These easy Leftover Ham Recipes help you reinvent your holiday extras into brand new breakfasts, lunches, and dinners! From soups to salads, breakfast bakes to dinner casseroles, I’ve got all the ideas you need.
Leftover ham means good eatin’ for DAYS!
Whether you’re making Crockpot Ham or Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Ham Glaze and you’ve got leftovers on the bone in the fridge, or you’ve arrived home from a holiday dinner with some ham neatly wrapped in foil (along with endless to-go containers of sides), leftover ham kind of feels like an inevitability during the holiday season.
A delicious inevitability! Because leftover ham recipes mean you can turn those extras into all kinds of brand new dishes.
Ham meat can be diced, sliced, and added as a protein to everything from casseroles to salads.
Because it’s so flavorful, even small amounts of ham can add pizzazz to scrambled eggs and side dishes.
Ham bones make for the most delicious soups, adding smoky, savory flavor and helping to thicken the broth.
Ham Breakfast & Brunch Ideas
Ham and eggs are a classic duo, but there are other ways to use leftover ham for breakfast too! You can swap it in for sausage or bacon in just about any breakfast casserole, quiche, or strata.
Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole
Fluffy pieces of everything bagel soaked in egg batter, tossed with ham and cheddar, then dotted with cream cheese, this golden breakfast bake is the stuff of lazy weekend mornings.
A delicious, easy Sweet Potato Frittata with Ham and Caramelized Onions. Whole30 and Paleo friendly, it’s great for healthy breakfasts and dinners too!
A two-ingredient smashed broccoli crust replaces the traditional pie dough in this yummy quiche recipe. A delicious low carb and gluten free quiche recipe option!
You really can’t go wrong with ham soup! The ham bone adds so much flavor to the broth and the beans, potatoes, and/or veggies, so even if you don’t have a lot of ham meat on hand, it’s still 100% worth it.
Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup
This rich, hearty crock pot ham and bean soup is an easy way to use leftover ham! It's full of savory flavor and it freezes beautifully.
You really don’t even need a recipe—just cut your ham into cubes and add it to any salad! It’s great in pasta salads and potato salads.
Ham Salad
Want an easy recipe for using up your ham? This is it! We love tucking into this salad with buttery crackers, but it's equally delicious in lettuce wraps.
How do you make a creamy, cheesy casserole recipe even better? The secret is adding ham! Many recipes that called for diced chicken or turkey will work with ham too, and you can also make vegetable side dishes like Cauliflower Casserole into a meal by folding in ham before baking.
Ham and Potato Casserole
Easy cheesy ham and potato casserole is the best way to use leftover ham! It's made from scratch with a smooth, velvety cheese sauce.
Ham and Cheese Quesadillas. Layer ham and cheese between tortillas, cook in a skillet until melty, and serve with sour cream.
Ham Pizza. Use ham as a topping on my Whole Wheat Pizza Dough or store-bought pizza crust—with or without pineapple!
Ham Breakfast Burritos. Chop ham and warm it with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and salsa. Roll into tortillas and follow the instructions for cooking and/or freezing from my Breakfast Burrito Recipe
Ham Hash with Sweet Potatoes. Cube sweet potatoes, sauté with onions until tender, then add ham and finish with a runny fried egg on top.
Ham Sandwiches. Use sliced deli ham in sandwiches with Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard.
How to Store Leftover Ham Safely
A key part of getting the most from your leftover ham is proper storage. Here are the best practices:
According to USDA guidelines, cooked leftover ham keeps in the fridge for 3–5 days.
Fully cooked ham can be frozen for 1–2 months.
Wrap the ham tightly in plastic wrap or foil, or place it in airtight containers.
Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating or using leftovers in recipes.
Discard leftover ham if it develops an off smell, slimy texture, or discoloration.
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Hi, I’m Erin Clarke, cookbook author and the home cook behind Well Plated. I’ve helped millions of people cook healthier meals that actually taste amazing and sold over 190,000 books! I’m here to help you save time, dirty fewer dishes, and feel great about what you’re eating, without overthinking it. Welcome!
