Ham
28 Leftover Ham Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Transform that crisp, glazed masterpiece into dishes for any time of day.
November may be the time for turkey—but the second December and April roll around, 'tis the season for ham. Be it super-simply roasted with spices and brown sugar or baked spiral-style with apricot jam and mustard, there are very few main dishes that stand out on the dinner table like a glazed and glistening ham.
But with every showstopping ham typically comes a lot of leftovers. And delicious though it may be to munch on a couple slices cold, straight from the fridge (a thing we have all done many times), why not repurpose the ham in one of these tasty recipes? From comfort foods like grits and fried rice to egg-topped sweet potato and ham hash and ham-stuffed biscuits, here are our best leftover ham recipes. Don't forget to save that ham bone for a hearty soup.
1. Ham, Gruyère & Caramelized Onion Galette with a Fried Egg
We think just about anything is improved by adding a fried egg on top, and this savory galette stuffed with caramelized onions, Gruyère, and bits of leftover ham is no exception.
2. Dutch Ham, Gouda & Egg Sandwich (Uitsmijter)
This perfectly salty, satisfying breakfast (or lunch or late-night snack, for that matter) is yours in just a few minutes when you've got leftover slices of ham, cheese, and eggs handy.
3. Savory Oatmeal with Ham, Poached Eggs & Hollandaise Sauce
Classic eggs Benedict meets oatmeal in this hearty breakfast bowl complete with avocado, leftover ham, pesto-swirled oats, and the requisite poached egg smothered in creamy Hollandaise sauce.
4. Country Ham Biscuit with Fig Jam
Feel free to put anything you want in between these soft, buttery biscuits, but we like homemade fig jam and thick slices of ham best.
5. Jean's Kimchi Fried Rice With Spam
This spin on kimchi fried rice (fried egg on top, for the win again) calls for Spam, but you can sub in cubes or slices of leftover ham for an equally tasty result.
6. Sweet Potato, Kale & Country Ham Hash with Maple Red-Eye Gravy
This hash plays on all the breakfast-y flavors you know and love: salty and sweet, crunchy and chewy, plus a little bit of green for balance.
7. Ham, Egg & Gruyère Galette Complète
One reviewer called this breakfast-ready combination of simple ingredients "divine"—and frankly, that's all we need to add it to our to-cook list.
8. Apricot Chutney Ham & Cheese with Spiced Caramel Crust
This sandwich is a perfect study in contrasts, combining crunchy cinnamon and sugar–crusted toast, sweet and tangy apricot chutney, and salty ham and cheese.
9. Ham & Cheese Croissant Loaf
We can't think of a better way to use up leftover ham. This dreamy croissant loaf is light as air on the inside, and layered and crispy on the outside.
10. El Eme's Mythical "Triángulo" Sandwich With Secret Sauce
This "mythical" sandwich gets its name from its secret sauce, which the recipe's author was finally able to recreate after a trip to the Basque city where she first tasted it.
11. The Monte Cerdo (with Challah, Swiss & Maple-Candied Country Ham)
This sweet-meets-salty sandwich takes French toast and treats it like sandwich bread for a grilled cheese with Swiss and maple-candied ham (which you can make with a bit of maple syrup, brown sugar, and leftover ham).
12. Goat Cheese Grits with Red Eye Gravy, Country Ham, and a Fried Egg
Goat cheese adds a tangy creaminess to the grits and pairs oh-so-nicely with salty country ham and a fried egg. A dose of coffee-rich red-eye gravy adds effortless flavor and turns it into a full diner-style breakfast on a plate.
13. Ham Quiche With a Cheese Cracker Crust
A tender, creamy quiche is studded with plenty of ham and cheddar cheese for a main dish that’s ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, literally any meal. A cheese cracker crust gives it a serious cheesy punch.
14. Green Eggs & Ham
While this recipe calls for Parma ham, thin-sliced leftover country ham works just as well. Topped with eggs, pesto, and pesto, it’s a quick breakfast that’s nice enough to serve guests the morning after a big holiday meal.
15. Herby Ham & Gruyère Breakfast Casserole
Use stale brioche and leftover ham to make an impressive breakfast casserole that feeds a crowd. A mix of Gouda and Gruyère cheese are ideal, but a high-quality aged cheddar would be nice, too.
16. Old-Fashioned Ham, Cabbage & Potato Soup
This rustic soup is easy to throw together on any old night with the help of leftover, cubed ham and a few staple vegetables. It’s pure comfort without hours of simmering on a cold winter night.
17. Buttery Ham & Swiss Sliders
You can never go wrong with ham and Swiss, especially when squishy slider rolls and melted butter are involved. Serve warm as a party food or a lunchtime main.
18. Ken Forkish's Hawaiian Pizza
While some recipes call for bacon, a classic Hawaiian pizza is topped with sliced ham. The smoky, sweet ham combines with spicy jalapeños and juicy, tart pineapple for a flavor combo with a dedicated following.
19. Potatoes au Gratin
What can possibly make a bubbly dish of tender potatoes and creamy, cheesy sauce any better? Ham. Diced up leftover ham will make it better.
20. Ham and Cheese Muffins
Who says muffins have to be sweet? These savory morning pastries are as easy to make as they are to eat on the go.
21. Cream Cheese Omelet With Everything Seasoning
Everything bagel seasoning adds oniony, salty, seedy flavor and crunch to this simple omelet. Add thin slices or small cubes of leftover ham to the cream cheese filling to take it up a notch.
22. The Glorious Monte Cristo Sandwich
At the intersection of sweet and salty, the Monte Cristo is a classically rich treat of a sandwich. If you eat French toast and think “I sure wish there was ham in this,” then make this immediately.
23. Loaded Ham Quiche
As advertised, this quiche is loaded up with ham, potatoes, peas, and cheese for a one-dish breakfast or brunch. The flaky crust includes seasoned salt and tarragon for flavor in every bite.
24. Fancy Ham & Cheese Sandwiches
Skip the deli ham and repurpose leftover ham from Easter in this better-than-average sandwich. There’s the usual ham and Swiss layered on multigrain bread, plus arugula, apricot jam, and Dijon butter.
25. Easy, Cheesy Chicken Cordon Bleu
“What is not to like about this dish of juicy chicken, salty ham and melted cheese, wrapped in its thick, crispy crumb coating,” writes recipe developer Elaine Lemm. Cut a few thick slices of leftover holiday ham and Swiss cheese to lay on the butterflied chicken breast.
26. Italian Easter Pie
This is a large-format pie made for serving a crowd, but because it’s packed with so many different ingredients, it’s also a great leftovers pie. Pull meats and cheeses from a charcuterie board, plus leftover smoked Easter ham, for a hearty filling inspired by the Abruzzo specialty.
27. Fried Egg Salad From Ideas in Food
This egg salad is more about thinking through methodology than following one specific recipe. If you have butter, leftover ham and chopped onions, eggs, mayonnaise, some herbs and spices, and toast for serving, it'll turn out great.
28. Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
Mornings are hard. Mornings after a holiday weekend are even harder. That’s where this crowd-friendly, 15-minute breakfast recipe comes together. Use leftover Easter ham, grated cheddar cheese, and scrambled eggs to assemble half a dozen breakfast sandwiches.
Written by: Erin Alexander
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