The best ham salad recipe only requires leftover ham, mayonnaise, celery, onion and perfectly combined seasonings! My most requested recipe!
THE BEST HAM SALAD
I've been making this salad for over 25 years. You just can't top perfection. I actually tweaked this recipe based off a recipe I got from my very first Betty Crocker Cookbook. If you love my FAMOUS POTATO SALAD, then you'll know that those old Betty Crocker recipes can't be beat! I've only adjusted them slightly over the years to adjust to my taste and because I'm picky about my salad recipes! This recipe for ham salad all be the one you come back to over and over again!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
This recipe is perfect for leftover holiday ham. For this recipe, I used a small boneless cooked ham. Thick ham steaks would also work well.
No. You could certainly cut this up by hand. It will take a bit of work though because you want it finely minced. You could also do this in a blender. Just mince a little at a time.
Give this ham salad a taste test before serving. I didn't add any additional salt to mine because my ham was salty enough so additional salt would have been too much. Adjust to your taste.
Serve on rolls, biscuits, as HAM SALAD PINWHEELS, in a sandwich or as a spread for crackers!
Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will last up to 4 or 5 days. I don't recommend freezing ham salad. Sometimes the mayonnaise separates when it defrosts.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- boneless cooked ham
- hard boiled egg
- celery
- onion
- fresh black pepper
- sweet pickle relish
- mayonnaise
- mustard
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HAM SALAD:
Put the ham, egg, celery and onion into a blender or food processor (season with a bit of salt and black pepper).
Pulse (short, quick pulses) 20-25 times to mince.
Combine remaining ingredients into a separate bowl (sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, mustard.)
Then stir it into minced ham mixture.
Cover and chill. I like to chill ham salad for several hours. It definitely gets better as it chills for a while
Serve on rolls, in a sandwich or with crackers!
WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? YOU GOTTA TRY THESE!
The Best Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless cooked ham (leftover or purchased thick slab, trimmed of fat and diced)
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish (optional)
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- assorted crackers and/or soft rolls
Instructions
- Put the ham, egg, celery and onion into a blender or food processor (season with a bit of fresh black pepper)
- Pulse (short, quick pulses) 20-25 times to mince. Scrape down the sides of the food processor to make sure it all gets combined evenly.
- Combine remaining ingredients into a separate bowl (sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise and mustard)
- Then stir in minced ham mixture.
- Cover and chill. I prefer to chill it for several hours. It definitely gets better as it chills for a while.
- Serve on rolls, biscuits or as a spread for crackers!
Video
Notes
- This ham salad is perfect for that leftover holiday ham. I set about making my own version of a ham salad that combines all of my favorite flavors. I used a small boneless cooked ham.
- Ham steaks also work for this recipe
- You should end up with 3 cups ground ham after it is blended in the food processor or blender.
- Give this ham salad a taste test before serving. I didn't add any additional salt to mine because my ham was salty enough so additional salt would have been too much. Adjust to your taste.
- Serve on rolls, biscuits or as a spread for crackers!
Nutrition
Updated to add: The original post had a giveaway. That giveaway has now ended.
Originally published: January 2014
Updated and Republished: March 2021
OldHoosierDude
The beauty of these old-fashioned recipes is how easy it is to customize them to your tastes. All of the elements of a great ham salad recipe are here, the way most of us remember it. I doubled the onion, celery and relish because that's the way mom used to make it, but it is simply damned delicious as written.
It's been years since I've had this, and I'm so glad this resource was here to guide me back to warm summer memories and this perfect concoction!
Michelle Lynes
While normally I make a recipe as written first I didn’t this one as I’m not fond of celery or onions. We usually smoke a ham on the smoker even if it’s already been smoked used the left overs to make ham salad omg good.
Kenneth
I have made this for a year now. I would change NOTHING in your recipe. Two things I would suggest though is:
1. My Ninja is a 40 oz ( I think) and 1.5 pouns is a bit too much for it. So, I keep it at about 1 cup when chopping the ham. If I only make one batch then I just cut the mayo to 1/2 cup and leave everything else the same. If I am doing more, then I can double/triple everything.
