These 53 Recipes Have Us Getting Creative With The Leftover Ham This Year
Here at Delish we're professionals at expecting the unexpected, particularly when it comes to big dinner-centric holidays (ahem, Christmas and Easter). It's become one of our main party tricks! We’ve gotten used to extra guests and forgetting some ingredients. What we never quite expect? Just how much leftover food (namely, ham!) we end up with, so we’ve gotten creative with giving them a serious glow-up into plenty of casseroles, sandwiches, soups, and more. If you can relate and are feeling overwhelmed with extra ham this year, check out our 56 favorite recipes that’ll give your leftovers new life.
Many of these recipes call for deli sliced ham, which you can easily swap for whatever leftovers you have. Slice it as thinly as you can, then enjoy the added texture and flavor you'll never get from the deli. Have overnight guests after the big holiday meal? Combine leftover ham with eggs or potatoes and turn it into our crowd-pleasing ham & cheese quiche, Monte Cristo sandwiches, or Croque Monsieur breakfast casserole that are sure to make everyone happy. For lunch, you can make all the variations on classic ham sandwiches, of course—top it with a fried egg and you’ve got a delicious Croque Madame that can be enjoyed for any meal.
Having another get-together soon after a holiday? Make things easy on yourself by throwing together some Hawaiian roll sliders or ham and cheese pinwheels for easy, tasty party appetizers. For dinner, our chicken cordon bleu is impressive and surprisingly simple (we skip the frying and oven bake instead). Want even easier? It’s all about the cordon bleu sauce, and we make the most of it in our one-pot chicken cordon bleu skillet and our chicken cordon bleu casserole.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to save that ham bone! It’s the secret to an out-of-this-world split pea soup (that, and bacon!).
Want more leftover inspiration? Check out our are our top go-to ways to make leftovers more exciting. And since you’re using leftovers for your main meal, why not go “ham” on dessert?!
Monte Cristo Sandwich
A Monte Cristo is a sandwich filled with Swiss cheese, ham, turkey, and Dijon mustard, then dipped in a French toast batter, shallow-fried, and served dusted with confectioners' sugar and a side of jam. Basically, it has all of the classic American diner flavors: sweet, salty, cheesy, and indulgent. 😋
Get the Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe.
Potato Croquettes
Potato croquettes are one of the most popular Spanish tapas, or small plates, and for good reason. They’re a fantastic way to give day-old mashed potatoes and leftover ham a new life and are the perfect bite-size appetizer for when you want something more exciting than potato chips that still hits those same comfort food notes.
Get the Potato Croquettes recipe.
Ham & Cheese Spinach Puffs
Thought your holiday brunch plans were set? Think again. Stuffed with ham, spinach, and Gruyère, these cheesy pastries are calling your name. These puffs are most delicious fresh out of the oven, but if you want to work ahead, you can even make the filling and even cut out the pastry squares the day before.
Get the Ham & Cheese Spinach Puffs recipe.
Cheesy Mashed Potato & Ham Bake
This mashed potato and ham bake is inspired by the French and Italian gatto di patate, which can be found in Katie Parla’s latest cookbook: Foods of the Italian Islands. Imagine a crispy mac and cheese topping on your rich mashed potatoes with an added ham layer (which almost reminds me of lasagna). This comfy casserole-style side dish is a dream for both the meat and carb connoisseurs.
Get the Cheesy Mashed Potato & Ham Bake recipe.
Scalloped Potatoes & Ham
Cheesy scalloped potatoes meet salty baked ham for a perfect match. It takes the classic side and makes it a heartier dish that's perfect for a post-holiday brunch.
Get the Scalloped Potatoes & Ham recipe.
Ham & Swiss Hasselback Biscuit Bites
Step aside, hasselback potatoes: Hasselback biscuit bites are coming to steal your thunder. Featuring convenient canned biscuits stuffed with ham and cheese, these flaky, buttery bites will delight party guests and tailgaters wherever they appear.
Get the Ham & Swiss Hasselback Biscuit Bites recipe.
Ham Salad
Looking for a way to use up that leftover spiral ham? Look no further! This super-easy ham salad is as delicious between bread for lunch as it is on crackers as an appetizer.
