Wondering what to make with leftover ham? We've all been there: The big meal is over, the table is cleared, and now you're staring at a fridge full of leftover holiday ham trying to figure out what to do next.
First of all: congratulations, because leftover ham might just be the best thing to come out of any holiday gathering. It's the main event that keeps on giving.
Whether you baked a ham for Easter, Christmas, or any other time of year, this list of favorite leftover ham recipes is here to make sure none of it goes to waste. And trust me: that's great news for both your leftovers AND your grocery budget.
Favorite Leftover Ham Recipes
Ready to put that leftover ham to good use? Check out these recipes and find your next favorite meal.
Bourbon Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Before the leftovers, you need THE ham. This spiral ham gets a bourbon-brown sugar Old Fashioned cocktail-inspired glaze. It's sweet, provides the perfect amount of caramelization, and it's just fancy enough to feel special.
P.S. The glaze works on a ham steak too for a quick weeknight version.
Ham and Cheese Empanadas
Got extra ham and no plan? These flaky, cheesy little hand pies use refrigerated pie crust and come together fast. Cream cheese, Cheddar, sautéed onions, and ham are baked into the ultimate grown-up Hot Pocket.
Ham and Asparagus Quiche
When you're tired of eating ham straight from the fridge, this quiche is the move. Asparagus, Gruyere, and a creamy egg custard make it feel like a proper brunch. And, if you don't feel like making it from scratch, refrigerated pie crust keeps it totally doable on a weeknight.
Rice and Ham Soup
When the fridge is full of ham leftovers and you need something warm and easy, this one-pot soup delivers. Hearty veggies, brown rice, and a splash of cream turn those scraps into a flavorful meal in under an hour.
Lentil Soup with Ham
Don't toss that ham bone; it's basically free flavor. Drop it into this lentil soup and let it simmer into something rich, hearty, and way better than anything you'd expect from leftovers.
Ham and Potato Soup
Cold day, leftover ham, and a fridge full of potatoes? This thick, creamy soup practically makes itself, and the trick of mashing a cup of the cooked potatoes back in is what makes it extra hearty.
Navy Bean Soup with Ham
This soup is another recipe where you'll want to save that ham bone. It's the secret to this soul-warming soup with wonderful flavors. Navy beans simmer low and slow, soaking up smoky, savory richness into a simple broth.
Ham and Corn Chowder
Cozy and ready in 40 minutes, this chowder combines sweet corn, tender potatoes, and smoky ham in a creamy broth, finished with green onions on top.
Ham and Cabbage Soup
Skeptical about cabbage in soup? This one will change your mind. Ham, sweet tender cabbage, red bell peppers, and a savory broth come together in the Instant Pot in just 30 minutes! It's also low in carbs (if you're watching that sort of thing.)
Split Pea Soup with Ham and Root Vegetables
Need another idea to use up the ham bone? This is one to make when you've still got the ham bone and zero energy to do anything fancy. Split peas simmer down into a thick, hearty soup loaded with root vegetables.
Egg Bites
Leftover ham for breakfast? Chop it up, blend it into a creamy cottage cheese egg mixture, and bake a whole week's worth of grab-and-go bites in one shot. Starbucks who?
Crustless Ham, Cheese, and Broccoli Quiche
No crust, no fuss, and only 5 minutes of prep. Ham, broccoli, and sharp Cheddar are baked into a creamy egg custard. It works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and keeps in the fridge all week long.
Ham and Cheese Baked Eggs in Toast
Got a few slices of ham and a loaf of bread? Crack an egg right into a hole in buttered toast, top it with ham and Cheddar, and bake a whole tray at once, runny yolks and all, for everyone at the table in 30 minutes.
Western Omelet Waffles
If you're tired of the same old breakfast scramble, pour your Western omelet straight into a waffle iron instead. Ham, bell pepper, Cheddar, and eggs come out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside--no flipping required!
Ham and Hashbrown Casserole
This is the one to bring to a potluck or pull together the morning after a holiday. Creamy, cheesy, and made with frozen hash browns, it's one of those cheesy casseroles that feeds a crowd. Bonus: you can also assemble the whole thing the night before.
Ham and Cheese Croissant
Leftover ham, a buttery croissant, and melted Gruyere baked until golden and is served with a homemade honey mustard for dipping. Sounds pretty great, right? It takes only 30 minutes and tastes like something straight from a French bistro.
Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese
When mac and cheese night meets leftover ham, this is what happens. A creamy, from-scratch cheese sauce is made right in the skillet--no boxed stuff in sight--with chunks of ham baked in until golden and bubbling.
