Food and Recipes Meat Pork and Ham Ham 50 Side Dishes That'll Help Your Ham Shine Make room on the table for these crowd favorites. By Southern Living Editors Updated on April 5, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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 accoutrements, 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 sides dishes to complement your star-of-the-show ham. 01 of 50 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. 02 of 50 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. 03 of 50 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions 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. 04 of 50 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. 05 of 50 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. 06 of 50 Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes 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. 07 of 50 Sautéed 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. 08 of 50 Carrot Soufflé Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This soufflé is far more like a comforting casserole and is much easier to make than it might sounds. Sweet, spring carrots make this bright dish extra flavorful and it's light enough so you can still get your fill on ham. 09 of 50 Old-School 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. 10 of 50 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. 11 of 50 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. 12 of 50 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. 13 of 50 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. 14 of 50 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. 15 of 50 Pineapple Casserole 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! 16 of 50 Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes 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. 17 of 50 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. 18 of 50 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. 19 of 50 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Laurey W. Glenn 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." 20 of 50 Spring Mixed 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. 21 of 50 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. 22 of 50 Tennessee Onions 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. 23 of 50 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. 24 of 50 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 Easter ham. Plus, they're a cinch to make. 25 of 50 Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad 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. 26 of 50 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. 27 of 50 Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. Radishes, cucumbers, carrots, and thinly sliced sugar peas tossed with tangy sour cream and dill dressing rather than mayonnaise make this colorful side ideal for your Easter menu. 28 of 50 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. 29 of 50 Grilled Baby Artichokes with Brown Butter Aioli 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. 30 of 50 Sautéed Radishes with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Thanks to a little bacon grease, these cooked radishes are just as delicious as the raw, thinly shaved crudité version. 31 of 50 Fennel-and-Potato Gratin Photo: Jennifer Davick This crowd-favorite, cheesy potato side dish gets its unique flavor from nutmeg and fennel. 32 of 50 Strawberry-Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This strawberry salad will add a nice touch of color to your Easter table as a light, fresh side option. 33 of 50 Pasta Shells With Spring Vegetables Alison Miksch Pasta might not be a typical addition to your Easter menu, but this is one dish we're willing to make an exception for. It feels extra springy with playful garnishes like pea tendrils, radishes, fresh asparagus, and mint. 34 of 50 Picnic Egg Salad 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. 35 of 50 Oven-Roasted Asparagus Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Last minute missing a side dish? Throw together this easy, ready-in-10-minutes, roasted asparagus recipe. Top with slivered almonds or serve as is. 36 of 50 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. 37 of 50 Scalloped Corn Casserole Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin 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. 38 of 50 Asparagus Ribbon Crostini Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This bright, springy appetizer is a vibrant addition to any table. 39 of 50 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. 40 of 50 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. 41 of 50 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 your Easter ham. 42 of 50 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. 43 of 50 Spring Vegetable Frittata Iain Bagwell Full of fresh flavor, a slice of this frittata will surely please any bunch at Easter brunch. 44 of 50 Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez Think creamy spinach casserole with a Southern twist. Pimento cheese gives this traditional side endless possibilities—serve it as a side, spread, or dip. 45 of 50 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. 46 of 50 Air Fryer Asparagus 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. 47 of 50 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. 48 of 50 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. 49 of 50 Creamy Cucumber Salad 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. 50 of 50 Cabbage Casserole Will Dickey Cabbage is good for more than just coleslaw and this delicious, light, and crunchy casserole proves it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit