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 with it? Building a menu around ham may seem tough at first, but there are actually endless pairings to consider. Whether you’re craving rich, indulgent comfort food, like mashed potatoes, or a light helping of roasted vegetables, we found something for everyone on your guest list. Here are 60 side dishes for ham that are begging for a spot at your holiday table.
60 Side Dishes for Ham to Serve on Easter, Christmas and Every Day in Between
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Published Mar 11, 2023
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
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
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Substitute cauliflower for half the spuds for a lighter take on potato soup. Then, pile on all the essentials: cheddar cheese, bacon and sour cream.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly
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
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy
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 Cheddar-Rice Crust
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
It's just the unexpected dish your Easter brunch is missing. We're betting leftover diced ham would taste great inside this eggy favorite.
6. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
We've found that roasted Brussels go with just about everything—especially when they're sprinkled with Parmesan and lots of black pepper.
7. Green Beans with Garlicky Pistachio Vinaigrette
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
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
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, <30 minutes, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
This side dish is beyond versatile. It fits in at Thanksgiving just as well as it does a spring picnic.
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
Speaking of Thanksgiving, this autumn staple is always a crowd pleaser. So, we're guessing no one will mind if it makes a cameo at Easter dinner.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, one pan
Eat them any time of year, but they'd be particularly yummy alongside an Easter ham (or even lamb, since they're finished with fresh mint).
11. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
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.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one pot
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
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
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
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
This seasonal pasta salad comes together in just 15 minutes, thanks to the garlic and spinach sautéing while the pasta boils.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
"Sorry, I don't really like potatoes and cheese," said no one ever. This decadent dish calls for both sharp cheddar and Parmesan, so you're in for a treat.
17. Grain-Free Mushroom, Spinach and Leek Pasta
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Paired with ham, this dish is spring on a plate. (The best part is the pine nut-garlic crumble on top.)
18. Hasselback Butternut Squash
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
You should have no problem finding a butternut in the produce section come fall. But if you want to make something similar for Easter, sub carrots or sweet potatoes and roast them until they're fork-tender.
19. Dorie Greenspan’s Maple Syrup and Mustard Brussels Sprouts
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
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.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
All pork dishes pair gorgeously 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
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, gluten free
Can you believe you're only eight minutes of cooking away from this side dish? The beans steam right in the brown butter before they're finished with lemon juice.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
Bonus points for slathering both the ham and the fries in honey mustard. (Your kids will thank you for it.)
23. Roasted Asparagus with Miso Butter
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
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
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
They’re tastiest 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
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
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?
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
“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
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
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
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
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 Breadcrumbs
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, <10 ingredients
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
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, make ahead
We adore this protein-packed option from Coterie member Carlene Thomas. It stars a trio of butter, kidney and pink beans.
31. Asparagus and Brie Puff Pastry with Thyme Honey
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Frozen puff pastry comes to the rescue once again. Just wrap it around fresh asparagus, bake the bundles and drizzle them with honey. Everyone will think you ordered from a fancy bakery.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
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
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Why have one vegetable when you can have three? Feel free to drizzle the plant-based gravy allllll over your ham, too.
34. Stuffing Muffins
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Why does Thanksgiving get dibs on stuffing? We're in the mood for this bready, buttery masterpiece year-round.
35. Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
The most delicious way to eat more greens? Smother them with Gruyère cheese and heavy cream, duh.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
A good baked potato is a no-brainer, but the usual can get 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
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, <10 ingredients
It’s practically effortless and packed with bright flavor...not to mention nutrients. (Oh, and you'll only need five ingredients and ten minutes to pull it off.)
38. Crispy Mushrooms
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Toss cremini mushrooms in olive oil, garlic salt and a little vinegar, then slow-roast them in the oven until they turn crunchy and snackable.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, crowd-pleaser
Fresh spring produce + zippy mustard dressing + sourdough bread = a salad your guests will actually *want* to eat.
40. Chrissy Teigen’s Garlicky Cauliflower ‘Rice’
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
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.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegan
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.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
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
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegan, Instant Pot recipe
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
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
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.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
This 20-minute recipe provides all the zing necessary for cutting 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
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
If you're serving ham in the fall, pair them with these light-as-air rolls. Sweet spuds in the dough ensure that they turn out super moist and impossibly fluffy.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
The chaat masala in the spiced oil that glazes the potatoes contains amchur, or ground dried mango. It imparts a delicious sour tang to the yogurt sauce that holds its own against the main dish.
49. Tomato and Yellow Zucchini Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, special occasion-worthy, dairy-free
Behold: the creamiest, most delicious summer risotto you've ever tasted. Can you believe it's free of dairy?
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Not only is the pesto made from broccoli, but it also contains a second ingredient with enough brininess and salt to stand up against the sweetest glazed ham: green olives.
52. Dorie Greenspan’s Potato-Parm Tart
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
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.
55. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread with Tomatoes and Scallions
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Warning: Once your guests try this gussied-up cornbread, they'll expect to see it on the table every Easter.
56. Utica Greens
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
This Central New York staple never gets old, and it's just the thing to spice up your usual side of greens. Be sure to thoroughly wash the escarole (we chop off the bottom and separate the leaves, then rinse them one by one).
57. Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, Instant Pot recipe, kid-friendly
Ham dressed in a swicy glaze is a great match for luxuriously creamy baked potato soup. Add a lemon-kissed vegetable to your plate and you're good to go.
58. Fried Cabbage with Noodles and Bacon
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
So much more exciting than the plain boiled kind you've had on St. Patrick's Day before. The leftovers keep in the fridge for up to four days, so go ahead and make a double batch.
59. Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Nothing beats a quick-cooking pasta that's made almost exclusively from pantry staples. Even picky kids won't be able to resist the rich, cheesy sauce.
60. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Consider this the easiest way to make your Easter spread look shockingly gourmet. Spring for slim, multicolored carrots if you can find them.
Additional reporting by Emily Brozyna
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
