Ham is a holiday favorite and the perfect Sunday supper! We love it oven-roasted, slow-cooked, or even smoked. Add a sweet caramelized glaze, salt, pineapple, or mustard.
As much as we love the main event, I think we love leftovers even more. Below are our favorite leftover ham recipes.
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What To Do With Leftover Ham
My family prefers glazed ham to turkey, and I love that it’s so easy to make. It takes very little prep work (especially if you cook a spiral ham or cook it in the air fryer).
But one of the best parts of a big meal (like a baked ham dinner) is the leftovers. Start by just reheating leftover ham slices and eating them as is, or get creative with our favorite recipes for leftover ham below.
How To Reheat Leftover Ham
You can reheat ham in the oven by placing it in a shallow baking dish with ½ cup of broth and heating it at 325°F for 20-25 minutes. Or, if you only need to reheat a few pieces, try using an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Time will vary slightly based on how large the piece of ham is, how it is cut (thick vs. thin), and how much ham is being reheated.
How to Store Leftover Ham
Ham will last a few days in the fridge or a couple of months in the freezer. Dice and package it into 1-cup portions to make it easy to use in recipes. A ham bone makes great soups. Keep it in the freezer, and then use it right from frozen.
- Fridge: Cooked leftover ham (spiral or other) can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. (This also includes leftover deli ham once opened).
- Freezer: Leftover ham should be well sealed (or vacuum sealed), and the leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Main Ham Dish Recipes
Ham is so versatile, that is why there are so many recipes with ham as an ingredient. Because of its smoky flavor, it is great in almost all soups, stews, and casseroles in place of chicken or other proteins.
- Glazed Ham is almost like a traditional meatloaf, but it is made from ground ham and pork. This is a great recipe for all that leftover ham.
- Black Eyed Peas Recipe with Ham is a little bit like a soup but with less broth. So chunky and flavorful, perfect for serving with rice.
- Ham Balls are made from ground ham and then covered in a sweet red sauce. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
- Linguine Carbonara is a creamy Italian dish, made with a white sauce and pieces of ham. So delicious.
- Deviled Ham is a zesty spread made from seasoned ground ham mixed with ingredients like mustard, mayo, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s perfect for sandwiches and crackers.
Ham Casserole Recipes
Ham casseroles are a great way to use up ham and they usually have simple ingredients and easy instructions. Whether you’re in the mood for something cheesy, creamy, or loaded with veggies, here are a few favorites!
Ham Sliders and Sandwiches
One great thing about leftover ham is that it can be enjoyed either hot or cold, sliced, diced, or chopped. Anything goes – top a salad with it, add it to a favorite pasta salad or sandwich it in the middle of grilled cheese. The possibilities are endless!
- Ham and Cheese Sliders – Sweet Hawaiian Rolls, ham, cheese, and a buttery glaze – baked to melty perfection.
- Ham Salad is great for using leftover ham and for sandwiching between two slices of white bread.
- Monte Cristo Sandwich is the king of grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Ham and Cheese Croissants are filled with smoky ham and rich Swiss cheese. Topped off with honey mustard sauce and baked to melty perfection, it’s a savory snack for any occasion.
Ham Soup Recipes
Leftover diced ham is a flavorful addition to soups and stews. It pairs well with sweet veggies like corn and sweet potatoes and adds great flavor to cream or potato-based soups. As for what to do with the leftover hambone… it’s great for ham soups or to make a flavorful ham broth.
Ham and Corn Chowder is a quick weeknight meal with lots of corn, veggies, bacon and ham. This corn soup recipe is rich, creamy and delicious.
Wondering what to do with that leftover ham? Split pea soup is such a flavorful dish! Split peas and ham are simmered in a delicious broth with veggies to give you a thick and hearty soup.
Make a hassle-free Ham and Bean Soup with no soaking needed. Ideal for using leftover holiday ham, this recipe requires only a few minutes of prep and effortlessly cooks in the slow cooker throughout the day!
Looking for a hearty soup to feed a crowd? This ham and lentil soup is so easy to make! Made with a ham bone or diced leftover ham, it is so delish! Serve with a loaf of crusty bread for the perfect meal!
Ham Breakfast Recipes
Start the day off with one of these delicious ham recipes. Ham is a great addition to breakfast as it’s leaner than sausage or bacon and adds a delicious smoky flavor. Chop it up and add it to an omelette or reheat the ham slices in a frying pan and top with poached eggs and voila!
More Ham Favorites
10 Other Ways to Use Leftover Ham
Ham is such an easy cut of meat to cook with. Use it to replace chicken or ground beef. It also makes great sandwiches. If adding ham in place of other meats, the salt may need to be adjusted in the recipe as ham is salty.
- Add it in place of chicken in a quick fried rice recipe.
- Replace the chicken in your favorite chicken pot pie recipe.
- Serve a simple ham sandwich by frying it and putting it on toast with cheddar cheese and mustard.
- Top your favorite pizza dough with ham (or add it to a frozen pizza).
- Dice leftover ham into small pieces and add it to cooked peas with butter.
- Deck out your fave baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, cheddar, and ham for an easy meal.
- Add ham and cheddar to homemade biscuits and serve warm with butter.
- Add ham to almost any pasta salad recipe or macaroni salad.
- Add diced ham to scrambled eggs or omelets.
- Chop it up and add it to mashed potatoes or mashed potato cakes.
Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite leftover ham recipe is!