2. Don't wait till Easter or whatever. You can make this throughout the summer or winter and you DO NOT NEED a whole ham. At our Wally World they sell, Ham steaks, and packages of Diced Ham, Spiral cut ends, and what is essentially ham slices from a canned ham? Anyway, my favorite is the Spiral End cuts as there is way more fat....and that is what I have loved my whole life. I am not a Health Freak, so I go by taste...nothing more. Anyway, the point being, that you can enjoy this year round.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Kenneth! Certainly appreciate the great feedback!
Ken
Just made it again. Used a one pound pkg of Diced Ham...and it is ideal size.
Tonya
Quick, easy and taste great. It’s a very versatile recipe. I used di relish instead of sweet relish and left out the egg. It was exactly the taste I was looking for
Tonya
Dill relish. I couldn’t figure out how to edit my review
JimmyB
I just made this for lunch and it was delicious! I cut the recipe down to 1/3 using a half pound of cubed ham. I still added a whole egg. I ALWAYS use eggs in tuna salad but never have in ham salad before and it is a great addition. I followed everything else in the recipe pretty much as written. As I started to mix the mayo with the ham it looked like not enough mayo but the ratio turned out to be just right. Thanks for posting such a tasty recipe.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Great to hear Jimmy! Thanks SO much for taking the time to come back & leave a comment!
AnnieGirl67
So I’m used to ham salad being made with bologna. Would this work instead of the ham? Same amount?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yep you sure can & yes the same amounts 🙂
Daphne
Thank you so much for this recipe! I LOVE ham salad, but I needed an easy recipe to make it. This one is perfect!
Tonja
If I use a ham steak would I cook it first?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Most ham steaks have already been smoked and are fully cooked so you wouldn't need to cook it. Look at the packaging on your ham steak. If it says hardwood or hickory smoked then it's already cooked.
Joan
Delicious recipe. Made appetizers for bridal shower..... We call them ham puffs (choux pastry). I used a half ham which yielded 18 cups of ground ham, and x6 the recipe for 60 guests. These are awesome. Thanks for the delicious ham salad recipe.
Dianne
Could you use the small canned flaked ham
Debbie Hubbard
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I love ham salad so I thought I’d google it. So happy I found a recipe for it. Thanks so much
Cait Johnson
I have had trouble making a ham salad. I saw your recipe and thought that it has all the things in it that we like. Made it for Hubby and he ‘loved’ it.
Why is a recipe for ham salad so hard to find in a cook book? Glad I thought to Google it. Thank you for your recipe!
Adia
This looks delicious and I can't wait to try it!
I'm wondering, would the same thing work for bologna, to make a bologna salad spread? We used to buy that at a local grocery store and I've never found it anyplace else, but it was great.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yes! Absolutely! Works great with bologna!
Donna
Hi Adia! I was going to ask the same question, but I figured that an even swap would work. My mom used to make some excellent bologna salad and I know that a lot of meat markets/butchers sell it where I live in N.W. Ohio, but it's a crap shoot at the quality, or the "like mom's" factor. So you may want to ask your local butcher if they have it or make it too, but homemade is ALWAYS the best.
Thanks Brandie! I will be saving this one since it looks like what my mom used to make, aside from the mayo. She used Miracle Whip or salad dressing in hers which is literally the only way I will eat that crap. I am a REAL mayo girl from the North and loving Duke's since it's made its way up here, finally! No more overpriced jars online for me!
Melody A Goss
Yum...thanks for the food processor trick! I just used sweet pickle relish and Miracle whip...Just like I remembered!
.Mari Bresler
Made it exactly as listed. Even used my food processor on it.
Didn't change a thing. It was SO yummy! I think that it would also be very good served on a brioche bun. But, I used crackers
Harold Martin Bone
Your Ham Salad recipe is excellent!
We left out the egg.
Makes really tasty sandwich when it is grilled on rye bread!
