What to Serve with Ham: Easy, Balanced Side Dish Ideas
Not sure what to serve with ham? These easy side dish ideas help you build a balanced ham dinner without overthinking the meal.
Ham is one of those meals that sounds simple until you’re standing in the kitchen asking yourself, “Okay… now what do I serve with it?” It’s rich, salty, and usually made for a crowd, which means the sides matter more than you think.
Over the years, I’ve learned that a good ham dinner isn’t about piling on every side dish you can think of. It’s about balance. Something starchy, something fresh, and something comforting usually gets the job done without turning the meal into a production.
Whether you’re planning a holiday dinner or making ham because it was on sale and you want leftovers, these are the sides I make again and again.
How I Decide What to Serve with Ham
Before you start pulling recipes, it helps to think about what ham already brings to the table. Ham is salty, rich, and filling on its own. If all the sides lean heavy too, the meal can feel like a lot. I usually aim for:
- One hearty side that makes the meal feel complete
- One fresh or crunchy side to balance the richness
- One comfort side if it’s a holiday or Sunday dinner
You don’t need all three every time, but keeping this framework in mind makes choosing sides a lot easier.
Filling Sides That Carry the Meal
Ham does well with something substantial on the plate. Potatoes, grains, and baked dishes help anchor the meal and stretch it for leftovers.
- Roasted potatoes cooked right alongside the ham
- Mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes
- Scalloped or au gratin potatoes
- Stuffing or dressing (bread-based or grain-based)
- Rice pilaf or herbed rice
- Baked pasta or a simple noodle casserole
Roasted or baked potatoes are an easy win, especially when they cook alongside the ham and soak up some of those pan juices. Roasting ham and potatoes together takes most of the thinking out of dinner.
Stuffings and casseroles also work well here, especially for holidays. Something slightly sweet, like a fruit-based stuffing, pairs nicely with ham without competing with it.
Adding Something Fresh to a Ham Dinner
This is the category that keeps a ham dinner from feeling heavy. Ham needs contrast. Something cool, crisp, and a little tangy goes a long way toward balancing the richness. This is where simple vegetable sides and slaws really shine.
- Classic coleslaw or vinegar-based slaw
- Simple green salad with a light dressing
- Steamed or roasted green beans
- Carrots, glazed lightly or roasted
- Cucumber salad or tomato salad
- Lightly dressed broccoli or cabbage salad
Coleslaw is one of my go-to sides for ham. It’s fresh, it cuts the saltiness, and it doesn’t require turning on the oven when it’s already full. It works especially well with glazed ham, where the meal can start to feel like a lot.
Seriously Good Homemade Coleslaw
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Ingredients
Coleslaw
- 1 small Red Cabbage
- 1 small Green Cabbage
- 1 medium Carrot
- ⅓ c. Sunflower Seeds
Coleslaw Dressing
- ½ c. Mayonaise
- 5 tsp. Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 ½ tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 1 tbsp. Vinegar
- ½ tsp. Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp. Salt
Instructions
Coleslaw Dressing
- Mix all ingredients in a half-pint mason jar or similiar container.1/2 c. Mayonaise, 5 tsp. Pure Maple Syrup, 1 1/2 tbsp. Lemon Juice, 1 tbsp. Vinegar, 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper, 1/4 tsp. Salt
Coleslaw Assembly
- Wash the cabbages and finely slice them into shredded pieces.1 small Red Cabbage, 1 small Green Cabbage
- Toss in a large bowl a medium-sized grated carrot and a handful of sunflower seeds.1 medium Carrot
- Add dressing and toss some more.1/3 c. Sunflower Seeds
Notes
Nutrition
Green salads, lightly dressed vegetables, or anything with a bit of crunch can play the same role if slaw isn’t your thing.
The Comfort Foods That Go with Holiday Ham
When ham shows up for Easter, Christmas, or a big Sunday dinner, comfort food usually isn’t far behind. This is where you can lean into warm, familiar sides that make the meal feel special. Think baked dishes, soft textures, and flavors that feel a little nostalgic.
- Sweet potato stuffing or sweet potato casserole
- Baked squash or winter vegetable bake
- Cornbread or dinner rolls
- Green bean casserole
- Creamed vegetables (spinach, peas, or corn)
- Apple or cranberry-based side dishes
One of my favorites to serve alongside ham is a sweet potato stuffing with apples and cranberries. It brings warmth and just enough sweetness to work with ham instead of against it, and it feels right at home on a holiday table.
A Few Things People Ask About Serving Ham
These are the questions I hear the most when ham’s on the menu.
Pin this so you’ve got easy, no-stress ideas ready the next time ham is on the menu.
Ham is forgiving, flexible, and one of the easiest ways to feed people. The right sides don’t need to be complicated. They just need to balance what ham already brings to the plate. If you keep the meal grounded with one hearty side, one fresh element, and a comfort dish when it makes sense, you’ll end up with a dinner that feels thoughtful without being stressful.
I’d love to know what you usually serve with ham. Do you have a go-to side you always come back to, or do you change it up depending on the occasion? Drop a comment and tell me what works at your table.