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!
Homemade Ham Salad
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!
This is the Best Way to Use Up Leftover Ham!
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.
- Cut up leftover ham: Just cube some leftover ham and add it to a food processor.
- Pulse into small pieces: 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.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients: Add the mayo, relish and seasonings, folding to combine.
- Chill and serve!
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.
How to Serve 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.
Herby Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chopped cooked ham I recommend a good smoked ham
- ½ c. good quality mayonnaise
- ½ c. sweet pickle relish drained from the jar with a slotted spoon
- 1 T. Dijon mustard
- 1 green onion minced
- 2 T. minced yellow onion
- 2 T. minced red bell pepper
- 2 T. minced celery
- 2 T. minced fresh parsley
- 2 T. minced fresh chives
- 1 T. minced fresh dill use more if you really like dill
- ¼ tsp. cayenne if you don’t like heat, try just a pinch to start out with
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Using a food processor, pulse the chopped ham until you have very small pieces. Take care to not over-process into a mushy texture. Transfer ham to a medium bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, folding to combine.
- Serve chilled. Serve as a sandwich spread or a topper for crackers or cucumber slices. Also good served on a plate of fresh greens.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was previously published in 2015. Some of the photographs and some of the text were updated in 2018.
A dear friend of mine just had her other hip replaced so for this Memorial Day I made your ham salad and it is delicious!! The lunch is tomorrow and I am sure her and her husband will love it!! I also made some coleslaw and lattice cut potato chips and a watermelon salad for dessert
That sounds like such a great lunch! So glad to know you like the ham salad!!
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!
So glad to hear you like this!
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!