Iowa Ham Salad – Put those leftovers to good use! It’s great for sandwiches – or put it on crackers for an easy lunch or appetizer idea.
Iowa Ham Salad recipe
Easter is just a few days away and you’re probably already wondering what to do with all of that leftover ham? Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes that use leftover ham with this Iowa Ham Salad. It’s so easy to make and I love that it can be used on crackers or in sandwiches! Put those leftovers to good use!
I’ll be the first to admit that our family doesn’t really eat too much pork. Brian and I are big fans of chicken so we tend to eat a lot of it. However, a ham almost always makes an appearance for holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Inevitably, I always buy too much leaving us with plenty of leftovers. Not a bad thing, friends. Back when I lived in the Midwest, I realized that pork was very popular and they had some pretty awesome ways to use up leftover ham. Ham loaves and ham salad being two of my favorites.
Can I freeze ham salad?
If frozen immediately after making or within 24 hours of making, it should be okay in the freezer up to 2 months.
How long is ham salad good in the refrigerator?
I would suggest using ham salad within 3-5 days.
Ways to jazz up your Iowa Ham Salad:
Some folks like to add boiled and chopped eggs to their ham salad – totally not my thing, personally ….. but if you like the idea, 2 or 3 boiled and chopped eggs can be added to the recipe below. I’ve also been known to add ham salad to leftover elbow macaroni for a quick lunch.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Iowa Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups fully cooked ham finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped celery
- 1 cup mayo or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- Crackers or bread for serving
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except crackers or bread) in a large bowl. Mix well. Refrigerate until serving time.
- To serve, spread mixture on crackers or use on bread to make into sandwiches!
Notes
- Using a food processor makes it super simple to mix this up!
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Love ham salad. It's one of my favorites. I can't wait to make ours.
Jamie – yum! I absolutely love ham salad and can you believe I've never made it? Now I have no excuse! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your recipe – pinning and sharing! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and enjoy the rest of the holiday – it's hard to believe it will soon be 2014! Looking forward to a fun, new year with all of my incredible and talented blogging friends! Hugs!
This looks delicious. My mom made this with leftovers. I have to do this.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda
This sounds really great Jamie. My mom used to make hers with mayo and grated dill pickles. Also a winner.
Blessings,
Sinea
Ducks ‘n a Row
I saw this on the Appetizer Linky party and had to stop in and take a look. I'm getting ready to make my mom's ham salad for a blog post, so was anxious to see your recipe. This is pretty close to what she makes and I think it's delicious. And yes, she did put hard boiled eggs in hers. Happy New Year, and nice to meet your through the party.
This looks really good! I havent had Ham Salad in a long time. =)
I have never heard of ham salad before. But what a good way to use up leftovers! Thanks for linking up to Saturday Dishes! Hope to see you next week.
First, LOVE the name of your blog! Second, so glad I saw this recipe. We always have party food on New Year's Eve instead of a regular dinner, and I will definitely be making this tonight with the leftover Christmas ham. Thanks! -Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
Jamie, I love appetizer type food and great for New Year's. Sounds and looks good, pinned and sharing on Facebook. Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Trivia. Love the new look of your blog, very pretty!
Happy New Year's,
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Thanks for linking to What'd Y9u Do This Weekend. I made the salad and I have leftovers for a game day lunch!
Happy New Year,
Linda
Your Ham Salad looks delicious, we just love ham salad. Thanks so much for sharing it with Full Plate Thursday today!
Miz Helen
yum! I love ham salad, especially with a slice of swiss cheese on the cracker. yours looks great 🙂 Thank you so much for linking this recipe up at Recipe Sharing Monday! The new link party is up and I'd love to see you back. Have a great week. 🙂
It's 4am and you've got me craving a ham salad sandwich! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.
I think the leftovers are one of the best parts of the holidays and those Iowans know their way around pork. Your ham salad looks delicious and I can’t wait for those leftovers!
Oh man, mom used to make it (with a meat grinder, the food processor of yore) and yes with the eggs. I like it either way. Thanks, as I had looked everywhere for her recipe with no luck.
My mother made this but used balogna because her family couldnt afford ham. I never knew it wasn’t ham until I grew up. She was from Pennsylvania.
My mom also used bologna and she used eggs in it also.
I absolutely love the sound of this. Ham Salad is definitely one of my favorites, this sounds sooo good!
We made this tonight using leftover ham. It turned out really good. Thank you for sharing with us.
I halved this recipe and used deli old fashioned ham. I didn’t have sweet relish so minced up some bread and butter pickles. It was delicious with crackers or in a sandwich. I’ll definitely make it again.
This was the perfect way to use up my leftover Christmas ham! It turned out great! Thanks
Whipped up a double batch tonight and it was awesome. One word of caution would be to add the mayo in segments. 2 cups of Mayo in a double batch would’ve been way too soupy.
Thanks for this easy Prash recipe!
I never had ham salad until my wife turned it on to me. I’m from Texas and my wife is from Vermont so we get lots of diversity in our recipes. I was at her Mom & Dads house and Dad made it. I loved it! I never got the recipe from him before he died. This sounds just like the mixture he made. Going to try it once we have leftover ham. Thank you for the recipe.
My mom would usually use Baloney if she didn’t have ham. You all need to grill it like a grilled cheese. OMG, it is wonderful.
My mom when I was little used to make it with a can of spam using a meat grinder. Mix together the spam,onions,sweet pickles diced small, celery and mix in Miracle Whip. Makes a excellent sandwich.
Yup mom did that oh YUMMM
I just made this today my boyfriends picky about his ham salad and he loved it. I used Dukes mayonnaise. Love the taste!
Just found your recipe. Making it this week. Never knew about mustard in ham salad but I’m sure it gives it a nice kick and I will be trying it.