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If you’re wondering what to serve with your ham, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 51 of the most popular side dishes for ham.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve with ham are mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, mac and cheese, and collard greens. You can also serve peas and mushrooms, cornbread stuffing, Waldorf salad, or roasted asparagus. For a brunch option, try cheddar waffles. Or try grilled pineapple for a fun side.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Psst… want to learn the best way to reheat ham… check out my experiment here.

Ham gravy

Whatever you have on your plate with ham, the one thing you can’t skip is a sauce.

This ham gravy is rich and slightly smoky, with a velvety consistency that clings to the meat instead of sliding off onto the plate.

And aside from ham drippings, you only need three basic pantry staples to make this.

Why we love this recipe: it uses the drippings from your ham, so nothing goes to waste.

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Ham gravy
Make it simple
Brown gravy (no drippings)
Change the flavor
Maple bourbon gravy

Buttery herbed mashed potatoes

These aren’t your typical mashed potatoes!

The recipe calls for creme fraiche and herb-infused brown butter – both ingredients instantly elevate your humble mashed spuds to a new level.

Serve the creamy mash with your ham and the gravy I mentioned above for a tasty, comforting dinner (and learn how to reheat mash here if you want to make it ahead of time).

Why we love this recipe: it gives you make-ahead and reheating instructions.

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Buttery herbed mashed potatoes
Make it Irish-style
Traditional colcannon
Make it more indulgent
Scalloped potatoes

Herbed green beans and corn

Want something easy but also healthy?

Saute some green beans and corn together in butter and fresh herbs – done!

And if you want to go a step further, sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the mix for a touch of heat.

We like this recipe: it’s an affordable side dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

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Herbed green beans and corn
Make it creamy
Green bean casserole
Make it savory
Bacon green bean bundles

Cheese waffles

Got some leftover ham?

Serve it for brunch with a helping of these waffles!

They’re light and fluffy, with deliciously crispy edges and a hit of flavor from the extra-sharp cheddar cheese.

Pop a poached egg on top to complete the meal.

Why we love this recipe: you can make a big batch and freeze them, so you’ll always have some on hand.

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Savory cheddar cheese waffles
Make it healthy
Zucchini cheddar waffles
Change the flavor
Greek spinach waffles

Cranberry sauce with orange zest

Not a fan of gravy?

Serve your ham with this Thanksgiving classic instead.

This vibrant, homemade sauce will add a delightfully sweet-but-sour note with a hint of citrus to your ham.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a breeze to make – you need four ingredients and 20 minutes.

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Cranberry sauce with orange zest
Add spice
Jalapeno cranberry sauce
Make it keto-friendly
Sugar-free cranberry sauce

Creamed spinach

Your holiday spread wouldn’t be complete without a serving of creamed spinach.

It may be simple, but it’s incredibly decadent.

The luxurious, silky smooth sauce plus the wilted greens go perfectly with meaty main dishes like ham.

Why we love this recipe: it’s got a few secret ingredients that add tons of flavor.

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Steakhouse creamed spinach
Make it dairy-free
Vegan creamed spinach
Take it up a notch
Creamed spinach gratin

Waldorf salad

Tired of leafy green salads?

Put the spinach down and try this classic Waldorf salad instead.

It’s loaded with crisp apples, fresh celery, toasted nuts, and juicy grapes all tossed in a tangy mayo and lemon dressing.

Why we love this recipe: it looks great and there are loads of customization options.

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Classic Waldorf salad
Make it mayo-free
Vegan Waldorf salad
Add broccoli
Broccoli Waldorf salad

Spring salad

A spring salad at its most basic is a mix of all the best veggies spring has to offer – this one uses asparagus, radish, and pea shoots.

Plus some orzo to give it slightly more substance.

Psst… grill the radish and asparagus for that charred flavor.

Why we love this recipe: it has a super unique and tasty scallion dressing.

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Spring salad
Change the season
The ultimate winter salad
Focus on asparagus
Shaved asparagus salad

Cornbread stuffing

Stuffing is traditionally found inside your turkey, but nowadays, it’s treated more as a tasty side dish.

