Herby Ham Salad
Herby Ham Salad is creamy, tangy, and utterly delicious. This easy ham salad recipe is great for leftover ham and a snap to make!
Did you grow up on ham salad?
I don’t remember my mom making it, but my aunt Mary sure did. It was a sandwich spread I could count on at each of my cousin’s graduation parties. Mary also offered her famous tiger meat, a rare find at most gatherings, especially nowadays, and one that I can’t personally vouch for. No, thank you!!
My aunt’s ham salad, though. I’ve missed it.
I admitted to my sisters that sometimes, when I’m on a road trip to and from South Dakota or North Dakota, I’ll pick up one of those pre-packaged ham salad sandwiches out of the cooler case at a gas station.
Well let’s just say they weren’t very impressed. Ha!
All Cheryl and Jessica could do was scrunch up their faces in disgust. I laughed it off, knowing their opinions wouldn’t stop me from those gas station sammies in the future. But the conversation also got me thinkin’.
It was time I made my own version of this recipe. You are going to LOVE this Herby Ham Salad. I promise!
Ham Salad
Whenever you’re anticipating some good holiday ham leftovers, this recipe has you covered.
Similar in style to other salad favorites of mine (think chicken salad, egg salad, and tuna salad), this meaty salad recipe is creamy, tangy, and utterly delicious. Blake says it’s the best he’s ever had. And I have to agree.
How to make ham salad
This recipe is easy to make. Just cube some leftover ham and add it to a food processor.
Then pulse the ham until it’s nice and small.
Some people like to blitz the heck out of the ham, creating a mush-like consistency. I prefer some nice texture, leaving the ham in small bits.
Similar salad recipes are loaded with mayonnaise. But I wanted the wonderful smoky ham flavor to shine through, and opted for less mayo.
Along with the traditional sweet pickle relish, I folded in plenty of fresh herbs. The fresh herbs add both color and flavor.
And a fun addition that I’m especially fond of is a little kick of cayenne. I’m pretty sure it’s what helped to slam-dunk Blake’s opinion of this herby ham salad.
Ham salad on a flaky croissant makes for an incredible lunch.
But I also highly recommend noshing on crackers and cucumber slices topped with this salad mixture. It’s a great appetizer.
Just think about a hot summer day in the backyard, with a plate of chilled cucumber slices and this creamy sandwich spread. Pass me a tall, cold glass of lemonade, please!
Here are a couple more ways to use leftover ham: Ham and Cheese Biscuits from Spicy Southern Kitchen and Ham and Sweet Potato Soup from Diethood.
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Herby Ham Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 133
This post was previously published in 2015. Some of the photographs and some of the text were updated in 2018.
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I love ham salad , but I would just go and buy it at the deli . You get a small tubs worth for about $5.00. No more ,now ill make this it’s delicious!
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This brings back memories of my mom’s ham salad she used to make for us kids growing up in the Midwest. This ham salad recipe; however, this is an upscale version and just what I was looking for to compliment the menu I am serving for a beautiful bridal shower i am hosting in June. I’ll serve it on mini flakey croissants. Can’t wait to make it!
Wonderful! I’m looking forward to ham leftovers soon, so I can make this again. Enjoy – and best wishes with the bridal shower!
I love this recipe. As a child I HATED meat with few exceptions. One of those exceptions was my aunt’s ham salad. I have not tasted it for decades but both my father and I crooned about it. I followed this recipe. It was late at night so I just chopped all the veggies and pulsed them in the processor also. This was not my aunt’s salad but just as delicious. Loved the fresh herbs and cayenne. There was such an amazing layering of the flavor. I used a scallion as well and had to use dried dill as no fresh available. I may try and put a jalapeno in next time. LOVE this. Thanks for sharing.
The best leftovers ham sandwich I have ever made!
I love how easy this is and how tasty this is to make!
Oh my! What an incredible breakfast recipe idea. Croissant and ham!! Simply delicious.
This made such a good lunch! I think I’ll make it again next week.
I love this variation on ham salad which we love in the South. The idea of making canapes with cucumbers is so good!
I’m not sure where I first had ham salad but I think it was a sample when I was picking up a ham at Honey Baked Ham. I loved it! I never think to make it at home. I’ll probably be getting a ham over the Christmas break so I’m definitely going to make this with the leftovers. Looks delicious!!
It’s definitely a good reason to make sure you have some leftover ham – I love the salty and creamy combo! Thanks, Aggie!
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Oh…I forgot to say that since I currently live in an apartment my kitchen is a galley style with no room at all! My food processor and Kitchenaid mixer live on a shelf in the hallway and my Crockpot lives on top of the fridge with my hand mixer. They are my “indoor cooking team” but they don’t seem to mind the arrangement. I also rent 2 storage units about a block away. My truck (what 50 year old farm kid worth his salt wouldn’t have a pickup? Lol!) lives in one and my “outdoor cooking team” along with my tools lives in the other. My outdoor team consists of 2 charcoal grills, 1 gas grill and my electric smoker along with their various accessories and covers. However, I long for the day that I get a place in the country, with a real kitchen and garage, so that we can all live together in harmony!
