38 Delicious Side Dishes for Ham

Embark on a culinary journey to discover the ultimate accompaniments for your ham dinner. Whether you’re planning an elaborate holiday feast for Christmas or Easter, or simply preparing a quick, satisfying ham steak for a weeknight meal, this comprehensive guide offers an array of irresistible side dishes for ham. From comforting classics that evoke childhood memories to fresh, vibrant vegetables and sophisticated potato preparations, there’s a perfect pairing for every palate and occasion. Transform your next ham dinner into an unforgettable culinary experience with these thoughtfully selected recipes, designed to complement the rich, savory flavors of ham beautifully.

Our curated collection delves into timeless favorites such as creamy mac and cheese, fluffy mashed potatoes, and wholesome cornbread, offering comfort and familiarity. Alongside these beloved staples, you’ll find classic ham side dishes like the ever-popular green bean casserole, warm homemade rolls, and hearty baked beans. This extensive roundup ensures that no matter the occasion – be it a festive holiday gathering or a simple family dinner – you’ll find plenty of exceptional ham side dish options to elevate your meal. Dive into this detailed list and discover your perfect culinary partner for ham, guaranteed to delight your guests and family alike.

1. Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Whipped sweet potatoes offer a delightful balance of sweet and savory, boasting an incredibly silky smooth texture that sets them apart from ordinary mashed potatoes. This elegant side dish is not only perfect for special holiday meals but also makes a fantastic treat whenever you crave a comforting and richly flavored accompaniment. Their inherent sweetness and creamy consistency provide a wonderful counterpoint to the saltiness of ham, making them a consistently popular choice.

2. Potato Salad

A true Southern classic, potato salad is a robust, flavorful, and incredibly versatile side dish that complements ham beautifully. Its hearty texture and creamy, tangy dressing provide a satisfying contrast to the richness of ham, making it an ideal choice for any gathering, from casual picnics to festive dinners. This easy recipe captures the essence of classic potato salad, offering timeless appeal and helpful tips for achieving perfectly cooked potatoes every time.

3. Baked Potatoes

The secret to an exceptional baked potato lies in achieving a wonderfully crispy skin and a tender, fluffy interior. These simple yet satisfying potatoes are among the easiest and most universally loved side dishes. When planning your ham dinner, don’t overlook the enduring appeal of a classic baked potato, ready to be customized with your favorite toppings like butter, sour cream, chives, or cheese, adding another layer of flavor and texture to your meal.

4. Pea Salad

Pea salad is a beloved classic that makes a fantastic accompaniment for any holiday meal, especially when served alongside ham. Featuring crisp bacon, finely diced onion, savory cheese, and an irresistible sweet and salty dressing, this vibrant dish offers a refreshing crunch and a burst of flavors. Its unique blend of textures and tastes undeniably positions it as one of the top ham dinner sides, providing a light yet flavorful contrast to the main course.

5. Spaghetti Squash

Often underestimated, spaghetti squash is a remarkably versatile, healthy, and comforting side dish. It serves as an excellent low-carb and gluten-free alternative to traditional pasta or potatoes, making it a smart choice when you’re looking to reduce carbohydrate intake. With its delicate, pasta-like strands and mild flavor, spaghetti squash is a delicious and always reliable side dish option that pairs wonderfully with the savory taste of ham.

6. Air Fryer Asparagus

Asparagus is a naturally delicious and easy-to-prepare green vegetable that shines as a versatile side dish. This simple recipe, prepared in an air fryer, beautifully highlights asparagus’s natural flavors, making it anything but bland. With its crisp-tender texture and fresh taste, vibrant asparagus is a perfect way to brighten and elevate your holiday meal or any ham dinner, adding a touch of elegance and health.

7. Cornbread

When it comes to selecting side dishes for ham, this Southern classic is consistently a crowd-pleaser. Sweet, tangy, buttery, and incredibly satisfying, cornbread is a delightful treat that complements the savory notes of ham perfectly. For many, it’s not just a holiday staple but a comforting food to be enjoyed year-round, adding warmth and a slightly rustic charm to any meal.

