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Ham salad is a classic Midwest recipe that I always make in the days after cooking ham! It’s the best way to use leftovers and the flavors are creamy, salty, and a little tangy thanks to pickle relish.
This recipe is similar to your classic tuna salad or chicken salad recipe, made with cooked ham, creamy mayonnaise, crisp red onions, and a handful of other easy ingredients.
Table of Contents
Like ham balls and Braunschweiger dip, ham salad is another Midwestern recipe that I’ve kept throughout the years. When I lived in Iowa, this creamy salad was a staple whenever we had leftover ham in the fridge. You can scale the recipe up or down depending on how much ham you have, or make it with cooked ham from the store. Enjoyed in a sandwich or spread over crackers, It’s cool, tangy, creamy, and delicious!
What Makes This the Best Ham Salad Recipe
- Classic. Ham salad is a family favorite, with mild and creamy flavors that are appreciated by kids and adults alike. It’s a simple and home-style, no-cook recipe that I always come back to.
- Quick. Whenever I think of the quickest dishes I can make, this ham salad comes to mind. It’s ready in 10 minutes!
- Make-ahead-friendly. I love making a big batch of ham salad. It lasts in the fridge for days and it’s perfect to prep ahead for lunches, potlucks, and picnics. The flavors get even better the longer it sits.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Besides ham, there are only a few easy ingredients that go into this classic Midwest ham salad recipe. I go over what you’ll need below. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list with amounts.
- Ham – You can use any cooked leftover ham, or buy a ham steak or diced ham from the grocery store.
- Mayo – Choose your favorite brand or make homemade mayonnaise if you have time.
- Celery and Onions – Finely chopped.
- Pickle Relish – I use sweet pickle relish but you can use dill pickle relish or any kind you’d like.
- Dijon Mustard – You can also use yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard.
- Black Pepper – Keeps the seasoning simple! Or, you can season this ham salad to taste with your favorite herbs and spices. Good options are paprika, crushed red pepper flakes (for a spicy kick), or even a little pork chop seasoning.
How to Make Ham Salad
This is a quick, 2-step recipe that you can make with or without a food processor. Here’s how to have this ham salad ready to eat in 10 minutes or less. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable instructions.
- Shred the ham. Dice up the ham first, then add it to a food processor. Pulse the ham a few times so that it’s roughly chopped. You can also chop the ham up finely by hand.
- Combine. Next, add the shredded ham to a bowl with the other ingredients. Toss everything together until well mixed. Season it to taste, then refrigerate or serve right away.
Tips and Variations
- Add salt to taste. You may have noticed that salt is absent from the ingredients list, and that’s on purpose! You can add salt, but I recommend tasting the salad first. I often find the ham is salty enough.
- Don’t over-process the ham. I recommend using the “pulse” setting to shred the ham a little at a time until it reaches a chopped consistency. Don’t over-blend or you might end up with a ham smoothie!
- Add herbs. Chopped fresh parsley, thyme, green onions, and chives all taste great in this salad.
- Add eggs. I don’t add them to my ham salad, but I’ve seen other recipes that add 1-2 hard-boiled eggs to the food processor to chop along with the ham.
Serving Suggestions
I always serve my ham salad with crackers, between fluffy buns or potato bread slices, or rolled up into a ham salad pinwheel sandwich. Sometimes, I’ll swap it for the bacon in a BLT sandwich! This cool and creamy salad is especially satisfying in the summer, washed down with a glass of sangria.
How to Store Ham Salad
Store leftover ham salad covered airtight in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. I don’t recommend this recipe for freezing since the dressing can separate once it thaws.
More Salad Recipes
Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked ham, diced
- ¾ cup mayo
- ½ cup diced celery
- 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add the diced ham to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.1 pound cooked ham
- In a bowl mix together the chopped ham with the remaining ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust pepper to taste.¾ cup mayo, ½ cup diced celery, 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion, 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Serve with crackers or on bread.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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