I am a huge fan of taking leftover meat and turning it into other dishes that will yield more servings than would simply plating the cold meat. This is a great way to extend an expensive ingredient (meat) and stretch the food budget. Bonus if extending the meat yields a dish that can be frozen for later enjoyment as this is a great convenience to know there is a meal, or meals, ready in the freezer for cooking or reheating. This post is all about Ways to Use Leftover Ham.
I have a number of published recipes that call for leftover ham and, for the ease of readers, have decided to compile them into a repository post so, if you are looking for ways to use leftover ham, you can come to this post and the links to all of the recipes I have published calling for leftover ham will be in one place.
For each recipe, I have indicated how much leftover ham is required, the number of servings the recipe can be expected to generate and, where applicable, if the dish freezes well for later enjoyment. I have also included the hotlink to each recipe and serving suggestions.
As I develop and publish more recipes using leftover ham, I will add them to this compendium repository so, in that sense, this will be an evergreen post.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Soups and Chowders
Creamy Ham and Potato Chowder
Ham Lentil SoupCasseroles
Ham and Pasta Casserole
Hawaiian Fiesta Casserole
Chicken and Ham Casserole
Potato and Ham au Gratin
3. Sandwich
Ham Salad Sandwich Filling
4. Savory Scones
Ham, Cheese, and Chives Savory Scones
SOUPS and CHOWDERS
Creamy Ham and Potato Chowder
Description: This is rich, flavorful and filling chowder that makes great use of leftover ham.
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 1 1/2 cups (diced into 1/4″ – 1/3″ cubes)
Serving Suggestion: Serve with bread, rolls, biscuits, crackers, or sandwich of choice.
Number of Servings: Apx. 6-8 servings
Freezable – Yes, provided chowder is made with whole milk (not fat-reduced) and waxy potatoes are used.
Click here for recipe: Creamy Ham and Potato Chowder
Ham Lentil Soup
Description: This flavorful Ham Lentil Soup makes good use of the stock that resulted from the water in which the ham was cooked. Adding some seasonings to this strained stock will make the base of a soup filled with ham and a mixture of vegetables, spices, and lentils. This, therefore, is a good soup to make if you have first made an Old-fashioned Boiled Ham Dinner and saved the water in which the ham was cooked. However, if you have baked a ham and thus have no ham stock, chicken or vegetable stock may be substituted.
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 1 1/2 – 2 cups (diced)
Serving Suggestion: Serve with bread, rolls, biscuits, crackers, or sandwich of choice.
Number of Servings: Apx. 12 (1 cup) servings
Freezable – Freezes and reheats well.
Click here for recipe: Ham Lentil Soup
CASSEROLES
Ham and Pasta Casserole
Description: This Ham and Pasta Casserole is flavorful and easy to make. Makes a great weeknight meal.
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 8 ounces
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a side salad and biscuits, rolls, or bread
Number of Servings: Apx. 6 servings
Freezable – Freezes well unbaked
Click here for recipe: Ham and Pasta Casserole
Hawaiian Fiesta Casserole
Description: This casserole is filled with a wonderful blend of flavors – ham, rice, broccoli, and pineapple all smothered in a rich creamy sauce. This is the full meal deal kind of casserole!
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 7.5 ounces
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a side salad and biscuits, rolls, or bread
Number of Servings: Apx. 4-6 servings
Freezable – Fair; not recommended
Click here for recipe: Hawaiian Fiesta Casserole
Chicken and Ham Casserole
Description: This Chicken and Ham Casserole is a great way to use up leftover chicken and ham if you have both on hand at the same time. The casserole can, however, be made with either all leftover chicken or ham (2 cups).
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 1 cup
Amount of Leftover Chicken Required: 1 cup
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a side salad and biscuits, rolls, or bread
Number of Servings: Apx. 6 servings
Freezable – Freezes well unbaked. Add bread crumb topping (optional) at time of baking
Click here for recipe: Chicken and Ham Casserole
Potato and Ham au Gratin
Description: This oven-baked Potato and Ham au Gratin combines layers of sliced potato and diced ham smothered in a rich cheese sauce. Super way to use and extend leftover ham.
Amount of Leftover Ham Required: 6 ounces/172 grams
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a side vegetable and biscuits, rolls, or bread
Number of Servings: Apx. 6 servings
Freezable – Freezes (baked) and reheats well in the microwave provided the 10%M.F. cream and whole milk is used.
Click here for recipe: Potato and Ham au Gratin
Sandwiches
Ham Salad Sandwich Filling
Description: This sandwich filling is packed with flavor and is very versatile.
Serving suggestion: Filling works equally well between slices of bread (either for a hearty sandwich or for dainty afternoon tea sandwiches), stuffed in finger rolls, spread on English muffins and heated in the oven, or atop crackers as a delicious finger food.
Amount of leftover ham required for 2 regular-sized sandwiches: 2½ oz chopped/shredded ham (will yield apx. 2/3 cup when ground)
Number of Servings: 2 (but recipe is scalable to number of servings needed)
Freezable: Not recommended due to fresh ingredients in filling
Click here for recipe: Ham Salad Sandwich Filling
Savory Scones
Ham, Cheese, and Chives Savory Scones
Description: Savory Scones filled with cooked ham, cheddar cheese, and fresh chives.
Serving suggestion: Serve these delightful Scones warm with butter for a brunch, lunch, or teatime treat. Also tasty with a savory spread such as red pepper jelly. Enjoy them also as an accompaniment to many meals, including hearty chowders.
Amount of leftover ham required: 3.5oz/100 grams
Number of Servings: Yields approximately 14-16 scones (depending on thickness of dough and size of cutter used) so, allotting 2 scones per serving, can be expected to serve 7-8.
Freezable: While the scones are at their best on the day they are made and still slightly warm from the oven, they do freeze well and reheat nicely in the microwave for just a few seconds.
Click here for recipe: Ham, Cheese, and Chives Savory Scones
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