My old-fashioned ham salad recipe (deviled ham) is smoky bits of savory ham and crunchy veggies in a creamy, tangy dressing with delicious pops of sweet and heat.
And friends … this easy, delicious explosion of flavor and texture is NOT just for sandwiches anymore!
It’s perfect for lunch, dinner or snacking. Everybody wants another bite because it’s incredibly flavorful.
This classic recipe is quick and easy because the ham is already cooked, so hands-on time is minimal.
With a little help from the food processor or a sharp chef’s knife, you can whip up the whole batch of tasty ham salad and be ready to serve it in about 15 minutes.
You’re gonna love the versatility of flavorful meal and snacking options when you turn your leftover holiday ham into a good old-fashioned ham salad.
What in the World is Ham Salad?
Most of us are familiar with tuna salad, chicken salad or even egg salad. But ham salad is not as well known now as it was when I was growing up.
Ham salad recipes began in western Pennsylvania in the 1920s. It was often made from leftover canned ham or from a product from the butcher shop called “chipped ham.”
Butchers produced chipped ham deli meat by pressing ends and bits of chopped ham into a loaf and then slicing it thinly for sandwiches.
After the World Wars, chipped ham was often a more affordable option for families than buying a whole ham.
The leftover ends of that chipped ham loaf were frequently used to create the good old-fashioned ham salad we all know and love today. It was usually served as sandwiches or on crackers.
Chipped Ham is still very much a western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio delicacy, so most of us won’t see it on our grocery store shelves. Leftover ham is more commonly used to make ham salad in the United States now.
The Ingredients
- Leftover Roast Ham
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Red Onion (White, sweet, or yellow onions work tool. Even chopped green onion would be delicious. So choose your favorite variety.)
- Sweet Relish (I used 1/2 sweet pickle relish and 1/2 medium spicy pepper relish. You could also use dill pickle relish or even minced dill pickles. Choose your favorite relish or minced pickle flavors.)
- Stone Ground Mustard (I prefer the more robust flavor and added texture of the seeds in stone ground mustard. But you could substitute yellow mustard, Dijon, or brown mustard if you enjoy those more.)
How to Serve Deviled Ham
It makes a fantastic after-school snack or a quick pick-me-up when taking a break from your work. Try deviled ham dolloped on top of halved hard-boiled eggs for a satisfying high protein boost.
You can also serve this delectable ham filling as an appetizer stuffed in cherry tomatoes or piled on assorted crackers. It’s scrumptious on mini rye bread squares or scooped into celery, too.
We already know it’s perfect as a sandwich spread. But try adding homemade ham salad to your next grilled cheese to take that ooey, gooey goodness next level.
Serve it in lettuce cups or as a lettuce wrap for a gluten-free sandwich option.
And can you imagine that tasty ham topping a baked sweet potato, sprinkled with a bit of cheese and then toasted under the broiler for a minute or two? Delish! There are loads of creative ways to serve this simple recipe.
There’s no need for ham leftovers to ever go to waste. And they’ll certainly never be boring when you make this delectably easy ham salad recipe.
(You may also enjoy these Ham and Cheese Sliders or my Best Ham and Beans for using up leftover ham.)
Choosing the Right Ham
If you’ve done much reading here, you already know that texture is a HUGE deal for me. I prefer leftover roast ham for this simple recipe.
It doesn’t matter if you have bone-in or boneless ham. I think the flavor and texture of roasted or baked ham leftovers work better than sliced deli ham.
Texturally, getting good minced chunks of ham from sliced deli meat will be difficult. It will be too thin and quite easily turn into a spreadable paste rather than yielding nice little pieces of chopped meat in your deviled ham.
In our favorite old-fashioned ham salad recipe, I use pieces of boneless ham leftover from a Sunday dinner or holiday ham.
FAQs
Yes, you can make this recipe up to 24 hours ahead of time.
Ham Salad must be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
It will keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge if stored properly in an air-tight container.
Yes. If you know you won’t use it for several days, seal the ham salad in air-tight freezer containers or zip-top freezer bags. Freeze for up to two months. To use the ham salad, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Drain off any liquid that may have separated out. You can add a spoonful of fresh mayo if it’s needed to refresh the creaminess. Serve as usual.
What to Serve with Ham Salad Sandwiches
Possible Recipe Variations
- Add chopped hard-boiled eggs to your ham salad.
- If using minced sweet or dill pickles instead of relish, be sure to add a little of the sweet pickle juice to your ham salad mixture.
