8 Mouthwatering Leftover Ham Recipes You Must Try!

Leftover ham can be a delicious ingredient for various recipes. Whether you have ham from a holiday feast or a weeknight dinner, you can use it creatively for your next meal.

Make a hearty and fulfilling breakfast by adding diced ham and shredded cheese to your omelette, top your pizza with ham and pineapple for a sweet and savoury twist, or transform your leftover ham into a delicious fried rice with diced ham, vegetables and soy sauce.

8 Best Leftover Ham Recipes

Ham can add a delicious, savoury taste to any dish you use it in.

1. Ham Sandwich 

Meat in a sandwich, what could go wrong? Absolutely nothing! Pop those leftovers in a sandwich, and you have a perfect, hassle-free, delicious breakfast.  Serve this simple dish with some chips, and you are done.

1.1 Ingredients

• 4 slices of sandwich bread (or any bread you prefer).
• 4 to 6 leftover ham slices.
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.
• 4 slices of cheese.
• 1 tablespoon of light mayonnaise.

1.2 Instructions 

1. Start by lightly tossing your loaves of bread on a pan. Once they turn a little golden brown, remove them from the heat.
2. Spread some mustard and mayonnaise on the bottom slide of the bread and layer it with cheese slices and spiral-cooked ham.
3. Toast at low heat on a toasted (open-faced) or a pan and cook thoroughly on both sides.
4. Finally, cut the sandwich into halves and serve it with chips and chopped veggies for a delicious and well-balanced meal.

2. Ham and Cheese Pizza

An easy, all-time favourite recipe is here! Pizza with cheese and ham is a subtle way to use leftover ham without investing too much time, making it a perfect dish for a lazy weeknight dinner or even the holiday season.

2.1 Ingredients

• 2 cups of leftover diced ham.
• 1 batch of fresh pizza dough (it can be homemade or store-bought).
• 8 ounces of fresh cheddar cheese.
• 1 large onion (red or white) is finely sliced.
• Dried herbs for seasoning.
• Salt and pepper as per taste.

2.2 Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 475 F and lightly dust a baking dish with flour.
2. Using a rolling pin, spread the pizza dough till the decided thickness is achieved (remember, pizza expands, so keep the crust a little thinner than desired).
3. Spread the pizza sauce around 1 inch from the edges.
4. Evenly spread the finely chopped ham and sliced onion.
5. Lastly, cover the entire pizza with grated cheese.
6. For a better taste, sprinkle salt, pepper, and dried herbs such as chilli flasks and oregano.
7. Lastly, place it in the oven and bake it for 15-17 minutes or until the cheese turns slightly brownish.
8. Once cooked, remove from oven and let it cool.
9. Using a knife, slice and serve.

3. Ham and Bean Soup

If you are looking for comforting and delicious food after a grand dinner, what other way to use leftover ham than to make this hearty and flavourful ham and bean soup for a quick dinner?

3.1 Ingredients

• Cooked and diced ham (any amount preferred).
• Ham’s bone.
• Mirepoix.
• 2 cloves of minced garlic.
• Chopped vegetables such as onion, carrot, and celery.
• 1 whole bay leaf.
• 2 cups of vegetable broth.
• Parsley for garnishing.

3.2 Instructions 

1. Start by heating a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add oil and, once warm, add chopped vegetables such as carrot, onion, and celery.
3. Then, stir until the onion becomes tender and the other vegetables turn slightly brown.
4. Then add the minced garlic, chopped ham, and the ham bone along with a bay leaf.
5. Pour the vegetable broth (it is better to use low sodium broth) and mix the dish to boil.
6. On low heat, let it simmer for 30 minutes so that the flavours blend.
7. Add salt and pepper as per taste and remove the ham bone.
8. Serve hot with toasted bread for ultimate comfort.

4. Ham and Leek Pie 

This dish is perfect for a quick snack and goes well with wine.

4.1 Ingredients

• ¼ cup of butter.
• 4 cups of sliced leeks (only use the white portion).
• ½ pound of sliced mushroom.
• 3 carrots, diced.
• ½ cup of all-purpose flour.
• 1 ¼ cup of vegetable broth.
• 1 ¾ cups of cooked diced ham.
• 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley.
• 1 ¼ cup of milk.
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
• Pepper and salt as per state.
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten.
• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry.

4.2 Instructions 

1. Start by preheating the oven to 425 F.
2. In a large pan, heat butter over medium-high heat.
3. Followed by adding leeks, mushrooms, and carrots.
4. Cook and stir them till they become tender.
5. Add some more butter; once melted, add the all-purpose flour and stir till it turns golden.
6. Add the milk slowly while continuously blending the flour into it (it helps avoid clumping it) along with the vegetable broth.
7. Do this until the sauce thickens, and then remove it from the heat.
8. Stir in the cooked ham, parsley, nutmeg, and pepper.
9. On a clean surface, unfold the puff pastry and use a ramekin as a mould to cut the pastry for pie (use the ramekin upside down on the pastry and cup it in a circular shape).
10. In the bowl, add the soup and top it off with pastry.
11. Cut small slits on the pastry.
12. Brush beaten eggs on top for colour.
13. Bake for 18-22 mins and serve hot with some wine.

