Delicious, easy Ham Salad is made with finely chopped ham, onions, celery, sweet relish, dill weed, mayonnaise, and a little bit of mustard. This recipe is perfect for using up leftovers from holiday hams.
Make a Delicious Ham Salad
This simple and tasty ham salad recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or picnic. With just a few ingredients, you can create a flavorful dish that everyone will love. It is effortless to make and can be enjoyed on fresh rolls, Hawaiian bread, pumpernickel, rye, crackers, or even celery sticks or in a lettuce wrap for a low carbohydrate diet. The key to a good salad starts with obviously a good ham. This will help ensure that the ham mixture is top-notch. I like to use my leftover ham from holiday dinners, a good quality ham steak, or even Boars Head Ham sold at most deli counters. Serve this classic ham salad for an Easter or Christmas brunch. Or spread it on slider buns for the kids.
Ham Salad Ingredients
For this recipe, you need ham, celery, yellow onion, mayonnaise, pickle relish, yellow mustard, dried or fresh dill, black pepper, and, if desired, a little pickle juice.
How to make Ham Salad
Start by chopping up the onion and celery! Next, scoop into a bowl. Cut ham into small sections, pulse it in a food processor, and spoon it into the bowl. Next, add the mayo, pickle relish, mustard, and dill. Stir gently, blending just until combined. Season with fresh black pepper; stir in 1-2 tablespoons of pickle juice if desired.
Recipe Tips
- For optimal taste, use good quality cured smoked ham, as it is the star of the show.
- If you don’t have a food processor, dice your ham fine and continue with the recipe.
- You can use dill pickle relish or sweet pickle relish. They both work well! It is just more of a matter of personal preference.
- For more protein and added flavor, stir in 1-2 peeled and chopped hard-boiled eggs.
- I love Duke’s Real Mayonnaise with this recipe. Its flavor and texture are excellent. But you can use Miracle Whip to add a little zip.
- I do not add salt to this salad as ham is so high in sodium.
- Dijon mustard can be subbed for the yellow mustard.
- This recipe also works well for egg, tuna, and chicken salad.
- If, despite your best efforts, to buy good quality ham and it puts off too much moisture, carefully drain the excess water and add a few more tablespoons of mayo. This may happen after being stored in the fridge for a couple of days.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If the salad puts off too much moisture, carefully drain the excess moisture and add a few more tablespoons of mayo. This may happen after being stored in the fridge for a couple of days. I do not recommend freezing ham salad.
Can you Freeze Ham Salad?
Theoretically, you can freeze ham salad, but I do not recommend it as the mayonnaise will separate from freezing and thawing.
More Ham Recipes
Best Ham Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs cooked ham diced
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried dill or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill weed
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons pickle juice optional
Instructions
- Cut ham into small sections and pulse in a food processor 6-7 times or until desired consistency. Place in a large bowl. Add the celery, onion, mayonnaise, pickle relish, yellow mustard, and dill.
- Stir until combined. Season with fresh ground black pepper to taste. If desired add 1-2 tablespoons dill pickle juice.
Notes
- For optimal taste, use good quality cured smoked ham, as it is the star of the show.
- If you don't have a food processor, then dice your ham really fine and continue with the recipe.
- You can use dill pickle relish or sweet pickle relish. They both work well! It is just more of a matter of personal preference.
- I love Duke's Real Mayonnaise with this recipe. It is creamy, thick, and flavorful. But you can use Miracle Whip for a little added zip.
- This recipe also works well for egg salad, tuna salad, and chicken salad.
- If, despite your best efforts, to buy good quality ham and it puts off too much moisture, carefully drain the excess moisture and add a few more tablespoons of mayo. This may happen after being stored in the fridge for a couple of days.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing ham salad.
Nutrition
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Sammy
There are so many great ways to serve this ham salad but my favorite is on sour dough and my second favorite in on white artison bread. I also love it on club crackers and bagel crisps.
Beth Pierce
I agree on all of the above!
Karen C
That ham salad omg…it was so delicious. Of course I am a huge ham lover! This ham salad would be great for a party on that small party rye or pretzel rolls.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Karen!
Angela G
We loved this ham salad. Even my picky toddler liked it. Now that is saying something. You know the recipe is good when he likes it!
Beth Pierce
Most definitely!
Ambra
Delicious and easy recipe! Perfect for using up leftover holiday ham. Can’t wait to try this for lunch tomorrow!
Thanks for sharing!😃
Sybil
This ham salad tasted so good in a sandwich – the crunch of the celery and onion along with the sweet relish really does make it taste that extra bit special.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Sybil!
Stephani
It had been ages since I’ve had a ham salad sandwich. This recipe was a real treat. My grandma used to make ham salad all the time and we loved it. Thank you!
Dawn M
I loved this ham salad! We used to have it a lot for lunch when I was a kid, and it took me right back there on my first bite!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dawn! Food can bring back such wonderful memories!
Lexie
Made this yesterday for lunch and we enjoyed it! I added boiled eggs and it was really really good!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Lexie!
Cathy Beaufort
I was looking for a way to use up some leftover ham and stumbled upon your Easy Ham Salad recipe. I’m so glad I did! It was incredibly easy to make, and the taste was fantastic.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Cathy!
Erica Downs
It’s incredibly delicious! One of the best I’ve ever made!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Erica!
Jilly
The kids absolutely LOVE having this ham salad for lunch. It sure makes having sandwiches so much more fun.
Sandra
This is so good and so easy to make!! Can’t wait to make it again!
Melissa Cuhsing
Thanks for the great ham salad recipe. It reminds me of my grandma’s ham salad. Everyone enjoyed it a lot.
Gust
This was the perfect salad for our picnic! So easy to make and so delicious!
Catalina
My new favorite salad! I am going to make this ham salad for my family often!
Rhian Westbury
I’m really bad at coming up with lunches when I am working at home but this sounds like a great mix to just have in the fridge. What a lovely combination of flavours with the ham