Easter ham deserves an amazing supporting cast of side dishes that’ll make your holiday table absolutely shine. From creamy potato classics to fresh spring vegetables, these 14 recipes will turn your Easter dinner into a feast everyone will remember.
1. Scalloped Potatoes
This is one of those side dishes that makes any dinner feel like Sunday dinner, and it’s absolutely perfect alongside Easter ham. The key is getting the sauce thick enough before it goes in the oven so you end up with creamy, tender potatoes that aren’t swimming in liquid. It’s comfort food at its finest and pairs beautifully with the salty-sweet flavors of glazed ham.
2. Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes
These are way easier than stovetop mashed potatoes and they stay warm in the Instant Pot until you’re ready to serve – perfect for busy Easter dinner prep. The steamed garlic gets super mellow and sweet, creating the creamiest, most flavorful mashed potatoes you’ve ever had. Plus, you’ll free up valuable stovetop space for other dishes.
3. Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
This is the kind of mashed potatoes that can stand on its own as comfort food – loaded with two cheeses and fresh herbs that complement ham perfectly. The chicken bouillon in the cooking water adds an extra layer of savory flavor that makes these potatoes absolutely irresistible. Your guests will be going back for seconds (and thirds).
4. Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
This is a utilitarian side dish that uses cheap root vegetables and pantry staples, but delivers restaurant-quality results. The key is cutting everything roughly the same size so the carrots and potatoes finish cooking at the same time, getting perfectly caramelized and tender. It’s a classic combination that feels right at home on an Easter table.
5. Steakhouse Creamed Spinach
This is the rich, restaurant-style creamed spinach that steakhouses are known for, and it’s an elegant addition to your Easter spread. It’s thick enough to stay on your fork and has that perfect balance of creamy richness with fresh spinach flavor. The sophisticated taste pairs wonderfully with the robust flavors of glazed ham.
6. Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have a tendency to get mushy if you boil them or dry out if you roast them too long, but this pan-sear method keeps them perfectly crisp. The hot honey glaze adds a sweet heat that cuts through the richness of ham beautifully. Even Brussels sprouts skeptics will be converted by this recipe.
7. Garlic Lemon Sautéed Spinach
Spinach is notorious for looking like a mountain of food and cooking down to a single bite, but this recipe accounts for that massive shrinkage perfectly. The bright lemon and aromatic garlic make this a light, fresh counterpoint to rich Easter ham. It’s quick, healthy, and adds a beautiful pop of green to your holiday table.
8. Stovetop Candied Yams
This is the kind of side dish that makes people think you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did. The sweet potatoes get fork-tender and develop a gorgeous caramelized glaze that’s sweet but not cloying. They bring that classic holiday sweetness that pairs so well with savory ham.
9. Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Butter
Sweet potatoes are often relegated to soft casseroles, but smashing them increases the surface area for browning and creates amazing texture contrast. It turns a soft vegetable into something with crispy edges and a fluffy interior, topped with rich garlic butter. This unique preparation will definitely be a conversation starter at your Easter table.
10. Easy Roasted Asparagus
This is a simple side dish that works with pretty much any main course, especially Easter ham. The parmesan adds a nice salty finish but you can skip it if you want to keep things lighter. Fresh asparagus screams spring and Easter, making it the perfect seasonal vegetable for your holiday meal.
11. Fried Asparagus
This is way better than any frozen appetizer you’d get at a restaurant – the coating stays super crunchy and the asparagus inside is still crisp. Even asparagus haters will love this preparation because the crispy coating makes it feel more like a treat than a vegetable. It’s an unexpected and delicious addition to your Easter spread.
12. Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
These taste exactly like the ones from Red Lobster but you can make them at home in just 20 minutes. The garlic butter brush at the end is what makes them absolutely irresistible and perfect for sopping up any ham glaze left on your plate. Your family will be begging you to make these for every holiday dinner going forward.
13. Cheesy Garlic Bread
This is made with stuff you probably have on hand and takes about 25 minutes start to finish. Way better than the frozen stuff and you can control how garlicky and cheesy you want it. There’s something so satisfying about warm, buttery bread alongside a beautiful Easter ham.
14. Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
These are buttery buttermilk biscuits loaded with sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, and fresh chives – basically everything that makes ham taste even better. The food processor makes the dough come together in minutes, so they’re easier than you’d think. They’re rich enough to stand up to glazed ham and add that extra indulgent touch to your Easter feast.
