32 Easy Recipes for Leftover Ham - Budgeting for Bliss (2024)

Looking for recipes to use up your leftover ham? These 32 Easy Recipes for Leftover Holiday Ham are the best way to stretch your grocery budget and make simple meals your whole family will enjoy.

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Ham is a great option for holiday meals because of how simple it is to prepare and how many people it will feed. Since most hams come pre-cooked, it makes the prep work even easier.

But, as great as ham is as the main dish for your holiday meal, it’s the leftovers that many people look forward to the most. Leftover holiday ham is probably one of the best parts of the meal because of all the delicious recipes that can be put to use afterward.

These simple leftover ham recipes are the perfect inspiration for breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. You will find salad, sandwiches, soup, and casserole ideas. Your family is sure to discover something that they will love in this list of 32 Easy Leftover Holiday Ham Recipes.

A Quick Tip-You can find ham at a great price through the holiday season. This is the perfect time to stock up to stretch your food budget to help you save on your grocery bill.

Looking for more ways to save on groceries:
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Best tips for using Leftover Holiday Ham

How long can leftover ham be stored in the fridge?

Ham can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days as long as it’s kept in an airtight container or a plastic storage bag.

Can you freeze leftover ham?

Yes, if you are unable to use it all before the 5 days are up. Then, put it in a freezer bag and toss it into the freezer so it doesn’t go to waste. It can last up to 3 months.

Don’t forget to save the ham bone and use it for soups. You can also freeze it to use at a later time.

32 Easy Recipes for Leftover Holiday Ham

Breakfast

Breakfast is one of the best ways to use up leftover holiday ham. There are so many easy and quick options for breakfast. The best part is that you can make up a large batch and freeze it for later.

Omelet

Omelets are so versatile and can be made with anything you have on hand. Grab some eggs, ham, cheese, onions, and peppers to make yourself a Denver omelet.

Breakfast Pizza

We love breakfast pizza. The first time we ever had it was at Disney World and once we got home, we decided to make our own version. You can buy the pre-made crust to make it easier if you prefer. However, I like to use frozen bread dough for my pizza crust. ( I just let it thaw overnight).

Then, just combine scrambled eggs with your leftover holiday ham and spread on the dough. Sprinkle with your favorite cheese and bake at 425° for 8-10 minutes. (If the dough is already precooked it shouldn’t take more than 5-6 minutes to melt the cheese).

Egg Bagel Sandwiches

These are so simple and delicious. Just fry an egg, melt cheese over the top, and add a warmed piece of leftover ham to a toasted bagel.

If you are making these for a crowd or want to freeze them for later, you can whisk together a dozen eggs, pour them into a greased 9×13 inch pan, and bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes or until eggs are cooked through. Once eggs are cooled, cut into squares and place on bagels with ham and cheese.

If you want to freeze them, you can wrap them individually in aluminum foil and place them in a freezer bag. When reheating using a toaster oven or the oven is best (350° for 10-12 minutes) because the microwave will make them soggy.

Egg, Ham, and Cheese Muffins

A quick and tasty meal that everyone seems to enjoy. These are made exactly like our egg bagel sandwiches, we just use english muffins instead. These make a great freezer breakfast meal to enjoy on those busy weekday mornings.

Ham Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sliders

(Homemade Interest)

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast burritos are simple to make and are a great freezer meal if you are trying to make your leftover holiday ham stretch. All you need to do is scramble some eggs with shredded cheddar cheese and diced ham. Put a small amount in a flour tortilla shell and wrap up.

To freeze, wrap burritos in aluminum foil and place them into a freezer bag. When you want to reheat them, take them out of the aluminum foil and wrap them in a paper towel, and microwave for a couple of minutes until heated through.

Breakfast Crunch wrap

We make breakfast crunch wraps exactly like our breakfast burritos except instead of rolling them up we fold them in a square.

We place the scrambled egg, cheese, and ham in the middle of a tortilla shell and start by folding the side closest to you toward the center. Then, just keep folding around the center until eventually when you turn it over it’s square.