Get the Ham Salad recipe.
Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
If you’re a fan of potato soup, you’re going to love this upgrade— loaded with chunks of tender potatoes, salty-sweet ham, and tender vegetables, this creamy soup is the comfort food you know and love, with a little something extra.
Get the Creamy Ham and Potato Soup recipe.
Buckwheat Galettes With Ham & Egg
Like their sweet cousins, crêpes, galettes hail from Brittany, France. Because they're made with buckwheat flour, galettes are extra nutty, making them perfect for pairing with savory fillings for a quick dinner this fall. Here, they're filled with a classic ham, egg, and cheese combination, known as "galette complète" in French, but feel free to switch it up if you like.
Get the Buckwheat Galettes With Ham & Egg recipe.
Quiche
Quiche is a favorite in the canon of classic dishes, and this version is no exception. Soft, creamy filling studded with ham, chives, and Gruyère rests inside a crunchy, buttery pie crust to create the easiest dinner of your dreams.
Get the Quiche recipe.
Ham & Cheese Sandwich
This ham sandwich is great for many reasons. It's got a beautiful golden crust (thanks mayo!), a quick and simple honey mustard sauce, and briny pickles for crunch. Make it with leftover spiral ham, and you've got yourself a prize-winning lunch.
Get the Ham & Cheese Sandwich recipe.
Antipasto Squares
Your favorite flavor combo, now in a more shareable format. Turns out an antipasto salad like this gets even better when you layer it between crescent sheets. We aren't mad about that at all.
Get the Antipasto Squares recipe.
Classic Chef Salad
The chef salad has three kinds of meat, two cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, and lots of veggies. 😍 Switch up the ingredients however you want—chef's choice!
Get the Classic Chef Salad recipe.
Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Hawaiian rolls are a guilty pleasure of ours: They're buttery, soft, and full of just-sweet-enough flavor. These sliders, layered with ham, Swiss, and caramelized onions, will quickly become a MUST at any party you throw.
Get the Hawaiian Roll Sliders recipe.
Antipasto Stuffed Chicken
There's nothing better than good antipasto. Our only qualm with the meat and cheese spread is that it's never a truly satisfying dinner on its own (thought we desperately want it to be!). But by way of antipasto grilled cheese and, now, this stuffed chicken, we've figured it out.
Get the Antipasto Stuffed Chicken recipe.
Croque Monsieur Breakfast Casserole
A croque monsieur is a delectable French sandwich with ham and Gruyére, with a silky béchamel sauce poured over top. Turning it into a breakfast casserole makes it easier to put together and share with a crowd. Yum!
Get the Croque Monsieur Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
After scrolling through all of our amazing Instant Pot recipes, we know what your answer will be. But one of its absolute best uses is for soups. Soups, especially something like split pea, often improve with a a couple of hours of simmering and flavor melding. An Instant Pot can do it in a fraction of the time, meaning this will be ready in (nearly) a blink.
Get the Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe.
Disneyland's Monte Cristo Sandwich
Captain Jack Sparrow tends to have a rum-track mind, but if he ever tried the Monte Cristo sandwich served mere steps from the ride he appears in, he’d be waxing poetic about this deep-fried dish.
Get the Disneyland's Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe.
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
These pinwheels are made easy using store-bought crescent roll dough. They're chock-full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham, then topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor you and your guests will love.
Get the Ham & Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
Ham & Cheese Egg Cups
We sprinkle the ham here with a little shredded cheddar, but feel free to swap in your favorite type of cheese. Gruyère, Parmesan, or pepper Jack will all work well. You can also sprinkle the tops with different herbs like cilantro or sliced green onions. Make these your own!
Get the Ham & Cheese Egg Cups recipe.
Sheet-Pan Italian Subs
Need to feed a hungry crew, fast? Nothing better than these packed Italian subs—they're assembled and baked on a sheet pan so everyone can eat all at the same time.
Get the Sheet-Pan Italian Subs recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Once the chicken here is layered with cheese and ham and then rolled, it's kind of large. Frying it seemed like too much, so we baked it instead (you're welcome). It bakes into a beautiful, golden, and crispy piece of meat that's perfectly swirled on the inside. It's mesmerizing!
