Easter is one of my favorite holidays to sit down with family and/or friends and enjoy a meal together. It is a special time to enjoy gathering together and enjoying the holiday. I do not eat a lot of ham throughout the year, but love having it on Easter Sunday. With ham as the star of the meal, it is important that your side dishes compliment the main attraction, but still hold their own in the flavor department. While I appreciate classic dishes, it is always great to see some creative and modern takes on classic ingredients too. Keep reading for some ideas on great sides for your Easter dinner.

Potatoes

Potatoes are a must at the holidays…all holidays. They are great for crowds no matter how they are made and there is just something about mashed potatoes and gravy that bring an instant feel of comfort. While I love mashed potatoes, here are some other options that work just as well, or maybe even better for the holiday.

Scalloped Potatoes: Scalloped potatoes are creamy, cheesy and baked to a golden perfection. So tasty and a welcome change to potatoes on the table.

Smashed Potatoes: What a trendy, yet tasty way to serve potatoes! I’ve been trying this take on potatoes and hope they live up to the hype.

Potato Salad: Not only will this chilled side dish go over well on the table if you are going casual, but it is perfect for leftovers with those ham sandwiches in the coming days as well!

Herb Roasted Potatoes: Roasted Potatoes are classic and adding some oil and herbs really intensifies the flavor profiles of these amazing balls of goodness. Quarter up those tots and drizzle with olive oil and your choice of herbs (I love rosemary) and roast them in the oven. Easy prep really lends itself to a tasty and classic dish.

Slow Cooker Potatoes: I always feel that easy is better when it comes to dinner, as long as it is still tasty. I make potatoes in the slow cooker often and the holidays is an even better time to break out the slow cooker. Check out our recipe for slow cooker potatoes and alter the seasonings to meet your dinner needs!

Baked Potatoes: These are always an option for sit down dinners. You can get fancy and allow guests to dress their potatoes with a small baked potato bar, or have everything already dressed to make the dinner table a little easier to maneuver.

Potatoes Au Gratin: This is one of my all-time favorite ways to eat potatoes. I mean can you really go wrong with cheese and thin sliced potatoes?

Veggies

Carrots: Honey-glazed carrots are the perfect side dish to accompany a ham, especially if it honey-baked! I’m not sure how you can get any more complimentary than that.

Green Beans: While a green bean casserole is always welcome at the dinner table, try doing something a little different like making Green Bean Almondine or Garlic Butter Green Beans.

Asparagus: This spring veggie is perfection on the Easter table. Make yours with bacon, or spice up the recipe lemon butter and Parmesan!

Brussels Sprouts: I love Brussels sprouts and they can be made in so many ways. Try yours sauteed with crispy bacon pieces, a balsamic glaze or you can get our printable recipe card for Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts by clicking this link!

Cauliflower: I feel like cauliflower is an underrated veggie. It is full of healthy properties and takes on whatever flavoring you add to it. I love roasting my cauliflower with sour cream and everything bagel seasoning, but would opt for some holiday inspired herbs for the occasion.

Spinach: I only recently tasted creamed spinach for the first time. I loved it! What an easy and delicious way to prepare this healthy powerhouse for Easter dinner!

Other

Deviled Eggs: These are a must-have for an Easter appetizer or on the dinner table. If you want to spice it up, try a new recipe. I’ve seen some great options for bacon recipes and some even have jalapenos!

Biscuits: I mean really, can you go wrong with cheesy herb biscuits on any dinner table? No…no, you can’t. Enjoy the buttery biscuits infused with cheese and fresh herbs. These biscuits are perfect for soaking up sauces and gravies and pair so well with ham.

Rice: If you haven’t thought of this side dish for Easter dinner, it is time to consider it. Wild rice has a nutty flavor that is great for a formal dinner. Add some texture with nuts, or sweetness with fruit and enjoy this unconventional holiday side dish.

Orzo: A cold orzo salad is right up my alley when thinking about a light and refreshing dish for a holiday meal. Make it Mediterranean by adding cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and olives, then toss in a vinaigrette for a zesty taste.

Cornbread: Cornbread is an excellent side dish to go along with ham, and you can make it in so many varieties. While a traditional cornbread will work great, I prefer cheddar & chives to go with ham!

No matter what side dishes you decide on, try to pick sides that are able to be prepped ahead of time. The more work that is done before the meal, makes for a less stressful and more enjoyable day for the cook and host. If you do all the chopping, mixing, marinating and washing the day before, you will save a boatload of time and sanity on the day of the meal.

This list was gathered from a variety of sources and my very odd way of thinking to provide some ideas for both traditional and unique side dishes for your Easter dinner. We hope you find some inspiration in it and enjoy the cooking process. Have an idea for a great Easter side dish? Leave it in the comments! As always, thank you for reading and joining us on this journey. We love learning and growing with you. Happy Easter!

Simply, Beth