Top 39 Leftover Ham Recipes

Ham and Cheese Croissant — Kristina Vanni

Whether you buy a ham to use in dishes or as a main dish, you're bound to have leftovers. Today, most hams you buy at the grocery store are labeled "fully cooked," so preparation is a snap. Follow the package directions and heat the ham to an internal temperature of 140 F. When reheating leftover ham, make sure to heat it to at least 165 F, the minimum safe temperature for hot leftover food.

Ham kept at a continuous temperature of 0 F is safe to eat almost indefinitely, but the quality will begin to deteriorate after 2 to 3 months. Freeze meal-sized packages of sliced or diced ham for casseroles and sandwiches. Or freeze larger chunks or the meaty ham bone for flavoring beans, soups, and stews. Make sure to label your packages with the name and date, and check your freezer temperature from time to time.

Quick Ideas for Leftover Ham

Add diced ham to scrambled eggs, frittatas, breakfast casseroles, or omelets.
Add chopped or slices of ham to your favorite macaroni and cheese casserole.
Dice leftover ham and use it in scalloped or au gratin potatoes.
Add diced ham to corn pudding or casserole.
Sliced ham makes excellent sandwiches.
You can add to many appetizers like these tortilla rolls.
Add leftover ham to Alfredo sauce with chopped green onions for a tasty pasta topper.
Use leftover ham by making a simple glazed ham loaf with mustard.
Make a one-pot, leisurely meal of white beans with smoked ham shank.

You're sure to find something you love, from casseroles and breakfast dishes to soups and sandwiches.

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Party Ham Rolls

The Spruce / Wanda Abraham

These delicious little sandwiches will disappear quickly! Use your leftover ham to make these yummy layered sandwiches. Each small roll hides a layer of ham, cheese, and seasoned mustard. They're always a hit, and so easy to prepare and bake.
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Green Pea and Ham Soup

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

There's no soaking time or long cooking time required for this pea soup. Instead of split peas, this refreshing, vibrant British pea soup gets its vivid color from frozen green peas. Simple seasonings, diced ham, and beef or chicken stock make this soup suitable for any night of the week.
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Ham Pot Pie

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Pot pie isn't just for chicken. This recipe using leftover ham has all of the familiar pot pie ingredients and flavors but takes full advantage of that extra ham from the holidays. A mixture of vegetables, including carrots, are combined with the ham and a white sauce and baked in a puff pastry until golden brown.
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Venezuelan Ham and Olive Bread (Pan de Jamón)

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Pan de Jamón is a festive Venezuelan Christmas bread. The bread is typically rolled up, cinnamon-roll style, with a filling of sliced ham, raisins, and olives. Feel free to add or swap out the raisins with chopped nuts or capers for more savory bread.

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Classic Chicken Cordon Bleu

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

French chicken cordon bleu is an impressive dish that never fails to please. With its crusty chicken exterior and ham and cheese filling, it's easy enough for a weekend meal and fancy enough for a special dinner.
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Hearty Ham and Bean Soup

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Dried beans and leftover ham make ham and bean soup a delicious meal, and it's easy on the budget. A simmering stockpot of ham and bean soup is always welcome. Serve this soup with crusty bread for a tailgating event or party.
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Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Empanadas

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Puff pastry makes these nontraditional ham and cheese empanadas a snap to put together and bake. The pastry is filled with slices of ham and a thick cheese sauce. If you prefer a more traditional empanada, use this recipe for empanada dough.
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Ham and Cheese Croissant

Kristina Vanni

These hot ham and cheese croissants are sure to become a breakfast staple. The soft, buttery croissants are flavored with a mustard spread and filled with thin slices of ham and Swiss cheese. The croissants are hot ready to eat in just 15 minutes!

