21 Leftover Ham Recipes You’ll Look Forward to Making (2024)

So you cooked a big holiday feast and now have a ton of leftover ham. Here you'll find some amazing leftover ham recipes that go beyond a leftover ham soup or sandwich (though we've got those, too). These leftover ham ideas from our Test Kitchen will have you excited to enjoy your leftovers in new, delicious ways.

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Stovetop Savory Ham and Veggie Oatmeal

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Kick things off with delicious, hearty breakfast recipe with leftover ham. Easy oatmeal is amped up into a powerhouse meal by adding chopped ham, sweet peppers, and broccolini. Since it uses slower-cooking steel-cut oats, this leftover ham breakfast would be great for a relaxing family meal just after a holiday.

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Scalloped Potato and Ham Soup

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If you love scalloped potatoes, wait until you try this cozy soup. It's got the same creamy flavor as the potato side, only we've added lots of veggies and leftover ham to the pot. Lightly toasted and seasoned panko breadcrumbs add an irresistible crunch.

What Is a Dutch Oven—and How Do You Use It?

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Quick Pasta Toss with Peas and Artichokes

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Insteading of hiding leftover ham under a heavy sauce, this lighter pasta dish highlights it. Toss it with pasta, peas, artichokes, and fresh tomato, then douse everything in a bright sauce with olive oil and lemon juice. Make this recipe for leftover ham something craveable by adding a sprinkle of cheese at the end.

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Ham, Asparagus, and Cheese Strata

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When in doubt, turn leftover ham (and bread!) into a delicious breakfast. You can easily whip up this cheesy egg bake the night before. Once morning arrives, all you'll have to do is pop it in the oven and enjoy a cup of coffee while it bakes.

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Ham and Spinach Two-Cheese Pasta

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This leftover ham recipe is just the cozy dish you need to curl up with a cold night. Bake up ham, pasta, spinach, and cheese in individual ramekins to make an easy dinner or just a single portion meal. It's got the best blend of fresh ingredients and easy comfort food.

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Leftover Ham Chef's Salad

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This leftover ham recipe is so great, our Test Kitchen made sure it was part of the title. Simply chop your leftover ham and toss it with crisp lettuce, veggies, hard-cooked eggs, and plenty of cheese. It's a main dish salad you'll crave even when there's no more leftover ham from Easter.

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Crustless Denver-Potato Quiche

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Combine two favorites–Denver potatoes and quiche–into one extra tasty breakfast. New potatoes, ham, peppers, onions, and cheese all mingle together in an easy quiche that cooks right in your Dutch oven. Make this leftover ham recipe for a hearty breakfast or brunch, or save it for a comforting breakfast-for-dinner night.

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Ham and Pea Tortellini

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Decadent meals don't have to take a ton of time to prepare. Take this 20-minute pasta recipe, for example. Cheese tortellini, leftover ham, and peas swim in a rich, creamy sauce. A couple handfuls of arugula add a peppery bite while also providing extra nutrients to the dish.

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Skillet-Baked Eggs and Ham

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We love a good skillet meal and this leftover ham recipe is perfect for breakfast or a quick breakfast-for-dinner idea. Leeks add a light onion flavor while cream and Gruyère cheese add richness to every bite.

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Ham and Asparagus Macaroni

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Macaroni and cheese probably crossed your mind as you were brainstorming recipes for leftover ham, but this one takes it up a notch. If you have ham left from Easter, toss leftover cooked asparagus right in with noodles, Parmesan cheese, and ham. The result is a bit more upscale mac and cheese that's great for an easy spring dinner.

Quiche

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There's nothing like starting the day with a slice of quiche with a buttery, flaky piecrust. This simple quiche recipe can be easily adapted to whatever you've got on hand. In this case, we're obviously starting with leftover ham, but feel free to use chicken or crab, too.

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Asian Egg and Rice Cups with Plum Sauce

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If all of the usual ham leftover recipes aren't exciting you, go in a completely different direction. These savory egg cups are filled with ham, of course, but they also dress it up with cooked rice, fresh veggies, and sweet-and-sour plum sauce. This Asian-inspired leftover ham recipe can be a filling breakfast, fun lunch, or easy dinner.

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One-Pot Ham and Greens Pasta

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This one-pot meal is sure to make weeknight dinners a breeze. And when we say one pot, we mean it. The leftover ham, pasta, and greens all require a single Dutch oven to come together for less mess.

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Sweet Potato Biscuit Sandwiches with Ham and Redeye Gravy

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Talk about a mouthwatering brunch! Everyone will be snapping a pic before diving into one of these delicious leftover ham biscuit sandwiches. If you haven't had a chance to try redeye gravy yet, you can make it using leftover coffee (yes, coffee!).

