This Easy Ham Salad Recipe has just 3 ingredients and is a delicious way to use ham leftovers. By mixing together diced ham, mayonnaise, and sweet pickle relish, within minutes you will have a creamy, savory spread perfect for tea sandwiches, crackers, and quick lunches. This is our favorite way to use leftover ham.
What we love about this Ham Salad
We have made so many ham salad versions over the years, but everyone loves this one the most. With just 3 ingredients, ham, mayo, and sweet pickle relish, it is simple to make. I love that I use the ham leftovers, that it takes about 5 minutes to make, and everyone likes it, so it’s a win-win.
All you have to do is put the ham in the food processor, and it finely dices it, or you can chop it yourself. Add the mayo and sweet pickle relish, and done. This is just as good as an easy dip with Ritz crackers as it is a sandwich. I tend to like this best with white bread over wheat bread, though I am usually a sourdough/wheat bread eater.
Looking for other easy appetizers/sandwiches? Try our Candied Bacon Deviled Eggs, our Croissant Chicken Salad, our 5 Layer Bean Dip, our Cowboy Caviar, Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, or Shredded Beef Sliders.
What you need to make this Ham Salad Recipe
You will need the following ingredients:
- Cooked ham
- Mayonnaise
- Sweet pickle relish
Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe Substitutions
I know what it’s like when you don’t have everything on hand, and the last thing you want to do is run to the store and pick something up. Here are a few ideas to substitute items on the ingredients list if needed:
- This is a fabulous way to use leftover ham, but you can cook your own ham or use a precooked ham steak and dice it for use too.
- While I don’t suggest substituting any of the 3 main ingredients, you can definitely bulk this up with diced onion, celery, hard-boiled egg, mustard, or additional seasoning. We have added all of these combined and separate in the past, but prefer the 3 ingredients.
- You could substitute dill pickle relish if desired, but I prefer the sweet with this dish.
Step-by-step Instructions for this Recipe for Ham Salad
Step 1. Dice the ham in the food processor or dice with a sharp knife.
Step 2. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, relish, and ham, and serve immediately or refrigerate.
Tips
- I always make this salad with leftover ham, but you can buy a ham to cook at the store to make this, or buy a precooked ham steak to dice for use.
- If you are looking for new mixing bowls, I love these OXO mixing bowls with a spout and textured grip that are great for pouring dressings, batters, etc. I have some I purchased years ago that I use all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How to store ham salad? |
| a. Ham salad can be safely stored in the fridge, covered, for 3-5 days, though it is best within 2-3 days. If it is a little dry after storing, or seems like it’s separating a little, just give it a stir and add another tablespoon or so of mayonnaise. b. While you can definitely freeze frozen cooked ham in an airtight container for 1-2 months, I don’t recommend freezing ham salad as the texture of the mayonnaise can change after freezing. You can thaw the ham and stir the ingredients together before serving. |
| Can you make ham salad in advance? |
| You can make ham salad a day or two in advance before serving, when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If it is a little dry after storing, add another tablespoon or so of mayonnaise. |
Easy Ham Salad Recipe
This Easy Ham Salad Recipe has just 3 ingredients and is a delicious way to use ham leftovers. By mixing together diced ham, mayonnaise, and sweet pickle relish, within minutes you will have a creamy, savory spread perfect for tea sandwiches, crackers, and quick lunches. This is our favorite way to use leftover ham.
4
servings5
minutesIngredients
2 cups diced cooked ham
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
Directions
- Put the ham into a food processor and pulse several times until the ham is finely diced or finely dice with a sharp knife and cutting board.
- In a small bowl, stir together the ham, mayonnaise, and relish. Refrigerate and serve, or serve immediately with crackers, or as a sandwich spread with bread or soft rolls.
Notes
- I like serving this both with crackers and as a sandwich spread. I think Ritz crackers are traditionally served with ham salad and taste good. Club crackers are also a good choice. I prefer white bread with ham salad for a sandwich over wheat bread, or a soft roll is a good option. Other accompaniments for serving it as sandwiches or as a dip include celery, pickles, potato chips, lettuce, or tomatoes.
I made this with our leftover ham from Easter, but I think I’ll be having this more often and needing to buy ham at the grocery store just so I can have this year-round.
I feel the same! Everyone enjoys it and its so easy. It’s perfect for a cold salad in the summer and its a must make for us with holiday ham leftovers.