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60 Side Dishes for Ham to Serve on Easter, Christmas 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 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.

70 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Beyond Glazed Ham


1. One-Pot Mac and Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

3. Whole Roasted Radishes

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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.

9. Sweet Potato Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I 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.

10. Whole Roasted Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

12. Spring Pea Soup with Mint

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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.

15. Scalloped Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I 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.

16. Joanna Gaines’s Spring Vegetable Risotto

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

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

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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.

20. Rhubarb Applesauce

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

22. Baked Sweet Potato Fries

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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?

26. Delicata Squash Agrodolce

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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.

32. Mini Cranberry Potpies

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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 I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

The most delicious way to eat more greens? Smother them with Gruyère cheese and heavy cream, duh.

36. Baked Potatoes Three Ways

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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.

39. Spring Panzanella Salad

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

41. Spicy Broccoli Sauté

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I 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.

42. Asparagus Flatbread

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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.

45. Crispy Roasted Artichokes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

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

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

48. Masala Smashed Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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?

50. Hasselback Honey-Glazed Squash with Pistachios and Chiles

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

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

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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.

53. Roasted Radishes with Butter

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

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

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, special occasion-worthy, gluten free

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

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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 I 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

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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.


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taryn pire

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