If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy way to show your support for the leftovers, then you need to check out these Teen-Approved Leftover Ham Recipes. These recipes are perfect for any time of year, and they will help you get through the winter without any trouble.
Fortunately, there are several creative recipes you can try that include leftover ham – 33 of them, in fact! Whether you’re in the mood for some warm soup to enjoy on a cold winter’s day or are ready to try something unique like a ham and cheese puff (so good, trust us), these are some of our favorite leftover ham recipes that we think the whole family will enjoy. Let’s get started. Hams up if you’re excited!
1. Baked Ham
Who doesn’t like a delicious, traditional baked ham? With this recipe, you can add a little bit of the sweet to your savor with a brown sugar glaze that makes every bite irresistible. If you don’t have brown sugar, white sugar works great with this as a replacement, especially if you pair it with a touch of maple syrup or molasses. The secret ingredient in this one is the sugar which adds the right amount of sweetness to that savory ham flavor. This is a classic dish, but it’s by far one of our favorite recipes with ham.
2. Cabbage and Ham Salad
You might not normally think of cabbage and ham as a pairing that works great in a salad, but this dish proves that this is a match made in heaven. The secret to this one is the mayonnaise, which acts as a dressing for this salad. If you’re looking to change things up, instead of using a scallion, try chopping up some onion for a similar flavor and texture. If you’re looking for easy leftover ham recipes, this is it.
3. Deviled Ham
What’s the key to getting great flavor from this one? Well, the devil is in the details. The secret ingredient here is going to be the hot sauce. Not only does the amount you use dictate how much heat is in this one, but the type of hot sauce will make a difference, too. If you’re looking to change things up, we recommend playing around with your favorite hot sauces to see how it affects how sinisterly spicy you can make your deviled ham.
4. Leftover Ham Casserole
So you have some leftover ham from your holiday dinner that you don’t want to go to waste. What do you do with it? Put it in a casserole, of course! If you want to change things, try different kinds of noodles besides egg noodles for different textures, like wheat noodles or noodles made from veggies like spinach, tomatoes, and chickpeas. The secret ingredient to this one is cheese. Cheese makes everything taste better, so feel free to use different flavors like cheddar, pepper jack, or Colby Jack.
5. Navy Bean Soup
Making soup from scratch is a wonderful and rewarding thing to cook – not to mention it tastes great on a cold winter day! This navy bean soup lets you use ham shanks to create a warm, tasty meal that you and your family can enjoy. If you don’t have any olive oil handy, try using vegetable oil instead. The flavor will be slightly different, but the change won’t be too noticeable. The secret ingredient here is the chicken broth, bringing all flavors together in this amazing soup that will have you and everyone else in the family going up for seconds.
6. Slow Cooker Ham & White Beans
We’re big fans of using crock pots here! This recipe is so easy and so delicious – and incredibly easy to make, as it requires little to no prep or maintenance. We recommend serving this one with a slice of cornbread. The key ingredient here is the ham itself. It’s the most flavorful part of the meal, and it makes its way through the rest of the ingredients through the slow cooker. If you want to change it up, try using an actual onion instead of onion powder.
7. Ham Steak with Honey Mustard Glaze
Have you ever had a ham steak? If so, then you know it tastes like ham but feels like steak. It’s the best of both worlds. We highly recommend this take on ham steak with this complimentary sweet honey mustard glaze, which gives you the best of sweet and savory. If you’re short on brown sugar, white sugar works just as well. The secret ingredient for this one is honey, which gives that bit of sweetness to this savory dish that we mentioned previously. In our opinion, it’s one of the best leftover ham recipes.
8. Cheesy Ham Breakfast Casserole
If you’re looking for leftover ham recipes ideas, why not try a casserole? Casseroles are great for utilizing leftovers to create a meal that reinvents those leftovers. Casseroles are even better when you can have them for breakfast! Ham, cheese, onions, and eggs all create a forkful after forkful of tasty breakfast goodness that’s different from the usual pancakes or cereal. If you want to change things up, try different cheese to mix up the flavor a bit. The secret ingredient here is the optional sour cream that can help thicken everything up.
