Ham gets all the attention on the table, but just like Thanksgiving, most people are here for the sides. These dishes are the reason plates get overloaded and second helpings happen. They’re bold, no-nonsense and actually worth the space they take up. Easy to make, easy to eat and easily take center stage over ham.
Roasted Radishes with Rosemary and Honey
These roast up with a mellow sweetness and a subtle crunch, totally different from how radishes taste raw. The rosemary and honey combo gives just enough contrast to make them interesting. If you want something spring-forward that no one expects to be good—but is—this is it.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Radishes with Rosemary and Honey
Rosemary Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
These look fancy, but all you need is a sharp knife and a little patience. The slices get crisped up in the oven, and the rosemary mustard vinaigrette cuts through the sweetness perfectly. If you’re tired of marshmallows and syrup, this version actually brings something new.
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Garlic Balsamic Roasted Asparagus & Potatoes
Roasting everything on one pan means less cleanup and more time pretending you worked harder than you did. The balsamic adds just enough edge to balance the garlic, and the mix of asparagus and potatoes keeps it grounded. It’s one of those no-fail sides that shows up looking good and tastes even better.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Balsamic Roasted Asparagus & Potatoes
Air Fryer Carrots
Roasting carrots usually takes a while, but the air fryer speeds that up without cutting corners. They come out tender with caramelized edges and just enough seasoning to keep things interesting. This side pulls its weight on any Easter spread and then some. It’s simple, fast, and might get eaten before the ham even hits the table.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Carrots
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Asparagus wrapped in crispy bacon kind of sells itself. It takes just minutes in the air fryer, and the bundles come out perfectly cooked every time. They’re great as a side or a snack and absolutely do not sit quietly in the background.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted garlic adds depth without overpowering, and Greek yogurt keeps them smooth and just a little tangy. They’re comforting but still fresh enough to feel like a spring upgrade. This is the kind of mash that makes people go back for seconds before they touch the ham.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Sweet and Spicy Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli rabe doesn’t always win people over, but this version fixes that. A little heat, a little sweetness, and suddenly the bitterness works in your favor. It’s bold and balanced and probably one of the most underrated things you can put on the table.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Broccoli Rabe
Pesto Couscous
This couscous comes together in under 10 minutes and still feels like you put some thought into it. The pesto adds big flavor, and it goes with just about everything. It’s fast, it’s flexible, and it fills the gaps when you realize you forgot to make a salad.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Couscous
Parsnip Puree
Smooth, buttery, and laced with roasted garlic and rosemary, this puree is a solid alternative to mashed potatoes. It feels fancy without trying too hard and brings something different to the table without being complicated. A strong contender when you’re ready to skip the usual starches.
Get the Recipe: Parsnip Puree
Parmesan Herb Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes get a savory upgrade with parmesan and herbs, and the air fryer brings the crispy edges without the hassle. They’re ready in 15 minutes and pack enough flavor to be more than just another side. If you’re trying to make something that actually competes with the main dish, start here.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Herb Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Turnips with Chive Butter Sauce
Turnips don’t usually get this kind of treatment. Roasting brings out their sweetness, and the chive butter drizzle makes it feel like more than just another root vegetable. It’s easy to throw together and holds its own next to the louder dishes on the table.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Turnips with Chive Butter Sauce
Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes
These bright purple mashed potatoes add serious color to the table and aren’t just for looks. They’re rich, earthy, and laced with herb butter that gives them a little extra punch. Easy to prep, fun to serve, and bold enough to stand next to anything—even the ham.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes
Polenta Cakes
Crisp on the outside, soft inside, and topped with mushroom ragu, these little cakes work as a side or an appetizer. They’re comforting and savory and give the plate way more personality than the usual carbs. Serve these and no one’s reaching for a second slice of ham.
Get the Recipe: Polenta Cakes
Cauliflower Bacon Gratin
This isn’t your standard side of cauliflower. It’s baked in a creamy sauce with smoky bacon and enough richness to make people forget there’s meat on the table. It holds its own, spoon after spoon, and the crispy edges are where things get serious. If you’re trying to shake up the usual Easter sides, this one’s worth it.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Bacon Gratin
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Meaty, thick, and surprisingly satisfying, these mushrooms bring a completely different texture to the table. They’re pan-seared to get a golden crust and don’t need much else to shine.
Get the Recipe: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Stuffed Tomatoes
These are packed with rice, herbs, lemon, shallots, garlic, pine nuts, and breadcrumbs. They’re light, fresh, and still filling, pulling double duty as a vegetarian main or a standout side. They look impressive without being complicated and do a solid job pulling focus from the meat.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
These little guys come out perfectly crisp on the outside and soft in the middle without needing a sheet pan or a single flip. Toss them in the air fryer and they’re ready in no time, which means more oven space for the ham that’s about to get outshined anyway. They’re golden, buttery, and dangerously easy to snack on straight from the basket.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
