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Classic Southern Ham Salad is so delicious and easy to make! It’s perfect for sandwiches, on crackers, and makes a yummy dip. Turn leftover holiday ham into something amazing with this simple recipe.
Ham Salad is one of those simple recipes that never needs to be messed with. The reason. It’s great…just as it is. Like my homemade Pimento Cheese, some things are wonderful just as they are.
One of the things that makes this Ham Salad so good is that you’re taking one recipe and making it into two. It all starts with ham that’s normally served during a holiday like Easter or Christmas. There’s always some leftover and what better way to use it than in Ham Salad.
Ways To Serve Ham Salad
- It’s delicious served as an appetizer with an assortment of crackers.
- Pile it high on toasted bread with crispy lettuce.
- Serve it alongside your favorite soup for a great twist on Soup and Salad Night.
- My favorite, of course, is with saltine crackers with some pickles on the side!
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Leftover ham or store-bought cooked ham
- Egg
- Mayonnaise
- Sweet Pickles
- Pickle Juice
- Celery
- Pepper
How To Make Ham Salad
I’ve found the best way to make this recipe is to use a food processor. If you don’t have one, chop the ham into as small pieces as possible.
First add the ham, eggs, pickles, pepper, and mayonnaise to the bowl of a processor and pulse about 12 to 15 times.
Next, add in finely chopped celery and fold everything together using a spatula. Make sure to taste and add more mayonnaise if needed along with fresh cracked pepper. Chill the Ham Salad for about an hour before serving if you can wait that long!
Want To Change Up The Recipe?
Ham Salad can be changed up to include all kinds of other ingredients. Here’s a few ideas:
- chopped green onions
- bell pepper
- Swiss cheese
- mustard or horseradish sauce
Pro Tip: If you don’t have leftover over holiday ham and have a hankering for Ham Salad, you can purchase cooked ham from the deli either already chopped or thick sliced.
How To Store Ham Salad
Keep Ham Salad stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
As a reminder, if you’re serving it as an appetizer, make sure not to leave it out for more than 2 hours since it has mayonnaise in it.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 – 3 ½ cups fully cooked ham
- 1 large hard-boiled egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped sweet pickles
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 stalk finely chopped celery
Instructions
- To the bowl of a food processor, add ham, egg, sweet pickles, pickle juice, pepper, and mayonnaise. Pulse for 12 – 15 times until ham is finely chopped.
- Place ham mixture in a medium-size bowl. Fold in chopped celery. Taste and adjust seasoning. Cover and place ham salad in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour before serving.
- ***a sharp knife can be used to chop ham, egg, and pickles if no food processor is available.
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My sweet Mother use to make this years ago and I loved it. I do remember her having a hint of mustard. She use to can mustard relish and always added that.
I followed yours today and added a tsp of mustard. Oh my goodness it’s just as yummy as I remember.
Thank you much for the satisfying tastebuds of my childhood brought back from your recipe. 😋
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so happy this recipe brought back good memories and that you liked it.
~Donya
Can you use dill relish rather than sweet?
You sure can, enjoy.
~Donya
I made this today and have it in my fridge chilling. I will make me a sandwich in a bit. I halved the recipe since it is just me. It was very easy to whip up in my little food processor. The sample I tasted was very good. I used leftover ham but I did leave out the celery as I am not a fan of it. I would recommend this to anyone that needs to use up some leftover ham. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hey there Connie!
I am so glad to hear that you gave this recipe a try, if you’ve got leftover ham then this is definitely one of the best ways to use it up! This dish is also great for meal prepping since you can make a batch on Sunday or Monday and then enjoy it throughout the week. Thank you so much for your kind words and your wonderful rating, I really appreciate your support! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Thank you ma’am. Made this recipie ,as per your instructions ,to a T. So delicious! I’ve gained an interest in the joys of cooking and have taken over the kitchen, no complaints from my wife. Lol. I peruse pins daily and experient with new and awesome ideas. Good fun. I cook meals for my single mom neighbor who lives is a one room apartment, no stove or proper kitchen , (any excuse to cook more often)and her 6 yr old, Nevaeh, loved it!!
Hey there James!
Wow! It absolutely warms my heart to read your sweet comment, I am thrilled to hear that you’re getting into cooking, I’m sure your neighbor is grateful to see you cooking up a storm! If you enjoyed preparing this Ham Salad, you should check out my Pasta Salad recipes, I have quite a few varieties and they’re all super easy to make with fresh bold flavors I think you’d love. Please let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help! Thank you so much for your kind words, I really appreciate your support!
~Donya
The best. Ever!
