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    Home » Pork

    Old-Fashioned Ham Salad

    Published: Mar 10, 2022 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Ashley · As an Amazon affiliate, this post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Only a handful of ingredients are needed to make this easy old-fashioned ham salad. Use as a sandwich spread for a delicious variation to a traditional cold cut. This salad is a great way to use up leftover holiday ham!

    Old fashioned ham salad sandwich on white plate

    Baked ham is such an easy, versatile protein that is served at holidays year-round. My family usually serves it cold on sandwiches on Christmas Eve and warm with cheesy potatoes on Easter. I know families that serve ham on Thanksgiving and Christmas versus other proteins like turkey, making it a great option for virtually any holiday or get-together.

    The best part of making a big ham for a celebration: it will feed a big crowd & there is almost always leftovers! Leftovers can be used to make cold cut sandwiches, a soup or make a batch of this ham salad!

    What Kind of Ham is Best?

    This recipe is versatile and will work nicely for any leftover ham you may have. The main difference will come down to the flavor. The flavor of ham salad made with a honey ham will have a sweeter flavor than a hickory ham. Chances are the ham you prefer to eat for your holiday meal you will also enjoy in a Ham Salad Sandwich.

    The fact that most hams you purchase in the grocery store are either cured or smoked makes it one of the easiest meats to prepare. Some will be labeled "ready to eat" meaning they can be served cold while others need to be heated to an internal temperature of 140 degrees.

    In a pinch you can also purchase a ham steak or prepackaged ham chunks if you don't have any leftover ham around. You never know when the craving may strike!

    How To Make It

    With leftover ham and only 4 other ingredients, this ham salad spread is so quick and easy to make!

    1. Cut ham into small cubes. Add the ham to a food processor along with some chopped onion. Pulse until the ham is finely minced. You may need to pause once or twice to scrape the sides of the food processor.
    2. Mix ham & onion mixture with mayo, relish and black pepper until well combined. That's it!

    Pulsing is the best technique to break down the ham without it turning into a paste. If you don't have a food processor, mince the ham as small as you can with a sharp knife. 

    Diced ham and onion in food processor
    Relish and mayo in a bowl with minced ham

    Serving Tips

    To assemble a sandwich, spread a good amount of ham salad onto a slice of bread. I love using thick sliced white bread. There's just something nostalgic about it. Add a couple leaves of romaine lettuce for some extra crunch, if desired. Top with another slice of bread, cut in half and enjoy!

    You can also serve a scoop of salad on wheat bread, buns or croissants. Turn the ham salad into an appetizer by serving it on crackers, too!

    Open faced ham salad sandwich with lettuce

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long is prepared ham salad good for?

    This recipe will make enough ham salad spread to make about 6 hearty sandwiches. Stored in the refrigerator it should keep 3-5 days. This makes it ideal for meal prepping lunches for the week.

    Can I freeze my ham salad?

    It's not a good idea to freeze food items that contain mayonnaise. The ingredients in mayo will likely separate after thawing, creating an unappetizing salad texture.
    You can easily half or double the recipe if you need to make more or less!

    Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo?

    This all comes down to personal preference. A salad dressing, like Miracle Whip, tends to be lower in fat and calories making it a nice option. As far as flavor goes, Miracle Whip has a sweeter, tangy flavor which in turn will affect the flavor of the Ham Salad. If using Miracle Whip, I'd recommend using a dill pickle relish instead of a sweet relish.

    Ham salad on white bread served with chips

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    Ham Salad Sandwich on a white plate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Old-Fashioned Ham Salad

    Only a handful of ingredients are needed to make this easy old-fashioned ham salad. Use as a sandwich spread for a delicious variation to a traditional cold cut. This salad is a great way to use up leftover holiday ham!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: ham salad, ham salad sandwich, ham sandwich, ham spread
    Servings: 6 sandwiches
    Author: Ashley Leonard

    Ingredients

    • 1 # cooked ham about 3 cups cubed
    • 2 tbsp. yellow onion finely chopped
    • ⅓ cup mayo
    • ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
    • ¼ tsp. black pepper
    • 12 slices thick white bread
    • romaine lettuce optional

    Instructions

    • Add diced ham and onion to the food processor. Pulse until ham is finely minced. Place mixture in a mixing bowl.
    • Mix ham & onion mixture with mayo, relish and black pepper until well combined.
    • To assemble a sandwich, place about ½ a cup of ham salad on a slice of white bread. Top with romaine lettuce and another slice of bread.

    Helpful Equipment & Ingredient Links

    Food Processor
    Mixing Bowl

    Notes

    • I love using thick sliced white bread to make a ham salad sandwich. There's just something nostalgic about it. Add a couple leaves of romaine lettuce for some extra crunch, if desired.
    • You can also serve a scoop of salad on wheat bread, buns or croissants. Turn the ham salad into an appetizer by serving it on crackers, too!

    More Pork

    • Oven Baked Meatballs
    • Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy
    • Italian Egg Rolls
    • Breakfast Totchos

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cynetta

      March 12, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Some chopped celery would be a good optional ingredient

      Reply
      • Ashley

        March 12, 2022 at 2:34 pm

        I've seen many ham salads with celery added so you absolutely could. I sometimes find the celery flavor to be overpowering, which is why I prefer not to add it to mine.

        Reply
    2. Beth

      March 16, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today and it was delicious! Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Ashley

        March 17, 2022 at 10:08 am

        Thank you Beth! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Jenny

      September 15, 2022 at 9:15 am

      To stretch my left over ham I added a couple of hard boiled eggs to the food processor for an ham and egg salad which was a hit at the church pot luck.

      Reply
      • Ashley

        September 17, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        Great idea! Salads like these are perfect for potlucks. Thank you for the feedback!

        Reply

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    Welcome to The Darling Apron! I'm a wife, mom, & chai tea latte lover who uses food as her love language. I believe some of life's best moments happen when gathered around the kitchen table. Whether making time-honored family recipes or developing new favorites, I love creating memories through delicious food. I hope this space inspires you to do the same!

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