Carol Bailes
Very good. Added extra onion and served on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomato.
Lladybug
Wow! When preparing for us to make tuna salad, my husband mistook cans of Hormel cooked ham for cans of tuna (same size cans). After he opened the cans, we realized the mistake. Oh, well, we decided to make ham salad. Never had made ham salad before. Amazing! Will definitely make this again. Thank you for posting.
Joan M Williams
I don't eat meat but family does. I made this for my elderly father-in-law so he could eat ham even though he has no teeth. He liked it a lot!
Ann marie Jackson
The ham salad recipe from country cook is absolutely to die for! Love it and so easy! Thank you
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Ann Marie!!
Randy
I halved the recipe. I did have to add just enough additional mayo to hold the ham mixture together. No salt needed. We made ham salad sandwiches on hard rolls, which were delicious!
CHRISTOPHER S HUBERT
I like to go to my favorite deli, buy some of their best ham, shaved & take home and run a knife through. Super easy!
Syd
Great!
Pat
I just made some for lunch today from leftover ham. I am enjoying it on buttery crackers. Best I have ever made!
Kathy
Best ham salad I ever made!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yay!!! Thank you so much Kathy!
Joan
How many sandwiches does the ham salad recipe serve
Dale
Excellent
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Dale!
Mimi
Truly best EVER!! Thank you!
dc obrien
it was the best - and totally easy to make. After gathering ingredients (I gave a rough chop to all ingredients before processing to go easy on my food processor), the whole thing took only minutes to make and serve. We used to call this dish "deviled ham." Hubby was expecting sliced ham and expressed disappointment - until he tasted this, and then he could not get enough. We ate it with side dishes (mac and cheese is good) and leftovers went on sandwiches the next day. So good.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
This makes me so happy!!! Thank you so very much for taking the time to come back and leave a review. So thrilled you gave it a try!
Anne
Delicious, whenever I make this I get so many compliments! This recipe is very simple and I love that it’s also quick to make.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo!! Thank you so very much Anne!!
Ceil
I love ham salad. I use a box grater, Works great. I wonder of Spam would work in place of ham for a change..
Diane
Great recipe I put 3 eggs in it & little more mustard mayo. Just add to your taste & consistency.
Ham Salad was so quick & easy
Mona
This ham salad is delicious! Followed the recipe as written except for the hard boiled egg. I had run out of eggs making a pound cake the day before. My mom used to make ham salad with leftover Christmas or Easter ham. Tastes just like hers - brought back great memories! Thanks for the terrific recipe!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo! Thank you so much Mona! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave feedback. So happy you love it as much as I do!!
Linda
Thanks for the recipe , Sounds delicious
Donna Goddard
One of my favorite recipes. Perfect for leftover ham! Love that I don't need a meat grinder!
Melissa
DELICIOUS! I added lots of freshly ground pepper.
M.j.
Doesn't get much better than this. We love this ham salad!
Catherine
Gotta say this was one of the easiest and yummiest recipes for ham salad I have ever made. Thank you for the great tip about the food processor. Worked perfectly!
Jess
Thank you for this recipe. We made it with leftover ham from Easter. Everyone raved!
Shannon
WHOA - this was really good! Love, love the tip about the food processor. Why didn't I think of that before!
CAROL-ANN REDMON
Oh my gracious - made this and loved it. Perfect proportions of ingredients.
Allie
I always add a bit of pineapple juice to my ham salad....no measuring just enough to taste. maybe a 1/4 c. or less. This was devine!
Stella
We all loved this. I made it with the sweet pickle relish.
sunny14
Southern Fried Chicken with gravy
emilyanne
Pimento Cheese, especially a grilled pimento cheese sandwich! Another favorite is definitely Banana Pudding with meringue!
Caroline Sanders
I don't make them but I order shrimp and grits whenever possible!
sharonjo
One of my favorites is Italian Cream Cake. I think that's a southern recipes, isn't it?
sharonjo at gwtc dot net
keshakeke
I love hushpuppies and chicken pastry
Drew
I haven't had ham salad in years, you've just inspired me to get back on that wagon!
April @ PolkaDots n' PinkySwears
I would have to say cheese grits!! I love them!!
Kara Marks
I love fried okra!
Cele Deemer
Biscuits & gravy! It was my dad's favorite too,
MaryB
Too hard to choose just one....shrimp and grits or BISCUITS!
BumbleBeeLane
Fried chicken. But so hard to choose just one.
msbooch75
I usually look at the baked goods and so far I have a good list going. Pound cake and southern biscuits are the favs. My neighbor always gets a share of my baking cuz she works everyday and no time.
Anonymous
My favorite southern recipe is banana pudding. My mother made this for me when I was little. I will never forget that taste.
Amy Anthony
Love all southern food...biscuits, cornbread, country ham, fried chicken, fried okra, cream style corn, green beans, any fruit cobbler, peach cobbler, banana pudding, mustard geens, sweet potato casserole....yum, yum!! Thanks for giving the chance to win all of these good items.
Dalila G.
Oooo......I have to go with fried pork chops, parsnips and collared greens with pickle juice mixed in.
Now that's a great southern dish to have anytime!
Thanks for the chance to win these great gifts!
Anonymous
I enjoy all of your receipes so much! Thank you for taking all of the time that you do posting receipes and sharing recipes! They are excellent!
Terry
Shrimp and Grits!! Double yum!!
Kris Philpot
Biscuits and sausage gravy is tops in my book. Thank you for the opportunity to win this prize package. Good luck everyone.
Tracy Flickinger
My favorite southern recipe is chicken and sausage gumbo. UMMMMMMM!!!!
Leslie
this tastes divine! although I did sneak in a splash of pineapple juice.
romi
Southern Fried Chicken and Pecan Pie
Christine
My husband is a southerner and he has spent years trying to show me the errors of my northern ways 🙂
I do love a good biscuit and gravy breakfast, and he is a big fan of ham, beans, and cornbread.
Marie
My favorite southern food is collard greens.
Anonymous
I love Okra and Collard Greens...I'm from Australia and I had never had them until I moved to the South. Yummy
ginger_rose@hotmail.com
Anonymous
I love southern food. Fried chicken fried okra. Biscuits and gravy. It is all yummy
Susan Broughton
My favorite Southern recipe is for Breakfast, I love Sausage Biscuits and Gravy. There's nothing like it with eggs and fried apples too. Mmmmm!
Patty Howe
Chicken fried steak!!
Judy
I love true sothern recipes. Biscuits and gravy - what not to like!!!
Joey J
this looks delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!! My fave Southern recipe(I grew up in the South) is banana pudding! yum!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Joey J.
Anonymous
fried chicken i dont no how to profile im mona camp
Amy
Sweet potato casserole is my all-time favorite!
Joan Oscarson
Pecan Pie and your butter dipped biscuits.
Sandra Henslee
Paula Deen's Chicken Pot Pie!
suburban prep
I have not really had any Southern food.
My mother was born in Texas of parents who were from Europe so I have not really had Southern food.
scmom (Barbara)
Ham salad is one if my favorite dishes. My recipe is almost the same except I add a few hard boiled eggs. I would love that cookbook. I am a southerner at heart, but just across the Mason-Dixon Line in Ohio.
karen bullion
My favorite southern southern recipe--that is not fair. I eat it all the time. I cannot make biscuits worth a hoot but I can fry chicken, cook collard greens, make gravy and am always asked to make banana pudding for all holiday meals. I love bean dumplings and no one can make them as well as my mother-in-law's sister. Not sure if that is a southern thing but it is definitely a Parrott thing.
Mimi G
There are so many - shrimp & grits and sweet tea.
labbie1
Biscuits and Gravy!
Jeannette Harnish
mac and cheese
morchella
Hoppin jogn and cornbread dressing my favorite recipes but of course we love gumbo too.
Andrea
I love some good fried chicken. Thanks for the chance to enter.
