58 Side Dishes For Ham That May Outshine The Main

Make room on the table for these crowd favorites.

By

Kimberly Holland

Updated on March 31, 2024

Asparagus Gratin — Photo: Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

There's little as steadfast and true to any celebration in the South as a glazed-to-perfection, deliciously baked ham. It's the centerpiece of the table and a deserving one at that. With the right accouterments, your ham can be a real showstopper—and the side dishes have more to do with that than you think. Is it even possible to have ham without creamy potato salad or melty macaroni and cheese? Personally, we think not. We've rounded up our best side dishes to serve with ham that'll convince you to make one last trip to the grocery store before your next celebration. From fresh veggies and crunchy salads to old faithful and new takes on casseroles, here are some easy side dishes to complement your star-of-the-show ham.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Old School Squash Casserole — Greg DuPree

You'll be hard-pressed to find a Southern occasion that wouldn't appreciate squash casserole. A bright and fresh side is always a welcome addition to any baked ham.

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Cornbread Muffins

Southern Living Cornbread Muffins ready to serve with butter and honey — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Do you know what cornbread and ham have in common? They both taste great with honey. And that's just one reason why these cornbread muffins complement a juicy baked ham so well.

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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Recipe — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

You can thank little pearl onions that have been lightly caramelized with butter, garlic, tangy balsamic vinegar, and a touch of sugar for taking this staple side vegetable to new heights, making it a perfect pairing for your ham.

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Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs

Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Mix cheddar, Velveeta, and whole-milk ricotta with a generous amount of mayonnaise for an extra creamy and slightly tangy taste. Baking the macaroni in a skillet gives it perfectly crisp edges.

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Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Step up your basic roasted carrot recipe by adding in parsnips. For even more flavor, try adding sweet potatoes and turnips too.

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Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Recipe — Southern Living

Why not add creamy goat cheese, rich heavy cream, and chopped fresh chives to your mashed potatoes? These delicious mashed potatoes are ready in just half an hour and pair seamlessly with any meat.

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Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds

Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Cut snap peas at an angle so they can absorb all the buttery, zesty goodness from this delicious sauce.

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Blackberry Farm's Carrot Soufflé

Carrot Souffle — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This soufflé is far more like a comforting casserole and is much easier to make than it might sound. Sweet, spring carrots make this bright dish extra flavorful and it's light enough so you can still get your fill of ham.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

13x9 casserole, green bean casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This casserole is an old favorite that goes beyond holiday menus. It's creamy and savory thanks to the cream of mushroom sauce with fried shallots that add a crunch on top.

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Tee's Corn Pudding

Tee's Corn Pudding — Emily Laurae/Southern Living

Corn pudding is a holiday staple, and the sweet-savory side goes well with baked ham. Although Tee's is our most classic version of the dish, anytime is a great time to try one of our updates like Savory Corn Pudding or Three-Cheese Corn Pudding.

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Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad

Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Potato salad and ham are often found side-by-side on any plate, but this herby, zesty version is a lighter way to serve the crowd-favorite side so as to not take away from the ham. It's ideal for Easter brunch and can be served warm or chilled.

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Spring Salad with Berries and Bacon

Spring Salad with Berries and Bacon — Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

We're all about pairing sweet and savory flavors together. This salad has strawberries on every level so you're sure to get a delicious bite of that springtime berry. The bacon bits add just the right amount of savory flavor to balance your palate between bites of this salad and a beautiful baked ham.

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Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus — Jennifer Causey

If your family opts for a buffet line when it comes to Easter brunch or dinner, these easy-to-serve asparagus bundles are the perfect side to keep things moving smoothly. Plus, who doesn't love their veggies wrapped in bacon?

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Our Best Deviled Eggs

Our Best Deviled Eggs — Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

No plate would be complete without a few deviled eggs sprinkled with paprika or chives on top nestled alongside a pile of sliced ham.

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Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Casserole in a square casserole pan — Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Many Southerners agree that a proper feast just isn't right without this slightly obscure, but totally underrated casserole. The ingredients might seem like an interesting combination, but trust us, it's downright delicious!

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Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes

Southern Living Romaine Salad With Oranges and Radishes on serving platter — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Serve this romaine salad for a refreshing crunch and pop of color to balance out your honey baked ham.

