Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Deanne Frieders · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

This old-fashioned ham salad recipe is a classic in the American south but serves as an amazing snack, side, or main dish no matter where you’re from. Ready in five minutes, it’s a savory spread the whole family will enjoy.

You probably have heard of chicken salad and egg salad, but what about ham salad?

I'd like to introduce you to this classic recipe! It's made made with finely chopped ham, hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, celery, and mayonnaise.

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (1)

The ham gives it a smoky and salty flavor, while the eggs add a creamy richness, and the pickle relish and celery add a nice crunch and tangy sweetness.

When you mix it all together with a dollop of mayo, you get a delicious and satisfying salad that's perfect for sandwiches, crackers, or even just on its own.

This old-fashioned recipe is a crowd pleaser. It’s a sandwich spread, a side at a picnic, or both. It’s a quick bite to eat or a complete filling meal, and I can switch out the egg and relish or add other vegetables as I want.

Why I Love This Recipe

There are three reasons why I love this ham spread!

Fast and simple – I mean, it doesn’t get much faster than 5 minutes of prep time! You don’t even have to turn on a stove or microwave. It's also the perfect recipe to use up leftover holiday ham.

Familiar ingredients – have you ever found a new recipe you knew your family would love…but it had a few expensive ingredients? Or worse, ingredients you didn’t even know how to find? That’s not this old-fashioned ham salad recipe at all.

Versatile – there are plenty of ingredients you can switch around to your preference, so it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser no matter what. You can also eat it by itself, on crackers, or as a sandwich.

Ingredients

Everything to make this ham spread recipe is right at your fingertips – either at home already or at the grocery store.

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (2)
  • Cooked ham – finely chopped by hand or with a food processor or blender. You may also be able to find ground ham at the supermarket or (more likely, at least in my experience) at a butcher shop.
  • Hard boiled egg – you can leave this out of the salad if you’d like, but you’ll probably want more mayonnaise to make up for it. You can easily make hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot and make them into deviled eggs, too!
  • Celery rib – as in all salads like this one, celery provides a delicious crunch!
  • Sweet pickle relish – you can also use regular dill relish or chopped dill pickles if that’s your preference.
  • Mayonnaise – this is your salad “dressing” and ties it all together. If you’ve had any kind of “picnic salad” before, you’re familiar with it. Duke's or Blue Plate?? I bet you have your favorite!
  • Salt and black pepper – to taste.

How To Make Ham Salad

This recipe is as simple as mixing all your ingredients together.

Step 1: Chop your ingredients. Place the ham, egg, and celery into the bowl of your food processor and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped.

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (3)

Step 2: Combine your ingredients and enjoy. Combine the ham mixture, mayonnaise, relish, salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (4)

What to serve with ham salad

Saltine crackers or ritz crackers are probably my favorite cracker pairing. Otherwise, you can go crazy with breads...from plain white bread to a whole grain bread with a little crunch.

Recipe Variations

Want to experiment with this ham spread? You can try adding…

  • Parsley as a garnish
  • A squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of mustard to bring out the rest of the flavors
  • Other veggies, like onion or cucumber
  • Nuts for crunch, like cashews or almonds
Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (5)

FAQS

How many servings does this recipe make?

This should make enough for four servings. If you’re looking to serve the whole extended family at a picnic or something similar, you may want to double the recipe (or more)! Otherwise, this is perfect for a side or snack.

How long can you store this recipe for ham salad?

You can store this ham salad in your fridge for up to a week. Be sure to use an air-tight container.

What if I don’t have a food processor?

If you have a good blender, that can also work. If you don’t have either, however, you can chop up the ingredients by hand until they’re very fine.

Other Salad Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Easy Tuna Salad with Egg

Grandma’s Creamy Potato Salad

Broccoli Salad Recipe with Craisins

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe

Deanne Frieders

This old-fashioned ham salad recipe is a classic in the American south but serves as an amazing snack, side, or main dish wherever you’re from. Ready in five minutes, it’s a savory spread the whole family will enjoy.

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Salad Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 376 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked ham cut into 1-2 inch cubes
  • 1 hard boiled egg peeled
  • 1 celery rib chopped
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Serving suggestions are in notes below

Instructions

  • Place the ham, egg, and celery into the bowl of your food processor and give several quick pulses until the mixture is finely chopped.

  • Remove the mixture from the food processor and transfer to a medium sized mixing bowl.

  • Add the mayonnaise and relish and stir to mix. Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

    Serve on bread, croissants or with crackers.

Notes

Leftover ham salad will keep in your fridge for up to a week. Be sure to use an air-tight container.

Variation ideas:

  • Parsley as a garnish
  • A squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of mustard to bring out the rest of the flavors
  • Other veggies, like onion or cucumber
  • Nuts for crunch, like cashews or almonds

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 376kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 27gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 1442mgSugar: 4g

Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisFarmGirlCooks or tag #thisfarmgirlcooks!

Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is ham salad made of? ›

Ham salad is a great way to use leftover ham. Mix together diced ham, hard-boiled eggs, pickle relish, mayo, onion, celery, bell pepper, and mustard for a terrific salad you can use on sandwiches or enjoy on its own.

What is the history of ham salad? ›

Historically, ham salad was made from left over deli or canned ham in Western Pennsylvania. Meat markets offered a deli meat that was chopped ham which was called chipped ham that was thinly sliced to order. The leftover ends was then chopped up and made into a salad the same way tuna.

What does "deviled ham" mean? ›

Far from evil, the word “deviled” is a culinary term that means “adding spices” — usually hot ones like cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, or chopped chili peppers — to foods like ham, eggs, turkey, or even lobster.

What is the main ingredient in ham? ›

Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking. As a processed meat, the term ham includes both whole cuts of meat and ones that have been mechanically formed.

What is deli ham salad made of? ›

Ham salad is similar to chicken salad, egg salad, or tuna salad. It is prepared with cooked, cold ham along with vegetables, relish, and mayonnaise. It is then chilled and served cold directly from the refrigerator.

When was ham salad popular? ›

In the mid-20th century, the ham salad sandwich held a prominent place on the table at post-funeral luncheons. Some Americans recall eating it only at these events.

Which country invented ham? ›

The word ham derives from the Old English hamm and refers specifically to a cut of meat from the hog's hind legs. China takes credit for curing the first pork leg back in 4900 B.C. Enthusiasm for ham spread throughout ancient Europe with the Romans, who likely learned of the practice while trading with the Chinese.

Is Underwood Deviled ham still made? ›

Looking for a little spice in your sandwich or appetizer party tray? How about a new way to spice up your egg breakfast? Canned Underwood® Deviled Ham Spread is the choice for you! It's also available in an ultra-portable 2.25-oz.

What is a ham in slang? ›

: someone who enjoys performing and who tends to behave in an exaggerated or playful way when people are watching. A bit of a ham, she's been collecting these one-liners for decades. Elizabeth Rubin. " … I was always sort of a ham.

What do Christians call deviled eggs? ›

At church functions in parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs", and "dressed eggs" occur instead, to avoid reference to the word "devil". For this reason, the term "angel eggs" is also occasionally used.

What is the slang ham and eggs? ›

Slang references

"Like ham and eggs" refers to things that typically go together and are difficult to separate. To "ham and egg it" is to plug away at something. "Ham and eggs" or "ham and egger" can also refer to an ordinary, unskilled or mediocre person.

Why is sliced ham not suitable for freezing? ›

Freezing ham, is it a good idea? Freezing ham before or after cooking often causes changes in flavour and texture. Any ham, frozen and then defrosted, might look and feel spongy and may taste saltier. It may not be ideal for company and would be better used in cooked dishes, such as soups, pizza or casseroles.

Why can't you freeze sliced ham? ›

If the ham is unopened, you can freeze it in its original packaging. When freezing leftover ham (whole or sliced), here are some tips to follow: Make sure the ham is cooled and dry (to prevent ice crystals). Wrap in plastic wrap or a freezer bag and then tightly cover with foil.

Is it okay to freeze butter? ›

Properly stored butter can be frozen for up to four months if frozen prior to the USE BY date on the package. Butter may begin to lose its fresh butter taste and pick up flavors and odors from the freezer if stored for longer than four months. Once the butter is removed from the freezer, use it within 30 days.

Is ham salad made from bologna? ›

"I grew up only knowing this by Ham Salad which is what my Mom and local Deli's up North called it. She said it was the "Poor Man's Ham Salad" which never contained any ham, just bologna, but giving it the wonderful flavor and color of what could have been ham.

What are the ingredients in ham cold cuts? ›

Ham, Water, Sugar, Contains Less than 2% of Salt, Honey, Vinegar, Sodium Phosphate (Mineral Salt), Maltodextrin, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Natural Flavor, Spice Extractives.

Is a ham salad sandwich healthy? ›

Ham salad sandwich contains 2.9 g of saturated fat and 32 mg of cholesterol per serving. 141 g of Ham salad sandwich contains 9.87 mcg vitamin A, 0.7 mg vitamin C, 0.42 mcg vitamin D as well as 2.35 mg of iron, 128.31 mg of calcium, 283 mg of potassium.

How long is ham salad safe to-eat? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeRefrigerator [40°F (4°C) or below]
SaladEgg, chicken, ham, tuna, and macaroni salads3 to 4 days
Hot dogsOpened package1 week
Unopened package2 weeks
Luncheon meatOpened package or deli sliced3 to 5 days
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5570

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.