8. Spinach Casserole

A rich and creamy spinach casserole is always a welcome addition to any holiday meal, especially alongside a succulent ham. This heavenly blend of cheesy, savory flavors creates one of the best side dishes you can offer. Made with just a few key ingredients, this divine dish effortlessly pairs with a juicy ham, providing a luxurious texture and depth of flavor that everyone will appreciate.

9. Corn Pudding

Prepare to be amazed by this incredible corn pudding recipe, a harmonious blend of cornbread, creamed corn, and whole-kernel corn, creating a uniquely flavorful and satisfying dish. This sophisticated side is perfect for a special holiday meal, offering a delightful sweetness and comforting texture that contrasts beautifully with ham, yet it’s simple enough to prepare for a delightful weeknight dinner. It’s a true culinary standout that always impresses.

10. Stuffing

Stuffing, often associated with turkey, is also a fantastic holiday staple that pairs exceptionally well with a ham dinner. There are countless ways to prepare stuffing, but this classic recipe delivers a delicious, easy-to-make dish that adds rich, savory flavors and a comforting texture to any festive meal. Its herby and aromatic profile perfectly complements the sweetness and savoriness of ham, making it a must-have.

11. Roasted Vegetables

For a reliable and flavorful ham dinner side, you can never go wrong with roasted vegetables. Roasting is arguably the simplest method for cooking veggies, as it beautifully caramelizes them and intensifies their natural sweetness. A simple toss with a little olive oil and your favorite seasonings is all it takes to create a healthy and incredibly delicious side that perfectly complements a juicy ham dinner.

12. Slaw

Bring a delightful crunch and vibrant color to your holiday meal with a refreshing cabbage slaw. This is an exceptional side dish because it’s enjoyable year-round, adds a lively zest to any spread, and can be whipped up in under 10 minutes. The crisp texture and tangy dressing of a good slaw provide a fantastic palate cleanser, cutting through the richness of ham for a perfectly balanced meal.

13. JELL-O Salad

Jell-O salad introduces a wonderfully refreshing sweetness to a substantial holiday meal. It’s a cherished holiday staple in many homes and a particular favorite among children. The delightful combination of fruit, gelatin, and a creamy topping creates a delicious blend of naturally sweet flavors and a playful texture that lightens the overall dining experience, providing a cheerful contrast to savory ham.

14. Acorn Squash

Searching for a simple, tasty, and nutritious side dish? Acorn squash, especially when cooked in an air fryer, ticks all the boxes. Its versatility is a major asset; you can prepare it sweet or savory, serve it whole or mashed, adapting it to your preference. This ham side dish is renowned for being easy to make, incredibly delicious, and effortlessly adaptable, adding a touch of seasonal charm to your table.

15. Party Potatoes

In many opinions, Party Potatoes stand out as one of the best and most festive side dishes, a true holiday staple. These creamy, cheesy potatoes are a perfect fit for any gathering or meal, offering an explosion of savory flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Jumpstart your next holiday meal with this delectable recipe, guaranteed to be a hit and leave your guests craving more of this comforting and irresistible dish.

16. Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts often polarize opinions, but with this recipe, even the skeptics will find themselves falling in love. Roasted to perfection, these little green gems transform, revealing their inherent sweet, nutty, and utterly fabulous flavors. Their slightly bitter edge and tender-crisp texture make them an excellent complement to the rich and often sweet profile of ham, adding sophistication and nutrition to your meal.

17. Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad holds a special place as both a holiday favorite and a summertime delight, a rare feat for any recipe. This classic Southern dish is incredibly simple to whip up and serves as a fantastic ham side dish. Its light, fresh, and vibrant fruit flavors, combined with a creamy dressing, offer a refreshing contrast that perfectly balances the savory richness of ham, making every bite a delight.

18. Buttered Noodles

Easy, quick, and wonderfully simple, delightful buttered noodles are a universally loved side. Kids adore them, and adults find them equally irresistible. They are incredibly versatile, pairing well with almost anything, but they are particularly exceptional when served alongside a juicy ham. Their tender texture and comforting buttery flavor provide a mellow counterpoint, perfect for balancing the meal.

