These 53 Recipes Have Us Getting Creative With The Leftover Ham This Year (2024)

Some might say the best part of a meal are the leftovers...

By Camille Lowder
These 53 Recipes Have Us Getting Creative With The Leftover Ham This Year (1)

Expecting the unexpected, particularly when it comes to big dinner-centric holidays (ahem, Thanksgiving and Easter) has become one of our main party tricks. We’ve gotten used to extra guests and forgetting some ingredients. What we never quite expect? Just how much leftover food (namely, ham!) we end up with, so we’ve gotten creative with giving them a serious glow-up into plenty of casseroles, sandwiches, soups, and more. If you can relate and are feeling overwhelmed with extra ham this year, check out our 53 favorite recipes that’ll give your leftovers new life.

Many of these recipes call for deli sliced ham, which you can easily swap for whatever leftovers you have. Slice it as thinly as you can, then enjoy the added texture and flavor you'll never get from the deli. Have overnight guests after the big holiday meal? Combine leftover ham with eggs or potatoes and turn it into our crowd-pleasing , Monte Cristo sandwiches, or Croque Monsieur breakfast casserole that are sure to make everyone happy. For lunch, you can make all the variations on classic ham sandwiches, of course—top it with a fried egg and you’ve got a delicious Croque Madame that can be enjoyed for any meal.

Having another get-together soon after a holiday? Make things easy on yourself by throwing together some Hawaiian roll sliders or ham and cheese pinwheels for easy, tasty party appetizers. For dinner, our chicken cordon bleu is impressive and surprisingly simple (we skip the frying and oven bake instead). Want even easier? It’s all about the cordon bleu sauce, and we make the most of it in our one-pot chicken cordon bleu skillet and our chicken cordon bleu casserole.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to save that ham bone! It’s the secret to an out-of-this-world split pea soup (that, and bacon!).

Want more leftover inspiration? Check out our are our top go-to ways to make leftovers more exciting. And since you’re using leftovers for your main meal, why not go “ham” on dessert?!

1

Monte Cristo Sandwich

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A Monte Cristo is a sandwich filled with Swiss cheese, ham, turkey, and Dijon mustard, then dipped in a French toast batter, shallow-fried, and served dusted with confectioners' sugar and a side of jam. Basically, it has all of the classic American diner flavors: sweet, salty, cheesy, and indulgent. 😋

Get the Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe.

2

Potato Croquettes

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Potato croquettes are one of the most popular Spanish tapas, or small plates, and for good reason. They’re a fantastic way to give day-old mashed potatoes and leftover ham a new life and are the perfect bite-size appetizer for when you want something more exciting than potato chips that still hits those same comfort food notes.

Get the Potato Croquettes recipe.

3

Ham & Cheese Spinach Puffs

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Thought your holiday brunch plans were set? Think again. Stuffed with ham, spinach, and Gruyère, these cheesy pastries are calling your name. These puffs are most delicious fresh out of the oven, but if you want to work ahead, you can even make the filling and even cut out the pastry squares the day before.

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4

Cheesy Mashed Potato & Ham Bake

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This mashed potato and ham bake is inspired by the French and Italian gatto di patate, which can be found in Katie Parla’s latest cookbook: Foods of the Italian Islands. Imagine a crispy mac and cheese topping on your rich mashed potatoes with an added ham layer (which almost reminds me of lasagna). This comfy casserole-style side dish is a dream for both the meat and carb connoisseurs.

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5

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

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Cheesy scalloped potatoes meet salty baked ham for a perfect match. It takes the classic side and makes it a heartier dish that's perfect for a post-holiday brunch.

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6

Ham & Swiss Hasselback Biscuit Bites

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Step aside, hasselback potatoes: Hasselback biscuit bites are coming to steal your thunder. Featuring convenient canned biscuits stuffed with ham and cheese, these flaky, buttery bites will delight party guests and tailgaters wherever they appear.

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7

Ham Salad

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Looking for a way to use up that leftover spiral ham? Look no further! This super-easy ham salad is as delicious between bread for lunch as it is on crackers as an appetizer.

Get the Ham Salad recipe.

8

Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

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If you’re a fan of potato soup, you’re going to love this upgrade— loaded with chunks of tender potatoes, salty-sweet ham, and tender vegetables, this creamy soup is the comfort food you know and love, with a little something extra.

Get the Creamy Ham and Potato Soup recipe.

9

Buckwheat Galettes With Ham & Egg

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Like their sweet cousins, crêpes, galettes hail from Brittany, France. Because they're made with buckwheat flour, galettes are extra nutty, making them perfect for pairing with savory fillings for a quick dinner this fall. Here, they're filled with a classic ham, egg, and cheese combination, known as "galette complète" in French, but feel free to switch it up if you like.

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10

Quiche

Quiche is a favorite in the canon of classic dishes, and this version is no exception. Soft, creamy filling studded with ham, chives, and Gruyère rests inside a crunchy, buttery pie crust to create the easiest dinner of your dreams.

Get the Quiche recipe.

11

Ham & Cheese Sandwich

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This ham sandwich is great for many reasons. It's got a beautiful golden crust (thanks mayo!), a quick and simple honey mustard sauce, and briny pickles for crunch. Make it with leftover spiral ham, and you've got yourself a prize-winning lunch.

