This Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe is a killer way to use leftover ham. It's ready in under 10 minutes with just a few ingredients and is filled with great, savory flavor!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Old-Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of ham. Specifically, deli ham (I had a bad experience a long time ago, I'll leave it at that!). But over the years I've come back around, specifically to the baked hams we have at holidays. So when my mom brought up her love for a good ham salad sandwich, I knew I should probably give it a try and share it with you.
I used the leftovers from my Crock Pot Ham and just love that the rest of the ingredients are things most of us already have hanging out in our fridge or pantry. This comes together in minutes giving you a simple, delicious, and satisfying lunch and a great way to repurpose leftover ham! Here are a few other reasons to love this easy ham salad recipe:
- A wonderful way to use leftovers
- Full of flavor
- Family-friendly
- Ready in just 10 minutes
- Requires minimal ingredients (just 5!)
Ingredient Information And Substitutions:
- Ham- Leftover baked ham works best.
- Sweet onion- Did you know that there are actually several varieties of onions out there? I like using sweet for this easy ham salad recipe- the flavor is perfect!
- Celery- Just like most chicken salad recipes, I'm using chopped celery for a delicious crunch.
- Mayonnaise- For added creaminess and flavor.
- Sweet relish- I am a huge fan of sweet relish! I love the slight sweetness and tang it adds to my easy ham salad.
- Salt and pepper- To taste, always.
How to Make Deviled Ham
Step 1: Mince the ham, onion, and celery in a food processor, separately.
Add the chopped leftover ham to your food processor and process until it becomes finely minced. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
Repeat the process with the sweet onion and then celery! Avoid adding both vegetables at a time- process them separately.
Step 2: Add the other ingredients and mix
Incorporate the mayonnaise, relish, salt, and pepper into the mixing bowl with the ham, onion, and celery. Mix until well combined.
Taste and adjust the ingredients as needed. Serve right away or store in the fridge!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can simply chop the ingredients up by hand. That said, you want it to be more of a mince — a really, really fine chop so that you're making a spread.
Totally! Just know it'll add more of a tangy flavor and less of a sweet flavor.
It will keep for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Yes, but you'll want to freeze it as soon as you make the ham salad.
This recipe can be served in a variety of ways. I usually use this ham salad recipe for sandwiches. If you want a lighter option, spread it onto crackers or rice cake or make a wrap. Or even better yet — make a lettuce wrap or serve over a salad! For a quick and easy appetizer, you can get pre-made phyllo cups and spoon some ham salad into them. Hello, instant canapés!
Tips For This Recipe For Deviled Ham
- Use sweet onion! It's a more subtle flavor and won't make your significant other want to avoid kissing you.
- Use a food processor. It's super efficient and gets a finer chop quickly.
- Before placing the ham into the food processor roughly dice (and the onions and celery). I do this so that I can measure them out accurately. The food processor does the rest!
- Although I give amounts for ingredients, I want you to taste the ham salad and adjust the ingredients to your taste. You should be doing this with everything you cook, but this recipe is totally adjustable to your unique taste.
- Ingredients to prep ahead: Roughly chop onion, roughly chop celery, make and dice ham.
- Storage and leftovers: This will last up to 5 days covered in the refrigerator and can freeze for up to 3 months.
Make it a Meal!
Serve this deviled ham recipe with:
- Roasted Beet Salad
- Summer Bounty Strawberry Salad
- Everything Pita Chips
- Four Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
- Cherry Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Other Ham Recipes to Try...
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover ham, roughly diced
- ¼ cup sweet onion, roughly diced
- 2 cups celery, roughly sliced
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sweet relish
- Kosher salt, to taste (start with a pinch)
- Ground back pepper to taste (start with a pinch)
Instructions
- Place ham into the food processor and process until it's finely minced. Remove from food processor and place into a mixing bowl.
- Place onion into the food processor and process until it's finely minced. Remove from food processor and place into a mixing bowl.
- Place celery into the food processor and process until it's finely minced. Remove from food processor and place into a mixing bowl.
- Add mayonnaise, relish and a pinch of salt and pepper to the mixing bowl and stir well until full combined.
- Taste and adjust the ingredients to your taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.
Video
Notes
- Use sweet onion! It's a more subtle flavor and won't make your significant other want to avoid kissing you.
- Use a food processor. It's super efficient and gets a finer chop quickly.
- Before placing the ham into the food processor roughly dice (and the onions and celery). I do this so that I can measure them out accurately. The food processor does the rest!
- Although I give amounts for ingredients, I want you to taste the ham salad and adjust the ingredients to your taste. You should be doing this with everything you cook, but this recipe is totally adjustable to your unique taste.
- Ingredients to prep ahead: Roughly chop onion, roughly chop celery, make and dice ham.
- Storage and leftovers: This will last up to 5 days covered in the refrigerator and can freeze for up to 3 months.
Nic says
Jessy Freimann says
Anne says
Jessy Freimann says
Jean says