- Change up the veggies in the recipe. Sub in minced cucumber, jicama, carrot or bell pepper for the celery.
- Add some horseradish to your mayo and mustard for a little more spicy kick. Or choose a spicy pickle relish to turn up the heat.
How to Make Ham Salad
- Use a food processor or a sharp chef’s knife to cut the ham into small pieces (1/4 inch or less.) I like them to be fairly small and not so uniform, so I tend to reach for my food processor for this job. It creates small shreds rather than perfect cubes. My family really enjoys that texture best. IMPORTANT TIP: If using the food processor, cut the ham into large chunks and drop them in the processor. Then, use only the pulse button. Pulse a few times until the pieces are the size you want. Don’t overdo it. You want small pieces, not paste.
- Transfer the chopped ham to a mixing bowl and chop the onion and celery. You could use the same method to pulse them in the food processor if you want. Since they are such small amounts, I use my chef’s knife and quickly mince them by hand. Try to keep the pieces no larger than your pieces of ham.
Add the chopped onion and celery to the mixing bowl with the ham and stir until well combined. - Dump the mayonnaise, mustard and sweet pickle relish (and/or other relishes you may use) into the mixing bowl.
- Stir everything together until it’s creamy and all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Taste. Does it need anything? Black pepper? A little more mustard or relish? Adjust it to your own tastes, and then store the ham salad in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
The Recipe
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Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (Deviled Ham)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Yum! You’ll love this old fashioned ham salad. Delish & kid friendly deviled ham for sandwiches, snacks, & so much more. Get the easy recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. leftover ham, chopped fine in the food processor (or by hand)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup celery, minced
- 3/4 cup sweet pickle relish (I used 1/2 sweet relish & 1/2 pepper relish.)
- 1/2 cup red onion, minced (Choose your favorite onion variety.)
- 2 Tablespoons stone ground mustard (Substitute yellow mustard or your favorite variety.)
Instructions
- Use a food processor or a sharp chef’s knife to cut the ham into small pieces (1/4 inch or less.) I like them to be fairly small and not so uniform, so I tend to reach for my food processor for this job. It creates small shreds rather than perfect cubes. My family really enjoys that texture best. IMPORTANT TIP: If using the food processor, cut the ham into large chunks and drop them in the processor. Then, use only the pulse button. Pulse a few times until the pieces are the size you want. Don’t overdo it. You want small pieces, not paste.
- Transfer the chopped ham to a mixing bowl and chop the onion and celery. You could use the same method to pulse them in the food processor if you want. Since they are such small amounts, I use my chef’s knife and quickly mince them by hand. Try to keep the pieces no larger than your pieces of ham.
Add the chopped onion and celery to the mixing bowl with the ham and stir until all ingredients are well combined. - Dump the mayonnaise, mustard and sweet pickle relish (and/or other relishes you may use) into the mixing bowl.
- Stir everything together until it’s creamy and all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Taste. Does it need anything? Black pepper? A little more mustard or relish? Adjust it to your own tastes, and then store the ham salad in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Notes
NUTRITIONAL INFO will vary based on portion size and how you serve it. For example sandwiches will contain more ham salad than an appetizer on a cracker or a stuffed tomato or baked potato.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Main Dish, Salad, Pork, Sandwiches
- Method: Cold Prep
- Cuisine: American
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About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
I didn’t realize you could freeze ham salad! This is such a game changer for busy weekends. I love that I had some on hand to curb the craving.
Isn’t it great? With just the two of us at home now, I freeze half the batch right away, so we can enjoy it later. I’m just like you, Daisy. I love having pre-prepped meal options in the fridge and freezer for days when cooking just isn’t in the cards.
My neighbor just gave me smoked ham and I had some leftover, so I made this recipe. I don’t know if you ever made it with smoked ham but WOW is it delicious! The smoky element with the creamy dressing is so good.
Meghan, I do use smoked ham and I 100% agree. I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the recipe! Thanks for stopping by to let me know.
I had some leftover ham in the fridge and decided to try this ham salad recipe. The ham was tender and juicy, and the dressing was so creamy. I added some chopped hard-boiled eggs for extra protein and it turned out fantastic!
Lya, that’s great! I’m so glad you’re making the recipe your own. Have a great weekend!
A quick and tasty way to use up leftover ham. Made some sandwiches with it and was a hit. They were gone fast.
Mel, they always disappear quickly here, too. Thanks for stopping by, today!
The tanginess from the relish and mustard was just an amazing combo when paired with the creaminess of the mayo. This was SO good! Can’t wait to make again!
Kris, thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed it.