Recipes for Leftover Ham
Updated Apr 18, 2025
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Looking for creative recipes for leftover ham? From breakfast to lunch to dinner, I have over 20 recipes that will help to transform that leftover ham into easy dishes filled with flavor!
Breathe New Life into Leftover Ham
As someone deeply committed to reducing food waste and maximizing value, I've earned the title of Queen of Leftovers in my family. No morsel goes to waste under my watch, whether it's repurposing carrot peels for homemade stock or using that last bit of salsa to add flavor to chicken chili. I thrive on the challenge of transforming leftovers into inventive, mouthwatering creations. After all, who wants to eat the same thing day after day? Well, perhaps except for chocolate😉
So when it comes to a big holiday feast, be it Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, you better believe I put every leftover morsel to good use. And ham, whether Instant Pot Ham or Glazed Ham, is one leftover I LOVE!
Ham is one of the most versatile proteins. It is savory, and salty and is delicious simply warmed up or served on a sandwich. But don't just settle for leftover ham sandwiches, you can do so much more with those leftovers!
In fact, with these delicious leftover ham recipes, you may begin to look forward to the leftover more than the main event!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Recipes & Tips for Using Leftover Ham
Breakfast Recipes Using Leftover Ham
Whether you serve leftover ham on the side of scrambled eggs, or try out one of the recipes below, using leftover ham to add a savory addition to breakfast just makes sense.
Ham & Egg Breakfast Casserole
From the salty cubed leftover ham to the sharp cheddar to the sweet raisin bread, this easy casserole is a little bit savory, sweet, and delicious! Perfect way to use up leftover ham!
Ham & Cheese Quiche
One of my favorite ways to use leftover ham is to add it, along with sharp cheddar to the filling a a creamy quiche. While I have listed as a breakfast recipe, this leftover ham recipe is also perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Instant Pot Egg Bites
Add leftover cubed ham to the filling of Instant Pot Egg Bites to make a copycat version of Starbuck's for pennies at home!
Breakfast Sliders
Swap out the breakfast sausage for sliced or diced leftover ham for a sweet and savory breakfast sandwich that is always a crowd pleaser.
Copycat Egg McMuffins
Leftover slices of ham are the perfect stand in for Canadian bacon in this better-for-you copycat recipe for McDonald's breakfast sandwich.
Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Replace the ground breakfast sausage with leftover cubed ham and make what is already and easy breakfast casserole that much easier (and tastier!)
Ham & Egg Cups
While you can't use leftover baked ham to make ham boats, you can dice up the leftover ham and add it to the egg mixture to make baked egg cups for a delicious, hearty option for breakfast.
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Use leftover diced ham to make a breakfast casserole the hands-off way using this recipe for slow cooker breakfast casserole. Simply layer, slow cook, and serve!
Go Beyond The Ham Sandwich
While you can't go wrong with a simple ham and cheese sandwich on honey whole wheat bread, the following recipes make leftover ham feel like something more than an afterthought.
Ham & Cheese Sliders
One of the EASIEST leftover ham recipes! The combination of sweet rolls, savory ham, melty cheese, and a buttery glaze win everyone over!
Ham & Cheese Stromboli
This is one of my favorite ways to use leftover ham. It is like a giant ham sandwich with a sweet and tangy glaze. So good--and pretty easy to make.
Ham & Cheese Hot Pocket
Hot pockets are so fun to make and eat and are delicious when filled with leftover ham and sliced cheese. Plus they freeze great, so you can save them for future use if you are sick of ham.
Club Wrap
Add leftover thinly sliced ham to a turkey avocado bacon wrap to create a delicious and portable sandwich that features the flavors of a classic club sandwich.
Easy Main Courses with Leftover Ham
From pastas to casseroles to soups, using leftover ham helps to get a savory dinner on the table fast!
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Add diced ham to scalloped potatoes and turn a side dish into a main course. The perfect recipe if you happen to purchase too many potatoes as well!
Instant Pot Ham & Cheese Pasta
This is a ridiculously simple recipe for creamy, cheesy pasta, filled with diced ham. It is a dump-and-cook recipe that everyone loves and you will love how easy it is to prepare.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
This is the EASIEST way to prepare Chicken Cordon Bleu without sacrificing any flavor and it is a perfect recipe to use leftover ham. It is made with chicken breasts, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, and a Dijon wine sauce to create a ridiculous simple version of a classic.
Instant Pot Potatoes and Ham
Sub out the smoked sausage for chunks of ham in my recipe for Instant Pot Sausage and Potatoes, to get dinner on the table in 15 minutes with the help of leftovers!
Instant Pot Creamy Noodle Casserole
Replace the tuna with diced ham for a quick and easy creamy noodle casserole made without canned soups!
Pasta with Peas
Replace the pancetta with leftover cubed ham and fold it into the cooked pasta when adding parmesan cheese. The leftover ham will add a nice smoky, salty flavor to the pasta without the need to add pancetta or bacon.
Recipes Using Ham Bones
Don't be tempted to throw away your ham bone! After you have used all your ham up, use that bone to make a savory recipes with tons of flavor for PENNIES!
Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
Made with dried beans, pantry staples, and a leftover ham bone, it doesn't get much cheaper (or tastier) than this cozy Ham Bean Soup.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Made with tender green split peas, a hearty ham bone, and sauteed veggies, Split pea soup may not be the prettiest color, but the rich, smoky broth paired with the earthy split peas and savory ham screams comfort.
Potatoes with Green Beans and Ham
The leftover ham bone adds insane flavor to humble potatoes and green beans in this super simple leftover ham bone recipe.
More Simple Recipes to Use Leftover Ham
Still looking? Find inspiration in some creative "non" recipes below.
- Add diced ham to an omelet or scrambled eggs.
- Top pizza dough with your favorite pizza toppings, adding cubed ham to the mix.
- Replace the cooked chicken in Creamy Chicken Pasta Casserole Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice with diced or cubed ham.
- Serve sliced ham, along with cheddar and a drizzle on honey on a warm homemade biscuit.
- Add diced ham and diced hard-boiled eggs to salad mix to make a quick cobb salad.
- Stir diced ham into potato soup or potato corn chowder right before serving.
- Add diced ham to mashed potato cakes for additional flavor.
- Replace the bacon in Irish Nachos with diced ham for cheesy potato and ham nachos.
How to Store Leftover Ham
- Refrigerate: Cook as directed, cool slightly, then store leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Note that deli ham should be used within 4 days of opening the package or purchasing from the deli counter.
- Freeze: Extend the life of leftover ham by storing sliced ham or cubed ham in a well sealed freezer-safe container. Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
- Ham Bone: Wrap the ham bone well in foil and then place it in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Holiday Leftovers Beyond Ham
After a big holiday meal, you are likely have more than just leftover ham. Find inspiration below for leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and chicken.
- Creative Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: Find recipes for leftover turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and potatoes.
- Leftover Cooked Chicken Recipes: These recipes are perfect for leftover chicken, yet feel free to sub the chicken out for ham or turkey.
- Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Use those leftover mashed potatoes to make Pierogi Lasagna or Potato Cakes.
- Leftover Bread/Rolls: Dried out bread or rolls leftover? Use them to make homemade stuffing, croutons, or French toast casserole.
Have another favorite recipe using leftover ham? Share it with us all in the comments below.
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