How To
Get Creative With Leftover Ham

Get Creative With Leftover Ham

March 07, 2018

mr-Savory Ham, Cheese, and Chive Scones image

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Julia Levy, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Scrambling for ideas about what do with that leftover ham? Sample a few of our favorite soups, casseroles, and side dishes that transform leftovers in bold new ways.

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Don't Toss That Leftover Ham!

Photo: Randy Mayor; Cooking Light

A ham that's all decked out for the holidays is a sight to behold, but it's challenging to make the leftovers just as appetizing. If you're ready to think outside the usual "split pea soup" box, try slipping that ham into fried rice, vegetable sides, casseroles, vegetable soup, or quiche.

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Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice Recipe

This delicious Southern twist on fried rice is made with pantry and freezer staples, so you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand.

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Grilled Apricots with Burrata, Country Ham and Arugula

Photo: Dave Lauridsen

Grilled Apricots with Burrata, Country Ham and Arugula Recipe
Depending on the season, Travis Lett also makes this salad with plums, peaches and pears.

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Grilled Ham-and-Cheese Sandwiches with Strawberry-Shallot Jam

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Grilled Ham-and-Cheese Sandwiches with Strawberry-Shallot Jam Recipe

Use roasted turkey instead of ham, if you prefer.

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Spinach and Ham Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spinach and Ham Stuffed Baked Potatoes Recipe
Stuffed potatoes are a delicious, easy way to bring a hearty dinner to the table and use up leftover ham and veggies. Pair with a salad for an easy weeknight dinner.

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Fig, Ham, and Ricotta Pizza

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fig, Ham, and Ricotta Pizza Recipe

Top pizza dough with a ricotta cheese mixture, figs, onion, and ham to make this pizza.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham and Peas

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham and Peas Recipe
This easy pasta dish is loaded with flavor and perfect for spring weather.

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Ham-and-Swiss-Loaded Potatoes

Ham-and-Swiss-Loaded Potatoes Recipe
Stuffed with chunks of Swiss cheese, ham, scallions, and sour cream, these nifty little spuds can be put together at the last moment for a quick weeknight supper featuring leftover ham. Potatoes bake in the microwave and then crisp up under the broiler.

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Asparagus-and-Ham Casserole

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Asparagus-and-Ham Casserole Recipe
This speedy casserole is pure comfort food and needs only 10 minutes to bake. That's because most of the prep work (cooking pasta and making a light cream sauce) is done on the stovetop. Simply bake to brown the breadcrumbs and make the filling bubbly.

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Ham-and-Bacon Quiche

Ham-and-Bacon Quiche Recipe
Real men will definitely eat this quiche because it's loaded with all kinds of tasty ingredients: ham, bacon, mushrooms, cheese and cream. But the best part of the deal is that using refrigerated pie crust keeps prep time to just 20 minutes.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Ham and Garlic

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Ham and Garlic Recipe
If you don't already love Brussels sprouts, this is the recipe that will change your mind. That's because roasting these tiny little cabbages brings out their inherent sweetness and softens their bold personality. Try it -- you'll like it.

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Ham Fried Rice

Ham Fried Rice Recipe
This simple stir fry is the kind of meal you'll find yourself wanting to make over and over again when you're trying to use up leftovers. It not only works well with ham, but also with chicken or a fridge full of leftover veggies.

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Ham and Vegetable Soup

Jim Franco

Ham and Vegetable Soup Recipe
All you need is 20 minutes to put together this hearty soup made with leftover ham, bacon, and six different fresh vegetables. While the soup simmers for 30 minutes, warm up some crusty bread and throw together a quick salad.

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Ham and Swiss Bread Pudding

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Ham and Swiss Bread Pudding Recipe
Hawaiian rolls give this savory bread pudding a hint of sweetness that nicely offsets the salty ham. To save time, toast rolls the day before. That keeps assembly time quick so you can put up your feet while the savory dish bubbles and bakes.

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Cheesy Ham and Mushroom Pasta

Cheesy Ham and Mushroom Pasta Recipe
"My mom is a great cook, and she inspires me to create delicious recipes, like this one."

Jennifer Kriegel, 27, Framingham, Mass.

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Capricciosa Pizza (Ham, Mushrooms, Mozzarella, and Artichokes)

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Capricciosa Pizza (Ham, Mushrooms, Mozzarella, and Artichokes) Recipe
Ca' Momi, a bustling restaurant in Napa, California, is known for its rigorously authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. This one--its name translates as "capricious"--can be found throughout pizzerias in Italy, says Dario De Conti, the restaurant's head pizza maker and co-owner.

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Waffled Gruyère & Ham Grits

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Waffled Gruyère & Ham Grits Recipe
Make the ultimate leftovers brunch. Invite friends if you feel like sharing.

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Green Eggs and Ham Frittata

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Green Eggs and Ham Frittata Recipe
Grab all the leftover veggies in your fridge to add flavor to this easy frittata.

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Crispy Rice with Ham and Bean Sprouts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Crispy Rice with Ham and Bean Sprouts Recipe

Toasting half the rice in this recipe yields warmth and crunch that takes this ultra-comforting 5-ingredient entrée from ordinary to exceptional. For an added kick, serve with a drizzle of Sriracha.

