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30 Standout Side Dishes for Ham to Complete Your Holiday Meal

These ham side dishes will make your dinner plate even more delicious.

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coriandermaple glazed carrots in blue pan
MIKE GARTEN

Whether you’re planning an elegant holiday dinner or just feel like treating your family to a fancy Sunday night feast, these side dishes for ham will make your menu complete. Of course, the ham will always be the centerpiece of the meal, especially if you use one of these delicious Easter ham or Christmas ham recipes, but complementary sides are essential.

If you’re baking a ham around the holidays, you can’t go wrong with any of these warm and flavorful Christmas side dishes. Though most of them can also accompany all sorts of main meats at any time of year, like for Easter dinner or other celebratory events, these side dishes are specifically curated to delight your taste buds between mouthfuls of ham. You’ll probably want to make more than one to ensure that vegetables and starches are represented in your meal, and of course, you must have some sort of bread or biscuit nearby to soak up any extra sauce. From an aesthetic perspective, it can also be fun to have a colorful holiday table, decorated with bright green snap peas and deep pink roasted radishes sitting beside your golden glazed pork.

You may be leaning towards refreshing platters of rainbow-colored carrots and tasty salads brimming with the best produce of the season or feel like going a cozy, heartier route with the fluffiest biscuits and crispiest smashed potatoes. No matter your preferences, we’ve rounded up the perfect partners to your show-stopping festive ham or weekend roast. Prepare to feast!

1

Coriander-Maple Glazed Carrots

coriander maple glazed carrots in blue pan
COLIN FAULKNER

Coriander, maple and lime make these roasted carrots zesty and full of holiday flavor.

Get the recipe for Coriander-Maple Glazed Carrots »

2

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

fresh green bean casserole
Mike Garten

Green bean casserole is a classic, comforting holiday side (that still sneaks in some veggies!) sure to warm up any Christmas meal.

Get the recipe for Fresh Green Bean Casserole »

RELATED: 17 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food

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3

Hasselback Butternut Squash with Maple Brown Butter

hasselback butternut squash with maple brown butter on gray pan
MIKE GARTEN

Not only does this festive squash side look amazing on your holiday table, but it also tastes like winter warmth with sage and maple flavors.

Get the recipe for Hasselback Butternut Squash with Maple Brown Butter »

RELATED: 36 Irresistible and Easy Butternut Squash Recipes You Need to Make

4

Lime and Aleppo Pepper Green Beans

lime and aleppo pepper green beans on light blue table
MIKE GARTEN

A lighter option for a green bean side with a bit of a spicy, fruity twist.

Get the recipe for Lime and Aleppo Pepper Green Beans »

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5

Colcannon

colcannon
Mike Garten

These mashed potatoes with cabbage and greens are the ideal buttery-yet-bright pairing for salty ham.

Get the recipe for Colcannon »

RELATED: 58 Easy Potato Recipes For Weeknight Dinners, Thanksgiving and More

6

Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon

sauteed spinach with garlic and lemon in white bowl
MIKE GARTEN

Simple, satisfying and healthy, this spinach side dish is surprisingly delicious for how few ingredients it requires — and it's vegan!

Get the recipe for Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon »

RELATED: 70 Vegan Recipes so Good, You'll Forget About Meat and Cheese

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7

Brown-Butter Brussels Sprouts

brown butter brussels sprouts in dark wood bowl
MIKE GARTEN

Pour this rich brown butter with almonds and golden raisins over your roasted Brussels sprouts for the perfect healthy-ish holiday side.

Get the recipe for Brown-Butter Brussels Sprouts »

8

Roasted Asparagus Salad with Feta Vinaigrette

roasted asparagus salad with feta vinaigrette
Mike Garten

When it comes to Easter ham, you can't go wrong with asparagus! The spring veggie is the perfect match.

Get the recipe for Roasted Asparagus Salad With Feta Vinaigrette »

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9

Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad

shaved carrot and radish salad
Mike Garten

With rainbow carrots on the side of pink ham, your dinner plate has never been prettier!

