7 Easy Ham Dinner Side Dishes

So you’ve got a glazed, glistening ham sitting front and center on your table, and now you’re staring into the fridge wondering what on earth goes next to it. I’ve been there more times than I can count, usually about two hours before guests arrive, sweating over whether green beans or mac and cheese wins the night. Let’s fix that problem right now.

I grew up in a house where ham dinner meant chaos in the kitchen and at least three side dishes fighting for counter space. Over the years I’ve figured out which sides actually earn their spot next to a ham, and which ones take up oven room for nothing. This is the list I wish someone had handed me a decade ago.

Why Ham Needs the Right Sides (Not Just Any Sides)

Ham is salty, sweet, and rich all at once, especially if you’ve glazed it with brown sugar or honey. That means your side dishes have a real job to do here—they need to balance that richness, not pile on top of it. Ever loaded your plate with ham, candied yams, AND mac and cheese, then felt like you needed a nap by dessert? Yeah, that’s what happens when nothing on the plate cuts through the sweetness.

The best ham dinner side dishes bring acidity, crunch, or a little bitterness to the table. Think tangy, think fresh, think anything that makes your taste buds sit up after that third bite of ham. I promise your dinner will feel more balanced and honestly, more memorable.

Classic Ham Dinner Side Dishes That Never Miss

These are the sides I come back to every single time, no matter the occasion. They’re tested, they’re crowd-pleasing, and they won’t leave you scrambling for a backup plan.

1. Scalloped Potatoes

Creamy, cheesy, and layered with thinly sliced potatoes, this dish is basically a warm hug on a plate. IMO, scalloped potatoes are the single best partner for ham because the richness matches without competing.

Ingredients:

• 4 large russet potatoes, thinly sliced
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Layer half the potato slices in a greased baking dish.
3. Pour half the cream mixture (cream, garlic, salt, pepper) over the top.
4. Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cream.
5. Top with cheddar and small pats of butter.
6. Bake covered for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake another 20 minutes until golden.

2. Green Bean Almondine

Green beans get a bad reputation for being boring, but toss them with toasted almonds and a squeeze of lemon, and suddenly people are asking for the recipe. This dish adds the acidity your ham dinner desperately needs.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Blanch green beans in boiling water for 4 minutes, then shock in ice water.
2. Toast almonds in a dry skillet until golden, about 3 minutes.
3. Melt butter in the same skillet and add green beans, tossing to coat.
4. Stir in almonds and lemon juice right before serving.

3. Honey-Glazed Carrots

Sweet carrots next to sweet ham sounds risky, but trust me on this one. The honey glaze actually mirrors the ham’s flavor instead of clashing with it, and the color on the table looks incredible.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb baby carrots
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil carrots until fork-tender, about 8 minutes, then drain.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add honey and cinnamon, stirring until combined.
4. Toss carrots in the glaze for 2–3 minutes until coated and slightly caramelized.

Sides That Bring the Crunch and Freshness

Every ham dinner needs at least one dish that isn’t creamy, baked, or roasted. Your table needs texture, and honestly, your digestive system will thank you too.

4. Crisp Apple Coleslaw

Regular coleslaw is fine, but adding crisp apples turns it into something special. The tartness cuts right through the ham’s saltiness, and it takes maybe ten minutes to throw together.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 crisp apple, julienned
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine cabbage and apple in a large bowl.
2. Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, and honey together in a separate bowl.
3. Pour dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss well.
4. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic

I’ll be honest—I hated Brussels sprouts for most of my life. Then I roasted them until crispy and drizzled balsamic glaze on top, and now I’m the person bringing them to every holiday dinner. Funny how that works.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs Brussels sprouts, halved
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Roast cut-side down for 25 minutes until crispy and browned.
4. Drizzle with balsamic glaze right before serving.

Comfort Food Sides for a Heartier Table

Some ham dinners call for pure comfort, no apologies needed. These sides are the ones people fight over for the last serving spoon scrape.

6. Cheesy Mac and Cheese

Bold, gooey, and unapologetically indulgent—that’s mac and cheese in three words. If you’re serving a crowd that skews younger or just loves comfort food, this dish will disappear fast.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 3 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 3 cups milk
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp flour

Instructions:

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, and cook for 1 minute.
3. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened.
4. Stir in cheeses until melted, then combine with macaroni.
5. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes if you want a crispy top.

7. Cornbread with Honey Butter

Sweet, crumbly cornbread with a slather of honey butter rounds out a ham dinner in the best way. This one’s easy enough that even a kitchen novice can nail it on the first try 🙂

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 tbsp baking powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a baking pan.
2. Whisk dry ingredients together in one bowl.
3. Whisk wet ingredients together in another bowl, then combine both.
4. Pour into the pan and bake for 20–22 minutes.
5. Mix softened butter with 2 tbsp honey and serve alongside warm cornbread.

Lighter Options If You’re Watching the Richness

Not every table needs three creamy casseroles fighting for space. IMO, at least one lighter dish keeps the whole meal from feeling like a food coma waiting to happen.

• Simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan
• Steamed asparagus with a squeeze of fresh lemon
• Cucumber and tomato salad with red wine vinegar
• Roasted zucchini with garlic and olive oil

These dishes take almost no effort and give your table some visual and flavor contrast. Sometimes the simplest side is exactly what a heavy ham dinner needs.

How to Build a Balanced Ham Dinner Spread

Ever stood at a buffet table and felt like everything just sort of blurred together? That happens when there’s no real plan behind the menu. Here’s how I approach it every time:

1. Pick one starch (scalloped potatoes or cornbread), not three.
2. Pick one green vegetable for freshness and color.
3. Pick one sweet or comfort dish to complement the ham’s flavor.
4. Add one crunchy or acidic dish to cut through the richness.

Following this formula means you’ll never end up with a table full of heavy, sweet dishes that all compete with each other. It also saves you from overbuying groceries, which, let’s be real, we’ve all done before a holiday dinner.

FAQs About Ham Dinner Side Dishes

What vegetable pairs best with ham?

Green beans, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus all work well because their slight bitterness balances the ham’s saltiness and sweetness.

What should I serve with ham besides potatoes?

Try cornbread, a crisp apple coleslaw, or roasted vegetables if you want to skip potatoes altogether and still round out the meal.

How many side dishes should I make for a ham dinner?

Three to four sides usually hits the sweet spot—one starch, one green vegetable, one comfort dish, and one lighter or acidic option.

Can I make ham dinner side dishes ahead of time?

Yes, dishes like scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, and mac and cheese can be prepped a day ahead and reheated, which saves serious time on the day of your dinner.

What’s a good side dish if my ham is very sweet or glazed?

Go for something acidic or savory, like green bean almondine or a tangy coleslaw, since these cut through the extra sweetness nicely.

What sides work for a smaller ham dinner?

Roasted carrots, a simple salad, and cornbread scale down easily and don’t require a ton of extra prep for a smaller gathering.

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Final Thoughts on Ham Dinner Side Dishes

At the end of the day, the best ham dinner side dishes aren’t about following trends—they’re about balance, contrast, and a little bit of personality on the plate. I’ve made every single one of these dishes more times than I can count, and they’ve never let me down at a family dinner or a random Tuesday when I just wanted ham for some reason.

Pick two or three from this list, mix textures and flavors, and you’ll have a spread that actually makes sense together. FYI, leftovers from most of these taste even better the next day, so don’t stress if you make too much 🙂 Now preheat that oven and get cooking.