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Leftover Ham

These Are My Favorite Ways to Use Leftover Ham 

Savory’s Food Director shares her secrets to using leftover ham from spring celebrations and beyond. 
ham Leftover Leftover Ham

By Andrea Lynn   

There are so many reasons to love Easter. Beyond the egg dying and ushering in spring that it connotes for me, I have a very selfish reason to adore the holiday. There will always be ham at the centerpiece of the Easter meal and with that, I make sure to stash and freeze a lot to use in the months to come. (I actually go larger on the Easter ham for this very reason.) Here are my favorite ways to use up that leftover ham whether it’s right after Easter or in the weeks after.  

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup  

Don’t toss that ham bone because it’s a key to an easy, flavorful soup. One of my favorite ways to utilize the porky goodness of a ham bone is for black-eyed peas or split pea soup. An Instant Pot makes this split pea soup recipe virtually hands-off.   

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Split Pea Soup  

Anything Quiche  

When I freeze my leftover ham, I portion it into a variety of small and large bags. To transform a small amount of ham into a brunch to feed a crowd, I love this Anything Quiche. Using just one cup of ham, you can mix and match the cheese and vegetables based on what you have on hand. My personal favorite is the combination of ham, pepper jack cheese, and spinach.  

Get the recipe: Anything Quiche  

Ham Salad  

In those days after Easter, I still want to use up my ham leftovers while also transforming them into something a little different. So, I turn to ham salad. Finely chopped ham is combined with mayonnaise, a dash of hot sauce (optional), and sweet pickle relish (necessary). Spread it onto sandwich bread or tortillas for pinwheels.  

Get the recipe: Ham Salad Pinwheel Pops   

Chef’s Salad with Sriracha-Ranch Dressing  

Whether for entertaining or as a make-ahead workday lunch for the week (guilty), this Chef’s Salad uses both leftover ham as well as any leftover dyed hard-boiled eggs. Packed with ingredients like cucumbers, carrots, cheddar cheese, and croutons and then drizzled with Sriracha-Ranch dressing, this salad is one you’ll be making all year long.   

Get the recipe: Chef’s Salad with Sriracha-Ranch Dressing  

Leftover Ham Tetrazzini  

Move over, turkey tetrazzini. This comforting pasta dish is a favorite for using up Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. We reimagined our version using ham leftovers. Mushrooms, frozen peas, and pasta are mixed into a silky, creamy cheese sauce and topped with a crunchy breadcrumb-and-Parmesan topping. This dish was such a hit with friends that they demanded the recipe and now make it on repeat using a ham steak.   

Get the recipe: Leftover Ham Tetrazzini  

Ham Sliders  

Another way to turn the leftover ham into a party dish or fun movie night dinner is to tuck the ham into Hawaiian rolls, layer with cheese, and drizzle with a butter mixture. Bake briefly in the oven for melty, toasty slider sandwiches. Low on effort, everyone I make these for is always impressed and there are never any leftovers.   

Get the recipe: Ham Sliders  

Andrea Lynn is a current Food Director for Savory magazine and past recipe developer, cookbook author, and food editor. She currently has a ham bone *and* Easter ham leftovers stashed in her freezer just waiting to use for upcoming dinners.   

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