BEST HAM SALAD EVER!
Ham salad is good anytime!
I used to cook a ham and half of it would go to waste. Then I started making ham salad. I love this recipe. It is great on crackers or bread. A great way to use up leftover ham. This is good to serve for game day or anytime you have a group of people over and serve snacks. Men love this and it makes a lot. It will keep in the refrigerator for several days and goes well as a sandwich with soup for lunch, too. When I first started making this ham salad I would just make it after holidays when I had leftover ham. Now, I buy pieces of ham like Kentucky Legend at the grocery and make it all the time.
Ingredients for ham salad:
6 cups ham, coarsely ground
4 eggs, hard boiled and chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
1 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. This makes about a 1/2 gallon Tupperware container full. I like having it on hand. Recipe can be cut in half. Enjoy!
Note: You can finely chop the ham if you don’t have a food processor or a way to grind it up.
Best Ever Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups ham coarsely ground
- 4 eggs hard boiled and chopped
- 1 cup celery finely chopped
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. This makes about a 1/2 gallon tupperware container full. I like having it on hand. Recipe can be cut in half.
Notes
If you like this recipe, you might also like my recipe for Ham and Black Bean Soup.
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Great recipes…love them all……
Thank you!!
Can you freeze the ground ham and/or the salad. Going to breakout the Hobart meat grinder (which I have never used) and wondered if I could freeze in portions.
I think you could easily freeze the ham.
This looks so good. We buy Kentucky Legend ham quite a bit. My husband likes it for breakfast. The smoked ham is the best ever.
For those who don’t have a food grinder, or those of us who are short on time, I have found ground ham in the fresh meat section at my supermarket. It makes this great recipe even easier to make.
Looks really good..
My mom made this when I was growing up except no basil. In winter she would make it like a grilled cheese with a bowl of soup. Yum!
What kind of ham do you use?
You can used any kind you like. I use any leftover ham from anytime I make it or I buy Kentucky Legend ham if I want to make it not using leftover ham. As long as the ham is cooked you will be ok.
I lived on a farm growing up and grandma always added finely ground carrots and chopped arugula instead of basil ( occasionally a small amount of horseradish in the winter) thank you for posting this. brings back wonderful memories. I’ll be making this for dinner with a hearty bean soup 🙂
You are very welcome. I love how food brings back such wonderful memories. Have a wonderful day!
We always add good sharp cheddar cheese , but no eggs .
How long will ham salad last in the fridge?
I would say at least 4 or 5 days. It never lasts long at my house because it is gone before that but I have kept it several days.
My mom used to make this frequently when I was a kid. She’d add a little hard salami to the ham and grind it all together with one of those cast aluminium food grinders. I still see those grinders for sale at second hand stores and flea markets. I think I’ll make this soon!
They sell them on Amazon!!
I don’t have a show on television, I just own this site. https://thesouthernladycooks.com/2013/09/02/you-asked-for-it/
Could plain greek yogurt be subbed for mayo ?
I have never made it that way, so cant advise you. Cant hurt to try!
We use dill relish instead. Also add a little weed
You could leave it out.
I have used the same ings and used chicken or turkey as the meat in the salad as well.
This sounds really good! I will try the hardboiled eggs the next time I make ham salad. I am wondering about the basil and what it does for the ham? I have never heard of using basil with ham. Can you tell us more about using basil?
Fresh basil adds sort of a peppery flavor.
This is also great using roast beef. Makes great beef salad.
My neighbors had a cookout and had hot dogs left over, grilled. We used them the same as you did with the ham , and called it Ball Park Salad, everybody loved it.
Sounds tasty 🙂
How do you chop ham if you don’t have a good processor. Can a regular blender be used?
I have not tried a blender but I think it would work. You might try just chopping it really fine with a knife, too. I think that would be ok, Janice.
I once worked at a place that put items in machines in factory machines. The lady there made ham salad sandwiches for the drivers to put in those machines. She made it with bologna and it was delicious. She would make one every day for me to hae for my lunch when we took a break.
I worked in the regional accounting office for a company that would have Food Days. A lady I worked with made a Spam Salad that reminded me of Ham Salad. I had been told about it and was a little dubious. Then I saw when she put the salad on the table. people rushed in and got those sandwiches right away. Absolutely delicious.
I always make Ham Salad with bologna, sweet pickles, onion and Hellman’s Mayo. Mom used to make it that way and my family loves it.
My mom’s family did too…it was really good then but they don’t make bologna the same anymore
I used to have my mother’s meat grinder but not any more. How else could I grind the left over ham?
You can grind it in a food processor. I have even ground it in a coffee grinder. You could just chop it really fine, too.
I just made this; best ever! I followed it to a tee and my husband and both loved it. I’ll be making this for family get togethers.
I make this using Spam instead of ham. very good
I found your ham salad by accident and just love it. All of the ingredients make for a great salad or sandwich which is the way to go. I love the idea of eggs and the djon mustard for a little kick.
Thanks!
This really looks good and again I would not of thought of putting eggs in, but I will next time.