Andrea D.
short74717@msn.com
Lisa Elder
I'd have to say my favorite southern recipe to make is pound cake or a pineapple poke cake.
kellyr78
I like Chicken Pot Pies.
Kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
Ayalicious
Pecan Pie loooooooooooooooove
Christy Spurlock
I love biscuits and country gravy.
Robin Coxon
Bean and Ham bone soup is one of my favorite topped off with cornbread made with creamed corn.
Jenn
Banana Pudding!
Cheryl S.
My favorite is biscuits! Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
Kristin Rae
Grits!
ChristinaC
Fried catfish
Sunnie
I like fried chicken
sunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com
Debbie Bishop
I love Pulled Pork!
Chelle
Deviled Eggs...it's the small things for me 😉
Nancy Andrews
Biscuits and sausage gravy with grits also if possible.
scottylover
My favorite southern recipe is Red Velvet cake. Love it!
Sandy A
Janette Griffin
I've been sick for two days, having only crackers and ginger ale. After reading all these comments about everyone's favorite southern foods, I'm so hungry I could eat my iPad, especially if ya chicken fried it and smothered it in gravy.
Anonymous
Biscuits, biscuits and sausage gravy, cornbread, all the good things. Dom't forget banana pudding
PatCH qfanon@aol.com
Karrie Millheim
I love southern fried chicken deep fried. yum. This recipe above looks so good
Diane Nickerson
Biscuits and gravy and cheese grits are two of my favorites. Really looking forward to trying this ham salad recipe. I've been looking for a good one for years!
Anonymous
Brownie P
Fried Chicken, Mashed potato and cream gravy.
Denise V. Moses
Love everything southern. Makes my mouth water.
abeullah
should be corn bread
abeullah
fried chicken and corn breas.
K Little @Cooking with K
I have been wanting to make ham salad…this recipe looks great! Like the idea of using the food processor….
Maria W.
I love fried chicken with corn bread. Delicious!
Anne H
shrimp and grits, and biscuits, of course!
Roseanna C
There is a corn casserole recipe that I really love, and of course, biscuits
Elizabeth
Southern fried chicken is my absolutely favorite.
Elizabeth
elizabedu3@aol.com
Barbara Mc
Our newest southern favorite is your Pineapple Casserole, we love it!
Holly in Houston
Fried chicken. Chicken pot pie. Chicken and biscuits. Chicken fried chicken. Did I mention chicken and anything? Thanks for making these great prizes available. jtropic@comcast.net
Drisanna
Fried catfish is my favorite, I think. Though black-eyed peas and okra is awfully good, too. And fried chicken. I'm going to stop now, I'm making myself hungry and I just finished dinner.
mimiof2
My favorite Southern recipe is Southern Fried Chicken! Heck, i love all Southern food! 🙂 Thank you for the chance! mimieavers@gmail.com
Pam Gurganus
My favorite southern recipe is my mother-in-law's chicken and pastry!
Anonymous
Pecan Fried Chicken, best had at historic restaurant at Stone Mountain,Georgia
Birdie Bee
Southern fried chicken is my favorite.
Anonymous
One of my favorite southern foods is ham and bean soup with cornbread.
NANCY NEWTON
YES I am cooking some now the house smells so good and my husband can hardly wait to eat the beans with fried potatoes and fried corn bread slathered with real butter
Jewel
Biscuits & sausage gravy
Al Parsons
Delicious. Delicious!
Manda
I love cheese grits.
michele376
My favorite southern food is fried chicken.
Babs
Pecan Pie is probably my favorite.
Debbie
Bisquits, and more Bisquits. I don't have them very often. I'm not good at making them. But boy do I miss my Mama's bisquits.
Alyson Thompson
Fried okra is a favorite of mine!
Tina
Recipes for biscuits are among my favorites!
Anonymous
Don't have a food processor.Will a blender work?
Anonymous
My favorite
southern food is Chicken and Rice. Also red velvet cake I am Debbie Lind But have to post Anonymous on your website sorry