Put it in a warm skillet, folded side down until brown. Turn over and brown the other side. Serve with salsa and sour cream

Egg, Ham, and Cheese Crunch wrap

Grilled Egg, Ham, and Cheese Sandwich

My son loves cooking breakfast sandwiches and came up with this recipe one day while making breakfast. Since he isn’t a huge fan of English muffins, he likes to make his egg, ham, and cheese sandwiches with bread.

He decided to combine a grilled cheese sandwich with an egg, ham, and, cheese breakfast sandwich and its perfection.

It’s as easy as frying an egg (he adds garlic powder, Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper). He adds the cooked egg, to two slices of bread, cheese, and ham then cooks it like a grilled cheese sandwich in a warm skillet.

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A few more hearty breakfast recipes for leftover holiday ham:

Ham and Broccoli Quiche

(Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom)

Ham, Asparagus and Mushroom Frittata

(Flavor the Moments)

Ham, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

(Happy Brown House)

Ham and Egg Bubble Up

(Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen)

Lunch

Chef Salad

Chef Salad is a great lunch option to use up your leftover holiday ham. Combine lettuce, with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, chopped eggs, cheese, and ham. Top with ranch dressing for a fresh and delicious lunch.

Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad

(With a Blast)

Ham and Cheese Sliders

(Yellow Bliss Road)

Monte Cristo Sandwich

(House of Nash Eats)

Ham and Cheese Club Sandwich

Club sandwiches are a hearty lunch option and so easy to assemble. Just toast 3 slices of bread, add mayo, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bacon.

Classic Ham Salad

(Family Fresh Meals)

Ultimate Grilled Ham and Cheese

(Real Mom Kitchen)

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

(Sweet Pea’s Kitchen)

Looking for more easy lunch options?
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Dinner

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of my very favorite comfort foods. Adding these tasty additions will take it to the next level of deliciousness.

Prepare your homemade mashed potatoes the way you like them. I love using my instant pot to cook potatoes because it’s so easy and quick. Then, add bacon, cheese, leftover ham, green onions, sour cream and serve.

Related:
  • 25 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for the Beginner-simple and quick instant pot recipes that will make cooking dinner a breeze.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

(Adore Foods)

Flaky &Buttery Ham Pot Pie

(The Salty Pot)

Hawaiian BBQ Pizza

(Queenslee Appetit)

Pineapple Ham Fried Rice

(Foodtastic Mom)

Delicious Casseroles to make with your Leftover Holiday Ham

Creamy Ham Fettuccine Casserole

(The Country Cook)

Ham and Noodle Casserole

(Casserole Crissy)

Ham Broccoli Rice Casserole

(Together as Family)

Chicken Cordon Bleu Stuffing Casserole

(The Chunky Chef)

Comforting Soup Recipes Made from Leftover Holiday Ham

Slow Cooker Ham and Corn Chowder

(The Kitchen is my Playground)

Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup

(Bunny’s Warm Oven)

Split Pea Soup

(The Cozy Cook)

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A few other options to use up leftover ham from the holidays include:

  • Adding it to scrambled eggs
  • Use it in your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. (We love this instant pot macaroni and cheese recipe from The Salty Marshmallow.
  • Put ham in pasta salads and wraps.

Hopefully, you’ve been inspired to try one of these easy and delicious recipes to use up your leftover ham this holiday season. Enjoy!

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32 Easy Recipes for Leftover Ham - Budgeting for Bliss (9)

32 Easy Recipes for Leftover Ham - Budgeting for Bliss (2024)

FAQs

What is ham stock good for? ›

You should refrigerate the stock as soon as possible (and within 2 hours of cooking) and use it up in 1-2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Nigella likes to use ham stock in meat sauces (pork or beef), added to bechamel sauces for extra flavour and particularly in soups.

How to store leftover ham? ›

To store your ham properly, it's best to use vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers to prevent moisture loss and bacteria growth. Also, remember to take a look at your refrigerator's temperature range! Ideally, it should be between 34°F and 40°F or 1°C-4°C.

