49 Leftover Ham Recipes That Are Even Better Than the Holiday Meal
When it comes to holiday hams, there are always, always leftovers. Yes, even if you’ve done your research on how to cook a ham and made estimates based on how many people you’re feeding.
But honestly, leftover ham dishes can be even tastier than the centerpiece itself. There are plenty of ways — big and small — that we all can use leftover ham, now and later. Here are more than 40 of the best recipes for using up leftover ham, plus advice on freezing and storing it.
3 Ways to Freeze Ham
Ham freezes incredibly well. Our suggestion? Freeze the ham in different forms depending on how you’ll use it:
For soups and salads, cube ham for soups and salads. This also works well if you’re going to make Ham and Cheddar Muffins.
For sandwiches, calzones, and roll-ups, thinly slice ham.
For cooking with vegetables like green beans or collard greens, cut thick slices of ham.
How Long Does Leftover Ham Last?
Fully cooked hams last for up to a week in their vacuum-sealed packaging. Once reheated, ham is best within three to four days of cooking. Frozen ham lasts one to two months.
Breakfast Recipes with Ham
There are more than a few ways to use ham outside of an omelet for breakfast. And some of these recipes, including the breakfast sandwiches, can be prepped and frozen for future meals.
Frittata Frittata
Add some leftover chopped ham and whatever veggies and cheese you have in the crisper in a skillet for an easy frittata for breakfast or weekend brunch.
Make-Ahead Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches Make-Ahead Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches
Layered with scrambled eggs, ham, cheese, and Dijon, these croissant breakfast sandwiches can be made in advance and frozen for an easy weekday breakfast.
Cheesy Denver Breakfast Casserole Cheesy Denver Breakfast Casserole
An easy-assembly, crowd-feeding breakfast casserole loaded with the works: cheddar cheese, diced ham, bell pepper, shredded potatoes, and eggs.
Hammy Breakfast Hotdish Hammy Breakfast Hotdish
Molly Yeh's hammy breakfast hotdish is cheesy, creamy, and topped with tater tots. This recipe is a great vehicle for leftover holiday ham.
Ham and Cheese Quiche Ham and Cheese Quiche
A classic ham and cheese quiche that only requires five ingredients.
Breakfast Hand Pies Breakfast Hand Pies
These BEC hand pies call for bacon, but leftover ham makes a great substitute.
Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham
Pair leftover ham with Toni Tipton-Martin's buttery, cinnamon-scented sweet potato biscuits and salted honey butter.
Ham, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Quesadilla Ham, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Quesadilla
This is your classic ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich reimagined into a freezer-friendly quesadilla.
Baked Denver Omelet Baked Denver Omelet
Chop up about a cup and a half of leftover ham for this omelet-inspired casserole.
Caramelized Onion, Ham, and Provolone Breakfast Bread Pudding Caramelized Onion, Ham, and Provolone Breakfast Bread Pudding
Here's a fancy (yet super-easy!) upgrade to the classic ham and cheese breakfast casserole, starting with sourdough soaked in a velvety custard that’s laced with rich caramelized onions, bits of ham, and sharp provolone cheese.
Sandwiches with Ham
Thinly sliced and smeared with mustard, ham sandwiches are a classic way to use leftovers. These sandwiches use up both sliced and cubed ham, and include make-ahead options as well as warm-pressed sandwiches.
Ham and Cheese Sliders Ham and Cheese Sliders
These sliders have it all: sweet slices of ham, irresistibly gooey Swiss cheese, squishy Hawaiian rolls, and a savory butter drizzled over top.
A Very French Ham and Cheese Baguette A Very French Ham and Cheese Baguette
Here's the Frenchiest ham sandwich you can make for lunch.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Monte Cristo Sandwich
If you've every wanted to master this cafe classic at home, here's the step-by-step to doing it perfectly!
Ham, Brie, Marmalade and Arugula Pressed Sandwich Ham, Brie, Marmalade and Arugula Pressed Sandwich
A swipe of bittersweet marmalade and creamy Brie are a quick way to upgrade your basic ham sandwich.
Asparagus, Ham, and Cheese Stuffed Buns Asparagus, Ham, and Cheese Stuffed Buns
The only thing better than breaking open a flaky dinner roll that’s still warm from the oven is a roll that’s warm and filled with ham, roasted asparagus, and melty Gouda cheese.
Ham, Egg, and Cheese Wraps Ham, Egg, and Cheese Wraps
These wraps take the trifecta of breakfast foods — ham, eggs, and cheese — and turn them into portable bites that can work as breakfast or lunch.
Ham, Leek, and Ricotta Toaster Tarts Ham, Leek, and Ricotta Toaster Tarts
Grab a pack of frozen puff pastry to simplify these savory hand pies.
Giant Skillet Grilled Cheese with Ham and Apple Giant Skillet Grilled Cheese with Ham and Apple
If you're coming for serious comfort, a giant grilled cheese layered with ham is definitely a good idea.
Cuban Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cuban Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Miami chef Richard Hales puts his spin on the classic Cuban sandwich.
Cuban Medianoche Sandwiches Cuban Medianoche Sandwiches
The Cuban medianoche is a close sibling to the more famous cubano. With an identical filling — Swiss cheese, pork, ham, pickles, and sharp yellow mustard — the one distinguishing element here is the bread.