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Vidalia Onion Soufflé

Vidalia Onion Soufflé — Abigail Wilt

This cheesy, sweet onion-packed side won't disappoint your crowd. The strata-like soufflé might be new to the younger generations, but Mama will recognize it.

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Roasted Broccolini

Roasted Broccolini — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Throw broccolini in a skillet with some olive oil and seasoning, and you have yourself a simple, crowd-pleasing side. It's also delicious paired with chicken, steak, or fish.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Southern Living Make Ahead Freezer Friendly Yeast Rolls in a basket to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

These tender, buttery rolls will be a welcome addition to your feast. The recipe author, Carole Miller Radford, says this recipe "turns out the same way, no matter what mood you're in or what the weather is."

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Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese

Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This salad is piled high with some of the season's finest vegetables, including asparagus, sugar snap peas, and peas, plus crunchy radishes and fresh herbs, then topped with slices of herby goat cheese. It's the ultimate springtime side, perfect for your Easter meal.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Iain Bagwell

Why wouldn't you want to throw some roasted carrots in the mix for dinner? This recipe is perfectly sweet and spiced.

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Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions after baking — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This old-fashioned easy, cheesy casserole is giving onions the spotlight they deserve. It's unlike any side dish you've had before and pairs well alongside a slice of ham.

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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

As hosts, we're all about unexpected and festive touches, and these mini grits casseroles add a little more delicious fun to your spread.

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Ginger Carrots

Southern Living Ginger Carrots — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Zippy and colorful, these tender carrot coins glazed with honey, butter, and a hint of nutmeg go seamlessly with any ham. Plus, they're a cinch to make.

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Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad

Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad with Orange-Poppy Seed Dressing — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A platter of this colorful salad will bring in all the gorgeous shades of spring to your table. It's so pretty you might be tempted to keep it as a centerpiece, but it's even more delicious than it looks, with a mix of textures and flavors sure to impress.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet Potato Biscuits — Micah A. Leal

Looking for a spin on your normal buttermilk biscuits? The trick to this recipe is mixing mashed sweet potatoes with buttermilk so the dough becomes fluffy and thick.

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Creamy Broccoli Slaw

Creamy Broccoli Slaw — Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Slaw might not be the first side to come to mind when you're looking for what to serve with your holiday ham, but this is no ordinary one. Pre-packaged broccoli slaw, toasted pecans, and raisins tossed with a creamy, lemony dressing make this colorful side ideal for your menu.

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Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions

Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Make the dressing for this potato salad with oil, honey, and two types of mustards (whole-grain and Dijon) for a much lighter dish than your typical mayonnaise-based potato salad.

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Grilled Baby Artichokes with Brown Butter Aioli

Grilled Baby Artichokes with Brown Butter AÃ¯oli — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

If artichokes typically feel intimidating, try this baby artichoke recipe that requires less prep than their larger counterparts. Blanch them in boiling water to achieve the tenderness, then finish them on the grill and serve with a buttery, garlicky aioli.

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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

Fennel-and-Potato Gratin — Photo: Jennifer Davick

This crowd-favorite, cheesy potato side dish gets its unique flavor from nutmeg and fennel. It'll impress guests at your holiday table and be equally welcome alongside leftovers on a weeknight.

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Picnic Egg Salad

Picnic Egg Salad on Toast — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

It wouldn't truly be a "ladies who lunch" event if egg salad didn't make an appearance. These bite-sized crostini topped with egg salad are a delicious tangy pairing for a glazed ham.

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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

a platter of roasted asparagus with slivered almonds — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Last minute and missing a side dish? Throw together this easy roasted asparagus recipe that's ready in 10 minutes. Top with slivered almonds or serve as is.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad — Jennifer Davick

Mix up this pasta salad, let it chill, and there you have it! You'll have a ready-made dish for a laidback lunch.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

Scalloped Corn Casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This casserole dish is filled with a creamy corn and cheese mixture, then topped with crunchy, buttery crackers for a spot-on combination of textures. Frozen corn helps it come together in a snap.

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Asparagus Ribbon Crostini

Asparagus Ribbon Crostini — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

This bright, springy appetizer is a vibrant addition to any table. Asparagus curls top brightly flavored ricotta that's infused with lemon, Parmesan, and fresh mint.

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Roasted Potato Salad

Roasted Potato Salad — Joy Howard

Potato salad doesn't always mean mayonnaise is involved. In this case, the secret to this flavorful side dish is the oven—it delivers roasted spuds that add just the right amount of bite to the classic side.

