Whether you’re planning a festive holiday feast or a simple weeknight dinner using leftover ham, finding the perfect side dishes is key to a satisfying and well-rounded meal. Ham, with its rich and savory flavor, is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a wide array of accompaniments. From comforting and classic options to fresh and vibrant choices, this guide explores the best side dishes to serve with ham, ensuring your meal is a culinary success.
Irresistible Potato Side Dishes for Ham
Potatoes and ham are a match made in culinary heaven. The earthy and comforting nature of potatoes provides a wonderful counterpoint to the saltiness and richness of ham. Whether you prefer creamy, crispy, or cheesy potatoes, these side dish ideas are guaranteed to be crowd-pleasers.
- Crispy Air Fryer Red Potatoes
For a quick and effortless side, air fryer red potatoes are an excellent choice. The air fryer creates a beautifully crispy skin while keeping the inside fluffy and tender. Seasoned simply with herbs and spices, these potatoes are ready in just 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a delicious side dish in a hurry. Their slightly nutty flavor and satisfying texture make them a fantastic partner for baked ham, especially for a relaxed family dinner. If you prefer smaller potatoes, consider serving baby roasted potatoes alongside your Christmas or Easter ham for a similar, equally delightful experience.
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries: A Sweet and Savory Side
Add a touch of sweetness and vibrant color to your ham dinner with crispy air fryer sweet potato fries. These fries offer a delightful contrast to the savory ham, and their natural sweetness is enhanced by the crispy air-fried texture. Beyond their delicious taste, sweet potatoes are packed with Vitamin A, making this side dish both tasty and nutritious. These golden-brown fries are incredibly easy to prepare and are a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults, offering a fun and flavorful alternative to traditional fries when paired with ham.
- Cheesy Crispy Smashed Potatoes: An Indulgent Side Dish
Elevate your potato game with cheesy crispy smashed potatoes. These potatoes are first boiled, then gently smashed and roasted to achieve ultimate crispiness. Coated in a savory blend of butter, garlic, herbs, and sea salt, they are then generously topped with melted cheddar cheese for an extra layer of indulgence. The combination of crispy edges, creamy insides, and gooey cheese creates a truly irresistible side dish that perfectly complements the savory notes of ham. This cheesy smashed potato recipe is not only easy to make but also impressive enough for special occasions or holiday gatherings.
- Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes: Sweet and Caramelized Perfection
For a touch of Southern charm and sweetness, stovetop candied sweet potatoes are an exceptional side dish to serve with ham. These sweet potatoes are cooked on the stovetop until tender and then caramelized in a buttery brown sugar glaze. The result is a dish of sweet, melt-in-your-mouth gems that are both comforting and decadent. Perfect for holiday dinners like Thanksgiving or Christmas, or simply to add a special touch to a weeknight meal, these candied sweet potatoes are surprisingly easy to make and offer a delightful sweet contrast to the salty ham. They provide a similar satisfying sweetness to a sweet potato casserole but are much simpler to prepare.
- Effortless Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Creamy and Classic
Keep things simple and classic with Instant Pot mashed potatoes. This recipe uses a no-drain method and just four basic ingredients to create perfectly creamy and smooth mashed potatoes in just 20 minutes. Mashed potatoes are a timeless side dish that complements ham beautifully, and the Instant Pot makes the process incredibly easy and quick. The creamy texture and mild flavor of mashed potatoes provide a comforting and familiar element to your ham dinner, making it a family-friendly and satisfying meal. This classic potato recipe is a beloved side dish that many families, including mine, enjoy with salty ham.
Rice and Pasta Side Dishes: Hearty and Flavorful Pairings for Ham
If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, rice and pasta dishes are excellent side dish options for ham. These carbohydrate-rich sides add heartiness and flavor to your meal, creating a balanced and satisfying dining experience.
- 5-Ingredient Stove Top Mac and Cheese: Ultimate Comfort Food
For the ultimate comfort food side dish, look no further than 5-ingredient stove top mac and cheese. This creamy and cheesy macaroni recipe requires just five simple ingredients and is ready in a mere 25 minutes. Mac and cheese is a universally loved dish, and its rich, cheesy flavor profile pairs wonderfully with the savory ham. It’s a perfect dish for busy weeknights when you need a quick and satisfying side, or to serve to a crowd alongside juicy ham for a family-friendly feast.
- Simple Orzo Rice Pilaf: A Delicate and Flavorful Grain Side
Introduce a touch of elegance and unique texture to your ham dinner with simple orzo rice pilaf. This side dish combines tender rice with orzo pasta, creating a delightful blend of flavors and textures. The orzo adds a subtle bite and pasta-like element, while the rice provides a familiar and comforting base. With its simple yet flavorful ingredients, this versatile pilaf is a welcome addition to any ham meal, adding a touch of sophistication without being overly complicated.
- Fluffy Long Grain White Rice: A Versatile and Easy Side
Sometimes, simplicity is key. Instant Pot long grain white rice is a foolproof side dish that is both fluffy and delicious, and incredibly easy to prepare. The Instant Pot ensures perfectly cooked rice every time in just minutes, making it an ideal choice when you need a quick and reliable side. White rice serves as a blank canvas, allowing the flavors of the ham and other side dishes to shine. It’s a versatile side that can accompany virtually any meal, and it’s especially welcome alongside ham, providing a neutral and comforting base.
