Ham is a holiday favorite and the perfect Sunday supper! We love it oven-roasted, slow-cooked, or even smoked. Add a sweet caramelized glaze, salt, pineapple, or mustard.

As much as we love the main event, I think we love leftovers even more. Below are our favorite leftover ham recipes.

Table of Contents
  1. What To Do With Leftover Ham
  2. How to Store Leftover Ham
  3. Main Ham Dish Recipes
  4. Ham Casserole Recipes
  5. Ham Sliders and Sandwiches
  6. Ham Soup Recipes
  7. Ham Breakfast Recipes
  8. More Ham Favorites
  9. 10 Other Ways to Use Leftover Ham

What To Do With Leftover Ham

My family prefers glazed ham to turkey, and I love that it’s so easy to make. It takes very little prep work (especially if you cook a spiral ham or cook it in the air fryer).

But one of the best parts of a big meal (like a baked ham dinner) is the leftovers. Start by just reheating leftover ham slices and eating them as is, or get creative with our favorite recipes for leftover ham below.

How To Reheat Leftover Ham

You can reheat ham in the oven by placing it in a shallow baking dish with ½ cup of broth and heating it at 325°F for 20-25 minutes. Or, if you only need to reheat a few pieces, try using an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Time will vary slightly based on how large the piece of ham is, how it is cut (thick vs. thin), and how much ham is being reheated.

How to Store Leftover Ham

Ham will last a few days in the fridge or a couple of months in the freezer. Dice and package it into 1-cup portions to make it easy to use in recipes. A ham bone makes great soups. Keep it in the freezer, and then use it right from frozen.

  • Fridge: Cooked leftover ham (spiral or other) can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. (This also includes leftover deli ham once opened).
  • Freezer: Leftover ham should be well sealed (or vacuum sealed), and the leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Main Ham Dish Recipes

Ham is so versatile, that is why there are so many recipes with ham as an ingredient. Because of its smoky flavor, it is great in almost all soups, stews, and casseroles in place of chicken or other proteins.

Browse All Ham Recipes
  • Glazed Ham is almost like a traditional meatloaf, but it is made from ground ham and pork. This is a great recipe for all that leftover ham.
  • Black Eyed Peas Recipe with Ham is a little bit like a soup but with less broth. So chunky and flavorful, perfect for serving with rice.
  • Ham Balls are made from ground ham and then covered in a sweet red sauce. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
  • Linguine Carbonara is a creamy Italian dish, made with a white sauce and pieces of ham. So delicious.
  • Deviled Ham is a zesty spread made from seasoned ground ham mixed with ingredients like mustard, mayo, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s perfect for sandwiches and crackers.

Ham Casserole Recipes

Ham casseroles are a great way to use up ham and they usually have simple ingredients and easy instructions. Whether you’re in the mood for something cheesy, creamy, or loaded with veggies, here are a few favorites!

  • Scalloped Potatoes and Ham puts a little twist on the classic scalloped potatoes. Add a little ham and this classic side dish turns into the main deal.
  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ham combines a cream sauce, noodles, broccoli, and ham. Even the kids will love this one!
  • Cordon Bleu Casserole No ‘cream of anything’ soup in this recipe but loads of chicken and diced ham. Impress guests with this super comforting and cozy dish.
  • Creamy Baked Tortellini is a recipe with so many options and add-ins. So creamy, and filling.
  • Cheesy Ham Casserole is made with three kinds of cheese, a white sauce, and ham. So good.

Ham Sliders and Sandwiches

One great thing about leftover ham is that it can be enjoyed either hot or cold, sliced, diced, or chopped. Anything goes – top a salad with it, add it to a favorite pasta salad or sandwich it in the middle of grilled cheese. The possibilities are endless!

  • Ham and Cheese Sliders – Sweet Hawaiian Rolls, ham, cheese, and a buttery glaze – baked to melty perfection.
  • Ham Salad is great for using leftover ham and for sandwiching between two slices of white bread.
  • Monte Cristo Sandwich is the king of grilled cheese sandwiches.
  • Ham and Cheese Croissants are filled with smoky ham and rich Swiss cheese. Topped off with honey mustard sauce and baked to melty perfection, it’s a savory snack for any occasion.

Ham Soup Recipes

Leftover diced ham is a flavorful addition to soups and stews. It pairs well with sweet veggies like corn and sweet potatoes and adds great flavor to cream or potato-based soups. As for what to do with the leftover hambone… it’s great for ham soups or to make a flavorful ham broth.

Split Pea Soup

Wondering what to do with that leftover ham? Split pea soup is such a flavorful dish! Split peas and ham are simmered in a delicious broth with veggies to give you a thick and hearty soup.

