These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (2024)

Repurpose those leftovers into dozens of delicious dishes, from soup to casseroles!

By Chloe Gorman and Christopher Michel
These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (1)

Easter Monday means one thing: half the fridge filled up with leftover Easter ham.

No matter how many people we invite, or how many times we try to calculate how much ham to prepare, it's inevitable that we'll have ham for days. Luckily, ham is delicious, keeps well, and can easily fit in a wide variety of dishes!

For our April breakfasts, we're often making a Spring Veggie Frittata, or munching on some pre-made Ham and Cheese Pinwheels. For lunch, you might find us whipping up a Croque Madam sandwich with fries, and for dinner, we're probably eating some Corn Risotto with chunks of the leftover ham flecking the surface.

You can also freeze ham! We like to dice it up and then put it in separate portion-sized baggies, for adding to soups, casseroles, and even scrambled eggs. And don't forget that bone! It's perfect for flavoring beans and soups.

What's your favorite thing to do with leftover ham? Let us know in the comments!

1

Spring Vegetable, Ham, and Goat Cheese Frittata

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If there was ever a brunch recipe just begging for you to set some leftover ham aside for it, it's this one. Spring veggies, simple cheese, and farm fresh eggs complete the meal.

Get the recipe for Spring Vegetable, Ham, and Goat Cheese Frittata.

2

Croque Madames

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It's quite possibly the most decadent sandwich. Make it for dinner, make it for brunch. But whatever you do, save a little of the leftover ham to make it.

Get the recipe for Croque Madames.

3

Black Bean-and-Chile Soup

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Dried beans cooked with ham hocks — or with a leftover ham bone— take on a delicious smoky, rich flavor. Here's it's the base for a lick-the-bowl soup.

Get the recipe for Black Bean-and-Chile Soup.

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4

5-Bean Summer Salad

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Want a lighter dish that'll still use up that leftover ham bone? Use it to flavor the lima beans in this fresh bean salad.

Get the recipe for 5-Bean Summer Salad.

5

Ham and Pimiento Grilled Cheese

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Leftover ham is turned into a lunch you want to munch with the caviar of the South: pimento cheese.

Get the recipe for Ham and Pimiento Grilled Cheese.

6

Cobb Sandwiches

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This recipe calls for diced turkey, but leftover ham works equally well.

Get the recipe for Cobb Sandwiches.

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7

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

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Though the recipe calls for thinly sliced deli ham, small strips of ham will also work in these tasty, savory puff pastry rolls.

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Pinwheels.

8

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Country Ham

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We love Brussels sprouts recipes of all kinds here, but the combo of ham, sprouts, and a tangy vinegar, really makes this side dish sing.

Get the recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Country Ham.

9

Ham and Potato Gratins

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These simple, elegant sides are an easy way to turn leftovers into something everyone will want to eat.

Get the recipe for Ham and Potato Gratins.

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10

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake

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One of our favorite make-ahead breakfast casseroles, this is super easy to prepare the night before, and then just bake off in the morning. We've been known to do it the day after Easter!

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake.

11

Corn-and-Ham Risotto

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If you want a way to elegantly elevate your leftover ham, this risotto idea is a delicious way to do just that.

Get the recipe for Corn-and-Ham Risotto.

12

Spinach and Ham Egg Bakes

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These hearty little egg bakes are perfect for busy mornings.

Get the recipe for Spinach and Ham Egg Bakes.

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13

Ham Biscuit Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard

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These flaky biscuit sandwiches make great brunch snacks—or excellent New Year's Eve treats!

Get the recipe for Ham Biscuit Sandwiches.

14

Ham-and-Leek Baked Gnocchi

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Chop up some of that leftover ham and add it to a package of gnocchi and some fontina cheese.

Get the recipe for Ham-and-Leek Baked Gnocchi.

15

Avocado and Ham Sandwiches

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Our take on the classic French country lunch — a ham and butter sandwich on a baguette — is improved, we might boast, with a simple slice or two of avocado. Try it and see.

Get the recipe for Avocado and Ham Sandwiches.

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16

Cuban Sandwiches

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Crunchy pickles, gooey cheese, pork, and ham makes these warm sandwiches great for both lunch and dinner.

Get the recipe for Cuban Sandwiches.

17

Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche

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Give yourself the gift of this make-ahead brunch, and you can have a lazy weekend morning that is actually lazy!

Get the recipe for Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche.

18

Ham and French Toast

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You know what makes a classic French toast recipe even better? A thin slice of ham—the savory addition perfectly balances out the sweet maple syrup.

Get the recipe for Ham and French Toast.

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19

Ham Pot Pie

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Sure, ham itself is considered comfort food, but we think you should up the ante by turning it into pot pie. Feel free to use your leftover vegetables, like corn and peas, in this recipe.

Get the recipe for Ham Pot Pie at Chelsea's Messy Apron.

20

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder

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Chowder isn't only enjoyed in the summer, you know. Case in point? This recipe that uses tasty morsels of your leftover ham.

Get the recipe for Cheesy Ham Chowder at The Chunky Chef.

These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover ham good for? ›

Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

How to store leftover ham? ›

To store your ham properly, it's best to use vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers to prevent moisture loss and bacteria growth. Also, remember to take a look at your refrigerator's temperature range! Ideally, it should be between 34°F and 40°F or 1°C-4°C.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

How do you know if ham is gone bad? ›

If your ham starts to take on a green or grey hue, or even gets black or brown in a few areas, throw it away. If it doesn't smell good, throw it away. Ham should have a salty or smokey aroma, almost sweet. If there is a sour smell or something smells off, don't take the chance of a food-borne illness.

Can dogs eat ham? ›

Yes and no. Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.

What liquid keeps ham moist? ›

You don't want to make a ham soup, so put just enough to coat the ham and cover the bottom of the pan. You can use water, but if you want to add more flavor, you should use wine or beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Most of this liquid will cook off, but your tinfoil cover will help your meat absorb those juices.

Does ham spoil if not refrigerated? ›

Country style hams are dry-cured with salt and aged for distinctive flavor; some are also smoked. Unopened country style hams can be kept up to 1 year without refrigeration.

Can you eat ham after 7 days? ›

Once you open a package of ham, or if it comes open — like if it was sliced at the deli counter— you can safely eat your leftovers for up to five days. In addition to these dates, it's always best to stick to the use-by date printed on the ham's package.

How long will Honey Baked Ham last in the refrigerator? ›

How long can I keep my Honey Baked ham or turkey breast in the refrigerator? Once thawed, your Honey Baked Ham will stay fresh for 7 to 10 days and the Honey Baked Turkey Breast will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.

How long will Christmas ham last in the fridge? ›

Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.

Can I eat ham 5 days after use by date? ›

Ham lasts for 1-2 weeks beyond their labeled date, considering all the following variables. The shelf life of ham depends on a variety of factors, such as the sell by date, the preparation method and how it was stored. Ham, just like bacon, is a cured meat prepared from the hind thighs of a hog.

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