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe.
Muffuletta
The muffuletta was first served at Central Grocery, an Italian deli in Louisiana founded by Sicilian immigrant Salvatore Lupo in 1906. Sicilian farmers would stop by Lupo’s deli in between shifts at the French Market and juggle plates for lunch. To make it easier to eat, Lupo decided to slap all the ingredients between two pieces of bread, and the muffuletta was born. TMYK! In similar fashion, feel free to do like Lupo and swap some ham in there instead of one of the other traditional meats.
Get the Muffuletta recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
All the flavors you love in chicken cordon bleu are here in this cozy casserole. There's ham, Swiss cheese, a hint of Dijon, and, of course, chicken, without any of the fussy stuffing, dredging, and searing of the original. 😍
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole recipe.
Split Pea Soup
The secret to the BEST split pea soup? A good, smoky ham hock. It imparts so much delicious flavor, and if you're lucky, you can get some meat off of it too. Serve with a slice of toasted sourdough bread, and you're golden.
Get the Split Pea Soup recipe.
Crescent Breakfast Squares
We love ourselves a good crescent roll dough hack, and for good reason. This one is extremely simple and comes together in just about an hour. It’s a simple way to avoid any complaints about the way the eggs are cooked (hint: they’re scrambled, but even haters will enjoy it tucked between flaky pastry), is super-customizable, and makes for a great on-the-go option too.
Get the Crescent Breakfast Squares recipe.
Croque Madame
This sandwich stars layers of sliced ham, soft, melty cheese, and an audible crunch as you bite down on the toasted bread. Hidden in plain sight is a traditional Mornay sauce: a béchamel sauce that's been upgraded with melted Gruyère. We're in love!
Get the Croque Madame recipe.
French Toast Breakfast Sandwiches
If you're the one who struggles choosing between the sweet and savory items on the brunch menu, this Monte Cristo-inspired sandwich was made for you!
Get the French Toast Breakfast Sandwiches recipe.
Green Eggs & Ham
Skip the food coloring and use spinach and lots of fresh herbs to give the eggs a green makeover. This Dr. Seuss-inspired breakfast will get anyone to eat their greens.
Get the Green Eggs & Ham recipe.
Ham & Bean Soup
Thinking about what to do with leftover spiral ham? This soup has you covered. It's warm and comforting and endlessly filling.
Get the Ham & Bean Soup recipe.
Cloud Eggs
We love a good baked egg recipe, but these "eggs in a cloud" were the Internet trend that changed our breakfast routine forever. They're adorable clouds of heaven topped with a runny yolk that are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Get the Cloud Eggs recipe.
Ham Sandwich
You're probably thinking, I don't need a ham sandwich recipe, but trust us, this sandwich is worth following one. Making your own herb mayo—by mixing in a few fresh herbs and some olive oil—makes this sandwich stand above the rest.
Get the Ham Sandwich recipe.
Club Sandwich
With ham, turkey, bacon, and three slices of bread, the club sandwich is one of THE best sandwiches of all time. The order everything gets added is important and traditional, so stick to it!
Get the Club Sandwich recipe.
Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is great way to use the bone from your spiral ham. This recipe is quick and easy to make: The slow-cooker does all the work to soften up the split peas, meaning this is completely hands-off.
Get the Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe.
Ham Egg & Cheese Roll-Ups
These roll-ups are the perfect low-carb substitute to your favorite breakfast burrito. Easy enough to make for a crowd, and the filling possibilities are endless! Who needs a tortilla when you have ham?
Get the Ham Egg & Cheese Roll-Ups recipe.
Cuban Sandwich
Our Cuban sandwich is of the South Floridian variety without salami. But we don't need it in this case: Along with layers of ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard, there's also the super-juicy slow-roasted pork loin that we marinate for 2 hours in a citrus blend.
Get the Cuban Sandwich recipe.
Ham & Cheese Sliders
The homemade poppyseed dressing makes these sliders *extra* special. Make these with Hawaiian rolls if you like something a little sweet, or potato rolls or any other soft bun if not.