52 Delicious Easter Brunch Recipes to Make This Year

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Lentil-Ham Soup

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Keep this leftover ham soup recipe in mind for the day after Easter. The easy slow cooker dump dinner comes together in minutes. You'll look forward to coming home to a comforting bowl of this delicious soup.

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Grilled Apple, Ham, and Brie Sandwich

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Ok, ok, you're in the mood for a sandwich, but want something a little more than ham on white bread. When that's the case, this upgraded sandwich is one of the best leftover ham recipes for putting a new spin on a classic. The trick is to use sourdough, brie cheese, spinach, and sliced apples to upgrade the ham, then grill until everything is hot, cheesy, and delicious.

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Danish Gronkaal Soup (Green Kale Soup)

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When you've exhausted all the traditional soup recipes with leftover ham, it's time to look around the globe. This Danish-inspired recipe will use up two cups of cooked ham (plus ham broth, if you have any leftover), plus potatoes, leeks, celery, and fresh kale. If you're craving a healthy, veggie-filled dish after a heavy holiday meal, this is the dish to get you back on track.

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Cheesy Ham Chilaquiles

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Strips of corn tortillas provide the base for diced ham, salsa, fried eggs, and cheese. Sliced fresh jalapenos are optional but we love the heat they bring to the dish. Smother this leftover ham recipe with sour cream and dig in.

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Apple-Fennel Ham and Egg Casserole

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This egg casserole recipe is loaded with fresh flavors like fennel, apple, and green onion. Tart Granny Smith apples pair perfectly with creamy Havarti cheese and salty ham. Save the fennel fronds and use them to top the baked dish.

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Greens, Eggs & Ham Frittata

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Customize this leftover ham recipe with your favorite greens or a mix of chard, kale, or spinach. You'll love how the smoky flavor of the ham balances the Pecorino cheese and spring onion in the egg mix. As one BHG home cook raves, "This was amazing! I used pepper jack cheese instead of the Monterey, as that was what I had on hand. This is a recipe that lends itself well to substitutions."

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Mozzarella, Pesto & Ham Toasties

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There's nothing more satisfying than a melty ham and cheese sandwich. Take it to the next level with a tangy mint-almond pesto, roasted bell peppers, and crusty sour dough bread. Don't feel like making roasted red peppers? The jarred version works great in this ham sandwich recipe.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes You’ll Look Forward to Making (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover ham good for in the fridge? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

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.

What to do with fully cooked ham? ›

A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

How do you make leftover ham moist? ›

Preheat oven to 325°F. Arrange slices in a single layer on a greased baking pan. Add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water and cover with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes or until heated through, turning slices once.

Is 2 week old cooked ham safe to eat? ›

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.

Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›

Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don't consume it if it's wet or oily. Some bacteria may cause ham to become sticky, too. In any case, avoid ham that doesn't feel right in your hand. This will be especially notable on sliced ham.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

How to tell if ham has gone bad? ›

If your ham starts to take on a green or grey hue, or even gets black or brown in a few areas, throw it away. If it doesn't smell good, throw it away. Ham should have a salty or smokey aroma, almost sweet. If there is a sour smell or something smells off, don't take the chance of a food-borne illness.

Can you eat 10 day old ham? ›

When Should You Throw Out Ham? If your ham has been stored in the fridge for more than five days after the package has been opened or in the freezer for more than six months, it is best to throw it out. Ham that has been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should also be disposed of.

How do you make a precooked ham taste better? ›

If you're using your oven, place the ham on a roasting rack—cut side down—set inside a pan. Add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of wine or stock to the pan (you don't want the ham swimming in liquid) and throw some aromatics in there—a few whole cloves, some star anise, and cinnamon sticks are all good options.

What can I do with the liquid from a ham? ›

Ham stocks generally go well with pulses and the stock could be used to make a black bean soup, a lentil soup such as the Yellow Split Peas and Frankfurter Soup (from Feast) or the Chick Pea and Pasta Soup (from How To Eat).

How do you cook a fully cooked ham without drying it out? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

What liquid keeps ham moist? ›

You can use water, but if you want to add more flavor, you should use wine or beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Most of this liquid will cook off, but your tinfoil cover will help your meat absorb those juices.

Why is my ham always dry? ›

Simmering the ham in liquid usually means that it is quite difficult for the ham to dry out. But you do need to cook it at a gentle simmer, as if you boil a ham too briskly then it can also become dry. Overcooking the ham can also cause it to become dry.

How do you reheat a ham so it doesn't dry out? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

Can you eat ham after 5 days? ›

Once you open a package of ham, or if it comes open — like if it was sliced at the deli counter— you can safely eat your leftovers for up to five days.

Is ham still good after 11 days? ›

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.

How long can I keep Christmas ham in the fridge? ›

Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.

Is ham good after 8 days? ›

Can I Eat Ham After 8 Days? Most hams are safe to eat three to five days after cooking. Country ham or canned ham can be eaten up to seven days after cooking.

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