21 Leftover Ham Recipes You’ll Look Forward to Making (2024)

So you cooked a big holiday feast and now have a ton of leftover ham. Here you'll find some amazing leftover ham recipes that go beyond a leftover ham soup or sandwich (though we've got those, too). These leftover ham ideas from our Test Kitchen will have you excited to enjoy your leftovers in new, delicious ways.

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Stovetop Savory Ham and Veggie Oatmeal

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Kick things off with delicious, hearty breakfast recipe with leftover ham. Easy oatmeal is amped up into a powerhouse meal by adding chopped ham, sweet peppers, and broccolini. Since it uses slower-cooking steel-cut oats, this leftover ham breakfast would be great for a relaxing family meal just after a holiday.

02of 21

Scalloped Potato and Ham Soup

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If you love scalloped potatoes, wait until you try this cozy soup. It's got the same creamy flavor as the potato side, only we've added lots of veggies and leftover ham to the pot. Lightly toasted and seasoned panko breadcrumbs add an irresistible crunch.

What Is a Dutch Oven—and How Do You Use It?

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Quick Pasta Toss with Peas and Artichokes

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Insteading of hiding leftover ham under a heavy sauce, this lighter pasta dish highlights it. Toss it with pasta, peas, artichokes, and fresh tomato, then douse everything in a bright sauce with olive oil and lemon juice. Make this recipe for leftover ham something craveable by adding a sprinkle of cheese at the end.

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Ham, Asparagus, and Cheese Strata

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When in doubt, turn leftover ham (and bread!) into a delicious breakfast. You can easily whip up this cheesy egg bake the night before. Once morning arrives, all you'll have to do is pop it in the oven and enjoy a cup of coffee while it bakes.

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Ham and Spinach Two-Cheese Pasta

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This leftover ham recipe is just the cozy dish you need to curl up with a cold night. Bake up ham, pasta, spinach, and cheese in individual ramekins to make an easy dinner or just a single portion meal. It's got the best blend of fresh ingredients and easy comfort food.

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Leftover Ham Chef's Salad

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This leftover ham recipe is so great, our Test Kitchen made sure it was part of the title. Simply chop your leftover ham and toss it with crisp lettuce, veggies, hard-cooked eggs, and plenty of cheese. It's a main dish salad you'll crave even when there's no more leftover ham from Easter.

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Crustless Denver-Potato Quiche

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Combine two favorites–Denver potatoes and quiche–into one extra tasty breakfast. New potatoes, ham, peppers, onions, and cheese all mingle together in an easy quiche that cooks right in your Dutch oven. Make this leftover ham recipe for a hearty breakfast or brunch, or save it for a comforting breakfast-for-dinner night.

08of 21

Ham and Pea Tortellini

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Decadent meals don't have to take a ton of time to prepare. Take this 20-minute pasta recipe, for example. Cheese tortellini, leftover ham, and peas swim in a rich, creamy sauce. A couple handfuls of arugula add a peppery bite while also providing extra nutrients to the dish.

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Skillet-Baked Eggs and Ham

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We love a good skillet meal and this leftover ham recipe is perfect for breakfast or a quick breakfast-for-dinner idea. Leeks add a light onion flavor while cream and Gruyère cheese add richness to every bite.

10of 21

Ham and Asparagus Macaroni

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Macaroni and cheese probably crossed your mind as you were brainstorming recipes for leftover ham, but this one takes it up a notch. If you have ham left from Easter, toss leftover cooked asparagus right in with noodles, Parmesan cheese, and ham. The result is a bit more upscale mac and cheese that's great for an easy spring dinner.

Quiche

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There's nothing like starting the day with a slice of quiche with a buttery, flaky piecrust. This simple quiche recipe can be easily adapted to whatever you've got on hand. In this case, we're obviously starting with leftover ham, but feel free to use chicken or crab, too.

12of 21

Asian Egg and Rice Cups with Plum Sauce

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If all of the usual ham leftover recipes aren't exciting you, go in a completely different direction. These savory egg cups are filled with ham, of course, but they also dress it up with cooked rice, fresh veggies, and sweet-and-sour plum sauce. This Asian-inspired leftover ham recipe can be a filling breakfast, fun lunch, or easy dinner.

13of 21

One-Pot Ham and Greens Pasta

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This one-pot meal is sure to make weeknight dinners a breeze. And when we say one pot, we mean it. The leftover ham, pasta, and greens all require a single Dutch oven to come together for less mess.

14of 21

Sweet Potato Biscuit Sandwiches with Ham and Redeye Gravy

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Talk about a mouthwatering brunch! Everyone will be snapping a pic before diving into one of these delicious leftover ham biscuit sandwiches. If you haven't had a chance to try redeye gravy yet, you can make it using leftover coffee (yes, coffee!).

52 Delicious Easter Brunch Recipes to Make This Year

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Lentil-Ham Soup

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Keep this leftover ham soup recipe in mind for the day after Easter. The easy slow cooker dump dinner comes together in minutes. You'll look forward to coming home to a comforting bowl of this delicious soup.

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Grilled Apple, Ham, and Brie Sandwich

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Ok, ok, you're in the mood for a sandwich, but want something a little more than ham on white bread. When that's the case, this upgraded sandwich is one of the best leftover ham recipes for putting a new spin on a classic. The trick is to use sourdough, brie cheese, spinach, and sliced apples to upgrade the ham, then grill until everything is hot, cheesy, and delicious.

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Danish Gronkaal Soup (Green Kale Soup)

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When you've exhausted all the traditional soup recipes with leftover ham, it's time to look around the globe. This Danish-inspired recipe will use up two cups of cooked ham (plus ham broth, if you have any leftover), plus potatoes, leeks, celery, and fresh kale. If you're craving a healthy, veggie-filled dish after a heavy holiday meal, this is the dish to get you back on track.

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Cheesy Ham Chilaquiles

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Strips of corn tortillas provide the base for diced ham, salsa, fried eggs, and cheese. Sliced fresh jalapenos are optional but we love the heat they bring to the dish. Smother this leftover ham recipe with sour cream and dig in.

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Apple-Fennel Ham and Egg Casserole

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This egg casserole recipe is loaded with fresh flavors like fennel, apple, and green onion. Tart Granny Smith apples pair perfectly with creamy Havarti cheese and salty ham. Save the fennel fronds and use them to top the baked dish.

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Greens, Eggs & Ham Frittata

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Customize this leftover ham recipe with your favorite greens or a mix of chard, kale, or spinach. You'll love how the smoky flavor of the ham balances the Pecorino cheese and spring onion in the egg mix. As one BHG home cook raves, "This was amazing! I used pepper jack cheese instead of the Monterey, as that was what I had on hand. This is a recipe that lends itself well to substitutions."

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Mozzarella, Pesto & Ham Toasties

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There's nothing more satisfying than a melty ham and cheese sandwich. Take it to the next level with a tangy mint-almond pesto, roasted bell peppers, and crusty sour dough bread. Don't feel like making roasted red peppers? The jarred version works great in this ham sandwich recipe.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes You’ll Look Forward to Making (2024)

FAQs

21 Leftover Ham Recipes You’ll Look Forward to Making? ›

Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.

How long is leftover ham good for in the fridge? ›

Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.

What to do with fully cooked ham? ›

A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

What are two ways the ham can be used? ›

Here are some of the things I make with it: grilled ham and cheese sandwiches; ham salad sandwiches; macaroni salad with peas and ham; ham croquettes; scrambled eggs with diced ham; scalloped potatoes and ham; ham loaf; bean soup; and split pea soup.

How do you make leftover ham moist? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

Can you eat cooked ham after 7 days? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer.

How to spice up precooked ham? ›

Add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of wine or stock to the pan (you don't want the ham swimming in liquid) and throw some aromatics in there—a few whole cloves, some star anise, and cinnamon sticks are all good options. Cover the ham with foil and place in a 250-degree oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 100℉.

Does ham get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Editor's Tip: For a fall-apart tender ham, let it cook longer; 10 to 12 hours on low. This method is perfect for families who prefer a more casual dinner of shredded hot ham and roll sandwiches.

Can fully cooked ham be eaten cold? ›

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), as they are already fully cooked.

What is Kentucky ham? ›

The renowned Kentucky hams of the United States, for example, are cut exclusively from Hampshire hogs that have been fattened on beans, wild acorns, and clover until the last few weeks before the slaughter, when their diet is restricted to grain.

Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›

Slimy, super-wet, or oily textures on the outside of your ham might indicate bacteria growth. Juice can just be congealed oils, so use your senses to see if anything else is off. Slimy ham that's growing bacteria will usually have a smell that indicates spoilage.

Can dogs eat ham? ›

Is Ham Bad for Dogs? Ham is not toxic to dogs, but it's also not a healthy treat for them. So if your pup eats a little piece that fell to the floor, they should be totally fine. But feeding ham to your dog as a regular snack can cause some long-term health issues.

What liquid keeps ham moist? ›

You can use water, but if you want to add more flavor, you should use wine or beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Most of this liquid will cook off, but your tinfoil cover will help your meat absorb those juices.

What juice keeps ham moist? ›

How to Prepare the Most Tender, Juicy Ham With Apple Juice or Pineapple | Livestrong.com. If you want to prepare pre-cooked ham so it's tender, juicy and flavor, the key is in the glaze. Here's how to bake the best ham with apple juice or pineapple.

What can I add to ham for flavor? ›

Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham

You'll need a whole lot of cloves for this flavor-packed glaze. Spicy brown mustard, cola soft drink, brown sugar, and bourbon round out the flavorful sauce. Keep the ham moist by leaving a thin layer of fat when trimming.

Is ham still good after 11 days? ›

A fully-cooked, unopened, vacuum-sealed ham can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator, according to the USDA, but the clock starts ticking once you open that package. Sliced meat, like fresh cut ham or spiral-cut ham from the store, will last in the refrigerator for only three to five days.

Can you eat ham after 8 days? ›

Can I Eat Ham After 8 Days? Most hams are safe to eat three to five days after cooking. Country ham or canned ham can be eaten up to seven days after cooking.

Can I eat ham that's been in the fridge for a week? ›

Both plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packaged hams must be refrigerated. A plastic-wrapped ham will keep about one week. A vacuum-packaged ham should be consumed by the “use by” date or within 1 week after the “sell by” date.

Is ham still good after 2 weeks? ›

When Should You Throw Out Ham? If your ham has been stored in the fridge for more than five days after the package has been opened or in the freezer for more than six months, it is best to throw it out. Ham that has been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should also be disposed of.

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