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Holidays are the perfect time to bake a giant ham. In the days following, there are so many easy ways to use and repurpose leftover ham into more delicious meals.
A delicious ham is a staple on the table for so many major holidays – but there is always so much leftover! I am always looking for easy leftover ham recipes.
When looking for uses for leftover ham, you are pretty much looking for recipes using ham as an ingredient – not recipes where ham is the star of the show. These are all recipes for cooked ham.
Whether you are looking for leftover ham casseroles, leftover ham pasta recipes, or leftover ham soup recipes – I’ve compiled my favorites here. So many soup and casserole recipes using turkey or chicken can be made with ham as well, so if you have a favorite – give it a try!
Leftover ham can be stored refrigerated or frozen. I love to dice it up into small pieces and store the ham in batches of 1 cup. Most recipes use 1/2 – 1 cup or 2 cups, so storing it this way makes it easier for cooking with later on.
Store Leftover Ham in the Refrigerator – I generally keep a small amount of leftover ham in big slices in the fridge. We will eat this for a meal of leftovers in the days immediately after the holiday to finish up the sides. Then, I will usually make one recipe with some ham – usually Ham & Cheese Scones – and I freeze the rest. Leftover ham will keep for 3 – 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Freeze Leftover Ham – My favorite way to freeze ham is diced up or cubed so it’s ready to thaw whenever I want to use it. I also save the ham bone to use in Southern Collard Greens or Louisiana Red Beans & Rice. I usually wrap the ham tightly in plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil, and then I put that in a Stasher bag. This helps to protect the ham from freezer burn.
Many of the recipes listed here can be made ahead of time and frozen, so if you are really feeling motivated, you can prep some meals while the ham is fresh and freeze them for even easier meals down the road.
Tips for Leftover Ham Success
Ham is Usually Pre-Cooked – Hams from the grocery store are almost always already fully cooked or cured, they just require reheating and glazing. There’s no need to worry about cooking ham all the way through or heating it before adding it to a “leftover” recipe since it’s already been cooked, at least once.
Avoid Drying Out Leftover Ham – Ham doesn’t have a lot of fat so it can dry out very easily. Be sure to reheat ham covered, and ideally with a spoonful of broth or water in the pan or dish with it. If you’re adding ham to a casserole, soup, or pasta with a sauce, this isn’t needed as the ham will absorb the sauce or liquid from the dish.
Frittatas are such a delicious and versatile meal and are a great way to use up leftovers, especially ham & cheese. They are so easy to put together and take plain, boring eggs to a whole new level.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole has all the makings of a perfect breakfast! Originally made with bacon, it can be made with leftover ham as well! Add bell peppers, hash browns, and top with shredded cheese, this casserole will be a crowd-pleaser.
This ham and cheese breakfast casserole can be made in just minutes! Simply combine a few ingredients, pop it in the oven, and enjoy a delicious breakfast!
There are lots of “healthy” leftover ham recipes, but the ones listed here are the ones that fill your soul & your belly.
Pro Tip: Whether you plan on serving a holiday ham or not, buy a ham or two near the holidays while they are on sale and keep one in the freezer. You can make a lot of “budget meals” from just one ham!
Leftover Ham Soup Recipes
If you used a bone-in ham, ham stock is a delicious option. You can use ham stock as the base of so many stews & soups. Split pea soup is one of my dad’s favorites and it can be made on the stove, in a crock pot, or in the Instant Pot.
Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe with Ham
Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe with cured pieces of ham, beans, veggies & cheese filled tortellini?
This BEST Pea Soup recipe is made with a ham bone and is easy to make on the Stove Top, Instant Pot, or Crock Pot! It’s super thick and full of flavor!
Listed in the Instant Pot Ham Recipes & Slow Cooker Ham Recipes sections below, I also have more soups.
Leftover Ham Casserole Recipes
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole
5 from 4 votes
This Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole is originally made with chicken, but it is so good made with ham. It’s perfect as a quick dinner option, a great way to use up leftovers, or as a make-ahead freezer meal.
The Best Au Gratin Potatoes with Ham | gritsandpinecones.com
Easy Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham is a cheesy dish of deliciousness which is perfect for a quiet weeknight family dinner, yet fancy enough to serve guests.
Ham Tetrazzini is a twist on the classic turkey tetrazzini. This delicious ham casserole is perfect to make with leftover ham and it can be made ahead of time.
If you’ve never enjoyed a Monte Cristo, well, we’ve got to change that. What is a Monte Cristo you say? Basically it’s just the best ham and cheese sandwich ever! And it’s so cosmopolitan-ish sounding too.
These Hawaiian Roll Sliders are stacked with ham and Swiss cheese, covered in a tangy honey mustard glaze and toasted until they’re perfectly hot and melty!
Slow Cooker White Beans and Ham is the very definition of comfort food. It is an easy way to make a hearty, flavorful dinner and a great way to use up leftover ham.
I love using my Instant Pot to make easy meals, and when the ham is already cooked, it is even easier to make a quick dinner.
Instant Pot Collard Greens
5 from 18 votes
Collard Greens made in an Instant Pot are a shortcut to Southern perfection. What normally takes hours on the stove is ready in less than an hour using a pressure cooker. Made with bacon, onions, ham, and garlic – these collard greens couldn't be more delicious.
Instant Pot Potato Ham Soup is rich & creamy, made with leftover ham & potatoes. Delicious pressure cooker potato ham soup is easy to make in about an hour.
Antipasto Pasta Salad! With Memorial Day quickly approaching, you might be looking for a recipe to take to a picnic or just something easy to make for your family. Especially when it gets warmer outside.
Looking for a super simple, super tasty macaroni salad? Give Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad a try! Made with just a few basic ingredients, this simple macaroni salad is easy to pull together and loaded with flavor, too. Not to mention, it’s a great dish for enjoying that leftover ham.
I am a newlywed, food blogger, health coach, and mama to a hot mess of a border collie. I love to put a new spin on old family recipes and I try to make as many meals as possible with an Instant Pot.
