Ham Salad Sandwiches
on Dec 03, 2021, Updated Jun 28, 2024
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Wondering what to do with your leftover ham? Try whipping up this quick and easy Ham Salad made with celery and mayonnaise. Delicious for after the holidays and done in 5 minutes.
Ham salad is very similar to tuna salad. You can use your leftover cooked ham or cooked ham from the store. Simply chop the ham into small pieces and mix with celery, mayo and serve on a roll, toasted bread, croissant or as a cracker spread. So fast and delicious!
If you want to really speed up the process you can put the ham in a food processor instead of chopping it into small pieces. Depending on the amount of people you are feeding, you can stretch the size of the ham salad by adding a few hard boiled eggs to the mix too. Great for flavor and for bulking up the salad. I love to serve them with my homemade potato chips or sweet potato chips.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This is a perfect yummy leftover option. After cooking a big holiday meal, it feels so nice to throw something together that tastes great and can feed a crowd if you still have company around.
- This requires minimal prep work and uses simple, readily available ingredients, making it perfect for a quick meal.
- The recipe can be prepared ahead of time and chilled, making it an excellent option for meal prepping or serving at gatherings.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ham
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Green onions
- Salt
- Bread
- Lettuce
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Ham Salad Sandwiches
Step 1. In a food processor, blend ham, ½ cup mayonnaise, celery, green onions, and salt until creamy and finely chopped.
Step 2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in more mayo if needed. Chill in the fridge for 1 to 4 hours.
Step 3. Spread the ham salad on six slices of bread, top with lettuce, and cover with the remaining bread slices.
Step 4. Cut sandwiches as desired and serve.
This recipe is great to use your leftover holiday ham. I use boneless cooked ham but any cooked ham will do. You know those blocks of pressed ham you can get? Those work great too if you don’t have any leftovers.
Yes, you can substitute cooked chicken, turkey, or even tuna for a different take on this salad.
Absolutely. You can finely chop the ham, celery, and green onions by hand and then mix them with the mayonnaise and salt in a bowl.
Yes, you can customize the ham salad with additional ingredients like diced pickles, bell peppers, or a splash of mustard for extra flavor.
Expert Tips
- For the best flavor, use high-quality ham, such as leftover holiday ham or a good-quality precooked ham. Avoid overly processed hams with high water content.
- Start with ½ cup of mayonnaise and add more gradually if needed. The right consistency should be creamy but not too runny.
- Allow the ham salad to chill for at least 1 hour. This helps the flavors meld together, resulting in a more delicious sandwich filling.
- Use fresh celery and green onions to ensure a crisp texture and vibrant flavor.
- Experiment with add-ins like diced pickles, bell peppers, or a dash of mustard to customize the flavor profile to your liking.
- Opt for sturdy bread like whole grain, sourdough, or rye to prevent sogginess and add extra flavor. Toasting the bread slightly can also help.
How to Serve and Store Ham Salad Sandwiches
I love to serve the ham salad spread on a bread such as sourdough, soft whole wheat sandwich bread, or pita bread. Use tortillas or sweet potato cassava tortillas instead of bread for a different twist. For a lighter option or appetizer, serve the ham salad with an assortment of lavash crackers or sourdough crackers. For a low-carb version, spoon the ham salad into large lettuce leaves and roll them up.
Leftover ham salad should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will stay good for up to 5 days. I wouldn’t freeze ham salad. Mayonnaise tends to separate once it has been frozen.
More Sandwich Recipes to Consider
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Monte Cristo Sandwiches
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Homemade Ham Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound cubed cooked ham
- ½ to 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup finely celery, chopped
- ¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12 slices bread
- Lettuce leaves
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine ham, ½ cup of mayonnaise, celery, green onions, and salt. Pulse until creamy and finely chopped.
- Transfer ham salad into a bowl and stir in additional mayo, if needed. Cover and chill 1 to 4 hours.
- Spread on six slices of bread. Top with lettuce and remaining bread slices.
Notes
- You can use leftover ham or any precooked ham that you have for this recipe (like the smaller pressed hams or cooked holiday ham).
- The food processor makes light work of this dish but you can finely chop everything if you don’t have one.
- Start with ½ cup of mayonnaise and add more gradually if needed. The right consistency should be creamy but not too runny.
- Experiment with add-ins like diced pickles, bell peppers, or a dash of mustard to customize the flavor profile to your liking.
Nutrition
Ham Salad is a recipe that you want to keep in your tool bag. It is such a simple way to use leftover ham and give you a break in the kitchen during the holidays.
