This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I use and love. Thanks for supporting The Little Frugal House!
In this post I’m sharing the best ham dinner menu ideas and 11 sides that will go perfectly with your delicious ham entree!
Trying to plan your Sunday dinner or holiday meal? Then you have come to the right place.
Other than a turkey dinner, a ham dinner is one of the most popular holiday meals to choose from and does not disappoint.
While there are plenty of ways to make this main course delicious on its own, most main courses need a great side dish to make the rest of the table full and glamorous (as well as our stomachs full).
So, if you need some fun ideas to make the best side dishes for your ham dinner then keep reading!
Ham Dinner Menu Ideas: 11 Best Side Dishes for a Ham Dinner
About the Holiday Ham:
Cooking ham doesn’t need to be intimidating.
While there are plenty of ways to cook a holiday ham, it’s almost as if the ham should be cooked differently for each holiday. Making a ham for Easter Sunday? Then try using an orange marmalade to brighten up your ham for the spring season.
Preparing a whole ham for a family dinner? Then use something slightly simple, such as a pineapple honey glaze.
But when it comes to the holidays there is just something uniquely comforting about a traditional brown sugar-glazed ham. Using a brown sugar glaze is truly the best ham recipe for your holiday feast and takes very little effort to perfect!
Now that you have your holiday ham prepped and ready, it’s time to move on to choosing the side dishes.
Don’t forget to save your leftover ham for yummy ham sandwiches or soup!
11 Best Side Dishes for a Ham Dinner:
Here are the perfect side dishes for a delicious ham dinner.
Potatoes
You can not have a holiday ham without some sort of potato side dish. While there are many different ways you can cook potatoes below are our favorite ways to cook spuds.
1. Cheesy Potatoes — you can never go wrong with potatoes and cheese, so these cheesy potatoes are sure to do the trick. Cheesy baked potatoes are the perfect side dish that you will never want to run out of. Besides, they are super easy to make.
2.Au Gratin — Au Gratin potatoes are a timeless holiday classic that is a great addition to your holiday ham. These thinly sliced potatoes are slathered in a cheesy creamy sauce that will have you coming back for a second scoop.
3. Mashed Potatoes — you can’t talk about potatoes without adding the fluffy and comforting mashed potatoes. While mashed potatoes may seem simple, there are endless ways to make your mashed potato side dish the talk of the table!
Try adding in some bacon bits, cheddar cheese, and sour cream for a loaded mashed potato side. If you want something simple, yet elevated, add in some fresh rosemary, butter, and black pepper to have your taste buds singing.
4. Potato Salad — if your family dinner is more like a family lunch, then try trading out hot potatoes for a cold potato salad. This chilled delicacy is one side dish that stays timeless.
Green Beans
Just like potatoes, there are plenty of ways to cook green beans for your holiday feast that match your taste buds. If you are on the search for your own favorite green bean recipe, then let us help you find it with some of these delicious options.
5. Sautéed Green Beans — these sautéed green beans do not disappoint. The best part about these fresh green beans is that they use simple ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge or pantry. All you need to do is brown some butter in a saucepan, sauté the green beans in the butter, and top with salt and pepper.
But, don’t serve those green beans without a secret ingredient….lemon zest. The lemon zest on top of the green beans will tantalize your taste buds and add complexity to the sweetness of the brown butter.
6. Green Bean Casserole — green bean casserole has been a holiday favorite since its creation by Campbell Soup Company in 1955. This classic side dish of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crunchy fried onions on top can be made as healthy or hearty as you desired with different variations.
If you like your casserole more on the healthy side, try using fresh green beans instead of canned, half of the soup can instead of the whole, and make your crispy onion topping instead of using the one from the store. These simple swaps will enhance your casserole significantly and make it guilt-free.
7. Blanched Green Beans — if you have never had your vegetables blanched, you are missing out! Blanching is a simple two-step process that will elevate your vegetables to the star of the holiday dinner table. To blanch your vegetables (in this case green beans), bring a pot of water to a boil with a tablespoon of salt, cook your vegetables until tender (this should only take about 3-4 minutes), and then transfer them to a bowl of ice water. Once the vegetables have cooled they are ready to serve.
While blanched greens beans are delightful all on their own, don’t forget to season them and add some garnishes. For bacon lovers, add some bacon bits on top. If you are vegetarian, try adding some slivered almonds to your blanched green beans for some crunch and an earthy flavor.
Oven Roasted Vegetables
Simple, tasty, packed with vitamins, and the perfect side dish for ham and turkey dinners alike. You can never go wrong with classic roasted vegetables seasoned to perfection.
8. Honey Glazed Carrots — slice those carrots in half, drizzle them with olive oil and seasoning, and roast for 15 minutes. After, drizzle some honey on top and bake for another 10 minutes to allow the honey to caramelize a bit. Sprinkle some feta cheese on the finished product and serve away. These carrots are so mouthwatering even kids will be asking for second helpings.
9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts — Brussels sprouts may look odd, but they are packed with vitamins and are absurdly delicious when cooked right! The key to cooking Brussels sprouts is to cut them in half before you roast them; you want the outside to be slightly browned and the inside tender. Try using a honey sriracha glaze on top before roasting them to add a sweet but fiery kick.
Carbohydrates
While eating a whole basket of yeast rolls or cornbread sound heavenly, it may not be wise. So here are a couple of different recipes to use as holiday side dishes so you don’t just have vegetables at your holiday feast and you aren’t tempted to eat a whole bread basket.
10. Wild Rice — there are so many different ways to cook wild rice, so there is no reason to just eat it plain. A delicious way to make wild rice is to use chicken broth instead of water when you cook it. Using chicken broth instantly enhances the flavor — and you haven’t even put the seasonings in! If you have an instant pot at your disposal, pour in equal parts chicken broth and wild rice (adjust for the number of people you are serving) and pressure cook for four minutes. Once the four minutes are up, allow it to decompress for 10 minutes, and then you will have the most delicate and fluffy batch of rice you have ever tasted.
11. Mac n Cheese — ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness is a must at the holiday table. The secret ingredient to the best Mac n cheese is to use as much cheese as you can fit and to use as many different cheeses as you desire. It’s extremely difficult to mess up a pan of mac n cheese so be as creative as you wish.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming quickly up, hopefully, these side dishes helped you to plan for your next holiday dinner.
You can even save these easy side dishes as ideas for your Easter Sunday ham as these are great side dishes for any occasion or holiday.
Whatever the holiday or event, remember to have fun and enjoy the creative process while you’re in the kitchen!
Need more dinner inspiration?
Check out these posts:
15 Weekly Meal Plans for New Dinner Ideas & Inspiration (With Meal Plan Pictures to Save!)
3 Quick Meal Planning Tips to Help You Eat at Home More Often & Save Money
One Month Meal Plan: 30 Dinner Ideas
You might also enjoy:
