What to do with ham leftovers?

Leftovers can be a tricky endeavor to master, but if you’re the creative type, the task might not seem all that daunting. In this post, we’ll cover everything from sandwiches to soup and pasta dishes, providing you with options for breakfast through dinner. You’ll also get plenty of recipe ideas for how to use up any leftover ham from Easter or Christmas dinner.

How to use ham leftovers?

• Soup: Soup is one of the best ways to use up leftovers, as you can throw just about anything into a pot and have it come out delicious. Leftover ham has a hearty flavor that works well with soup, but remember to dice it very small so its texture fits well with the rest of the ingredients.

You can also make an excellent gravy out of your ham leftovers to serve over potatoes or rice. Just be sure you have some poultry broth on hand!

One of our favorites is a chunky ham and bean soup . Hearty, flavorful, and full of protein. You could also make a creamy ham and potato chowder .

• Frittata: A frittata is another simple meal that’s easy to make on a busy morning or if you don’t feel like heating up the kitchen much. You can use leftover ham, as well as any other vegetables like spinach and cheese, to create a tasty and filling meal.

The best thing about Frittata is that almost any leftover ingredients can be used to make it. If you don’t have any browned ham leftovers, all you need are some bread crumbs, kale or spinach and eggs.

• Sandwiches: To make sandwiches at home is a great way to use up ham leftovers , as it doesn’t require any fancy kitchen equipment that could go wrong. There are a variety of different sandwich options you can pull from your leftovers to create your own sandwich. Here’s one of our favourite ideas for making an Italian ham & cheese sandwich .

Other Sandwich Options

Other sandwich options with leftover ham include a tuna & egg salad sandwich , a turkey cranberry cheddar (pictured above) and a grilled ham & cheese .

If you prefer your sandwiches cold and portable, consider making one with coleslaw and ham. Also, don’t forget your favorite sandwich bread and spread some mustard on it! A fried egg on your leftover ham will pack a powerful protein punch.

• Salad: A ham salad sandwich is another good choice. The smoky flavor of that leftover ham will give a nice hint to this quick and easy recipe. Top with celery and mayonnaise, add some creamy cranberry sauce, and you have yourself a nice lunch.
• Pasta: You can use any variety of pasta for this meal, but do try to use hard or semi-hard varieties as they hold up well when cooked in boiling water. You can also enjoy macaroni or penne pasta with a ham and cheese filling (or just cheese). Another option is adding boiled potatoes in the mixture to make an excellent potato salad .

Pasta Dishes and More

You might think that pasta dishes are off limits for leftovers, but not so! The key is to find a pasta recipe that doesn’t rely heavily on creamy sauces or heavy meats like pork or beef to create its main flavor profile.

• Creamy soups: A creamy ham and potato soup might sound like a strange combination, but this recipe really does work. Instead of making a full-on soup with broth, we’re going to use cream, sour cream and mayonnaise to create the creaminess we want without adding the extra fat from a broth.

There are plenty of other examples that include potatoes and ham together, so why not give this one a try?

• Fried rice: What you’ll need to make ham fried rice is leftover ham, fried rice, eggs and a few vegetables of choice. You can make this dish with whatever vegetables you have around, so this is a great recipe if you want to do something creative with your leftovers.

• Roast with flour: If you have a ham bone, you can make a tasty gravy by heating the ham bone in water with flour. It’s an easy dinner, but it does take time to make.

Making Gravy out of Leftover Ham

You can also make an excellent gravy out of your ham leftovers to serve over potatoes or rice. Just be sure you have some poultry broth on hand!

Recommended: How to Make Hamburger Patty?

• Ham and cheese quiche: This is another good option for using up your leftover ham, as it takes advantage of the egg custard to bind the ingredients together and make a flavorful pie dish full of foods you already like (ham, cheese and vegetables). You’ll want to consider cooking this dish in individual portions so that you don’t end up with a dry quiche.

• Ham and vegetable soup: If you want to make a soup that tastes lighter and healthier than you’d get from your typical canned ham soup, this is the way to go. It’s also perfect for using up vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots in the fridge.

Read: How to do a whole chicken?

• Baked Ham & Apple Quesadillas: If you’re looking for something a little different (and healthy), this baked quesadilla recipe is a great choice. Ham adds significant flavor, along with plenty of protein, for a filling but healthy meal option.