Get the recipe for Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad »

RELATED: 33 Fresh, Colorful Spring Salads That'll Make It Easy to Eat Your Veggies

10

Potato Salad with Vinaigrette

potato salad with vinaigrette
Mike Garten

Think beyond mashed potatoes and serve this bright, zippy potato salad instead.

Get the recipe for Potato Salad With Vinaigrette »

RELATED: How to Make Potato Salad 2 Totally Different Ways

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11

Roasted Asparagus with Creamy Feta

roasted asparagus with creamy feta
mike garten

Salty feta meets sweet asparagus in this slam-dunk side that everyone will be talking about.

Get the recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Creamy Feta »

12

Charred Snap Peas with Creamy Tarragon Dressing

smashed potatoes   best side dishes for ham
Mike Garten

Bust out your trusty cast-iron skillet to give these greens an extra bite of flavor.

Get the recipe for Charred Snap Peas with Creamy Tarragon Dressing »

RELATED: 7 Best Cast Iron Skillets and Pans, According to Kitchen Pros

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13

Mixed Green and Herb Toss Salad

Mixed Green and Herb Toss Salad - Side Dishes for Ham
Mike Garten

That's it. We officially declare edible flowers the MVP of your holiday.

Get the recipe for Mixed Green and Herb Toss Salad »

14

Rustic Sour Cream and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes - Best Side Dishes for Ham
Mike Garten

Problem solved: Add all of your go-to baked potato toppings right into the bowl for the ultimate creamy, cheesy side.

Get the recipe for Rustic Sour Cream and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes »

RELATED: 46 Easy Mashed Potatoes To Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side

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15

Lemony Asparagus, Beans and Peas

lemony asparagus, beans and peas   side dishes for ham
Yossy Arefi

Keep it classic this Easter with this tangy trio of greens.

Get the recipe for Lemony Asparagus, Beans, and Peas »

16

Garden Greens and Pumpernickel Panzanella

garden greens salad   best side dishes for ham
Mike Garten

Summer watermelon isn't here yet, but these watermelon radishes will pretty-up your plate instead.

Get the recipe for Garden Greens and Pumpernickel Panzanella Salad »

RELATED: 30 Easy Vegan Recipes for Easter Sunday

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17

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Caper Gremolata

smashed potatoes   best side dishes for ham
Mike Garten

For a refreshed take on a staple side, smash potatoes instead of mashing or baking 'em.

Get the recipe for Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Caper Gremolata »

18

Tahini-Lemon Quinoa with Asparagus Ribbons

tahini lemon quinoa with asparagus ribbons   side dishes for ham
Mike Garten

Balance out the sticky-sweet ham with this refreshing salad made with chick peas, quinoa and zoodles.

Get the recipe for Tahini-Lemon Quinoa with Asparagus Ribbons »

RELATED: 50+ Zucchini Recipes That Are Easy, Healthy and Delicious

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19

Buttery Rosemary Rolls

buttery rosemary rolls
Yossy Arefi

If it has butter in the name, you know it's gonna be good. Make 'em and see.

Get the recipe for Buttery Rosemary Rolls »

20

Parsnip Potato Mash

Parsnip Potato Mash - Side Dishes for Ham
Mike Garten

The best way to trick your kids into eating more than one vegetable? This dish.

Get the recipe for Parsnip Potato Mash »

Headshot of Samantha MacAvoy
Samantha MacAvoy
Senior Editor

Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

Headshot of Loren Cecil

Loren Cecil joined the Good Housekeeping team as a freelance contributor in November 2021 after interning in the Test Kitchen while in graduate school. She has an undergraduate sociology degree from Tulane University and a Masters in Journalism from NYU. Her gourmet mom and four years in New Orleans fostered her passion for food and cooking, which she uses to craft mouthwatering write-ups for the Food Department.

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coriandermaple glazed carrots in blue pan
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