What to Serve With Ham for Christmas Dinner: 15 Best Side Dishes

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Christmas ham shines when paired with delectable sides that enhance its savory goodness. Consider serving broccoli with garlic butter for a vibrant crunch or perfect mashed potatoes for a creamy, rich experience. Green beans with tomatoes offer a light, yet flavorful option, while Brussels sprouts gratin adds a touch of gourmet with its cheesy, crunchy topping. Muffin tin potatoes are a fun and customizable addition that will impress your guests. For those who love a bit of sweetness, maple glazed sweet potatoes or a sweet potato casserole provide a delightful contrast. Discover more festive options to complete your holiday feast.

Broccoli With Garlic Butter

saut ed vegetables with garlic

Broccoli with garlic butter offers a vibrant, nutrient-rich side dish that complements the savory richness of Christmas ham. This flavorful addition is quick and easy to prepare, making it ideal for your Christmas dinner.

The combination of fresh broccoli and savory garlic butter adds depth and crunch, providing a nutritious balance to the meal and ensuring a delightful dining experience for everyone.

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

creamy and buttery goodness

Chef John’s Perfect Mashed Potatoes are a quintessential side dish. They boast a rich and creamy texture that complements the flavors of a Christmas ham beautifully. Made with Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, cream, and garlic, these mashed potatoes offer a smooth consistency and delightful flavor.

As one of the best side dishes, they add comfort and indulgence to any Christmas dinner spread.

Green Beans With Tomatoes

vibrant green bean recipe

Green Beans With Tomatoes is a vibrant and invigorating side dish that brings both color and a burst of flavor to your Christmas dinner table.

This quick and easy dish combines crisp green beans with juicy cherry tomatoes, offering a delightful mix of savory and sweet.

It pairs well with ham, adding a fresh and light touch to your festive meal.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

tasty cheesy brussels sprouts

Brussels Sprouts Gratin is a rich and flavorful side dish that transforms simple Brussels sprouts into a gourmet delight. Featuring a creamy cheese sauce, this decadent dish is perfect for any holiday meal.

The gratin topping, made with breadcrumbs or cheese, adds a crunchy texture that contrasts beautifully with the tender sprouts, making it a satisfying and impressive addition to your festive table.

Muffin Tin Potatoes

perfect side dish recipe

Muffin Tin Potatoes offer a delightful and visually appealing way to serve individual portions of creamy, cheesy potatoes at your holiday dinner. These side dishes are baked to perfection, with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.

Customizable with toppings like bacon, cheddar cheese, or herbs, they guarantee each guest enjoys a unique and satisfying experience. Perfect for adding flair to your festive meal!

Cranberry Sausage Stuffing

tasty thanksgiving side dish

Cranberry Sausage Stuffing combines the savory richness of sausage with the tart sweetness of cranberries, creating a harmonious and festive side dish perfect for complementing your Christmas ham.

This holiday meal favorite blends herbs, bread cubes, and dried cranberries, adding a delightful contrast of flavors.

Whether baked separately or used to stuff the ham, it is sure to please the crowd.

Grandma’s Corn Pudding

delicious family recipe passed down

Following the delightful blend of flavors in Cranberry Sausage Stuffing, Grandma’s Corn Pudding offers a comforting, custard-like side dish that perfectly complements Christmas ham.

This traditional recipe is a crowd-pleaser with its sweet and savory notes. It’s an easy recipe, making it one of the best side dishes to serve.

Plus, it’s a comforting casserole you can conveniently make ahead.

Holiday Dressing

festive outfit for christmas

Often hailed as a flavorful and hearty accompaniment, Portabella Mushroom Dressing is an exceptional addition to the holiday table, especially when paired with Christmas ham.

This vegetarian-friendly side dish boasts an impressive umami flavor and satisfying texture. Incorporating earthy mushrooms, it’s a festive and unique alternative to traditional stuffing, adding depth and complexity to your Christmas dinner spread, making it truly memorable.

Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

delicious roasted vegetable dish

Parmesan Brussels Sprouts are a delectable side dish that elevates your Christmas ham dinner with their savory, roasted flavors and crispy, cheesy topping.

These Brussels sprouts are oven-roasted until tender, then tossed in olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese for a perfect balance of textures.

As a vegetable side dish, they add both delicious and nutritious elements to your array of side dishes for ham.

Pineapple Stuffing

delicious pineapple stuffing recipe

Pineapple stuffing is a delightful side dish that brings a sweet and savory contrast to your Christmas ham feast. This popular accompaniment features bread cubes, pineapple chunks, and a buttery sauce, creating a tropical twist.

Easy-to-make with simple ingredients like bread, butter, sugar, eggs, and canned pineapple, it adds a touch of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the saltiness of ham dinners.

Asparagus and Cashews

healthy snack combination idea

Asparagus and Cashews is a vibrant and crunchy side dish that enhances the flavor profile of your Christmas ham. This elegant dish combines the freshness of asparagus with the nutty crunch of cashews, adding a unique texture and a pop of green to your Christmas dinner spread.

It’s a flavorful and satisfying complement to the richness of ham, making it a perfect choice.

Sweet Potato Casserole

delicious thanksgiving side dish

Sweet Potato Casserole is a beloved holiday side dish that pairs beautifully with Christmas ham, offering a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors.

Featuring mashed sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar, pecans, marshmallows, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, it provides a comforting balance that’s perfect for Christmas dinners.

This festive dish can be customized with a crunchy streusel or gooey marshmallow layer.

Garlic Potatoes Gratin

delicious cheesy garlic potatoes

Garlic Potatoes Gratin is a frequently cherished side dish that brings a rich and savory complement to Christmas ham. This creamy delight features thinly sliced potatoes, garlic, and cheese, baked to perfection with a golden, crispy top.

The savory garlic flavor enhances the creamy texture, making it a comforting addition to any holiday meal. Customize it with herbs for added personal flavor.

Potato Roses

potato roses as garnish

Potato roses are a visually stunning and flavorful side dish that adds an elegant touch to any Christmas ham dinner. Thinly sliced potatoes are arranged in a rose shape, seasoned with herbs, butter, and cheese, then baked until crispy and golden brown.

This customizable dish offers crispy texture and savory flavors, enhancing the overall presentation and taste of your holiday feast.

Are the Best Side Dishes for Ham also Suitable for Ham Loaf?

When it comes to finding the best side dishes for ham loaf, you can rely on classic options like mashed potatoes and green beans. These traditional sides perfectly complement the flavors of ham loaf and make for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

delicious fall side dish

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes are a delightful and classic side dish that perfectly complements the rich flavors of Christmas ham.

These sweet potatoes are roasted until tender and then glazed with a luscious blend of maple syrup and butter.

The maple glaze adds a sweet, caramelized flavor, making this dish a perfect balance of savory and sweet for your Christmas dinner.