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19. Roasted Broccoli

Broccoli transforms into a magnificent quick side dish, complementing a wide array of meals, especially ham. This nutritious powerhouse vegetable is delicious, highly adaptable to various flavorings, and makes a perfect ham dinner side. By utilizing an air fryer, roasted broccoli can be on your table in under 15 minutes, offering a healthy, flavorful, and vibrant addition to your dinner spread.

20. Macaroni And Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is one of those timeless dishes that appeals to all ages, transitioning effortlessly from a childhood favorite to an adult staple. This creamy, cheesy, and utterly delicious recipe is guaranteed to impress. As one of the best side dishes, or even a main course, it adds a fabulous, comforting flair to any ham dinner, creating a sense of warmth and indulgence that is hard to resist.

21. Candied Carrots

A cherished holiday staple, candied carrots present an elegant and delightful side dish for ham. They are not only tasty and healthy but also add a beautiful splash of color to your plate. Cooking carrots naturally enhances their sweetness, and by adding a touch of brown sugar and aromatic spices, you elevate them to an extraordinary level of goodness that perfectly complements the savory notes of ham.

22. Macaroni Salad

As a true Southern classic, macaroni salad offers a simple yet incredibly flavorful ham side dish. This traditional pasta salad, known and loved, features cold pasta mixed with crisp vegetables and a creamy, subtly sweet mayonnaise-based dressing. This summertime favorite is versatile enough to complement any meat, including a rich and juicy ham, providing a refreshing and hearty balance to the meal.

23. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are an indispensable holiday staple in many households, frequently appearing as part of a grand spread of delectable dishes. They are incredibly easy to prepare, deliciously appetizing, and universally loved, making them the perfect addition to your holiday ham dinner. Their creamy texture and tangy flavor provide a delightful, refreshing counterpoint to the richness of the ham, ensuring a harmonious balance on your plate.

24. Wild Rice Pilaf

Wild rice pilaf is a sophisticated, well-balanced, and inviting dish that stands out among ham side dishes. It meets all the criteria for an excellent accompaniment: it’s healthy, packed with colorful vegetables, bursting with incredible flavors, and surprisingly quick and easy to prepare. Its nutty taste and varied textures provide a wonderful depth that beautifully complements the savory profile of ham, making it a memorable addition to any meal.

25. Rolls

Soft, warm rolls are an absolute holiday staple and an essential ham dinner side. Whether it’s a casual Sunday dinner or a grand holiday feast, rolls always find their place at the table, perfect for soaking up delicious ham juices or simply enjoying on their own. Use this easy recipe to make homemade honey butter rolls for your next dinner; they only take 30 minutes, adding a touch of homemade goodness to your spread.

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26. Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes are undeniably one of the easiest, most budget-friendly, and universally beloved side dishes. They offer a comforting, tasty experience that almost everyone enjoys. Utilize this recipe to create the most incredibly creamy, garlicky, and utterly delightful mashed potatoes you’ve ever had, providing a smooth and rich complement to your savory ham, enhancing the overall satisfaction of your meal.

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27. Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes and a ham dinner are a match made in culinary heaven, much like peanut butter and jelly. There’s an undeniable allure to tender slices of potato baked in a rich, creamy, and cheesy sauce that is simply mouthwatering. These classic ham dinner sides are always a huge hit, offering a luxurious and satisfying texture that perfectly complements the robust flavors of ham, making every forkful a delight.

28. Sweet Potato Casserole

Elevate your potato culinary skills and impress your dinner guests with this captivating sweet potato casserole recipe. It masterfully blends sweet and salty notes, crowned with an irresistible streusel topping. This ham dinner side dish is designed to enhance the dining experience and showcase your culinary prowess, offering a delightful harmony of flavors and textures that will leave everyone craving seconds and speaking of your meal for days.

29. Green Bean Casserole

The timeless green bean casserole is an enticing holiday staple that makes a truly wonderful ham dinner side dish, enjoyed by virtually everyone. This simple yet flavorful dish is easy to prepare and yields rich, satisfying flavors. Its creamy texture, tender green beans, and crispy onion topping provide a comforting and familiar taste that perfectly complements the savory notes of ham, making it a perennial favorite for festive tables.

