take extra coconut yogurt on ours, please.
44. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
This picnic staple just got the glow-up of a lifetime, and it doesn't include potatoes or mayonnaise. It's a stellar side dish for ham, especially if you're eating outdoors.
45. Crispy Roasted Artichokes
When you're craving French fries but want to serve something a little classier, these dangerously poppable artichokes have your back. The recipe calls for fresh artichokes, but canned ones work too, as long as you dry them completely.
46. Caesar Pasta Salad
This 20-minute recipe provides all the zing necessary to cut through the ham's sweetness. Even better, the homemade dressing calls for avocado instead of traditional raw egg.
47. Sweet Potato Biscuit Rolls with Honey Butter Glaze
If you're serving ham in the fall, look no further than these light-as-air rolls. Sweet spuds in the dough ensure that they turn out uber moist and impossibly fluffy.
48. Masala Smashed Potatoes
The chaat masala in the spiced oil that glazes the potatoes contains amchur, aka ground dried mango. It imparts a delicious sour tang to the yogurt sauce that can hold its own against the main dish.
49. Tomato and Yellow Zucchini Risotto
Behold: the creamiest, most delicious summer risotto you've ever tasted. Can you believe it's free of dairy?
50. Hasselback Honey-Glazed Squash with Pistachios and Chiles
This stunning side basically doubles as a work of art. Feel free to substitute delicata or honeynut squash if you've had your fill of butternut.
51. Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Not only is the pesto made from broccoli, but it also contains a second ingredient with enough brininess and salt to stand up to the sweetest of glazed hams: green olives.
52. Dorie Greenspan’s Potato-Parm Tart
Let's face it: When in doubt, potatoes and cheese are the way to go. Replace half the potatoes with thin-sliced apples for an autumnal twist.
53. Roasted Radishes with Butter
You know spring has sprung when this underrated root vegetable shows up at the farmers market. Serving them atop a bed of lemon-kissed arugula takes the roasted radishes from a petite snack to a bonafide side.
54. Fall Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Salad with Pine Nut Cream
Catch us drizzling extra pine nut cream on our ham instead of gravy. (It works wonders as a green salad dressing, egg topper and crudité dip as well.)
55. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread with Tomatoes and Scallions
Warning: Once your guests try this gussied-up cornbread, they'll expect to see it on the table every Easter.
Additional reporting by Emily Brozyna
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