Easy Ham Salad Recipe For Holiday Leftovers

This easy ham salad recipe is one of the best things to come out of holiday leftovers. It takes about 10 minutes, uses up your leftover Easter ham beautifully, and the whole family loves it on sandwiches, croissants, or just scooped up with crackers.

this …

Why This Homemade Ham Salad Is So Special to Me

My grandmother (who is really Aunt Lois, my mother’s sister) made this ham salad every year after Easter, and I could never get enough of it. She never had a written recipe, just a feel for it, so I spent years recreating it until I got it just right. This is her version, finally written down for you.

Easter is such a special time for getting together with family and friends, and this recipe was always part of that tradition. The moment the holiday was over, Grandma would look at that leftover ham and get to work. Nothing went to waste in her kitchen, and this ham salad was always the most delicious proof of that.

What I love most about this homemade ham salad is how versatile it is. Pile it on a crusty sandwich, serve it on a croissant for a fancy Easter brunch, or scoop it up as a dip with crackers and pita chips.

It works beautifully as a filling for cute little finger sandwiches at a tea party, too. Just cut the bread into shapes and watch them disappear. It is easy, it is delicious, and it is one of those recipes that feels special no matter how you serve it.

If you have leftover Easter ham sitting in your fridge right now, this is exactly what you should make with it. I always take the leftover ham and grind it in my Kitchen Aid grinding attachment and freeze all the ham that we did not eat. It works perfectly for this recipe.

This post contains some affiliate links, for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission which helps keep my blog up and running but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.   

Why Make Ham Salad from Leftover Easter Ham?

If you have leftover ham from your family’s Easter celebration, we’ve got a recipe for you. It’s the perfect way to use up those leftovers, and it will only take about 10 minutes to make.

We fuss a lot over the main dishes at our holiday celebrations, but the easiest way to make the most of them is to turn those leftovers into a second meal. You’ll love how quick and easy remaking your dinner leftovers into a second meal is It’s seriously the best thing about feasting, to begin with, because there’s no need to cook again!

I’ve never been one to just throw food away, so when I’m looking at a huge leftover ham from Easter, I start making plans for how to use up the whole thing. This easy ham salad recipe is perfect for using up whatever you have left of that delicious ham and even works well with leftover turkey.

What I love about this recipe is that it’s so versatile. You can serve it on a croissant or a hamburger bun, as a dip with crackers or pita chips, or just spread it onto some lettuce leaves.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Ham Salad Recipe

• Ready in about 10 minutes, no cooking required
• The perfect use for leftover Easter ham or holiday ham
• Creamy, a little tangy, and completely satisfying
• Works as a sandwich, a dip, or a finger sandwich filling
• Easy to adjust, add more of what you love, less of what you don’t

Ingredients You Will Need for Ham Salad

• 2 cups leftover ham, ground or finely chopped — use a food processor, meat grinder attachment, or chop by hand
• Light mayonnaise starts with 1/2 cup and add more to taste up to 2 cups
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped for crunch and freshness
• 2 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish adds that classic old-fashioned flavor
• Black pepper, to taste
• Sliced green olives with pimentos or green onion, for garnish
• Crusty bread, croissants, or crackers for serving

Equipment Needed

• Food processor, KitchenAid grinder attachment, or sharp knife and cutting board
• Large mixing bowl
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon

More Ham Recipes You May Like

• Easy Brown Sugar Pineapple Crock Pot Spiral Ham
• How Long to Cook a Ham Calculator

How to Make Easy Ham Salad

If you’re like us and have been looking for a good way to use up some of those tasty leftovers, you’re going to love this recipe. You can serve this ham salad the traditional way on a sandwich or try it as a dip with crackers or chips. Either way, it is going to taste amazing, and your family is going to love it!

Step 1 — Grind or chop the ham.
Make sure your leftover ham is cold before processing — it grinds much more cleanly when chilled. Use a food processor, KitchenAid grinder attachment, or chop very finely by hand. You want about 2 cups of finely ground ham. Pro tip: A few quick pulses in the food processor gives you the perfect texture — not a paste, but no big chunks either.

Step 2 — Mix it all together.
In a large bowl, combine the ground ham with the mayonnaise, chopped onion, chopped celery, and sweet pickle relish. Stir until everything is evenly coated and creamy. Pro tip: Start with less mayo and add more a tablespoon at a time until you reach your preferred creaminess.

Step 3 — Season and garnish.
Add black pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with sliced green olives or fresh green onion. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step 4 — Serve your way.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to an hour before serving — the flavors get even better as they sit. For finger sandwiches, use a cookie cutter to cut bread into Easter shapes for something extra sweet.

This version of easy ham salad uses relish for extra flavor and crunch, but if your family doesn’t like relish or you don’t have any stocked in the pantry, you can easily leave it out. You can also substitute diced pickles for the sweet relish to change up the flavor profile a bit. This is a great recipe to make when you’re trying to use up some leftover chicken instead of ham, too.

Storing Leftover Ham Salad

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Give it a quick stir before serving. Do not freeze the mayonnaise will separate when thawed, and the texture won’t be the same.

Variations for Easy Ham Salad

• Swap sweet relish for diced dill pickles if your family prefers a less sweet flavor
• Add a teaspoon of Dijon or yellow mustard for a little tang
• Use Greek yogurt in place of some of the mayo to lighten it up
• Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a subtle smoky depth
• Serve on lettuce leaves for a low-carb option

Common Questions for Ham Salad

Print

Ham salad is a hearty, old-fashioned recipe that’s the perfect solution for leftover ham from any holiday or other family gathering. We’re hoping you enjoyed this easy ham salad recipe and will be getting in some Easter leftover recipes of your own, in the coming weeks. Try this recipe today.