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This Ham Salad is one of my favorite quick lunch recipes because it comes together in just a few minutes and uses simple ingredients I usually already have on hand. It’s creamy, a little crunchy, and perfect for spreading on crackers, piling onto a sandwich, or serving at a shower, luncheon, or holiday get-together.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I love ham salad but can never get it to taste like delicious ham salad. This is great (like my mom used to make), it’s very easy , thanks a lot.” – Iris
“This was exactly what I remembered from my grandma! Thank you for sharing.” – KC
“Amazingly delish and simple to make. I made it for a girl’s summer afternoon get-together… I didn’t change a thing in the recipe.” – Connie
Why I Love This Hearty Salad
Ham Salad is right up there with chicken salad and tuna salad for me. It is quick, filling, and such an easy way to turn leftover ham into lunch for the next few days. I especially love making it after Easter or Christmas when we have leftover spiral ham in the fridge, but it also works great with thick-cut deli ham.
The texture is what makes this recipe work so well. The ham gets minced into tiny pieces, then mixed with mayo, sweet pickle relish, celery, and a little salt and pepper. It’s simple, but the flavors come together so nicely. You can eat it right out of the bowl with crackers, turn it into a sandwich, or use it for cute Tea Sandwiches if you are planning a luncheon or shower.
🩷 Kelsey
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cooked ham: Leftover holiday ham, thick-cut deli ham, boneless cooked ham, or ham steaks all work well.
- Mayonnaise: This makes the Ham Salad creamy and helps hold everything together.
- Sweet pickle relish: Adds a little sweetness and tang that goes so well with the salty ham.
- Celery: Gives the salad a fresh crunch without taking over the flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Add these at the end after tasting because ham can already be pretty salty.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Pickles: Use diced dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, or a splash of pickle juice instead of sweet relish.
- Mustard: Add a little yellow mustard or Dijon mustard for more tang.
- Onion: Finely diced white onion, red onion, green onion, or shallots add extra flavor.
- Hard-boiled egg: Mix in a chopped hard-boiled egg to stretch the recipe and give it an old-fashioned flavor.
- Cucumber: Diced cucumber adds a cool, fresh crunch.
- Cheese: Small cubes of Colby Jack or shredded cheddar are great if you want it a little heartier.
- Bologna: Some versions of ham salad are made with bologna, and it works if that is what you like.
- Macaroni: Stir in cooked macaroni noodles to turn it into a ham macaroni salad.
- Lemon juice: A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice can brighten everything up before serving.
How to Make Ham Salad
- Chop the ham. Add the ham to a food processor or blender and pulse in short bursts until it is finely minced. Scrape down the sides as needed, but don’t blend it into a paste.
- Combine the ingredients. Add the minced ham, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and diced celery to a large bowl.
- Mix and season. Stir until everything is evenly combined, then taste before adding salt. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Chill and serve. Serve right away or chill for better flavor. Spoon onto bread, rolls, crackers, lettuce cups, or use for tea sandwiches.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t over-process the ham. Pulse in short bursts and stop when the ham is finely chopped. If it turns into a paste, the texture won’t be as good.
- Use a knife if needed. A food processor is easiest, but you can finely chop the ham by hand.
- Taste before adding salt. Ham is naturally salty, so you may not need much salt at all.
- Chill for better flavor. Even 30 minutes in the fridge helps the flavors come together.
- Adjust the mayo. Add a little more if you like a creamier Ham Salad, or use a little less if you want it thicker.
- Make it a dip. If you want to serve it with crackers, chop the ham a little finer and add a small splash of pickle juice.
- Use leftover holiday ham. This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover Easter or Christmas ham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leftover baked ham, spiral ham, boneless cooked ham, ham steaks, or thick-cut deli ham all work well. If you are buying ham from the deli, ask for it thick cut or dinner cut so it is easier to chop.
No, but it does make the recipe faster. You can also use a blender and work in small batches, or finely chop the ham with a sharp knife.
Yes. You can leave it out, use diced dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, or add a little pickle juice for flavor.
Ham can be salty on its own, especially deli ham or cured ham. That is why I always mix the salad first, taste it, and then add salt only if it needs it.
Yes, chopped hard-boiled eggs are a great addition. They make the salad a little heartier and give it more of an old-fashioned ham salad flavor.
Yes. Some old-fashioned versions are made with bologna. The flavor will be different, but it works.
Serve it on sandwich bread, rolls, croissants, crackers, lettuce cups, or as a filling for tea sandwiches. It also makes a great snack with crackers.
Yes. Serve the Ham Salad in lettuce cups, over a green salad, or with low-carb crackers.
Make Ahead and Storage
Ham Salad is a great make-ahead lunch because it keeps well in the fridge. Store it in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. Give it a good stir before serving, especially if it has been sitting overnight.
For the best flavor, make it a few hours before you plan to serve it. I don’t recommend freezing Ham Salad because the mayonnaise can separate and make the texture watery.
Pairing Ideas
Ham Salad is easy to serve for lunch, snacks, showers, or a simple dinner when you don’t want to cook. I love it with crackers, soft rolls, croissants, or tea sandwiches. For a fuller meal, pair it with Mom’s Potato Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad, Cucumber Vinegar Salad, chips, Fresh Fruit Salad, or a simple green salad.
More Recipes Like This
This Ham Salad is creamy, simple, and such a good way to use leftover ham. It takes just a few minutes to make and works for sandwiches, crackers, lettuce cups, or tea sandwiches. If you try it, leave a comment and let me know how you served it! 💛
Ham Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound deli ham, ask for thick cut or dinner cut
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Blend ham in a blender or food processor until it is thoroughly minced. You might have to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender.
- Combine ham, mayonnaise, sweet relish, and celery in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and serve on sandwiches or with crackers.
Equipment
- food processor or blender
Notes
- This recipe is a great way to use leftover Easter or Christmas ham.
- Thick-cut deli ham, boneless cooked ham, ham steaks, or leftover spiral ham all work well.
- Pulse the ham in short bursts so it gets finely chopped without turning into a paste.
- Taste before adding salt because ham can already be salty.
- Optional add-ins include mustard, diced dill pickles, pickle juice, cucumbers, hard-boiled egg, red onion, shallots, green onion, or small cubes of cheese.
- Chill before serving if you have time. The flavor gets even better after it sits in the fridge.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise can separate.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I love ham salad but can never get it to taste like delicious ham salad. This is great (like my mom used to make), it’s very easy , thanks a lot.
I’m so happy you like it! Thank you!
This was exactly what I remembered from my grandma! Thank you for sharing.
So glad to remind you of your grandma!
I love ham salad but never seem to make it on my own. So happy I gave this recipe a try. It was fantastic and made for one delicious lunch!
I’ve also been having this for lunch on repeat. 🙂
Amazingly delish and simple to make. I made it for a girl’s summer afternoon get-together, paired it with the watermellon feta salad and a glass of wine. 🍷
I didn’t change a thing in the recipe.
Sounds like an amazing spread! How fun!