Smoked Baked Beans
I've said it before, but don't toss that ham bone; it's the secret weapon here. Simmered into a rich smoky stock, it becomes the base for the most flavorful baked beans you'll ever bring to a backyard cookout.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Layers of thinly sliced potatoes and smoky ham are smothered in a homemade Cheddar cream sauce and baked until bubbly. This one works as a side dish or a main, and it's even better the next day. You can also swap in sweet potatoes for a slightly sweeter variation.
Leftover Ham Seven Layer Salad
When you need a break from hot meals, this is the move. Layers of pasta, lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, peas, and ham are piled into a trifle bowl and topped with a creamy Dijon dressing. It's easy, impressive, and nothing like yesterday's dinner.
Venezuelan Ham Bread
This Venezuelan Christmas bread is the most stunning thing you'll ever make with ham. Soft homemade dough is rolled up with smoky ham, bacon, olives, and raisins. It's sweet, savory, and absolutely worth it. (This recipe calls for deli ham, but thinly sliced leftover ham works beautifully too.)
Ham and Noodle Casserole
This is the casserole dish you'll start planning before the holiday ham is even finished. Egg noodles, sweet peas, and chunks of ham are pulled together with a from-scratch two-cheese sauce. No condensed soup here--just pure homemade comfort food.
Ham Salad
Ten minutes, a food processor, and a handful of pantry staples turn leftover ham into a creamy, tangy spread you'll be sneaking from the fridge at midnight. Pile it on Hawaiian rolls or on crackers. Either way, it disappears fast.
Ham Fried Rice Recipe
This one's the perfect way to use up chopped ham AND leftover rice. Combined in one skillet, it's something that tastes completely different than your holiday dinner because ginger, garlic, sesame, and soy sauce do all the heavy lifting. Oh and by the way--this one's ready in 15 minutes flat.
Tortellini with Ham and Peas
This Italian classic has been on family tables since the 1980s for good reason. Cubes of ham and sweet peas in a silky cream sauce cling to every nook and cranny of tortellini. It's another 30 minute meal--a favorite around here.
Ham and Broccoli Casserole Au Gratin
If you're watching carbs but still want something bubbling and cheesy out of the oven, this is it. And even if you're not, this one is still a hit. Broccoli and ham get smothered in a cream cheese and sharp Cheddar sauce.
Creamy Leftover Ham Pasta
When you've got leftover ham and leftover pasta in the fridge, this 20-minute skillet dinner practically makes itself. With crispy ham, sweet peas, and a simple Parmesan creamy sauce, nobody needs to know it started as yesterday's leftovers.
German Ham and Egg Pasta
Pan-fried pasta with ham and scrambled eggs stirred right in? This German classic sounds simple, but the crispy golden noodles make it something special. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's a family-friendly dish that both kids and adults clean their plates for.
Blackstone Monte Cristo
This is the ultimate sandwich: Ham and turkey are piled high onto sourdough with Gruyere, then dipped in an egg custard, and fried golden on the griddle. It's part sandwich, part French toast, and 100% the most indulgent thing you'll do with your leftover ham.
Air Fryer Ham Casserole
Can't get enough pasta recipes? When you've got leftover ham and leftover pasta, this is one of those pasta dishes that comes together quick in the air fryer. Alfredo sauce and melty mozzarella bring it all together. It's bubbly, creamy, and ready in just about 15 minutes.
Leftover Ham Pot Pie with Biscuits
This is pot pie without any of the fuss. Picture this: A creamy ham and veggie filling made right in the skillet, then topped with fluffy canned biscuits, and baked until golden. You can't beat a dinner that's on the table in under an hour!
Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders
This one's a classic. Ham and Swiss are piled onto Hawaiian rolls, are brushed with a buttery poppy seed glaze, and then baked until melty. Trust me: these disappear fast so you'll probably want to double the batch if you're feeding a crowd or watching football.
I hope this list of favorite recipes has you excited to dig into that leftover holiday ham instead of letting it sit forgotten in the fridge. Whether you turned it into a creamy soup, a cheesy casserole, or something you never would have thought to try, that's what great ways to use leftovers are all about!
No food waste, no sad leftovers-- just delicious meals all week long!
Related
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Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making these recipes.
- Be sure to cook the ham to a minimum temperature of 140°F.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave leftovers sitting out at room temperature for extended periods of time.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
JJ says
This is going to perfect for our Easter Ham leftovers, thanks for the great ideas!
Cristina says
I love this list of 31 ideas for leftover ham—so many tasty and easy ways to use it!
Penny says
I'm bookmarking this. I make ham year-round, and I LOVE having all these leftover options.
Stacy says
This list is just what I needed before Easter. I will plan some meals around it to make good use of the giant ham I bought.
Jane says
Thank you! This is a great list for after Easter dinner. Bookmarked 🙂