9. Hawaiian Ham Skewers
Want kabobs with a Hawaiian flair? Throwing ham on skewers with chunks of pineapple, onion, yellow pepper, and mushrooms might be the way to go. Coat everything with a delicious Hawaiian-style glaze, and your tastebuds will be in paradise. If you want to change things up, throwing other kabob-style veggies on the skewers can change things up while still maintaining that Hawaiian vibe. Your secret ingredient here is going to be your glaze which will marry all of the flavors together.
10. Ham & Cheese Quiche
Quiche is a delectable treat that is light and delicious, perfect for serving at your next lunch gathering. Ham goes great with quiche, especially in this recipe. With a flaky crust, onion, and egg, this quiche goes great with a side salad. The secret ingredient is the cheese, which adds a gooey texture and a new dimension to the flavor. If you’re looking to change things up, swap out the white onion for some scallions.
11. Glazed Ham Loaf
In this fantastic alternative to your traditional meatloaf, you swap out the beef for ham (and pork) to create a dinner that your guests will be sure to enjoy. This mix of ham, pork, onion, egg, and breadcrumbs guarantee an awesome meal. The secret ingredient for this one will be the glaze that features brown sugar, dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. Swap the butter out for olive oil to get a richer flavor profile if you want to change things up.
12. Ham Bone Soup
A lot of these recipes use chunks of ham or diced cubes of ham. This recipe uses an entire ham. The whole “ham” thing, bone included. This soup is perfect for your next family dinner and very simple to make, as all the ingredients just get tossed in a pot together. If you want to change things up, try using water instead of chicken broth. The secret ingredient for this one is onion, adding its own unique flavor to this delicious soup. It’s one of our favorite recipes using ham.
13. Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup
Another delicious soup for you to try for your next dinner party! The ham and the potato are just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to the flavors on this one, especially when it’s topped with bacon, green onions, sour cream, and cheese. Want to do something a little different? Add two cups of milk to thicken it up. The secret ingredient for this one is the ham itself. This is another recipe that makes for a great way to utilize those leftovers that you’re not sure what to do with.
14. Easy and Comforting Ham and Potato Soup
If you’ve ever asked, “what to make with leftover ham,” then you’ve come to the right place. This is an easy-to-make, tasty take on ham and potato soup. Throw all of the ingredients in a pot, and you have a delicious soup ready to serve in less than 30 minutes. If you don’t have an onion on hand, onion powder makes for a great substitute. The secret ingredient for this one is the potatoes, which add texture to the soup and pairs its flavor well with the ham.
15. Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry
This is a great savory take on a puff pastry that you should try at your next party! Adding ham and cheese to a puff pastry creates a delicious snack. The secret ingredient for this one is spinach. It adds a hint of color to the snack while not overpowering the overall flavor. If you need to change things up, try swapping out the swiss cheese for your cheese of choice to change up the flavor.
16. Ham, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Combine the flavor profile of tasty ham, egg, and cheese sandwich in a dish and turn it into a casserole. These flavors taste great together, but what makes it stand out is the ham. Brown sugar ham flavored ham is usually the best because of how sweet it is, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. If you don’t have eggs, you can swap them out with an egg substitute. Also, if you don’t want to use buns, why not try adding some slices of cinnamon bread instead?
17. Ham Casserole with Broccoli and Rice
This ham recipe is so hearty that it’ll become your next comfort food. The secret ingredient here is the rice, but the good news is that you have many options as to which flavor you use. Whether it be plain, cheddar and broccoli flavored, or garlic flavored. There’s a lot of versatility to make this tasty ham recipe your own. If you don’t have rice, you can also swap it out for some egg noodles or wheat noodles, or quinoa depending on your preference. Combining ham with quinoa is one of our favorite quinoa dinner recipes for the holiday season.
