Quick Serve over buns and with provolone cheese for the best 30 minute dinner.
Ham barbecue sandwiches are a classic summertime favorite. The sweet and tangy bbq sauce mixed with salty sliced ham makes for a mouthwatering combination. But don’t forget about the sides! Having the right side dishes can take your ham bbq sandwiches over the top.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 delicious options for side dishes to serve alongside ham barbecue sandwiches. From fresh salads to crispy fries, we’ve got you covered for the perfect picnic or summer cookout menu.
Go Classic with Potato Chips
You can’t go wrong pairing ham bbq sandwiches with classic potato chips. The saltiness of the chips balances perfectly with the sweet and savory flavors of the sandwich. Opt for regular salted chips or go for aflavor like barbecue, salt and vinegar, or hot chili.
Making homemade chips is easy too. Simply slice potatoes thinly, soak in cold water for 30 minutes, pat dry, and fry in oil until crispy. Toss with salt and any other seasonings you like. Homemade chips are irresistible!
Bake Sweet Potato Fries
For a healthier spin on fries, baked sweet potato fries are delicious Sweet potatoes are sliced into fry shapes, tossed in oil and spices, and baked until tender and lightly crisped
I like using a mixture of olive oil, cayenne pepper garlic powder, salt and pepper. The natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes balances the savory ham and bbq sauce perfectly. Serve the fries with a dipping sauce like ranch, bbq, or chipotle mayo.
Make Copycat Lawson’s Potato Chip Dip
This copycat recipe for Lawson’s famous potato chip dip is ideal alongside ham bbq sandwiches. It’s a simple blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, and Lawson’s seasonings. The tangy, herbaceous dip complements the sandwich flavors beautifully.
Serve it in a bowl alongside potato chips or crackers and let guests scoop up as much as they want. The creaminess pairs so well with the sandwiches. It’s sure to be a hit!
Whip Up a Fresh Salad
A nice green salad is a great way to add some freshness and vegetables to your ham bbq sandwich meal. Opt for a classic garden salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and your favorite dressing.
Or go for something more unique like an apple walnut salad with mixed greens, sliced apples, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. The sweet and tangy flavors make a perfect counterpart to the sandwiches.
Fry Up Corn Fritters
These southern-inspired corn fritters are irresistible. Fresh corn is mixed with flour, eggs, and spices, then scooped and fried into fritters. They’re crispy on the outside and moist on the inside with delicious corn flavor.
Corn fritters go great with bbq anything! The sweet corn taste complements the ham and bbq sauce so well. Serve them straight from the fryer or with fun dipping sauces like honey butter, bbq sauce, or chipotle ranch.
Bake up a Pan of Mac and Cheese
Few side dishes satisfy quite like mac and cheese. Elbow noodles baked in an ultra-creamy cheesy sauce – what’s not to love? The rich, indulgent flavors pair perfectly with savory ham bbq sandwiches.
Make it an easy stove-top or boxed mac and cheese, or go all out with a homemade baked mac and cheese recipe. Add fun mix-ins too like crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, or spicy jalapeños. Cheesy goodness in every bite!
Make Your Own Pickle Spears
Crunchy, tart pickle spears are a quintessential pairing with any type of bbq sandwich. Homemade pickles are so easy too – all you need is cucumbers, vinegar, spices, and time.
Simply slice cucumbers, mix up a brine of vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and your favorite spices, then submerge cucumbers. Let them pickle in the fridge for 1-3 weeks depending on your taste preference. Enjoy all season long!
Bake Up Truffle Parmesan Fries
For a truly decadent side dish, these truffle parmesan fries can’t be beat. Shoestring fries are tossed in oil and Italian seasoning, then baked until crisp. They’re finished with truffle oil, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley.
The blend of truffle, cheese, and herbs takes these fries over the top. The flavors complement a ham bbq sandwich perfectly. Gotta have that salty, crispy crunch! Dip them in chipotle mayo or truffle aioli for extra richness.
Whip Up Sweet Corn Fritters
When fresh summer corn is in season, these sweet corn fritters are a must. Chopped corn is combined with flour, eggs, milk, and spices, then scooped into balls and pan fried.
The fritters turn out crispy on the outside and sweet and tender within. Bright corn flavor in every bite! Serve them hot alongside your ham sandwiches for a match made in heaven. The sweet corn taste provides the perfect balance.
Make Your Own Hummus
Creamy hummus is easy to make at home and a healthy plant-based side. Chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice are blended into a luscious dip. It’s protein-packed and full of fiber.
Hummus is fantastic served with ham bbq sandwiches. Its cool creaminess and nutty sesame flavors contrast the warm tangy bbq and ham flavors wonderfully. Serve with fresh cut veggies or pita chips for dipping.
Whip Up Guacamole
Fresh guacamole is another excellent side to serve with ham bbq sandwiches. Ripe avocados are mashed with lime juice, cilantro, onions, tomatoes and spices for an easy chip and dip option.
The cool, creamy avocado base pairs beautifully with the sweet heat of bbq sauce. And chips and guac are a classic combo! Make it mild or spicy to suit your taste. It adds freshness and flavor to any summer meal.
Throw Together a Pasta Salad
Pasta salads are endlessly versatile, making them a perfect side dish for ham bbq sandwiches. simply boil your favorite pasta, then toss with vegetables, herbs, cheese, and dressing while the pasta is warm. Chill before serving.