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Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

This salad makes great use of those fresh herbs that you might have lingering in your fridge. You can never go wrong with offering a pasta salad as a seasonal side.

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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

These cheesy and creamy potatoes are the 9x13 side that everyone is looking for on the sideboard. Plus, they pair deliciously with holiday ham.

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Focaccia With Ricotta and Crispy Herbs

Focaccia with Ricotta and Crispy Herbs — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

This photo-worthy side starts with store-bought pizza dough. We love this hassle-free dish as an unexpected addition that is sure to be welcomed on any table.

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Spring Vegetable Frittata

Spring Vegetable Frittata — Iain Bagwell

Full of fresh flavor, a slice of this frittata will surely please any bunch at your brunch. Mushrooms, asparagus, and feta cheese make a pleasing combination.

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Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach

Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach — Hector Sanchez

Think creamy spinach casserole with a Southern twist. Pimiento cheese gives this traditional side endless possibilities—serve it as a side, spread, or dip.

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Watergate Salad

Watergate Salad — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This retro recipe is always welcome on the table. Whether you consider it dessert or a side dish, we won't tell.

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Air Fryer Asparagus

asparagus topped with goat cheese and seasoning

When the oven is already filled to the brim, this air fryer asparagus recipe will come in handy. Bonus: It's ready in just 15 minutes.

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Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries

Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

We love this take on a beloved North Georgia seasonal ingredient. The savory-meets-sweet flavor of squash makes it a versatile side for practically any dinner menu.

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Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Though it has bread in the name, this silky, smooth dish is more akin to a savory pudding. Its simplicity gives it versatility when it comes to pairing it with any main dish.

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Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad With Dill — Hannah Zimmerman/Southern Living

This creamy yet crunchy side "salad" only requires a few minutes of hands-on time, but be sure to allow 30 minutes for your cucumbers and onions to release their excess moisture.

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Cabbage Casserole

cabbage casserole in a white casserole dish with plates nearby — Will Dickey

Cabbage is good for more than just coleslaw, and this delicious, light, and crunchy casserole proves it.

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Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Smashing steamed Brussels sprouts and then baking them results in a super crispy, delicious side that will appeal to even non-Brussels sprout lovers. Hit them with garlic and grated Parmesan cheese, and add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or maple syrup to finish them off.

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Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole

Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

We like chopped kale in this recipe, but it’s great with any greens. Use what you like. Make the dish up to three days in advance and bake before serving.

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Herbed Potato Stacks

Herbed Potato Stacks - Southern Living — HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER; FOOD STYLING: WILLIAM SMITH

This impressive, elegant side turns a few ingredients into a showstopper. Stack and bake these in muffin cups for a crispy exterior and soft interior.

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Creamed Greens Casserole

Creamed Greens Casserole — Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Ham and greens are the perfect duo. This casserole uses pre-chopped greens so you can have a creamy, cheesy side with minimal prep.

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Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin — Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

As if layered potatoes, butternut squash, and cream sauce couldn’t get any better, a cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar mixture adds unexpected warmth and sweetness that will complement a glazed ham.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Even skeptics will enjoy kale in this comforting casserole. Serve this pasta dish with ham, and the next day you can combine them into one filling meal.

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Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes — Emily Laurae / Southern Living

When you want potatoes with your holiday ham, reach for this recipe. Just 10 minutes is all it takes to prep for crispy, garlicky potatoes.

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Sweet Potato Stacks

Sweet Potato Stacks — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

If you’re serving ham for Christmas dinner, this sweet potato dish is elegant and easy. Bake the stacks with rosemary browned butter that's spiked with cinnamon, and drizzle more on top to serve. Trust us, you’ll want to.

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Butternut Squash Bread Pudding

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Serve this casserole as a side at your holiday dinner or alongside ham for a weekend brunch. It’s not a standard side dish, but it may become your new go-to.

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Cornmeal Popovers

Cornmeal Popovers — Laurey W. Glenn; Food Styling: William Smith; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Everyone will ask you to pass the rolls when a warm basket of these popovers hits the table. These are light and fluffy and the perfect update to plain dinner rolls.

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Asparagus Gratin

Asparagus Gratin — Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

We took the creamy, cheesiness of potatoes gratin to cover our favorite spring vegetable for a hard-to-beat side dish that won't overshadow the ham—though it might come close.

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