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This ham salad recipe is a quick and tasty lunch. It’s so good, you’ll want to eat it straight from the bowl – and you can with crackers!
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Ham Salad, like chicken salad or tuna salad, is a quick and easy lunch or snack recipe. Made with deli ham, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and celery, it packs a punch of protein and flavor. Make a sandwich out of it or spread it over crackers for a quick snack. Have leftover spiral ham? Chop it up and use it in this salad to ensure nothing goes to waste! Or, grab some thick-cut or dinner-cut ham from the deli. Planning a tea party, shower, or luncheon? Use this salad recipe to make our fancy Tea Sandwiches.
Ingredients in Ham Salad
- Cooked Ham – we normally use deli ham or leftover ham
- Mayonnaise – our favorite mayo brands are Hellman’s and Best Foods
- Sweet Pickle Relish – you can also used diced dill pickles
- Diced Celery – this is optional but we love the extra crunch
- Salt and Pepper to taste – ham can be very salty, so make up the ham mixture and then taste it before adding any more salt
Variations
- Use a leftover holiday ham to make ham salad.
- Add dijon mustard or pickle juice for more flavor in the sauce.
- Finely dice white or red onions or shallots to add even more flavor.
- Add diced cucumbers or diced hard-boiled egg.
- Toss in small cubes of colby jack cheese.
- Add cooked macaroni noodles for a delicious macaroni salad.
- Garnish with green onions or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- Serve on crackers for a yummy appetizer.
Recipe Tip
You want to blend the ham for your salad so it is in tiny chunks, but not so much that it forms a paste. Use the pulse button to blend it in short spurts and check it in between. Make sure to scrape the sides so everything gets minced evenly. If you do not have a blender or food processor, then you can use a large knife and chop the ham into tiny chunks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ham Salad
Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
We do not recommend freezing this salad because of the mayonnaise. It will not retain the right texture.
Yes! Sometimes is made with bologna.
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How to Make Ham Salad
Ham Salad
Video
Equipment
- food processor or blender
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.
Notes
- This recipe is great for using up leftover spiral ham from Easter or Christmas dinner!
- Optional Add-Ins: mustard, cucumbers, diced hard boiled-egg, dill pickles, red onions or shallots
- Use within 3-5 days of making.
This was exactly what I remembered from my grandma! Thank you for sharing.
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!
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.