The Best Ham Salad (+Video)
The best ham salad recipe only requires leftover ham, mayonnaise, celery, onion and perfectly combined seasonings! My most requested recipe!
A TRIED AND TRUE HAM SALAD RECIPE
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: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- boneless cooked ham – this recipe is perfect for leftover ham or you can purchase a small smoked ham.
- hard boiled egg – this adds more flavor than you realize and you don’t taste it as a separate ingredient but if you really hate eggs, just leave it out.
- celery and onion – adding layers of flavor here, use what you like and if you don’t like it then leave it out but I promise you, these ingredients are worth it.
- sweet pickle relish – relish is always controversial, I don’t know why but if you hate relish than leave it out – some folks like dill pickle relish.
- mayonnaise – I am a mayonnaise purist. It has to be Hellman’s or Duke’s (or JFG) for me. I do not like Miracle Whip at all but if it’s your think – then go for it.
- mustard – some might think this is weird to add to ham salad but it adds a lovely bit of background flavor that you don’t taste as a separate ingredient.
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!
CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?
Originally published: January 2014
Updated and Republished: March 2021
The Best Ham Salad (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless cooked ham, diced (leftover or purchased thick slab, trimmed of fat)
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- assorted crackers and/or soft rolls (for serving)
Instructions
- Put 1 1/2 pounds boneless cooked ham, diced, 1 hard-boiled egg, 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped and 2 teaspoons finely chopped 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 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish, 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard, and salt and pepper (to taste) into a separate large bowl.
- 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 with assorted crackers and/or soft rolls.
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
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Updated to add: The original post had a giveaway. That giveaway has now ended.
I’m probably the only person without a food processor,,lol..BUT I have a meat grinder,can I grind it up twice with the small holes in the grinder?? will that work?? I really want to make this great recipe tnx
It’s funny you say that because I developed this recipe using a food processor because most people don’t have a meat grinder. LOL. Yes, that will work. Grind it up as fine or as chunky as you like. I always feel that is personal preference 🙂
I made it and it was so good! Thank you for the recipe!!
Loved this
excellent thank you!!!@
Delicious!
Thanks so much Penny!
I want to make this but need clarification on how many this serves. it says serves 10. Does that mean it will make 10 Normal size sandwiches? or 10 half sandwiches?
Honestly, it’s just a guess on my part. It makes about a 1/4 cup per person, but again, I’m just guessing here. I do my best to estimate but I’m just a human over here ha!
I love all your receipes. and that ham salad is to die for thank you again
Jackie W.
Thanks SO very much Jackie – I really appreciate it!!
yummy!!!! this was so good and easy to make!
I’ve been making this for years! With the exception of the celery. My husband LOVES this stuff and can eat a lot with butter crackers. I’m lucky to get a sandwich or two. Thanks for posting.
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!
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.