15 Best Side Dishes for Ham to Complete Your Holiday Dinner
Make your ham dinner menu complete with these easy side dishes including mashed potatoes, kale salad, cheesy pasta, and more.
When a delicious dinner is needed to celebrate the holidays or a special occasion, it’s no wonder that ham is often chosen as the main course given its mouth-watering glaze and juicy texture. To make the meal complete, you’ll want to serve side dishes that are just as beautiful and delicious. We’ll share with you vegetable side dishes for ham as well as colorful salads, creamy pastas, and the quickest rolls and biscuits to make to get the meal on the table without a fuss. We’ve done the work for you and narrowed down the best side dishes for ham.
Sticky Roasted Carrots with Citrus
Upgrade your normal glazed carrots side dish to this maple syrup and blood orange variation. Chiles give this delicious carrot recipe an added kick of heat. Roast the carrots and citrus a few hours ahead of your guests’ arrival to make this easy side dish for ham.
Cheesy Garlic Potato Gratin
Who can resist cheesy potatoes with green onions and garlic? It’s a classic scalloped potato side that is full of flavor. If you want to turn up the creativity, substitute sweet potatoes for half of the Yukon gold potatoes.
Spicy Green Bean Casserole
Kick up the flavor of your green bean casserole with this go-to holiday side dish recipe. Fresh Serrano peppers and a dash of chili powder adds a spicy flavor to this classic ham side dish. A buttery bread crumb and almond topping are the finishing touches that will have your guests asking for seconds.
Julienned Snow Peas, Celery and Radish Salad
This shaved salad will be a light addition to your ham dinner menu. The fresh ingredients are easy to prep and pile on to a large platter for an impressive vegetable side dish. Drizzle the veggies with a sherry vinaigrette and top with
almonds and Manchego cheese.
Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Pecans
Get a jump on your ham dinner up to 24 hours in advance with this make-ahead recipe for sweet potato casserole. Marshmallows and pecans are combined and sweetened with maple syrup for a classic side dish that pairs well with ham.
Classic Mashed Potatoes
Ham pairs perfectly with this classic side dish. It’s the recipe you can count on to get fluffy, buttery, and creamy results every time you make it. If you want to change up the flavor, try our popular mix-ins. You probably already have all the tools you need to make it, so get started.
Oven-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roast Brussels sprouts in your oven next to your holiday ham for a delicious pairing of flavors. This 20-minute recipe combines apples, cherries, and pecans into an irresistible side dish. It’s just one of the many ways to make a Brussels Sprouts dish that everyone will love.
Holiday Kale Salad
Brighten up your normal spread of salads with this crisp salad that’s bursting with color from cranberries, red sweet pepper, and red onion. Wild rice and walnuts add an extra layer of flavor to make this healthy dish one of our editors’ favorite kale recipes.
Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
There’s nothing like making a rich and creamy macaroni and cheese from scratch to pair with the saltiness of ham. This classic version has a smooth, creamy sauce made from Gouda, sharp cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan cheese. Customize the recipe with our four different flavor variations.
Classic Potato Salad
Think beyond mashed potatoes and serve this traditional potato salad alongside your ham. It’s easy to make potato salad in only three steps. Sliced celery and diced pickles give this recipe a pleasant crunchiness, while the cooked eggs, and creamy sauce add the perfect amount of tang and salt.
Winter Slaw with Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Keep your meal prep easy with this quick side dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes. The recipe title may sound fancy, but with a bag of shredded kale, coleslaw mix, and purchased vinaigrette, you’ll have extra time to prep the ham for the oven. Orange slices are the star of this recipe’s presentation.
Corn Casserole
Make this traditional side dish with a succulent baked ham, and you’ll have a winning dinner combination. Add in roasted red peppers or make a cheesy version for an unexpected variation.
Florence Mama's Candied Yams
There are so many different ways to cook yams to get a sweet or savory-flavored side dish. This candied yam recipe is one of the easier recipes to accompany your holiday ham. A buttery, brown sugar glaze combines with fall spices and juicy orange slices for a beautiful side dish.
Honey Milk Bread Rolls
Carson Downing
Here’s the recipe you need to make featherlight rolls for your ham dinner. The key steps to making the perfect buttery dough begins with mastering milk bread. Serve these rolls warm with honey butter.
Test Kitchen Tip: Use leftover rolls and ham to create delicious ham sliders after the holiday.
Aged-Cheddar Biscuits with Peppered Ham Gravy
It’s easy to make these flaky biscuits from scratch that are made with aged sharp cheddar cheese and topped with peppered ham gravy. If you want to save some time, you can bake the biscuits ahead, put them in the freezer, and warm them through just before your ham dinner is ready.