What to do with the juice from a ham? ›

Recipe Ideas Using Ham Stock:
  1. Slow Cooker Ham and Cabbage Soup.
  2. CrockPot Bean Soup with Ham and Kale.
  3. Instant Pot Split Pea Soup.
  4. Instant Pot Ham and Cabbage Soup.
  5. Hopping John Soup.
  6. Slow Cooker Bean Soup with Ham, Spinach, and Thyme.
  7. White Bean Soup with Ham.
Feb 19, 2012

What to do with ham water? ›

If you cook a gammon or ham, strain the liquid and freeze. This can then be used in soups where stock is required.

What soups can be made from ham stock? ›

10 Hearty Ham Soup Recipes
  1. 01 of 10. Classic Lentil Soup With Ham. ...
  2. 02 of 10. Spicy Black Bean Soup With Ham. ...
  3. 03 of 10. Classic Split Pea Soup With Ham. ...
  4. 04 of 10. Green Tomato Soup With Country Ham. ...
  5. 05 of 10. Creamy Potato Soup With Ham. ...
  6. 06 of 10. Lima Bean Soup With Ham. ...
  7. 07 of 10. Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with Ham. ...
  8. 08 of 10.
Feb 2, 2023

Is ham broth healthy? ›

A new study has shown that Bone Broth made from dry-cured ham bones may be beneficial for cardiovascular health because ham bones contain peptides that could have cardioprotective effects.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it. It doesn't matter if the ham is whole or sliced; the lack of preservatives allows it to spoil more quickly.

Is it okay to freeze a fully cooked ham? ›

You can freeze delicious ham and it'll last for weeks before you need to use it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that fully cooked frozen ham is safe to eat for up to one to two months. If you find yourself with leftover ham, freezing it for future use is both easy and convenient.

Why do people put pineapple on ham? ›

“Typically, when you're doing a country ham, you need something sweet to neutralize the ham's saltiness, and pineapple does this really well.” And it's not just me and Benton: Pineapple shows up in ham recipes—atop the ham, in glazes slicking the ham, in shield-your-eyes versions of fried rice—the world over.

What is the red liquid in ham? ›

That red liquid is water mixed a protein called myoglobin. See as meat ages, the muscle tissue breaks down – and it doesn't take long. The water and myoglobin cells inside the meat are released and voila, a red blood-like liquid emanates from the meat when it is prepared.

How do you make leftover ham juicy again? ›

Wrap 6 to 8 ounces of sliced leftover ham in aluminum foil. Preheat the air fryer to 325°F. Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer basket and heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until heated through. ( Wrapping in foil helps prevent the ham from drying out.)

Why do people put soda on ham? ›

Cola adds caramel sweetness to a ham glaze and can stand up to other strong ingredients like bourbon and cloves. If you'd rather not cook with alcohol, use apple juice instead. Start with our Classic Cola-Glazed Ham recipe and give it your own spin, depending on the soda you're using.

What juice keeps ham moist? ›

Apple juice is a common ingredient used to keep a pre-cooked ham tender, moist and juicy. The sweet and tart taste of the juice enhances the flavor of your ham, too. Here's how to use an apple juice glaze when baking pre-cooked ham for the most delicious result.

Why do people soak ham? ›

If necessary, soak the gammon (ham) in cold water to reduce saltiness, according to butcher or packet instructions (most do not need this anymore as curing methods have changed).

What do you use ham stock cubes for? ›

Enhance a range of dishes - from ham hock risotto to ham broth and even minestrone soup - simply by adding a Knorr Ham Stock Cube to your cooking.

How long will ham stock keep in the fridge? ›

Ham stock can be refrigerated, covered, for up to one week or stored in the freezer for up to three months. If freezing, it is best to store your stock in smaller portions so that you only thaw what you need. Quart-sized freezer storage bags or glass jars work great.

Is broth made from ham bone healthy? ›

Besides being super flavorful, this leftover ham bone broth soup is rich in collagen and healthy fats, which makes it a powerful healing food.

Can I use the water from boiled ham? ›

The choice is yours. The cooking liquid, enriched with onions spiked with cloves and a few bay leaves, has done its work and can be chucked out (it's inclined to be salty), but I do like to spoon a little of it, in lieu of gravy, over the slices of moist, pink meat as I serve them.

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