30. Broccoli Rabe (with Garlic)

While standard broccoli is famously versatile, broccoli rabe offers a uniquely delicious alternative. This recipe for broccoli rabe, often prepared with fragrant garlic, whips up in just 10 minutes, providing a quick and easy side to any meal. Its slightly bitter, earthy flavor and tender-crisp texture make it an excellent counterpoint to rich meats like ham, adding a sophisticated and healthy green element to your dinner spread.

31. Baked Beans

Baked beans are a delicious Southern classic side dish that embodies comfort food at its finest. They are incredibly easy to make, bursting with incredible, complex flavors, and a dish that almost everyone loves. The satisfying combination of sweet and savory in baked beans makes them a perennial favorite ham dinner side dish, providing a hearty and flavorful addition that perfectly complements the main course with its rich, molasses-infused goodness.

32. Smashed Potatoes

Smashed potatoes offer a delightful and easy alternative to traditional scalloped, baked, or mashed potatoes. They boast a wonderfully crispy exterior, often drizzled with a savory garlic butter sauce, while maintaining a soft and fluffy interior. Rapidly becoming a fan-favorite side dish, don’t delay in trying these delectable taters today; their unique texture and rich flavor profile make them a perfect, exciting complement to ham.

33. Butternut Squash Risotto

Risotto becomes wonderfully simple to prepare with the help of an Instant Pot. Butternut squash risotto, crafted with aromatic garlic, earthy sage, and shredded Parmesan cheese, creates the ultimate fall side dish. This easy recipe offers delightful flavors and a creamy texture that will beautifully complement your holiday ham, impressing your guests with its sophisticated taste and comforting warmth.

34. Collard Greens

Collard greens are a quintessential Southern classic that grace countless holiday tables, though their enjoyment extends far beyond festive seasons. Distinct from other greens, collard greens possess an earthy flavor with a meaty, tender texture. When slow-cooked with savory bacon, aromatic onion, and pungent garlic, they transform into a must-have ham dinner side dish, offering a deeply flavorful and comforting element that grounds the entire meal.

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35. Green Beans

Green beans are a traditional and universally beloved vegetable, reigning supreme among the best side dishes, particularly vegetable-focused ones. This recipe for roasted Parmesan green beans creates a show-stopping blend of savory flavors that will complement any meal and is certainly worthy of a place on your holiday table. Their crisp-tender texture and cheesy coating provide a delightful contrast and an irresistible taste experience alongside ham.

36. Roasted Cauliflower

Another inviting vegetable side dish is perfectly roasted cauliflower. This recipe elevates the cauliflower by adding a gorgeous layer of Parmesan cheese, which imparts a wonderful depth of savory flavor. Its inherent tasty goodness ensures that everyone enjoys it, even the pickiest eaters, making it a reliable and healthy complement to your ham dinner, offering a nutritious and satisfying option.

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37. Hasselback Potatoes

In the expansive realm of potato recipes, Hasselback potatoes offer a fun and enchanting way to enjoy this beloved vegetable. These whole potatoes are thinly sliced but remain intact, creating a striking accordion-like appearance. Brushed with an intoxicating blend of melted butter, fragrant garlic, fresh herbs, and savory seasonings, they transform into a refined and absolutely delicious ham dinner side dish, providing a crispy exterior and tender interior.

38. Pineapple Casserole

A true classic Southern dish, pineapple casserole masterfully combines sweet and salty flavors, creating a surprisingly delightful side. This recipe can be prepared in approximately 30 minutes, making it an efficient and delicious choice. Its unique sweet-savory profile provides an excellent and traditional pairing with ham, enhancing the overall flavor dynamics of your meal with a touch of tropical sweetness.

We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring these diverse and delicious ham side dish recipes! Whether you ventured into new culinary territory or rediscovered an old favorite, these accompaniments are designed to make your ham dinner truly special. Don’t forget to try the easy roasted red potatoes recipe below, a simple yet flavorful dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Let us know in the comments which recipes became your new go-to!

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