21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (2025)

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Unsure what to make with leftover ham? From ham and bean soup to ham fried rice, these irresistible leftover ham recipes are the perfect way to put those smoky leftovers to good use.

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself with leftover ham this Easter (this is one of my favorite recipes), that means spring pastas, soups, fried rice, and more are just a bite away. Of course, it takes a whole lot of restraint not to just channel our inner caveman and snack on the remaining ham straight off the bone — the porky goodness is just way too tempting. Baked hams are a celebratory food. Since we tend to make them for holidays and special occasions, they’re typically not something we have on a regular basis, so when we do, we know there’s a wealth of yummy leftover ham ideas for repurposing that ham at our disposal. From classic split pea soup made in the pressure cooker, to gussied up grilled cheese, these round-two leftover ham recipes are so good, they’ll give your holiday ham dinner a run for its money . So let’s carve in, shall we?

Easy Leftover Ham Recipes

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (2)

1. The BEST Split Pea Soup with Ham

from FoodieCrush

This easy split pea soup gets its depth of flavor from sautéed carrots, onion, and celery cooked in a simple broth with smoky ham.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (3)

2. Creamy Lemon Pasta with Ham and Peas

from FoodieCrush

This creamy pasta with ham, peas, and Parmesan is like the best adult version of mac and cheese thanks to the elevated zing of lemon zest. 21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (4)

3. Microwave Egg Caprese Breakfast Cups

from FoodieCrush

These homemade egg, ham, and caprese flavored breakfast cups only take 2 minutes to cook in the microwave and are perfect for busy mornings.

4. White Bean and Ham Soup

from Simply Recipes

This hearty soup is made with white beans, ham shanks, onion, celery, garlic, Tabasco, and herbs for a comforting soup you can make any time.

2. Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

from FoodieCrush

Breakfast for a crowd has never been easier thanks to this incredibly easy to assemble, ham and cheese with bread, make-ahead overnight breakfast casserole that some may call a soufflé or a strata, but I just call delicious.

3. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

from Love Grows Wild

Thinly sliced potatoes and savory ham come together in a creamy, cheese sauce, baked to melty-golden perfection in this irresisbile side dish that will have everyone lining up for seconds.

4. Ham Salad Sandwiches

from FoodieCrush

Not sure what to do with leftover ham? Leftover ham mixed with pickle relish and dried onion flakes come together in a nice and easy ham salad that gets slathered atop a soft white bun, for one of my favorite lunches of all time.

5. Asparagus, Ham and Kale Frittata

from Kitchen Confidante

This springy frittata features asparagus, ham, and kale and makes for a delicious brunch, lunch.

6. Cheese and Ham Pancakes

from RecipeTin Eats

These addictively good, savory pancakes feature crisp-golden outsides and fluffy insides with pops of salty ham, and would be amazing for brunch alongside poached or runny eggs.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (11)

7. Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich

from FoodieCrush

The best part of breakfast is when it can be eaten anytime of day and for just about any occasion. Like for a virtual baby shower for a waffle making queen who will soon bequeath us a mini waffle eating princess.

8. Paleo Ham Tacos

from The Lovely Drawer

These slow cooked ham hock tacos with a zesty pineapple salsa are outrageously good and bursting with bright flavor. 21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (13)

9. How to Make The BEST Fried Rice

from FoodieCrush

Made with leftover white rice, this classic fried rice recipe with ham, carrots, peas, and scrambled egg is the best quick dinner idea your whole family will love.

10. Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

from Gimme Some Oven

This creamy ham and potato soup can be made in about 30 minutes and is the perfect easy, comforting dish to showcase leftover ham.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (15)

11. Ham and Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese

from FoodieCrush

This easy to make recipe is made with deli ham (but works just as great with leftover ham), smoked gouda, fried egg, tomato, and arugula, and it’s everything you want in a breakfast sandwich!

12. Ham and Swiss Sliders

from Culinary Hill

These outrageously good ham and cheese sliders are always the hit of any party, and great for a crowd, but they go fast!

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (17)

13. Croque Monsieur

from FoodieCrush

With a rich and creamy béchamel sauce, shaved ham, nutty Gruyère, Dijon mustard, and herbes de Provence, this croque monsieur is a French-style upgrade that delivers melty cheese on the inside AND outside of the sandwich.

14. Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup

from Cotter Crunch

This healthy soup is loaded with veggies, rice, and leftover ham, and can easily be made on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (19)

15. Ham and Broccoli Quiche

from FoodieCrush

A combination of half-and-half and whisked eggs makes the best quiche with ham, broccoli, and cheddar cheese nestled in a perfectly baked crust.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (20)

16. Hawaiian Pizza

from With Spice

There’s just something about ham and pineapple—it’s a salty, tangy-sweet match in flavor heaven. This Hawaiian pizza calls for prosciutto but you can easily make it with leftover ham for equally delicious results.

21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (21)

17. Chicken Cordon Bleu with Dijon Cream Sauce

from Creme de la Crumb

This classic chicken dish features juicy chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese all rolled up and lightly breaded, then baked and topped with a creamy Dijon cream sauce, all ready in 45 minutes.

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21 Leftover Ham Recipes to Make After the Holidays | foodiecrush.com (2025)

FAQs

How long can you keep a cooked ham in the refrigerator? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

How do you make leftover ham moist? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

What to do with fully cooked ham? ›

A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

Can dogs eat ham? ›

Yes and no. Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.

Is it OK to eat lots of ham? ›

Ham is processed red meat. Research shows that consumption of red meat may be associated with a higher risk of developing major chronic diseases. Consuming it in large quantities can have adverse health effects and worsen conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

Can you eat cooked ham after 7 days? ›

Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

How can you tell if ham has gone bad? ›

If your ham starts to take on a green or grey hue, or even gets black or brown in a few areas, throw it away. If it doesn't smell good, throw it away. Ham should have a salty or smokey aroma, almost sweet. If there is a sour smell or something smells off, don't take the chance of a food-borne illness.

What liquid keeps ham moist? ›

You don't want to make a ham soup, so put just enough to coat the ham and cover the bottom of the pan. You can use water, but if you want to add more flavor, you should use wine or beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Most of this liquid will cook off, but your tinfoil cover will help your meat absorb those juices.

What juice keeps ham moist? ›

Apple juice is a common ingredient used to keep a pre-cooked ham tender, moist and juicy. The sweet and tart taste of the juice enhances the flavor of your ham, too.

What does soaking a ham do? ›

Soaking a salt cured country ham before cooking is believed to make the ham less salty. This is debatable as very little water will enter the ham so the capacity to pull salt from any depth within a ham is limited. The older the ham, the denser the muscle so less salt will be removed from a longer aged ham.

Does ham get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Editor's Tip: For a fall-apart tender ham, let it cook longer; 10 to 12 hours on low. This method is perfect for families who prefer a more casual dinner of shredded hot ham and roll sandwiches.

How do you warm up leftover ham without drying it out? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

How to cook already cooked ham? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Can leftover ham be frozen? ›

You can freeze delicious ham and it'll last for weeks before you need to use it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that fully cooked frozen ham is safe to eat for up to one to two months. If you find yourself with leftover ham, freezing it for future use is both easy and convenient.

How long is leftover precooked ham good for? ›

Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.

Why is ham so expensive now? ›

The slow breeding of these pigs, their lower productivity compared to other breeds, and the ravages of swine fever, have led them to be in danger of extinction. Their limited production has contributed to the rise in price and has catapulted this ham to its position as one of the most expensive in the world.

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