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.
For a light, easy-to-make lunch, serve ham salad with Mom’s Best Egg Salad and Penne Pasta Salad.
Reader Comment
“Best ham salad we’ve ever had! This recipe is a keeper!”
Patti
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 or deviled ham spread so good is that you’re taking one recipe and making it into two. It all starts with baked ham normally served during a holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. There’s always some leftover ham from a Southern ham dinner menu, 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.
- Of course, my favorite is saltine crackers with some pickles on the side!
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Leftover ham or store-bought cooked ham
- Egg
- Mayonnaise
- Sweet Pickles – sweet pickle relish can also be used.
- Pickle Juice
- Celery
- Black Pepper
How To Make The Best Ham Salad Recipe
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 small pieces.
- First, add the ham, eggs, pickles, pepper, and mayonnaise to the processor bowl and pulse about 12 to 15 times.
- Next, add finely chopped celery and fold everything together using a spatula. Taste and add more mayonnaise if needed, along with fresh cracked pepper.
- Chill in the fridge for about an hour before serving if you can wait that long!
Want To Change Up The Recipe?
This easy ham salad recipe can be changed to include all other ingredients. Here are a few ideas:
- Switch out the sweet pickles for dill pickles.
- Chopped green onions, or other fresh herbs like parsley or chives.
- bell pepper
- Dijon mustard or horseradish sauce
Donya’s Success Tip
If you don’t have leftover holiday ham and are hankering for Ham Salad, aka deviled ham, you can purchase cooked ham from the deli, either already chopped or thick-sliced.
How To Store Ham Salad
Keep Ham Salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
As a reminder, if you’re serving it as an appetizer, do not leave it out for more than 2 hours since it has mayo in it.
More Easy Salads You’ll Love
If you tried this Southern Ham Salad Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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.
Video
Notes
- If you don’t have leftover holiday ham and are hankering for Ham Salad, you can purchase cooked ham from the deli, either already chopped or thick-sliced.
- 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 mayo in it.
Nutrition
My New eBook!
Top 25 Viral Recipes
Whether you’re cooking for two, feeding a busy family, or filling your home with friends, I’m cheering you on from my kitchen. I hope this eBook brings you comfort, creativity, and plenty of delicious moments around your table.
Southern Traditions: Timeless Recipes to Make, Share, and Love!
GET THIS FREE GUIDE: Southern dishes with easy prep and timeless flavor in every bite.
It’s really good. In the late 60s u sang in a traveling gospel group. In South ham salad was a favorite for our packed lunches. This lunches were just like this
Best ham salad we’ve ever had! This recipe is a keeper!
Thanks, Patti!
~Donya
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!