The Best Ham Salad Ever

I’m sharing the best ham salad recipe today with you. Did your parents make tuna salad, egg salad, corned beef, or ham salad as you were growing up? After I got married and realized the cost of food after living on my own, I realized why my mom always added hard-boiled eggs to tuna and ham salad sandwiches. At the time, I’m sure eggs were cheaper so she stretched the meat to go further with a filler.

It’s funny because even now when I open a can of tuna, I have to giggle. When our family was young, I could make seven sandwiches with one can of tuna. Why seven, well we had four daughters and Mark needed two sandwiches.

Our family consisted of 6 people, so there you have it. I wonder if you could even taste the layer of tuna back then, life is full of memories.

When you buy ham, it may come as a spiral-cut ham, or glazed, usually with honey. Most grocery store hams are fully cooked, but be sure and read the label on the one you purchase. I typically buy one that we serve cold, that’s fully cooked and ready to serve.

If you decide to warm yours up, you may want to use a thermometer to ensure the temperature is 140 degrees F. If you have some extra glaze, drizzle it over the ham and brown it under the broiler until it’s brown. Keep your eye on the meat so it doesn’t burn.

If you purchased a partially cooked ham, please read the label. Remember most hams are already cooked, do not cook them again or you will have a super dry ham, not fun to serve.

In case you missed my post, Pork: Everything You Need to Know

What is Ham?

I quote from Wikipedia, “Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking. As a processed meat, the term “ham” includes both whole cuts of meat and ones that have been mechanically formed.”

The Best Ham Salad Ever

Kitchen Items You Will Need

• Silicone Cutting Boards (these are my favorite)
• A Good Knife
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Food Processor (optional)
• Meat Grinder (optional)

Ham Salad Ingredients

• Boneless Ham: The bone has been removed from the ham before it has been processed, packaged, and sealed nice and tight. Due to the bone having been removed, it is best suited for carving. Delicious in flavor! Perfect for sandwiches and salads! An excellent source of protein.
• Celery: Refreshingly crisp, light, and delicious veggie! High in antioxidants and the fiber it contains is great for the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
• Onions: Both white and yellow onions have a very distinct spicy flavor that adds a lot to a savory soup, casserole, or side dish. White onions tend to be a bit stronger and pungent in flavor than yellow onions.
• Sweet Pickle Relish: A sweet-tasting relish typically made of cucumbers, onion, mustard seeds, sugar, celery seeds, salt, and vinegar.
• Mayonnaise: Also known as “mayo.” A thick and creamy sour dressing made of eggs, oil, vinegar, or lemon juice.
• Prepared Yellow Mustard: A condiment generally made of ground mustard seeds, water, salt, vinegar, and spices.
• Pepper To Taste: Pepper adds flavor and helps to bring all of the flavors together.

The Best Ham Salad Ever

Step One: Gather Ingredients – Cube Ham, Chop Onions and Celery

Gather the ingredients so you don’t have to scramble to look for them. I love everything lined up, can you tell? I cubed the ham, chopped the onions, and chopped the celery beforehand.

Step Two: Place Ham, Celery, and Onion In Food Processor

Place your food processor on the countertop, and place the ham, celery, and onion in the bowl of the processor or blender.

Step Three: Pulse Food Processor

Place the lid on and lock it in place. I pushed the pulse button 20 short and quick times to get it to the consistency I wanted. Be sure and scrape the sides of the bowl to mix it thoroughly.

Step Four: Combine Mayo, Pickle Relish, and Mustard – Mix

Combine the mayo, sweet relish, and mustard and stir until mixed. Add the meat mixture with the mayo mixture. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Finished Product – The Best Ham Salad

Serve the ham mixture on rolls or use it as a spread on your favorite crackers. The ham salad may or may not need salt, so use a little pepper first. Ham has added salt when it is processed, so adding more salt will increase the sodium content a bit. I recommend tasting your ham salad to determine if salt or pepper needs to be added. Enjoy.

The Best Ham Salad Recipe

What can I serve with this?

• Biscuits
• Dinner Rolls
• Crackers – Chicken in a Biscuit, Wheat Thins, or Triscuit
• A Tossed Salad
• Spinach Salad
• Fresh Fruit

How long can I safely store this in the refrigerator?

I’m a nervous Nellie when it comes to leftovers with meat, especially pork. To be honest, I would freeze what you can’t use within 1-2 days.

What should I store the leftovers in?

Place the leftovers in an airtight container or a freezer bag.

Can I make this recipe with Miracle Whip?

Yes, you can, for sure. I grew up making it with mayo, but Mark introduced me to Miracle Whip and the rest is history. If you make this recipe with Miracle Whip, please don’t freeze it, when it thaws it will be a watery mess. I know from experience.

Are there any variations that can be made with this easy ham salad recipe?

This is one of my favorite ham salad recipes! It is so easy to make and very delicious as is! If you are interested in making any variations, I feel that swapping out the yellow mustard for dijon mustard would be a good option. Especially if you are interested in a little spice!

Using dill pickles instead of sweet relish is also another variation that you could make if you would like sour and tart vs sweet.

Adding fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or cilantro would be another alternative. The possibilities are endless with this recipe!

Can I freeze the leftovers?

I don’t necessarily suggest freezing ham salad. It doesn’t always defrost well due to the mayonnaise separating from the other ingredients. But yes, you can freeze it, just know that there may be a little separation.

Place the leftovers in a freezer bag or airtight container and leave some headspace for expansion. Freeze for up to 1-2 months.

Final Word

There is something awesome about making another meal with leftover ham from the day before. I hope you try making the best ham salad recipe soon.

You can serve this recipe at a variety of get-togethers such as Easter brunch and Christmas dinner. I have also served it along with a bowl of chicken salad to give our guests the option of either.

Let me know what you put in your ham salad. Let’s compare notes. May God Bless this world, Linda

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