18. One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet Recipe
One-pot meals have soared in popularity over recent years due to how convenient they are. Ham, penne pasta, and peas are mixed with a cream sauce and cooked in minimal time. The peas add a bold flavor to this dish and pair nicely with the salty ham, which is why it’s the secret ingredient you don’t want to ignore. If you don’t have peas, though, don’t worry because you can easily swap them out for chopped asparagus or green beans. This is one of our favorite leftover ham recipe dinners.
19. Creamy Ham and Noodle Casserole
This simple dish offers a lot of versatility. Not only is the combination of cheese, ham, and noodles delicious, but you can add a can of soup to it to make it extra creamy. The type of soup you choose will depend on your preferences. Cream of mushroom is one of the most common, but you can also swap it out for the cream of celery or cream of chicken. Each one will have a little different flavor, so don’t be shy when it comes to mixing things up each time you set out to make this popular ham recipe.
20. Ham and Noodle Casserole
Casseroles are a popular holiday staple because of how easy they are to make, and this ham and noodle recipe is no different. While the cheese helps bind everything together, the secret ingredient in this dish is the noodles. The wider the noodle, the better! If you are interested in a healthier alternative, you can swap out traditional egg noodles for wheat or veggie-based noodles. If you go for the veggie brand, we think it tastes great with chickpea noodles or spinach.
21. Stromboli Recipe
If you love strombolis, look no further than this unique and tasty ham recipe. Ham tastes great when combined with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce, so add as many layers to your stromboli as you’d like. Like with other recipes mentioned on this list, the secret ingredient is the type of cheese you use. While mozzarella is preferred, you can also swap it out for parmesan or provolone. Even swiss cheese tastes great in this stromboli dish!
22. Flaky & Buttery Ham Pot Pie
Do you want an easy recipe that everyone in the family will enjoy that won’t take much time? If so, this recipe is the perfect one for you! Pot pie is a classic dish, and you’re pretty much just swapping out the chicken for ham. The secret ingredient here is to add a little bit of glaze to your ham before it mixes in with all the other ingredients, like a peach glaze. If you don’t have any crust, you can still use the same ingredients but serve them on a plate sans crust. Ultimately, there’s a lot of versatility with this dish you’ll love.
23. Easy Fried Rice with Ham and Pineapple
Ham and pineapple go together like peanut butter and jelly, so why not get creative and add that tasty blend to some rice to make a brand new dish? Fried rice is a Chinese food staple and often comes with either pork or chicken so that ham will fit right in texture. The secret ingredient is the pineapple, as it makes this dish so sweet and tangy. You can use either pineapple rings from a can or dice them up yourself. If you don’t have pineapple handy, you can swap it out for a can of pineapple juice. While you won’t have the chunks to eat, you’ll still get the flavor.
24. Country Ham and Potato Bake
This ham recipe is the ultimate Southern comfort food, not a fan favorite at family gatherings over the holiday season. Ham and potatoes taste great together, but what makes this dish so delectable is the melty cheese. This secret ingredient can be customized based on your preferences, so if you prefer cheddar cheese to provolone, don’t be afraid to add whatever type of cheese you like best. If you don’t have potatoes, you can swap them out for cubed squash or turnips. This healthy alternative will still provide that starchy texture but without the extra calories.
25. Ham & Cheese Crescent Bake
Is there anything that doesn’t taste better with flaky dough? We think not! Ham and cheese are a classic pairing, but what makes this dish stand out is the flaky dough crust. It’s the secret ingredient that, when turned golden brown, makes this sandwich taste more like a savory dessert than a traditional meal. Feel free to add your preferred type of cheese to make it your own. If you don’t have any dough, you can try using naan or pita bread instead.