Great add-ins include tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, bell peppers, olives, and feta or parmesan cheese. Italian, balsamic, or Greek yogurt based dressings all pair nicely with the sandwiches. Cool, crunchy pasta salad completes your meal.
The Perfect Pairings for Ham Bbq Sandwiches
So there you have it – 12 fantastic options for side dishes to serve with delicious ham barbecue sandwiches. From fries and pickles to salads, dips, and more, you’re sure to find the perfect pairings. These sides will bring your bbq sandwich meal to the next level!
With so many easy, tasty recipes to choose from, you can serve up ham bbq sandwiches and sides all summer long. Hope these side dish ideas inspire your next picnic menu, potluck dish, or weeknight dinner. Now get firing up that grill and enjoy!
Easy One Pan Dinner – BBQ Ham Sandwich Recipe
I really want everyone to make this recipe, but I mean it in the nicest way possible. These BBQ Ham Sandwiches are seriously one of the best things I’ve made in a while.
My family loves ham so I knew these quick sandwiches would be a hit. One skillet pan is all you need for this recipe. Mix up a simple semi-homemade BBQ sauce and let the sliced deli ham simmer in it. Thicken up the sauce before serving and you’re ready to eat.
We prefer these served ‘sloppy Joe style’ inside hamburger buns and with some provolone cheese. Yummy!
- Half-Homemade BBQ Sauce: Water, Ketchup, and Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce – This is the one I always use, but you can use any kind of BBQ sauce here. Brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. For extra heat, use dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard. Garlic PowderOnion Powder.
- Honey ham, 1 1/2 pounds, thinly sliced. Ask the deli counter to cut it thin. It costs more, but this fresh-cut deli ham is well worth it for this recipe. Promise. It can be a honey ham, a brown sugar ham, or anything else. Water Cornstarch—This makes the sauce thicker before you serve it.
How To Make Quick Ham Sandwiches with Deli Ham
Making these ham sandwiches is actually very easy. Learn how to make them with all my helpful tips and a detailed recipe card below.
- In a small bowl whisk together the BBQ sauce ingredients. Apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, ketchup, and water are some of the things that are in this list.
- Cut the ham into thin slices before putting them in a large skillet pan with a lid. Add the BBQ sauce on top and cook over medium-high heat, stirring the sauce around the ham a lot, until it’s bubbly and just starting to boil.
- Once it starts to boil, turn down the heat to medium or medium-low, put the lid on top, and let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Take off the lid and stir it a few times while it’s cooking. When the ham is done, the BBQ sauce should be a darker color and not quite caramelized. It should also be a little thicker.
- Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Then, slowly pour the mixture into the pan while stirring it all the time. Keep stirring until the sauce gets thick. This should only take 1-2 minutes.
- With tongs, put the ham on a Hamburger bun and top it with non-smoked provolone cheese.
- Yes, you can make these sandwiches spicy. The recipe isn’t spicy at all; it’s more smokey and sweet. If you want some spice then here are some options. You can use red pepper chili flakes, cayenne red pepper, or chili powder. Instead of yellow mustard, use spicy brown mustard or dijon mustard. Use spicy ketchup, jalapeño ketchup, or sriracha ketchup. I have seen all the various at the goer store. Add some hot sauce into the bbq sauce mixture.
- How to Serve BBQ Ham Sandwiches: My family likes these best on a hamburger bun with a slice of cheese, like a sloppy Joe. I think it’s worth the extra work to toast the buns, but if you’re in a hurry, they’re still tasty on regular hamburger buns. You can use any cheese you like! I like to serve these sandwiches with non-smoked provolone cheese, but mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and cheddar should also work. Any roll or type of bread will also work. To make a smaller slider sandwich, use slider buns. For a larger sandwich, use crusty baguette rolls or even sliced French bread. To toast the buns, put butter on both sides of each one. Broil for a few minutes until toasted brown. Put one slice of cheese on the bottom bun if you want to use it, and then put the pan back in the oven on broil until the cheese melts. Take tongs and place some BBQ ham on top of the cheese. Then put the other bun on top.
Here are some tips I’ve learned that will help you make this recipe successfully in your own kitchen ♥
- Try using fresh sliced deli ham. It costs a little more than buying a container of deli ham, but I promise it is worth it. Using deli ham that has just been sliced gives the meat a fresh taste and lets you cut the pieces thinner, which is good while the meat simmers. The thinner ham pieces get really soft and tender, and the BBQ sauce gives every piece a lot of flavor. Ask for “1 1/2 pounds of thinly sliced honey ham” at the deli counter. In most delis, you can order by number, so sliced at a 1 also works.
- Simmer Time : Don’t rush this. The time it takes to simmer is what makes the ham so tender, flavorful, and almost velvety smooth. While it’s cooking, the ham will almost get a “crust” on it, which is a good thing. Also, make sure you cover the pan while it’s simmering. This lets the flavor really soak into the ham and keeps things hotter.
- Toasted Hamburger Buns: For serving, I really think you should toast the hamburger buns. Place on a baking sheet and butter both sides. Add some cheese to the bottom bun and broil for one more minute, until the cheese melts. Put the ham and cheese on the piece of bun using tongs. Top with the other bun and enjoy.
Ham BBQ
FAQ
What to serve with ham sandwiches?