I absolutely love this salad for appetizers or sandwiches! This recipe is wonderful! I grew up on this 🙂
Hey there Pate!
I couldn’t’ agree with you more, this salad is a wonderful appetizer with crackers and it makes the BEST sandwiches! Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your phenomenal rating, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! If you ever have any questions about another dish, please don’t hesitate to ask, I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya
This is and has been for MANY years a favorite of my family
Hey there Lindy!
I am so happy to hear that you and your family have been enjoying this recipe, it’s one of my favorite recipes as well! Thank you so much for your kind words of support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Love this!
Hey there Paulette!
Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and your kind words, I am so happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying this recipe! If you ever have any questions about a dish, feel free to reach out, I’d be more than happy to help!
Can you freeze the ham salad. I made a lot.
Hey there Lou!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, it’s the perfect way to use up leftover Ham from Easter! You can freeze the extras, but I will tell you that the texture of the salad changes a little when you defrost because of the mayonnaise. If you want to freeze it, store it in an air tight container for up to 1 month, then defrost in the refrigerator. I hope this helps, if you ever have any other questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to reach out!
~Donya
Made this today for myself and next thing…my hubby is helping himself!!! I guess that is testimony enough! Great recipe and not difficult!
Hey there Cheryl!
I am so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed this recipe, I love it just because it’s easy to make, like you said, and it’s great for using up any leftover Ham from the Holidays! Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and your kind words of support! I hope you have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
Yum! I’m hosting a baby shower in a few weeks and I’m going to use this recipe to make ribbon sandwiches 🙂
Hey there Dawn!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe! This salad would be absolutely perfect for Baby Shower ribbon sandwiches. I hope you enjoy, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support, I hope you have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
Haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds fabulous. The next ham, I will try this. I was wondering if it would freeze well. Do you know?
Hey there Tina!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, and for your rating! I wouldn’t freeze this Ham Salad simply because the texture would change so much with the mayo in it as it defrosts, but you can always freeze extra ham and then make a fresh batch of this salad when you want it, after all it only takes 15 minutes. I hope this helps, let me know what you think of the salad when you make it! Have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
I’ve been searching for a recipe similar to the deli I used to work next to back when I worked in a grocery store in my teens. I have yet to see anyone’s recipe with their secret ingredient 😆 The deli’s ham salad was the best I’ve ever had. I worked in the bakery department and the deli was next door… we shared a back room. Every time they made ham salad they always asked me to test it. 😅 They used a big meat grinder and would throw in whole deli hams, but also ends from other hams and I think bologna as well. Then a big ole container of relish and Mayo… followed by their secret ingredient of Raspberry jello powder. You couldn’t taste it, but the girl said that it added a nice color to it. I really enjoyed their ham salad because it wasn’t crunchy or chewy, it was smooth and spread nicely. The only other brand I’ve found to like is Heinen’s but I’m not sure if that’s just a local store.
Hey there!
Thank you so very much for sharing your story! It sounds like one heck of a Ham Salad, those dishes you’re still thinking about years later are always the best. Now I’m not sure if my Ham salad is exactly what you’re looking for, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you end up trying the recipe. I might just have to try it out with a little bit of red jello powder, that sounds so interesting I want to experiment with it! Thanks so much for your support, and for sharing your sweet story! Have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
Stage secret to that ham salad was cherry jello and also it was made with a brine
Hey there Elaine!
That’s so interesting, I’ve never heard of putting cherry Jell-o in a Ham salad but it sounds like a great idea! Thank you for sharing, I’m definitely going to give that a try!
~Donya
Growing up as a kid in Ohio and eating alot of ham salad, this is a great recipe and it brough back alot of great memories. Thank you!!!!!
Hey Richard!
Thank you so much, my goodness what a lovely comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and found it nostalgic, I think those are the best ones. Thank you for your rating and support!
~Donya
I used to be able to buy ham salad at Honey baked ham but they closed a few years ago and have never been able to find a decent substitute. So grateful for your recipe- it turned out delicious!! I did not get a picture as it went pretty quickly!!
Hey there Gwyn!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, it’s a family favorite in my house! Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and sweet comment!
~Donya
Such a blast from the past! Thank you! Btw I love your haircut! God bless!
WOW! These are compliments I can get behind! 😉
Thank you so much Jody!
Have a great weekend,
~Donya
I love ham and this sounds delicious. I’m going to give it a try.
Hey Stacy!
I hope you make the recipe. I do believe you’ll love it.
Have a great weekend,
~Donya
One of my all time favorites. Good memories, too!
Hey Janet!
Thank you for your sweet comments and the great rating.
Enjoy the recipe.
~Donya