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Smoky Ham and Split Pea Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Smoky Ham and Split Pea Soup Recipe

This split pea and ham soup turns out creamy and delicious every time, all thanks to your slow cooker. Salty ham balances out the peas' light, earthy flavor, while the potatoes slowly release their starches to create the perfect silky texture. After 8 hours of hands-off, crockpot cooking, this split pea and ham soup is ready to devour (although leftovers fare well in the freezer, too). An easy, excellent recipe to add to your fall/winter rotation, this filling and flavorful split pea and ham soup is sure to become a new favorite in your house. Top with freshly cracked pepper and serve with a side of crusty bread.

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Veggie Fried Rice with Crispy Ham

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Veggie Fried Rice with Crispy Ham Recipe

For this quick family dinner, a small amount of salty ham is crisped and used as a topping. That way you can use far less and still get a big flavor impact.

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Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Peas

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Peas Recipe
A box of pasta, fresh veggies and some leftover deli ham is all you need to make Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Peas. This family-pleasing meal is table-ready in just under 30 minutes.

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Braised Beans with Collard Greens and Ham

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Braised Beans with Collard Greens and Ham Recipe
Smoked ham hocks are inexpensive and give the dish rich flavor; substitute with ham steak if you prefer. This dish defines easy, relaxed cooking, so don't stress over measurements.

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Ham-and-Greens Crostini

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Ham-and-Greens Crostini Recipe
Creamy and salty Ham-and-Greens Crostini takes its inspiration from a classic Southern dish. To make ahead, refrigerate cooked greens up to two days. The base is an easy French bread Crostini.

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Country-Ham-and-Egg Toasts

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Country-Ham-and-Egg Toasts Recipe
Carolyn says: "I think the tartine, an open-faced sandwich from France, is the most versatile vehicle for a healthy breakfast. Try topping with everything from poached eggs to leftover chicken."

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Ham, Gruyère and Spinach Strata

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Ham, Gruyère and Spinach Strata Recipe
Whip up Ham, Gruyère and Spinach Strata for a filling breakfast or brunch dish. It's a great dish for using leftover holiday ham.

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Brussels Sprouts with Ham

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Brussels Sprouts with Ham Recipe
Dressed with mustard and sour cream, our Brussels Sprouts with Ham takes this veggie salad to new levels.

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Ham-and-Swiss Sticky Buns

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Ham-and-Swiss Sticky Buns Recipe
Stuff the dough deep into the muffin cups so that the tops rise into a cheesy dome while baking.

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Rice and Ham Croquettes with Tomato Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Sarah Cave

Rice and Ham Croquettes with Tomato Sauce Recipe
These ham-studded rice fritters are the Lowcountry version of Italian arancini.

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Ham and Cheese Tartine

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Ham and Cheese Tartine Recipe
This lean snack of Ham and Cheese Tartine satisfies your craving for something savory. Pick pumpernickel bread as the base for this snack as it has resistant starch, a fat-burning carb.

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Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches

Gooseberry Patch

Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches Recipe
With the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors, these Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Serve them during the holidays or during a football party–they are great for any occasion.

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Pasta Primavera with Ham and Mushrooms

Pasta Primavera with Ham and Mushrooms Recipe

It's hard to beat pasta primavera. But it's even harder to beat a 20-minute pasta primavera that only requires one skillet. Use a frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix to save time and add color, texture, and nutrition. This recipe is one to keep in your back pocket for busy afternoons when there's no time for prep.

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Eggplant and Ham Fritters with Creamy Mustard Sauce

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Eggplant and Ham Fritters with Creamy Mustard Sauce Recipe

Crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside, these golden, savory fritters are the perfect starter or brunch dish. With a delicate eggplant flavor, deliciously balanced by smoky ham, this is the perfect gateway recipe for anyone who claims to “hate” eggplant. Try not to over-mix the batter as this will make your fritters chewy, and be sure to work in small batches while frying so you don’t overcrowd the pan. If you have trouble finding crème frâiche, you can easily substitute full-fat sour cream.

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Savory Ham, Cheese, and Chive Scones

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Julia Levy, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Savory Ham, Cheese, and Chive Scones Recipe

These savory scones are flakey, cheesy, rich, and uber-delicious. Similar to biscuits in texture, method, and ingredients, you’ll want to make sure you’re ingredients are good and cold to ensure the tenderest, flakiest scones possible. The scones can be made into whatever shape you like, they’ll bake just the same. Hearty, portable, and guaranteed crowd-pleasers, these ham, cheese, and chive scones would be perfect to pack up for a brunch or morning tailgate.

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Get Creative With Leftover Ham

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Don't Toss That Leftover Ham!

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Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

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Grilled Apricots with Burrata, Country Ham and Arugula

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Grilled Ham-and-Cheese Sandwiches with Strawberry-Shallot Jam

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Spinach and Ham Stuffed Baked Potatoes

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Fig, Ham, and Ricotta Pizza

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham and Peas

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Ham-and-Swiss-Loaded Potatoes

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Asparagus-and-Ham Casserole

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Ham-and-Bacon Quiche

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Ham and Garlic

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Ham Fried Rice

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Ham and Vegetable Soup

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Ham and Swiss Bread Pudding

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Cheesy Ham and Mushroom Pasta

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Capricciosa Pizza (Ham, Mushrooms, Mozzarella, and Artichokes)

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Waffled Gruyère & Ham Grits

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Green Eggs and Ham Frittata

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Crispy Rice with Ham and Bean Sprouts

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Smoky Ham and Split Pea Soup

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Veggie Fried Rice with Crispy Ham

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Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Peas

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Braised Beans with Collard Greens and Ham

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Ham-and-Greens Crostini

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Country-Ham-and-Egg Toasts

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Ham, Gruyère and Spinach Strata

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