Ham Salad is my favorite way to use up leftover ham. It’s creamy and tangy with plenty of crunch from celery and pickles. The Dijon gives it a little kick, and the hard-boiled eggs make it way more filling than your average spread. Pile it on crackers and it’ll be gone before you know it.

A bowl of Ham Salad, featuring chopped ham, celery, and fresh herbs, sits on a gray surface next to sprigs of fresh parsley. — Ham Salad. Photo Credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

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I make it after Easter and Christmas dinners, for game day spreads, potlucks, picnics, and weekly meal prep because it’s the easiest way to use up leftover ham and comes together quickly. It’s budget-friendly and make-ahead friendly. The salad stays fresh in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, making it perfect for easy lunches all week long.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

A bowl of sliced ham, perfect for making Ham Salad, is surrounded by small bowls of mayonnaise, dill pickles, chopped celery, Dijon mustard, pepper, hard-boiled eggs, and parsley on a gray surface. — Ham Salad Ingredients. Photo Credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

How to Make Ham Salad with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

This flavorful ham salad comes together fast, and the texture is everything!

Chop the Ham

Add the cooked ham to a food processor and pulse a few times until finely chopped. You want small pieces with some texture, not a paste. If you pulse too long, it’ll turn mushy, so stop when you still see distinct bits of ham.

Mix the Salad

Transfer the chopped ham to a large bowl. Add the diced celery, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chopped dill pickles, and a pinch of black pepper. I use a mandoline slicer to keep the slices consistent and uniform.

Grab your wooden spoon and stir the ham mixture until everything is evenly combined.

A white mixing bowl filled with creamy ham salad, chopped herbs on top, and a wooden spoon, with parsley and red berries nearby on a gray surface. — Transfer the chopped ham to a bowl, add the celery, eggs, mayo, mustard, pickles, and pepper, then stir everything together.

Serve Chilled

This salad tastes best when it’s cold, so give it at least 30 minutes in the fridge before serving to let the flavors meld together. Once chilled, garnish with fresh parsley and serve as a dip for crackers, chips, or use as a filling for sandwiches.

Enjoy!

Ham Salad travels beautifully to picnics, potlucks, and game day gatherings. Transport it in a salad container, and keep it cold in a round insulated carrier if you’re traveling for more than 30 minutes.

Bring crackers or bread separately so they don’t get soggy. You can pack them in a bento-style lunch box with compartments to keep them organized in one place.

Ham Salad

I love making Ham Salad because it's the easiest way to use up leftover ham when I want something better than basic sandwiches. It's creamy and tangy with plenty of crunch from celery and pickles, plus hard-boiled eggs that make it actually filling. I make it after Easter and Christmas dinners, for quick lunches, game day spreads, potlucks, and picnics. It stays fresh in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

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Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Appetizer, Lunch, Salad, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 229 kcal

Equipment

Food processor

Ingredients

3 cups cooked ham finely chopped
1 cup celery finely diced
2 hard-boiled eggs finely chopped
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons dill pickles chopped
Black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Add the cooked ham to a food processor and pulse a few times until finely chopped — aim for small pieces, not a paste.
3 cups cooked ham
Transfer the chopped ham to a medium mixing bowl. Add the celery, eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, dill pickles, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir until everything is evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
1 cup celery, 2 hard-boiled eggs, ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons dill pickles, Black pepper
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve chilled with crackers, chips, or use as a filling for sandwiches.
Fresh parsley

Video

Notes

I’ve learned a few things making this ham salad that help it turn out perfect every time.

Pulse, don’t blend: Stop pulsing the ham when you still see small chunks. Over-processing turns it into a paste that loses its texture and makes the salad mushy.

Dice everything small: Chop the celery, eggs, and pickles into small, uniform pieces so every bite has a balanced mix of flavors and textures.

Taste and adjust tang to your liking: If you want a sharper flavor, stir in another teaspoon of Dijon or a splash of dill pickle juice along with the chopped pickles for more punch.

Add salt if needed: If your ham isn’t salty enough, add a pinch of salt until you reach your desired level of saltiness.

Use leftover holiday ham: This simple ham salad recipe is perfect for using up leftover ham from Easter, Christmas, or any family gathering. The ham is already cooked and seasoned, so it adds great flavor.

Make ahead and store properly: You can make ham salad up to 4 to 5 days in advance and refrigerate it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. The longer it chills, the better it tastes. The mayo in it doesn’t freeze or thaw well, though, so freezing isn’t recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 10gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 699mgPotassium: 179mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 143IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Ham Salad

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How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover ham salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days. The texture stays best when it’s kept cold and sealed tightly, so press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface before closing the lid to prevent it from drying out.

I don’t recommend freezing ham salad because the mayonnaise tends to separate once thawed.

What to Serve With Ham Salad

It’s perfect for snacking with butter crackers, Ritz crackers, or toasted baguette slices for an easy appetizer spread. I also love it on croissants or soft sandwich rolls for a quick lunch.

For a heartier meal, pile it onto lettuce wraps or serve it alongside a bowl of tomato soup and potato chips. You can also serve it with veggies like cucumber slices, carrot sticks, and bell pepper strips for scooping.

It pairs well with deviled eggs, pasta salad, coleslaw, or a simple green salad with vinaigrette. For game day or potlucks, set it out with pretzels, pita chips, cheese sticks, and a variety of crackers so everyone can dig in.

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Ham Salad

Ingredients You’ll Need