26. Iowa Ham Balls with Sweet Sour Glaze
If you love Chinese food, then you’ll love adding that tangy sweet and sour glaze to your ham. We already know that ham tastes good with a glaze, but this one adds a bit of spice to it. The secret ingredient here is the glaze, which elevates the flavors of this dish to an extraordinary level. But, if you don’t have that glaze, don’t worry because you can make it yourself. Just swap it out for a can of pineapple juice and brown sugar. Combine those, and you’ll have a homemade sweet and sour glaze to add to your ham balls for your next party!
27. Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
Once the holiday dinner has commenced, using leftover ham in soup is one of the most common things to do with it. It’s no wonder why, either, considering how hearty and good it tastes. The ham adds some salty flavors to the soup, and the corn gives it a little crunch element. Top it off with some sour cream and chives, and you’ll be sure to go for seconds. The secret ingredient is the types of potatoes you use, as they can create different flavors. If you don’t have traditional yellow potatoes, you can swap them in for some sweet potatoes. It’ll change the flavor profile, but it’s still tasty!
28. Ham Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole
If you love broccoli and cauliflower, you’ll love the addition of ham. These ingredients have the perfect blend of salty and crunchy and are a popular dish served during the holiday season. The secret ingredient is the creamy white sauce that holds everything together. Not only does it make this dish quite decadent, but it keeps everybody full. If you don’t have creamy white sauce, you can use some shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese as a binder. The flavor will be a little different, but the consistency will still be the same.
29. Ham Lasagna
Move over, beef, there’s new meat in town. While lasagna has been traditionally prepared with beef, ham completely transforms this otherwise traditional dish. The secret ingredient here will be the cheese; while traditional lasagna usually calls for ricotta cheese, cottage cheese mixes a bit better with ham. However, you can still use ricotta cheese if you prefer. You can also get experimental with this recipe, so try adding some mushrooms for additional taste and texture.
30. Ham Puffs
Get game-day ready with this interesting and tasty treat. Ham puffs are exactly what they sound like: ham stuffed in little balls of dough and cooked. Serve them with a toothpick or on a plate and watch them go in a matter of minutes. The secret ingredient in this dish is the Worcestershire sauce, which tastes like soy sauce, so it brings a salty element to this dish. If you don’t have Worcestershire sauce, you can swap it for soy sauce but be sure only to use it sparingly as not to overwhelm the flavor.
31. Macaroni & Cheese Ham Casserole
We can’t have a list of ham recipes without mentioning macaroni and cheese. The two blend too well together! Ham and cheese are a classic, and the addition of creamy macaroni makes this an easy dish you can enjoy on a cold winter’s night. Plus, the kids will adore it. The secret ingredient is the type of cheese you choose, and honestly, there’s no right answer. Cheddar, Colby Jack, and pepper jack are all great options, so feel free to switch it up every time you make this recipe. If you don’t have shredded cheese, you can toss in a few cheese slices. Just be sure to stir continually so the cheese gets on all the pasta.
32. Ham and Cheese Sliders
Do your kids go ham for grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch? Then try adding a few slices of ham to it! The secret ingredient is to use a combination of different cheeses such as cheddar and provolone, but we think it tastes just as good with pepper jack and swiss, or even some Colby jack. If you prefer to make this recipe a bit healthier, try swapping out the cheese for white Chao slices of tofu; they have a similar consistency to sliced cheese and are a healthier alternative for those who love the taste of grilled cheese but don’t always agree with dairy.
33. Cuban Sandwich Recipe
If you love traditional ham sandwiches, you’ll enjoy this tasty spin on a fan favorite. The ham is paired with pickles, cheese, and roasted pork and is so filling it can be a quick fix for dinner. The secret ingredient in this sandwich is the pickles because it adds some needed crunch to all the melty goodness. However, if you don’t have pickles handy, don’t worry. We think this dish tastes just as good with some relish spread on top of the pork. You’ll get the same flavor, just not as much crunch, which may be preferred by some people. There’s no right or wrong way to eat this tasty sandwich.