Yep, I came up on a farm in Ballville twp. Ohio n remember ham salad and iced tea lunches while baling, harvesting etc. I’m trapped in town these days but WILL get back where I belong sooner or later! My mom died last year and I was going through some of her stuff the other night when I came across her hand written (kinda) recipe for ham salad that was passed to her by my grandmother. The ingredients are all “to taste” not exact just like any other farm wife lol! But it got me wanting ham salad! We always raised a few hogs and steers and moms recipe calls for my granpas smoked ham. It’ll take all day Saturday but I can do that in my elecric smoker…I know what wood to use…nothing better to do Saturday anyway! I went to my favorite local butcher shop (a.k.a. slaghter house) today and picked out a 9# fresh picnic roast. I’ll smoke it all day Saturday then serve it to my kids, grands and even my ex-wife on Easter. When I get home from work Monday is when the real fun will start…experimenting with ingredients to perfect moms and grandmas recipe!
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As a midwestern transplant living in New Mexico I don’t encounter ham salad nearly as much as I did growing up. Made this with some leftover Easter ham tonight and was immediately transported to Ohio circa 1985. Thanks!
I love this recipe.
Easy to make and the taste is out of this world!
You have a big fan in me, Brenda!
Best,
Andreea
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I would think this recipe would work well with all that you said , however you forgot turkey !!
I have used a similar recipe to make turkey or smoked turkey salad sandwiches . Every thing goes on a ritz cracker . I’m sure your too young to remember those commercials .
Thanks
art
I have never made turkey salad, thanks for mentioning that! And…I do remember those commercials. ;)
Never had ham salad just chicken and egg salad growing up. This sounds so good can’t wait to try recipe and serve it to family. Your mother was a beautiful young woman.
I can not wait to make this ham salad, ham salad is one of my favorites so this will be a great twist on it. I am excited :)
Oh and I was Rustic which is very much me but I would gladly take the traditional kitchen too!!
Having an entire tupperware filled with ham right now, this WILL be made for lunches to come this week :)
Yay! I just made more of this yesterday. Hope you liked it!
This ham salad is the perfect use for leftover ham! The addition of herbs makes it soooooo delicious!
Thank you! Happy Weekend! :)
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I love all the herbs and crunchy veggies you’ve added to this ham salad. It’s something my hubby grew up with, but not me—and since we’re having ham for Easter, I think I’ll try my hand at these sandwiches!
Happy Easter, Liz – enjoy the ham salad! I bought another ham and we’ll be making this, too. :)
We never had ham salad growing up (chicken and egg, yes, but not ham). But I’m thinking my kids do need to grow up on it, after seeing this!! Yum!
Thanks, Deborah. I bought extra ham for Easter, anticipating more of this!
I’m cracking up because I posted a recipe for ham salad on my blog on Monday too! I guess the good stuff is on our minds these days!
Good stuff, indeed! ;)
First: This looks delicious. Second: I just took the survey and it was spot on … I am the Shabby Chic Kitchen Type!
Thank you, Nicole. And thanks for taking the survey – it’s short and sweet – and I’m happy to hear that you agreed with the result, too!
I love Fiesta casserole dishes! This is a great way to use up that ham, and I love leftover ham, by the way! Happy Easter, friend!
I {heart} Fiesta dinnerware. And ham! Can’t wait to make more of this after Easter!
I know what I will be bringing for the picnic! Great addition having the croissant, can’t wait to try this delicious ham salad recipe!
Thanks, Sommer. It’s kinda addictive, dangerous to have around. So good!
I love, love, LOVE ham salad. I usually make it with just a bit of mayo and pickle relish but I am thinking I need to change my ways and try your herby version. We must be related because I too can’t resist the gas station versions every once in a while either.
You have no idea how big of a smile you gave me. Gas station sandwich sisters! :)
Tiger Meat! Ha! Had it for the first time a few years ago at a party in Wheaton, MN. Don’t need to try it again.
I might try your Ham Salad though.
Lucky you! Ha! I’ve never eaten tiger meat. Just can’t do it. (But do try the ham salad!) Happy Easter to you and your family, Danae.
Love Ham Salad, remember an outdoor wedding years ago, the brides aunte made a ham salad croissants that was the talk of the reception. Real smokey flavor. What is tiger meat?
Glad to hear you’re a ham salad fan! Tiger meat – if you click on it in my post, it gives a good description and history. Basically it’s raw ground beef that is seasoned and used as a cracker spread.
I can’t say that I’ve ever had ham salad, but I do love m some ham and serving it all on a croissant sounds like perfection. I’ll have to give this a try! xo
If you like ham, plus egg salad, tuna salad, etc., I’m betting you’ll really like ham salad. I hope you give it a try!
Every church supper growing up had a big platter of ham salad sandwiches, which started disappearing before the prayer was even said! Ham salad is a must-buy at Yoder’s Meats in Shipshewana, Indiana! Theirs is SO good. What I like about your recipe is that the ham is not grated as fine, there’s less mayonnaise, and you’ve added finely chopped veggies. Since I just got a ham at Yoder’s, I’m going to have a platter of ham salad sandwiches ready at Easter Dinner, and I bet they’ll start disappearing before the prayer is said!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Sara. I hope you like this recipe. Happy Easter!
Tiger meat- yikes!! haha So oddly growing up in the midwest I’ve never had ham salad!! That needs to change!
Ha! The ugly truth about my German ancestry, tiger meat. I don’t claim it. :) But ham salad…yes, please!
I didn’t grow up with ham salad, but it’s never too late, right? Love the idea of using it for appetizer bites, and you can never go wrong w/ a croissant. (PS. Traditional kitchen all the way! Swoon.)
Thanks, Erin. Do give it a try, you’ll become a quick believer in ham salad!
We looooove ham salad around here! Yours looks fantastic!
Thanks a bunch, Jenny. Happy Easter to you and your family!