The Ultimate Croque Madame The Ultimate Croque Madame
A crispier, cheesier version of the French croque madame sandwich, thanks to two layers of a cheese and a smart shortcut.
Chicken Cordon Bleu-Croque Monsieur Chicken Cordon Bleu-Croque Monsieur
Two classic favorites in one sandwich.
Ham and Cheddar Lunch Box Muffins Ham and Cheddar Lunch Box Muffins
Replace that classic sandwich with these savory muffins, loaded with thick-cut chunks of ham, sharp cheddar cheese, and a pinch of chives.
Ham Salad Ham Salad
This big batch of ham salad can be used for sandwiches, appetizers, and snacks.
Soups with Ham
This is the biggest boon of making a bone-in holiday ham! A good bone perfumes pots of beans and soups of every kind, not just split pea. And it’s easy to use. In most cases, you simply toss it in to the beans or the stock, and as the dish cooks, it absorbs the bone’s meaty flavor — as well as any small bits of meat still clinging on.
Navy Bean Soup Navy Bean Soup
Add this old-time classic to your go-to roster of soups.
Ham and Bean Soup Ham and Bean Soup
All you need is a couple cans of beans, some broth, basic vegetables, and of course the leftover ham to pull together a pot of this quick and easy soup.
Slow Cooker Ham Bone Soup Slow Cooker Ham Bone Soup
If you find yourself with a ham bone, consider this smoky soup a must.
Easy Slow Cooker Bean Soup Easy Slow Cooker Bean Soup
A bag of blended beans, a smoked meaty bone, and a slow cooker turn into dinner.
Split Pea Soup Split Pea Soup
This easy recipe for classic split pea soup flavored with thyme and a smoked ham hock, with the option to make it vegetarian.
Fridge-Clearing Lentil Soup Fridge-Clearing Lentil Soup
A hearty pot of lentil soup is always a great way to use up leftovers, no matter how much you've got.
Ham and Potato Soup Ham and Potato Soup
Turn leftover ham into a cozy bowl of creamy, comforting goodness.
Ham Bone, Greens, and Bean Soup Ham Bone, Greens, and Bean Soup
This recipe takes the stone soup idea and stretches it out, starting with the bone discarded from a ham.
Dinner Recipes with Ham
I relish the chance to make split pea soup after Easter, but if that’s not your thing, ham bones are delicious for seasoning greens. Just use them in place of the hock. And the rest of the ham can fill chicken roll-ups, get turned into rarebit, or top biscuits.
Cauliflower Fried Rice with Ham and Egg Cauliflower Fried Rice with Ham and Egg
Riced cauliflower makes a tasty substitute for regular rice in this quick and easy fried rice.
Ham, Asparagus & Gruyère Tart Ham, Asparagus & Gruyère Tart
Flaky puff pastry makes this simple spring tart, topped with ham, asparagus, and Gruyère feel especially fancy.
Better-Than-Grandma’s Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Better-Than-Grandma’s Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
A classic recipe for creamy scalloped potatoes with ham that can be made with or without cheese.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
With crispy breaded chicken, salty ham, and melty cheese, this dish is perfectly retro.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Recipe Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Recipe
This leftover-friendly recipe turns this classic chicken dish into a cheesy casserole.
Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe
This rich combination of ham and potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce is comfort food in a casserole dish.
Taiwanese Cold Noodles Recipe Taiwanese Cold Noodles Recipe
Full of crunchy textures and bursting flavors, these Taiwanese cold noodles take under 30 minutes to make.
Egg Foo Young Recipe Egg Foo Young Recipe
This Chinese American classic is the ultimate comfort food.
Casseroles with Ham
Pair ham with eggs, cheese, and stale bread, and you magically have a sturdy dinner or breakfast to feed a small crowd.
Ham and Potato Casserole Ham and Potato Casserole
This rich combination of ham and potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce is comfort food in a casserole dish.
Black Forest Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole Black Forest Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Black forest ham, nutty Gruyère, sourdough, and pumpernickel give this take on the ham and cheese breakfast casserole an elegant update.
Creamy Baked Orzo with Ham, Peas and Leeks Creamy Baked Orzo with Ham, Peas and Leeks
Consider this bright and comforting casserole a must for spring.
Caramelized Onion, Ham, and Provolone Breakfast Bread Pudding Caramelized Onion, Ham, and Provolone Breakfast Bread Pudding
Get out your springform pan for this fancy breakfast casserole.
"Ham and Cheese" Breakfast Casserole "Ham and Cheese" Breakfast Casserole
This casserole calls for pancetta, but you can easily swap in leftover ham.
Ham and Cheese Quiche Ham and Cheese Quiche
This classic ham and cheese quiche that only requires five ingredients.
Country Ham and Onion Quiche Country Ham and Onion Quiche
This sheet pan quiche starts with a simple shortbread crust that you press into the pan.
Baked Croque-Monsieur Casserole Baked Croque-Monsieur Casserole
If it’s a brunch stunner you’re after, or a dinner option with breakfast undertones, then this all-in-one baked take on the croque-monsieur should shoot to the top of your must-make list.
Savory Bread Pudding with Spinach, Chèvre, Smoked Ham Savory Bread Pudding with Spinach, Chèvre, Smoked Ham
This bread pudding is deeply flavored, brimming with ham, cheese, and fresh herbs.