And I’m glad about it because it goes just as well with ham as it does turkey!

You get a mixture of crunchy and chewy textures, and a subtle sweetness from the cornbread to contrast with the salty meat.

Why we love this recipe: it’s made entirely from scratch (even the cornbread), but one bite, and you’ll see why it’s worth the extra effort!

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Cornbread stuffing
Make it easy
Baked apple and cranberry stuffing
Make it keto-friendly
Low-carb stuffing

Spicy collard greens

Want something hot and spicy?

Try these jazzed-up collard greens – they have a spicy kick courtesy of the hot sauce and vinegar.

Plus a concentrated savory broth that you can spoon all over your ham. Yum!

Why we love this recipe: it’s cooked low and slow, resulting in soft, tender greens.

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Spicy collard greens
Make it quick
Instant pot collard greens
Make it heartier
Instant pot black-eyed peas with greens

Roasted asparagus

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/446489750568740086/

Roasting is my go-to way of cooking asparagus.

It gives your asparagus spears a crisp-tender bite that’s superb with the melt-in-your-mouth ham.

You can roast them with your choice of seasoning – I usually go for the classic garlic and parmesan.

Why we love this recipe: it’s effortless to make because the oven does the bulk of the work.

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Garlic parmesan oven-roasted asparagus
Take it up a notch
Caprese roasted asparagus
Fire up the grill
Grilled asparagus

Southern-style mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is the ultimate indulgent dish to serve with ham.

And I especially like this Southern-style version for the holiday season.

It’s extra cheesy with an oh-so-delicious crunchy top – a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Why we love this recipe: everything comes together in just one baking dish.

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Southern-style baked mac and cheese
Skip the oven
Stovetop mac and cheese
Make it dairy-free
Vegan mac and cheese

Rosemary dinner rolls

Freshly baked, warm bread is one of life’s pleasures.

These dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and brimming with the aroma and flavor of rosemary.

They’re great with ham and a generous scoop of gravy. Or you can use them to make a ham sandwich with a thin spread of mustard.

Why we love this recipe: even beginner bakers can follow the step-by-step guide.

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Rosemary dinner rolls
Make it gluten-free
Softest gluten-free dinner rolls
Make it different
Rosemary pop-overs

Strawberry arugula salad

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436638126384546577/

Brighten up your ham with a serving of this vibrant arugula salad on the side.

It’s loaded with sweet, peppery, and salty flavors that are all balanced out by a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

It’s the perfect summer dish.

Why we love this recipe: it will still work if you swap out the strawberries for your favorite fruit, or you can use baby spinach instead of arugula.

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Strawberry arugula salad
Skip the strawberries
Fig salad with arugula and goat cheese
Ditch the arugula
Strawberry kale salad

Buttery peas and mushrooms

Peas are a common side to serve with ham.

But if you find them too plain, you can spruce them up by simmering them in chicken broth and adding some umami-packed mushrooms to the mix.

The mushrooms bring an earthy flavor that pairs well with your peas’ natural sweetness.

Why we love this recipe: it’s an ordinary side dish made special by some simple additions.

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Buttery peas and mushrooms
Make a soup
Split pea soup
Make a salad
Classic pea salad

Grilled pineapple

Ham and pineapple go together like strawberries and cream.

It’s a classic combination.

The sweetness of the pineapple contrasts with the salty ham, and the acidic citrusy notes will cut through the fattiness of the meat.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun option but works so well with the ham.

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Grilled pineapple
Make a salsa
Pineapple and cucumber salsa
Make a chutney
Pineapple chutney

Broccoli au gratin

A broccoli au gratin is a sure winner.

Who could resist the crunchy broccoli florets blanketed in a smooth, cream sauce?

It’s rich and rustic and will make you feel warm and cozy inside. Perfect for a rainy day.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a great way to sneak extra veggies onto your plate.

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Broccoli au gratin
Keep it simple
Steamed broccoli
Make it indulgent
Potatoes gratin with gruyere