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Ham and Potato Croquettes (Croquetas de Jamon y Queso)

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Give your leftover mashed potatoes and ham a Spanish-style makeover with these golden deep-fried ham and potato croquettes. The savory little croquettes make an excellent side dish or snack, and they freeze beautifully.
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Lima Bean Soup With Ham

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

A hearty soup is another great way to use leftover ham. The lima bean-ham soup is chock-full of vegetables, and you can choose either frozen lima beans or cooked dried lima beans. Garlic, herbs, and lemon juice make this a flavorful soup—serve it with hot baked cornbread or corn muffins for a comforting dinner. The leftovers are even better the next day!
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Japanese Cold Noodles (Hiyashi Chuka)

The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

This Japanese cold noodle salad is a gorgeous array of ingredients, including sliced ham, strips of egg crepe, ramen noodles, cucumber, and an easy dressing. Top the salad with some pickled ginger, nori strips, and sesame seeds for an exceptional cold lunch or dinner.
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Ham and Swiss Cheese Quiche

The Spruce

Quiche is an excellent choice for brunch, lunch, or a light supper. The ham and Swiss quiche makes good use of the leftover ham, with Swiss cheese and green onions added for color and flavor. Use your favorite pie shell recipe for this delicious quiche.

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Quick Ham and Noodle Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

This easy ham and noodle casserole is a family-pleasing one-pot meal you are sure to make again and again. The casserole includes cooked frozen lima beans, but feel free to make it with frozen peas or a mixed vegetable combo. Serve this casserole any night of the week with a salad and crusty bread on the side.
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Western Ham and Egg Casserole

The Spruce

This ham and egg breakfast casserole is reminiscent of the classic Western omelet. Ham, sweet bell peppers, and onions are among the ingredients in this tasty breakfast or brunch bake—serve it with ketchup or salsa on the side.
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Southern Red-Eye Gravy

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Red-eye gravy is another excellent way to enjoy sliced ham. A popular dish in the South, the simple gravy is made with fried ham drippings and strong brewed coffee. Serve the ham with flaky buttermilk biscuits to sop up the flavorful gravy.
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Croque Madame

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

The croque madam, a feminine variation of the croque monsieur sandwich, is topped with a fried egg "hat." The hearty sandwich is filled with sliced ham, béchamel sauce, and Gruyère cheese. Serve the hot sandwiches for brunch or lunch with a cup of soup or salad.

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Navy Bean Soup

The Spruce / Zorica Lakonic

There's nothing quite as comforting as a simmering pot of soup. This satisfying navy bean soup gets its fantastic flavor from leftover ham and the ham bone, and the recipe offers many variations on the simple combination of ingredients.
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Quick Scalloped Potatoes With Ham

The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

Leftover ham elevates this easy potato casserole, and who doesn't love scalloped potatoes? This is a great casserole to make for a family meal or potluck dinner. It's a quick preparation your family will love.
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Chunky Potato and Ham Soup With Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Chunks of ham, cheddar cheese, parsley, and chopped spinach team up in this creamy soup. The soup is entirely homemade, so you can be sure you're feeding your family a nutritious meal that's made with love.
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Ham and Cheese Omelet

Elaine Lemm

Add leftover diced ham to your favorite omelet! This omelet with ham and cheese is a fabulous way to start any day, and it's easy to customize it with different kinds of cheese and whatever you have in the fridge.

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Vietnamese-Style Fried Rice

The Spruce / Christine Ma

While this colorful fried rice includes barbecued pork and Chinese sausage, either ingredient may be replaced with leftover ham. The Vietnamese-style fried rice includes a delicious combination of ingredients, and it cooks to perfection in just 12 minutes.
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Sauerkraut Balls

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Sauerkraut balls are deep-fried bundles filled with chopped ham, sauerkraut, and seasonings. The crispy cracker crumb-coated sauerkraut balls make a delicious snack or appetizer for a family gathering or party.
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Puerto Rican Rice With Pigeon Peas (Arroz con Gandules)

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Arroz con gandules is a Puerto Rican favorite usually served during the Christmas holidays and for special occasions. The rice absorbs the complex flavors of the sofrito, and the ham and pigeon peas provide texture and protein. This version uses canned pigeon peas instead of dried ones, making it a fast and easy preparation.
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Keto Bell Pepper Sandwich

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

If you thought you couldn't eat a sandwich on your low-carb diet, take a look at this fresh bell pepper sandwich. The filling includes layers of cream cheese, whole-grain mustard, sliced ham, cheese, and cucumber. A fresh bell pepper stands in for the bread, making it a crunchy keto-friendly sandwich.