Ham and Bean Soup

Make a hassle-free Ham and Bean Soup with no soaking needed. Ideal for using leftover holiday ham, this recipe requires only a few minutes of prep and effortlessly cooks in the slow cooker throughout the day!

Crock Pot Ham and Lentil Soup

Looking for a hearty soup to feed a crowd? This ham and lentil soup is so easy to make! Made with a ham bone or diced leftover ham, it is so delish! Serve with a loaf of crusty bread for the perfect meal!

  • 15 Bean Soup is such a filling and hearty soup, perfect for meals on a budget.
  • Instant Pot Ham & Bean Soup is a quick and easy way to have a comforting stew on the table in minutes.
  • Great Northern Beans and Ham is packed full of delicious ham and white northern beans. This soup is so good.
  • Easy Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup is a creamy soup that is perfect for those cold winter nights.
  • Slow Cooker Ham Bone Soup is a great way to use up that Easter ham.
  • Ham and Corn Chowder is a simple chowder made from ham and corn. So smooth and creamy, this soup is delicious.
  • Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup is the perfect soup on a budget. It’s filled with beans and ham and cooked long and slow in the crock pot.
  • Split Pea Soup is a creamy creation that is so simple and easy to make.

Ham Breakfast Recipes

Start the day off with one of these delicious ham recipes. Ham is a great addition to breakfast as it’s leaner than sausage or bacon and adds a delicious smoky flavor. Chop it up and add it to an omelette or reheat the ham slices in a frying pan and top with poached eggs and voila!

  • Denver Omelet is a loaded omelet that is oozing with cheese.
  • Ham & Spinach Frittata is a superb dish to make for Sunday brunch. This omelet is filled with a splash of green and hearty ham.
  • CrockPot Breakfast Casserole puts that crockpot to work. This recipe makes serving a brunch easy without the hassle.
  • Denver Egg Casserole is an egg casserole without a crust, making it perfect for those on a low-carb keto diet.
  • Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole is the perfect dish for serving when a crowd is on its way over for brunch.
  • Easy Quiche Recipe is a simple take on a classic recipe. Add some ham and turn eggs into a filling dish.
  • Ham Breakfast Hash is bound to keep everyone fueled up for the morning.
  • Breakfast Enchiladas are loaded and ready to go for breakfast. So filling and yummy.

More Ham Favorites

10 Other Ways to Use Leftover Ham

Ham is such an easy cut of meat to cook with. Use it to replace chicken or ground beef. It also makes great sandwiches. If adding ham in place of other meats, the salt may need to be adjusted in the recipe as ham is salty.

  1. Add it in place of chicken in a quick fried rice recipe.
  2. Replace the chicken in your favorite chicken pot pie recipe.
  3. Serve a simple ham sandwich by frying it and putting it on toast with cheddar cheese and mustard.
  4. Top your favorite pizza dough with ham (or add it to a frozen pizza).
  5. Dice leftover ham into small pieces and add it to cooked peas with butter.
  6. Deck out your fave baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, cheddar, and ham for an easy meal.
  7. Add ham and cheddar to homemade biscuits and serve warm with butter.
  8. Add ham to almost any pasta salad recipe or macaroni salad.
  9. Add diced ham to scrambled eggs or omelets.
  10. Chop it up and add it to mashed potatoes or mashed potato cakes.

Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite leftover ham recipe is!

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Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Of all the cooks out there your site is the best I have seen. Your recipes are delicious and easy to prepare and have been well tested. Thank you

    1. Thank you so much for the kind words Patricia, I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!

  2. Can’t find the recipe with the fried eggs (lovely pic–no recipe). Exactly what I wanted to make, too. Recipe sites used to be so easy. Darn.

  3. I would live to make your ham and potato hash but cannot find the recipe in your post. Can you please post a link to it?

    1. Hey Cat, under each of the pictures is a list of recipes. The title of the recipe should be clickable and take you to the actual recipe with instructions on how to make it. Hope that helps!

      1. The ham and potato hash recipe is no longer attached to this article. Even with searching on your site and Pinterest it’s no longer found.

  4. I just found at the bottom of Deep Freeze probably 3 pounds of diced Ham.
    I’m going to make this recipe with frozen Potatoes O’Brien that I have in that same freezer!!!!!

  5. Wonderful !
    So pretty. Easy to make. I used 1 TBSP more oil to keep the defrosted hash browns from sticking in the cast iron pan. Recipe was correct. The eggs cook quickly. We like the whites cooked.. our hash was ready at 10 minutes..and over the top good. Thank you from California.5 stars