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12

Antipasto Squares

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Your favorite flavor combo, now in a more shareable format. Turns out an antipasto salad like this gets even better when you layer it between crescent sheets. We aren't mad about that at all.

Get the Antipasto Squares recipe.

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13

Classic Chef Salad

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The chef salad has three kinds of meat, two cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, and lots of veggies. 😍 Switch up the ingredients however you want—chef's choice!

Get the Classic Chef Salad recipe.

14

Hawaiian Roll Sliders

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Hawaiian rolls are a guilty pleasure of ours: They're buttery, soft, and full of just-sweet-enough flavor. These sliders, layered with ham, Swiss, and caramelized onions, will quickly become a MUST at any party you throw.

Get the Hawaiian Roll Sliders recipe.

15

Antipasto Stuffed Chicken

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There's nothing better than good antipasto. Our only qualm with the meat and cheese spread is that it's never a truly satisfying dinner on its own (thought we desperately want it to be!). But by way of antipasto grilled cheese and, now, this stuffed chicken, we've figured it out.

Get the Antipasto Stuffed Chicken recipe.

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16

Croque Monsieur Breakfast Casserole

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A croque monsieur is a delectable French sandwich with ham and Gruyére, with a silky béchamel sauce poured over top. Turning it into a breakfast casserole makes it easier to put together and share with a crowd. Yum!

Get the Croque Monsieur Breakfast Casserole recipe.

17

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

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After scrolling through all of our amazing Instant Pot recipes, we know what your answer will be. But one of its absolute best uses is for soups. Soups, especially something like split pea, often improve with a a couple of hours of simmering and flavor melding. An Instant Pot can do it in a fraction of the time, meaning this will be ready in (nearly) a blink.

Get the Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe.

18

Disneyland's Monte Cristo Sandwich

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Captain Jack Sparrow tends to have a rum-track mind, but if he ever tried the Monte Cristo sandwich served mere steps from the ride he appears in, he’d be waxing poetic about this deep-fried dish.

Get the Disneyland's Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe.

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19

Ham & Cheese Pinwheels

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These pinwheels are made easy using store-bought crescent roll dough. They're chock-full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham, then topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor you and your guests will love.

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20

Ham & Cheese Egg Cups

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We sprinkle the ham here with a little shredded cheddar, but feel free to swap in your favorite type of cheese. Gruyère, Parmesan, or pepper Jack will all work well. You can also sprinkle the tops with different herbs like cilantro or sliced green onions. Make these your own!

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These 53 Recipes Have Us Getting Creative With The Leftover Ham This Year (2024)

FAQs

How long does ham last in the fridge? ›

Large pieces of ham can be wrapped in foil and plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up 2 weeks. Slice and use in our ultimate ham and cheese toasties or cut up chunks for fried rice or toss through a pasta salads and you've got the holiday season sorted.

Can I freeze leftover ham? ›

Here's the good news: You can absolutely freeze cooked ham. In fact, many hams are cured and/or smoked, which were old-school (and still beloved) ways to preserve food for later use. Ham can be stored in the freezer for up to four months, according to USDA food safety guidelines.

How do you keep ham moist after slicing in the fridge? ›

Our top tip for storing sliced ham is to place a piece of folded paper towel in the bottom of an airtight plastic container. Remove the sliced ham from its packing and place it on top of the paper towel. Place another piece of folded paper towel on top of the ham, close the container firmly and place in the fridge.

How long does ham last out of the fridge? ›

It's generally not safe to eat meat that has been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as this can allow bacteria to grow to potentially dangerous levels. If the ham has been left out for 8 hours, it's likely that it has spoiled and should not be consumed.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

An uncooked, cut country ham can be refrigerated for two to three months or frozen for one month. A cooked Country Ham should be refrigerated for seven days and or frozen for one month. Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely.

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.

How long will an unopened spiral ham last in the refrigerator? ›

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 freeze an egg? ›

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), you can freeze eggs for up to one year. When you're ready to use frozen eggs, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or under running cold water. Use egg yolks or whole eggs as soon as they're thawed.

Why doesn't ham freeze well? ›

The issue is with the texture: freezing creates ice crystals that rupture cells. That's why when you thaw meat there's liquid in the package that wasn't there before. Refreezing just compounds the issue, so your ham will be dryer after a second freeze.

Is ham still good 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.

What is the purpose of a ham bag? ›

“A ham bag is basically something you keep wet to stop the ham from drying out when you keep it in the fridge,” Healy says. “If you put a piece of bread or meat in the fridge it will dry out, or leave some cream in the fridge it goes all dry and crumbly, so if you put a wet towel over a ham it stops it from doing that.

Why do you put vinegar on ham bags? ›

Extend the life of your Xmas ham by reducing moisture loss and allowing it to breathe while in the fridge. This easy wash cotton will ensure you can reuse it for many Christmases to come! To prepare for Ham: Soak Ham Bag in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.

Can you eat ham after 7 days? ›

Now that Easter is over, you might be wondering what to do with leftover ham. Of course there are many options, but one thing you should not do is let it sit too long in the refrigerator. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

Can you eat cooked ham after 7 days? ›

Information. 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.

Can ham last 2 weeks in the fridge? ›

Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it.

Can I eat ham after 10 days? ›

Once the ham is cut, exposing the moist interior, it must be stored in the refrigerator. After the ham has been soaked, or soaked and cooked, it should be used within 5 days. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

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