Get the Ham & Cheese Sliders recipe.
Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Pizza
If you're short on time and craving breakfast for dinner (wait, isn't that every night?), this super-simple pizza has your name all over it. You can really use any cheese you have, but don't forget those mouthwatering eggs on top!
Get the Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Pizza recipe.
Split Pea and Ham Soup
To get a super-creamy split pea soup that also has texture, fry your carrots and thyme in bacon fat until golden and sweet. Reserve this to fold back into the soup at the very end so that you can taste the dice and bite of your carrots along with the ham.
Get the Split Pea and Ham Soup recipe.
Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Ham and Peas
Think of this like the pasta version of our creamy ham and potato soup—perfect for a simple weeknight dinner, or to serve to guests at a dinner party.
Get the Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Ham and Peas recipe.
French Toast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
This sandwich is a decadent play on the classic Monte Cristo. For this version, instead of simple bread, make a slice of French toast and pile everything on it in an over-the-top style.
Get the French Toast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches recipe.
Eggs Benedict Bake
Do you always order eggs Benedict when out to brunch? Re-create the fave at home with this one-pan dish that can also feed a crowd.
Get the Eggs Benedict Bake recipe.
Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole
For this breakfast casserole, you'll want a cheese that melts well and brings a lot of forward flavor to the sauce. Our go-to is cheddar, but you could also throw in Swiss, gouda, or Fontina. It’s your casserole, so feel free to make it how you like it.
Get the Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole recipe.
Monte Cristo Casserole
This is the casserole (read: crowd-friendly) version of a classic Monte Cristo sandwich—sort of French toast meets ham and cheese. It's great for brunch all on its own, but we made it even more so by turning it into a casserole!
Get the Monte Cristo Casserole recipe.
Ham & Cheese Brunch Bake
This breakfast casserole is our FAVORITE way to feed a crowd. It's got all your favorite breakfast components: a little egg, a little ham, bread, and cheese. All you need is a glass of OJ and a mug full of java, and you've got a perfect start to your morning.
Get the Ham & Cheese Brunch Bake recipe.
Antipasto Grilled Cheese
This is how to turn your favorite antipasto salad into one of the most amazing grilled cheese sandwiches you'll ever have. Olives and pepperoncini are surprisingly delightful in here.
Get the Antipasto Grilled Cheese recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Skillet
This recipe takes the French-Swiss classic and transforms it into a one-pot meal (or nearly one, if you don't count cooking the pasta 😉). You'll get tender chicken, thick-cut ham, and pasta covered in sinfully cheesy sauce that will make you forget all about the original.
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Skillet recipe.
Ham Asparagus Bundles
Crescent roll dough make these the easiest and cutest spring appetizer, but they're great year-round too. Make them with any veggies you like!
Get the Ham Asparagus Bundles recipe.
Ham Bone Soup
When you're making a glazed spiral ham, you should ALWAYS save the bone—specifically so you can make this soup. After just 30 minutes of simmering, the broth takes on lots of smoky flavor. If there's any leftover meat on the bone, remove it, shred it, and add it back to the pot before serving too.
Get the Ham Bone Soup recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Quesadillas
These quesadillas start with one of our favorite skillet chicken breast recipes inspired by chicken cordon bleu. If you've got leftover rotisserie chicken and ham, now is the time to use it! You'll still get savory goodness in every crispy bite.
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Quesadillas recipe.
Ham & Asparagus Breakfast Roll-Ups
Healthy, filling, and coated in a velvety Parm sauce, these asparagus are a must for your brunch table.
Get the Ham & Asparagus Breakfast Roll-Ups recipe.
Breakfast Pinwheels
Egg and cheese sandwiches have nothing on these pinwheels filled with scrambled eggs, ham, and cheddar. They're sure to have you spinning into a great rest of your day.
Get the Breakfast Pinwheels recipe.
Ham & Cheese Tortellini
This is one of our favorite easy, kid-friendly meals—everyone can get into salty ham and cheesy tortellini in a creamy sauce. Swap peas for bigger veggies if your kids are little or are just pea-averse. 😉
Get the Ham & Cheese Tortellini recipe.
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