5. Baked Ham and Penne Pasta 

Baked ham and penne paste are perfect for a family dinner on any night of the week. Pasta with ham and creamy sauce is a hearty and delicious treat for everyone.

5.1 Ingredients

• 16 oz of penne pasta.
• 2 tablespoons of butter.
• ½ cup of chopped onion.
• 4 cloves of minced garlic.
• 1 teaspoon of all-purpose flour.
• 2 cups of milk.
• 2 cups of shredded cheese (any type).
• ½ cup of sour cream.
• 2 cups of diced or sliced ham.

5.2 Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. While that happens, cook the penne paste by adding it to boiling water with a dash of olive oil.
3. Cook till done, then strain it and set it aside.
4. Add butter to another pan and chopped onion, garlic, and rosemary to the pan once the butter melts.
5. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the vegetables soften.
6. Add flour and store till it becomes slightly golden.
7. Add the glasses of milk in small quantities and continuously whisk to avoid clumping,
8. Once thickened, remove from heat, add the grated cheese and sour cream, and whisk them together smoothly.
9. Add the pasta and the cooked ham and combine.
10. Sprinkle some more cheese.
11. Add salt and pepper with some mixed herbs.
12. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it chill or bake immediately.
13. Bake for 30 mins and then garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

6. Ham and Cheese Croissant 

This recipe is perfect for a quick snack.

6.1 Ingredients

• 3 large croissants.
• 1 ½ cups of diced ham.
• ⅓ cup of freshly grated cheese parmesan (swiss cheese can also be used).
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
• 6 large eggs.
• 1 cup half and half.
• 2 tablespoons of dried mustard.
• 1 tablespoon of honey.
• ½ teaspoon of salt.
• ½ teaspoon of pepper.

6.2 Instructions 

1. Start by greasing a baking dish.
2. Then place the croissant pieces in the dish.
3. Sprinkle ham, parmesan cheese, and half the cheddar cheese.
4. Toss the mixture around so everything mixes around the croissants.
5. Whisk the eggs with the rest of the cheese, dry mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in another large bowl.
6. Pour the mixture over the casserole.
7. Sprinkle some more cheese and cover it with aluminum foil.
8. Refrigerate it for 8 – 24 hours.
9. Bake it at 350 degrees for 25 mins.
10. Then uncover and bake for another 20 mins.
11. Once the top looks golden, remove from heat and keep it aside to cool.
12. Cut and serve!

7. Ham Salad  

This dish is perfect for a little lunch or picnic and goes well with various loaves of bread.

7.1 Ingredients

• Cooked ham slices.
• Boiled egg (hard boil).
• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
• ½ tablespoon of Dijon mustard.
• Sweet pickle relish (dill pickles are also great).
• Chopped vegetables such as carrots, red onion, and celery, along with boiled corn and zucchini.
• Coarse kosher salt (regular slats work too) and pepper as per taste.
• Hot sauce (if you prefer it spicy).

7.2 Instructions 

1. Start by combining finely chopped hard boiled eggs and mayonnaise in a large bowl.
2. Add mustard, relish, carrot, red onion, and celery (add hot sauce if you prefer spicy) and start mixing.
3. Remember not to over-mix; it might lead to gummy and weird eggs.
4. Taste once, and then add salt and pepper accordingly.
5. Cover with plastic wrap, let it chill for an hour, and then serve.

8. Ham and Cheese Hot Pocket 

This delicious recipe using leftover ham is perfect for your main courses and lunch.

8.1 Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough (homemade or store-bought).
• 1 pound of sliced ham (diced can also be used).
• ½ pound of shredded jack cheese sauce.
• 1 tablespoon water.
• Salt and pepper as per taste.

8.2 Instructions 

1. Start by preheating the oven to 450 F. Then line a baking sheet with butter or parchment paper and grease it using a small amount of water.
2. Divide the pizza dough into eight equal parts and then roll them into an 8-inch oval.
3. In the middle of every oval, place a slice of cheese.
4. Along with that, place a decent amount of diced leftover ham on each slice.
5. Fold the dough over to create a crescent shape.
6. Then, use a fork or your fingers to seal the edges of the hot pockets tightly.
7. Finally, whisk one egg with a tablespoon of water and brush it over the upper surface of every hot pocket. This gives texture and colour to the crust.
8. Finally, using a knife, cut some slits on the top of the pocket to get excess steam to escape while baking (this ensures that the filling does not get too watery).
9. Bake the pockets for 12-15 minutes or until the pockets turn out to be nicely golden brown.
10. Serve them warm, or let them cool in the refrigerator and store them for later.
11. There are some alternatives for fillings, such as pizza filling, ham and broccoli, meatballs, eggs, and sausages.

Conclusion

Leftover ham can be an excellent ingredient in various recipes. Dice it for omelets, frittatas, or breakfast burritos. By doing this, you can minimize food wastage and enjoy flavorful leftovers.

Ham is very versatile, and with a bit of creativity, you enjoy it in so many different ways. If you love cooking and have leftover ham, these recipes are perfect for your simple yet delicious restaurant-quality dinner.