Enhance Your Feast: 8 Tasty Side Dishes for Christmas Ham

If you’re having a traditional Christmas dinner, you’ll likely have a big ham as the main part of the meal.

Christmas hams have a unique flavor, being sweet or savory depending on what kind they are.

Cooking your ham properly is essential if you want to make sure it tastes delicious – there are different methods you can use to cook it, but no matter which method you choose, make sure that your ham is cooked all the way through before serving.

Ham is a delicious meal full of flavor.

If you want your Christmas dinner to have a sweet taste, then choosing a spiral-cut ham would be best – they often come with a glaze on them, and they taste great.

It’s also a good idea to serve it with something that compliments the flavor, such as mashed potatoes and other vegetables.

You can also serve your ham cold if you’re having a buffet dinner – it’s just as delicious.

While different hams have different flavors, they all go well with the same side dishes, such as mashed potatoes and spinach.

If you want an idea of what to serve alongside your Christmas ham, check out our suggestions below.

Good luck with your Christmas dinner.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Christmas Ham?

Christmas ham is a staple of the traditional American holiday meal.

However, times are changing, and people are trying new ways to make their holiday dinners stand out from the rest.

You can do this by thinking outside the box when you are considering side dishes for your Christmas ham.

The dishes you serve with your ham can add to the meal, or they could leave something to be desired.

In addition, it is important to consider the flavors of these side dishes.

The ham you choose for your holiday meal will either play well with side dishes, or it may clash if you serve something that overwhelms the mild flavor.

If you are a meat-and-potatoes kind of family, do not be afraid to branch out and try something new.

Steamed green beans with slivered almonds or a side of sautéed broccoli rabe can add unexpected richness to your Christmas dinner menu.

In addition, the flavors of these dishes pair well with many kinds of ham – such as maple or honey-glazed.

What to Serve with Christmas Ham? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Don’t be afraid to experiment, and don’t limit yourself to tradition.

There are many fun and tasty side dishes that will go well with your Christmas ham.

1 – Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed sweet potatoes are a delicious option for your upcoming holiday meal.

They have a natural sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the flavor of Christmas ham.

In addition, mashed sweet potatoes add a vibrant splash of color to your dinner table – something you don’t typically find when serving ham at Christmas.

As with the garlic mashed potatoes, you must use real butter and not fake substitutes.

Real butter adds creaminess and a delicious, rich flavor to your sweet potatoes that you cannot find anywhere else.

And as with any dish that contains garlic, be careful of how much you cook it before adding it into your sweet potato mash.

If you cook the garlic too long, it can make your sweet potatoes taste bitter rather than delicious.

2 – Maple-Glazed Green Bean Casserole

This dish is perfect for those looking to expand our side dishes beyond tried and true classics like steamed green beans or string beans with almonds.

It’s also a great option for anyone who loves to experiment with food.

Green beans can be difficult to cook.

They are extremely delicate, and it only takes a moment to end up with soggy, overcooked green beans that no one wants to eat.

Luckily there is a solution for this dilemma – canned French-style green beans.

These babies come already par-cooked, so they are perfect for when you want delicious green beans that aren’t soggy or overcooked.

Mix your green beans, some cream of mushroom soup, and maple syrup to create a tasty side dish in under ten minutes.

This dish is easy to whip up in no time at all – so it’s perfect for busy families on Christmas Day.

3 – Broccoli Rabe with Almonds

This dish unusually uses common ingredients to create a delicious side dish that the whole family will enjoy.

It’s super easy to make, and it can be cooked relatively quickly if you are looking for something to serve up on the fly.

The broccoli rabe is lightly sauteed with sliced almonds to create a crunchy texture.

The broccoli flavor pairs well with any ham – especially when they are cooked together in this dish.

This is great if you happen to be serving up ham leftovers because it can act as an easy way to transform a simple ham sandwich into a more unique and flavorful dish that the whole family will love.

Plus, it’s packed with healthy vegetables.

4 – Brussel Sprouts with Dates and Bacon

This dish is the perfect pick if you want to try something with a slightly more exotic flair than your traditional green bean casserole.

It’s also another great option for those of us who cannot eat all of our food at once – Brussel sprout leftovers taste completely different from fresh ones, and it gives you the means to eat them again the next day without having to cook.

Dates, bacon, and Brussel sprouts are meant for each other.

The flavors of these three ingredients blend to give your dish an unexpected but delicious flavor that will keep everyone asking for seconds.

This is another example of transforming something traditionally cooked into something that can be made quickly for a meal on the go.

All you have to do is slice up some dates, cut your Brussel sprouts in half, and fry up some chopped bacon – then voila.

A delicious side dish that tastes completely different from your traditional Brussel sprout recipes.

5 – Scalloped Potatoes

One of the most classic side dishes on our list, there’s a good reason why scalloped potatoes are so popular during the holidays.

This recipe is great because it only uses four ingredients – you don’t have to make it complicated or try to mix in some rare ingredient that your guests won’t like.

One of the biggest problems that people run into while making scalloped potatoes is overcooking them; it can be difficult to get them cooked properly without burning the top before the insides are cooked.

This recipe solves this problem with ease by baking your potatoes in a crockpot.

It’s also another great example of how to use something that you might not expect – like scalloped potatoes – as a way to transform your Christmas ham.

6 – Saffron Rice Pilaf

This rice dish is a great side for anyone serving up ham leftovers the day after the holiday or looking for something that can be prepared quickly.

This recipe only takes 30 minutes to make, even though it tastes like it took hours to cook.

Another simple yet delicious combination of flavors.

The saffron rice is perfectly paired with pine nuts and dried apricots to give it a unique taste that your guests will love.

Plus, this recipe is extremely versatile – you can add whatever veggies or fruit you want to customize the dish into something that suits your tastes.

This is also another example of how to turn ham leftovers into something completely new and exciting.

The next day, try turning your leftovers into an easy saffron rice pilaf that will impress even the pickiest of eaters.

7 – Green Bean Casserole

Most people overlook the humble green bean casserole during the holidays because it’s such a common dish – but those who do usually regret it.

This recipe is easy to prepare and makes an excellent addition to your holiday platters.

A simple and delicious combination of flavors that you probably never thought of before.

The green beans are paired with crispy fried onions for a crunch that will have your guests reaching for more.

If you need an easy side dish recipe, this is the one to go for.

Another great example of how to turn ham leftovers into something completely new and exciting.

The next day, try turning your leftovers into an easy green bean casserole that will impress even the pickiest of eaters.

8 – Brussel Sprout Salad

Here’s a simple recipe for an easy and tasty salad made from Brussel sprouts.

The flavors in this dish are sure to surprise you, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked on this new twist on a holiday favorite.

The Brussel sprouts are cut up and mixed with dried cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans for a combination of unexpected flavors that will have your guests raving.

This salad is perfect for anyone who loves dark leafy greens or wants something different from the classic green bean casserole.

Another great recipe to turn ham leftovers into something completely new and exciting.

The next day, try turning your leftovers into an easy brussel sprout salad that will impress even the pickiest of eaters.

Conclusion

We hope that you enjoyed our list of 8 BEST side dishes to serve with your Christmas ham.

Remember – the best way to impress your guests is by cooking from scratch.

Not only will it save you money, but you’ll have a better understanding of what goes into making each dish.

Plus, if you know how each dish is made, you can teach your children how to make these dishes one day.

So what are you waiting for? Try out each of the recipes above and see which ones become new holiday favorites.

Bon appetite.

About The Author

Sharing is caring!