Every Christmas I seem to have half a Ham left over after dinner. Being creative with it, without getting sick of it can be a challenge. But, over the years I have accumulated tons of recipes that not only please, they actually ask for 2nds and 3rds, they are that good. So I am going to show you what to do with left over ham with the following creative recipes.
After making tons of dishes, I have narrowed it down to the ones that actually are delicious, but don't take a huge amount of time to make.
1: White Bean and Ham Soup
Hearty Ham and Bean Soup, perfect for cold winter days! White beans, ham shanks, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, Tabasco, and herbs make this delicious ham and bean soup a cool weather classic.
When the weather turns cold, and all you want to do is stay cozy and warm, the best thing to do is to make a big pot of hearty soup. On days like these, nothing is more comforting than this ham and white bean soup. (Well, maybe some fuzzy woolen slippers, but you can't eat those!)
RECIPE - HERE
2: Ham Salad Sandwich
This delicious easy Ham Salad is made with finely chopped ham, sweet onions, celery, pickles, dill weed, mayo and a little bit of mustard. This recipe is perfect for using up leftovers from holiday hams. It is best with a piece of good quality ham that has been cured and preferably smoked. A smoked ham has less moisture in it and that is key to a good ham salad.
I have loved ham salad since I was a little girl. It brings back such fond memories of good times with my family. It is so incredibly easy to make and can be enjoyed on fresh rolls, Hawaiian bread, pumpernickel, rye, crackers or even celery sticks for a low carbohydrate diet. The key to a good salad starts with the obvious a good ham. This will help ensure that that the mixture is top notch. I like to use my leftover Honey Ham from holiday dinners, or a good quality ham steak or even Boars Head Ham sold at most deli counters.
RECIPE - HERE
3: Ham and Cheese Grit Casserole
For breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner ~ Ham & Cheese Grits Casserole is true Southern comfort food at its best.
Actually, during our class field trip last Friday, I fed a giraffe a leaf out of my mouth. But his lips gave me a little peck (read that *slobber*) on my chin ... so, I consider that getting a big ol' kiss from good ol' Mr. Giraffe.
RECIPE - HERE
4: Cheesy Ham & Potato Bacon Casserole
It’s the most ridiculously easy casserole you’ll ever make and yet we looooove it. We all need something warm, easy, delicious and that uses leftovers at this time of year and trust me, this is it.
INGREDIENTS
6 red potatoes, chopped
1/3 cup onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups cooked ham, chopped
1 1/2 cups broccoli, chopped and steamed
4 ounces neufchatel or light cream cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
4 slices bacon, cooked
RECIPE - HERE
5: Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are delicious and quick appetizers that is made using Tortillas.
I would definitely choose a delicious savory Pinwheel any day over a sandwich! On the top, these yummy pinwheels are made with Ham and Cheese, making it my favorite among all.
There are days when I crave for something that is soft and spicy, and this cold Ham and Cheese Pinwheel is a must for those days. These are so good that it gets over within minutes.
You can use homemade tortillas or if you are short on time, you can even use the store-bought ones.
Once done, roll the tortillas and refrigerate them for about an hour or more. Cut them into rolls and they are ready to be served.
Making these Pinwheels is so easy, that you can make it for any house party, game day, birthday or any special occasion. Tasty to eat and easy to make, this definitely serves the purpose.
RECIPE - HERE
6: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham are the best way to feed a crowd and can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen. Bake them in the oven or cook them in the Crock Pot for an easy side dish idea!
Scalloped potatoes are easy to make ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 weeks.
RECIPE - HERE
7: ham and corn chowder
This Ham and Corn Chowder is wonderful comfort food! A creamy soup broth, soft potato, juicy sweet corn and pops of golden brown ham is utterly irresistible and will warm your soul. Imagine coming home to this!
It’s Saturday 27 December, 2 days after Christmas, so I bet there are millions (billions??) of households around the world having ham for lunch. Sure, you could throw together a ham sandwich with fresh bread (yay, shops are open today!), or a frittata using other leftovers from your Christmas Day feast.
Or you could do something a little different and make this chowder.
RECIPE - HERE
8: Ham and Cheese Muffins
A little something scrumptious to add to your breakfast, brunch, snack, salad, or bowl of soup. These Gluten-free Savory Ham and Cheese Muffins loaded with chunks of diced ham, sharp cheddar cheese, sweet corn kernels, fresh herbs, and shredded zucchini will make for a tasty addition to your table. Serve ’em warm with a drizzle of honey or a smattering of butter.
With the current pandemic impacting the entire world at the moment, more and more people are not only cooking at home but also baking more than ever! Baking is therapeutic, it’s fun, it’s delicious, and kids (and adults) love it.
So with all this baking going on in people’s homes, we wanted to share a recipe that we know everyone will love and enjoy.
RECIPE - HERE
9: Egg Ham and Cheese Hash Browns
There's nothing more perfect on a busy weeknight than breakfast for dinner, especially when a sheet pan is used to make it. In my recipe, hash browns and ham are tossed with a special sauce that's sweet, tangy and irresistible. Add in a few eggs and some freshly chopped scallions, and dinner—or breakfast—is served
RECIPE - HERE
10: Ham and Cheese Scones
Rosemary, Parmesan, and Ham Scones are perfect for breakfast or brunch! A great recipe if you have extra ham and cheese you need to use up… or an abundance of rosemary! Everyone loves these savory scones!
The older I get, the more I appreciate breakfast. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and most mornings a slice of avocado toast and a cup of coffee will suffice. It’s less about the food and more about taking a moment to stop and enjoy life before “the day” begins. Does that make sense?
After an especially hectic week, I decided to make us an extra special breakfast to savor and share. I love these Rosemary, Parmesan, and Ham Scones for a million reasons
RECIPE - HERE
11: Ham and Pineapple Fried Rice
Our Hawaiian fried rice recipe is like sunshine on your dinner table in the best of ways. Hawaiian pineapple fried rice’s bright, savory-sweet flavors are like little forkfuls of awesome, and the recipe itself is simple and entirely doable even in the midst of midweek mayhem. And there are a million more reasons to make our Hawaiian pineapple rice recipe, like:
Hawaiian fried rice is our favorite use for leftover ham. Split pea soup is awesome, but ham fried rice is next-level leftovers.
Speaking of leftovers, leftover ham fried rice is also really good for breakfast (and even cold)! Add a runny fried egg and a squeeze of Sriracha and you’re off to a great start.
The finished fried rice is topped with a delicious homemade sweet and sour honey sauce using the juice from the canned pineapple (genius, right?) that you’ll want to put on absolutely everything. Double the sauce recipe and save it for drizzling and dunking all week long.
RECIPE - HERE
12: Ham Pot Pie
Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Anaheim, California to participate in Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative. A little background: 40% of the food produced in the U.S. goes to waste and yet 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger. Kroger is trying to combat this issue by leveraging its local community connections to get food into the hands of those who need it most.
It’s really amazing to see what Kroger has done with this initiative and I am honored to be have played a very small part in it. Kroger has long-standing partners with food banks across the country where they have donated 1 billion meals since 2013 and have a goal to donate 3 billion meals by 2025. RECIPE - HERE
13: Ham Egg and Cheese Hot Pockets
Preparing homemade hot pockets allows you to easily recreate this handheld meal with your favorite ingredients. Whether you want to craft your own ham and cheddar hot pocket, chicken broccoli and cheddar, or even invent a brand new concoction, this guide will help you master it!
You can use canned Pizza dough, but If you would rather not use pre-made dough and pride yourself on making it from scratch, have no fear. You can easily do so.
RECIPE - HERE
14: Potato, Ham, and Spinach Frittata
Our Potato, Ham, and Spinach Frittata, served with a quick and easy side salad, is one of those truly anytime meals. Cook it for breakfast or brunch when you’ve got houseguests, or make it for a hearty, healthy dinner (and keep a few slices for leftover lunches). It’s satisfying no matter what time of day. And while our recipe calls for potatoes, onion, frozen spinach, cheddar, and deli ham, you can mix it up to your family’s taste, substituting other cheese, deli meats, fresh spinach, and even other vegetables, sautéed with the onions at the very beginning. Flexible, in terms of timing, and very versatile. RECIPE - HERE
15: Three Cheese Hawaiian Pizza
TGIF! If Friday is pizza night in your house too, I've got an easy and delicious pizza inspiration to share with your today.
This Three Cheese Hawaiian Pizza is topped with goat, cheddar and mozzarella cheese. The ham and pineapple is nice and chunky, for a hearty slice. And for a bit of a flavour hit, a few slices of jalapeno are scattered on top.
Starting with store-bought pizza dough and pizza sauce, makes this pizza ready in a flash. No need for take-out!
RECIPE - HERE
16: Split Pea and Ham Soup
A healthy and easy dinner recipe that warms and satisfies your body! This classic Split Pea Soup with ham can be prepared in the slow cooker, in the Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. Make it with a smoked ham hock, leftover ham bone, diced ham or bacon for a simple and flavorful prep-ahead meal that reheats beautifully throughout the week. Serve each warm bowl with a loaf of crusty bread or some flaky buttermilk biscuits!
RECIPE - HERE
17: Ham and Cheese Biscuits
Savory ham and cheddar cheese are layered into these fluffy biscuits. Served on their own or with a plate of scrambled eggs or alongside a bowl of soup, these biscuits disappear almost as quickly as I can make them.
I’ve been making these Ham and Cheese biscuits for about four years now and they are frequently found tucked into our freezer. While they’re delicious on their own, they also make a terrific egg sandwich and pretty amazing biscuits with gravy too!
RECIPE - HERE
18: creamy ham and mushroom farfalle
Farfalle with peas, ham, and cream. Quick and easy Italian dinner recipe that can be made in less than 20 minutes.
This wonderful creamy pasta recipe is super simple to make and a great way to use any leftover ham that you may have.
I selected farfalle, or bow ties, not because they are my favorite pasta, but also because the sauce sits well in the little bow part of the pasta thus allowing you to get all the wonderful flavors. Penne or rigatoni are an alternate good choice. Whichever past you choose, make sure that it is tubular. I enjoy cooking pasta al dente or to the bite. RECIPE - HERE
19: Ham Egg and Cheese Breakfast Burrito
I’m a huge proponent of batch cooking and stocking your freezer with portioned meals that you can just grab-reheat-and-go! Not only are these make-ahead freezer breakfast burritos a great answer to the “I’m too busy to make breakfast” conundrum, but for someone who loves breakfast for dinner as much as I do, these burritos make a fast and easy anytime meal.
I kept my breakfast burritos super simple with just eggs, cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, and cooked ham, but this is another wonderfully flexible recipe. You can skip the ham to make them vegetarian, or switch them up... RECIPE - HERE
I have made every one of these recipes and continue to make the to this day. They are all family favorite. Today I am making the White Bean and Ham Soup, what will you start with? xoxo Haley