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Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Leah Maroney

Refrigerated pizza dough makes these ham and cheese pinwheels a snap to put together and bake. The filling includes sliced ham, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and Italian seasoning. Serve the pinwheels as a family snack or party appetizer with a marinara sauce for dipping.
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Classic Italian Sub Sandwich

The Spruce

Use your leftover ham to build a classic Italian sandwich. Ingredients in this stunning, versatile sandwich include a sub roll, Italian dressing, provolone cheese, ham and other meats, tomatoes, and peppers.
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Argentinian Italian-Style Milanesa Napolitana

Marian Blazes

This meaty Argentinian Milanesa Napolitana is an extraordinary Italian-style main dish created in the 1940s by a Buenos Aires restaurant. A thin steak is breaded and fried and then topped with sliced ham, tomato sauce, and cheese. The steaks are traditionally served with French fries.
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Hawaiian Pizza

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Are you a fan of the controversial Hawaiian pizza? If you are, this is the perfect use for your leftover ham. Ham and pineapple chunks are arranged over a sauce and cheese-topped pizza shell and baked to perfection.

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Traditional Cuban Sandwich

The Spruce

The traditional Cubano is a Cuban loaf spread with mustard and filled with layers of ham, pork, Swiss cheese, and sliced dill pickles. If you can't find Cuban bread, feel free to substitute French or Italian bread.
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Traditional Croque Monsieur

Kristina Vanni

Go international with this classic Parisienne sandwich. And don't let the fancy French name fool you; it contains only five ingredients.
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Ham and White Bean Stew

rudisill /iStock / Getty Images Plus

This hearty South American stew includes vegetables, some tomato paste, chipotle chili powder, and, you guessed it, ham.
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Chopped Salad With Ham and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Michelle Tran / EyeEm / Getty Images

A hearty salad is another splendid way to use leftover ham. Serve this chopped salad as a luncheon dish or entree.

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Classic Lentil Soup With Ham

The Spruce Eats / Nita West

A leftover ham bone or ham hock seasons this comforting lentil soup. Make a big batch—it's even better the next day.
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Roasted Potatoes With Ham

The Spruce

These roasted potatoes become a complete meal with the addition of cubed ham and seasonings. Serve this dish with a tossed salad or steamed vegetables.
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

Leah Maroney

Like a deconstructed traditional stuffed chicken cordon bleu, this recipe incorporates the cheese and ham into a sauce over pasta and tops it all with crispy, breaded chicken. Use leftover ham instead of the deli variety.
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Southern Crock Pot Pinto Beans With Ham

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Use ham hocks or a meaty leftover ham bone in these comforting pinto beans. Serve them with freshly baked cornbread and some chow chow relish for a classic Southern meal.

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Southern Ham Salad

The Spruce

Amp up your ham sandwich repertoire with this fabulous ham salad. Sweet pickle relish is the secret ingredient to its tangy flavor. Or, if you're counting carbs, make it with dill relish and serve it in lettuce wraps or on a bed of lettuce.
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Muffin Cup Ham and Cheddar Quiches

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These tasty single-serve quiches will reward you with a thankful family and plenty of smiles. Bake them and freeze them for quick busy day breakfasts.
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Eggs Benedict for Two

The Spruce / Dave Scantland

Making eggs Benedict for two people is easier than you might think. Follow these step-by-step instructions for elegant eggs Benedict in about 35 minutes.

Pork Recipes