- Protein-Packed Pressure Cooker Quinoa: A Healthy Grain Option
For a healthier and protein-rich alternative to rice, consider Instant Pot quinoa. This method cooks quinoa in under 30 minutes using just three ingredients, yielding fluffy and flavorful results every time. Quinoa is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with protein and fiber, making it a wholesome and satisfying side dish. Its slightly nutty flavor and versatile nature make it a great complement to ham, offering a lighter yet still substantial side dish option. Instant Pot quinoa is perfect for meal prepping or adding a healthy grain to your ham dinner.
- Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole: A Comforting Casserole Side from Grumpy’s Honeybunch
For a classic and comforting casserole, broccoli rice and cheese casserole is a fantastic choice to serve with ham. This creamy and cheesy casserole combines tender broccoli florets, rice, and a rich cheese sauce, creating a satisfying and flavorful side dish. The creamy texture and mild flavors of the casserole complement the savory ham beautifully, making it a family-friendly option that is perfect for holiday gatherings or potlucks.
Vegetable Side Dishes: Fresh and Balanced Complements to Ham
Vegetable side dishes are essential for adding freshness, color, and nutritional balance to a ham dinner. From roasted to sautéed, vegetables offer a variety of flavors and textures that perfectly complement the richness of ham, creating a well-rounded and satisfying meal.
- Quick Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash: A Light and Healthy Option
For a light and healthy vegetable side, air fryer spaghetti squash is an excellent choice. This recipe cooks tender spaghetti squash in just 20 minutes in the air fryer. Spaghetti squash is a low-calorie and nutritious vegetable with a mild, slightly sweet flavor and unique stringy texture. It makes for a fantastic and healthy side dish that balances the richness of ham, adding a refreshing and lighter element to your meal. It can be served simply with butter and herbs or topped with your favorite sauces and seasonings.
- Elegant Oven Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Zest
Bring a touch of elegance and vibrant flavor to your ham dinner with oven roasted asparagus with lemon zest. Roasting asparagus brings out its natural sweetness and tender-crisp texture, while the lemon zest adds a bright and zesty note. Asparagus is a versatile vegetable that pairs beautifully with a variety of proteins, including ham. This simple yet flavorful side dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing, adding a touch of green to your plate. The lemon brightens the dish and cuts through the richness of the ham.
- Hearty Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Bacon
For a hearty and flavorful vegetable side, roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash with bacon is a winning combination. This dish combines the slightly bitter Brussels sprouts with the sweetness of butternut squash, all roasted to perfection and enhanced with smoky bacon and tangy balsamic vinegar. The combination of flavors and textures is incredibly satisfying, and the bacon adds a savory depth that complements ham beautifully. This roasted vegetable medley is both simple to prepare and impressive enough for holiday dinners.
- Warm Brussels Sprouts Slaw: A Tangy and Fresh Twist
Give Brussels sprouts a modern and flavorful twist with warm Brussels sprouts slaw. This slaw offers a vibrant and fresh alternative to traditional cabbage slaws. The Brussels sprouts are thinly sliced and lightly cooked, then tossed in a tangy cider vinegar and honey dressing. The warm slaw retains a pleasant crunch and offers a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors. This versatile side dish pairs exceptionally well with baked ham, adding a zesty and refreshing element to your meal. It’s perfect for both weeknight dinners and summer barbecues.
- Cheesy Zucchini Cakes from Souffle Bombay
- Creamed Spinach with Croutons from Mangia with Michele
- Southern Fried Corn with Bacon from Grits and Pinecones
- Super Easy Baked Beans from Easy Recipes from Home
- Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob from The Lazy Slow Cooker
- Cheesy Green Bean from Everyday Eileen
Refreshing Salad Recipes for Ham Dinners
Salads provide a welcome contrast to the richness of baked ham, offering crisp textures, bright flavors, and a refreshing element to your meal. Whether you prefer leafy green salads, fruit-studded salads, or creamy salads, these simple salad ideas are perfect for rounding out your ham dinner, especially for lighter spring or summer meals.
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
For a crisp and flavorful salad, shaved Brussels sprouts salad with maple vinaigrette is a standout choice. This salad is packed with vibrant flavors and textures, combining thinly shaved Brussels sprouts with crunchy pecans, tangy cranberries, and a sweet and savory maple vinaigrette. The combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy elements creates an irresistible salad that is both refreshing and satisfying. Crunchy salads are a favorite at many dinner tables, and this one is particularly delicious and pairs wonderfully with ham.
- Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese, Grapes, and Almonds: A Sweet and Nutty Salad
Elevate your salad course with spinach salad with blue cheese, grapes, and almonds. This salad offers a delightful combination of sweet and nutty flavors, with the sweetness of grapes, the sharpness of blue cheese, and the crunch of almonds all complementing each other beautifully on a bed of fresh spinach. It’s an ideal choice for a light lunch or a sophisticated side dish, and the contrasting flavors and textures make it a perfect accompaniment to ham.
- Cranberry Pecan Salad with Blue Cheese: Festive and Flavorful
Bring a festive touch to your ham dinner with cranberry pecan salad with blue cheese. This mesclun salad features a flavorful spring mix topped with a light vinaigrette, crunchy pecans, dried cranberries, and creamy blue cheese. The cranberries add a tart and chewy element, while the pecans provide crunch and the blue cheese adds richness and tang. While it’s especially perfect for a Christmas ham dinner, this delightful salad is delicious any time of year and pairs exceptionally well with the savory flavors of ham.
- Classic Wedge Salad from Chef Dennis
- Old Fashioned Pea Salad from Swirls of Flavor
- Roasted Asparagus Salad from Entirely Elizabeth
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