There’s something comforting and nostalgic about a good old-fashioned ham salad. It’s a classic recipe that has been enjoyed for generations, and it’s easy to see why. The combination of savory ham, tangy mustard, and creamy mayonnaise is simply irresistible. Also, this delicious recipe can be made into a ham salad sandwich spread or a ham salad dip. It’s a great way to use leftover ham after a holiday.
Believe it or not, I never had an old fashioned ham salad until I was well into my adulthood. I had never even heard of it before! We have a restaurant here in Arkansas that is known for its ham salad and turkey salad. People who have had the ham salad at Burge’s Restaurant rave for good reason!
Despite my late discovery of this easy and budget-friendly sandwich spread, the history of ham salad traces back to the depression era.
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover ham, chopped (equivalant to about one pound)
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Chopped celery or chopped pickles
- Chopped onions
- Fresh parsley
- Seasonings to taste (pepper but little to no salt as the ham is already salted)
- Your favorite bread or crackers
Seasoning Options for Ham Salad
When it comes to seasoning your ham salad, the options are endless. You can keep it simple with just pepper, or you can get creative with a variety of herbs and spices. Dill, parsley, and chives can add a burst of freshness, while a dash of paprika or cayenne pepper can bring a subtle heat. Some people even like to add a touch of mustard or horseradish for an extra kick. In my house, we like to black pepper with a dash of cayenne pepper.
Why We Love This Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
One beauty of this old fashioned ham salad recipe is that it can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences. Whether you like it with a little extra crunch from celery, tanginess of pickles, or a hint of sweetness from relish, you can easily customize this ham salad to however you want it!
And as we have already mentioned, this ham salad can be made to spread onto bread for sandwiches and it can also be made as a dip for crackers and veggies.
Use a Food Processor for Ease
If you have a food processor, use it to chop your leftover holiday ham into small uniform pieces. It will lend a consistent texture to the ham salad. However, if you don’t have a food processor, the good old cutting board and knife works well too! You will just need to plan for a bit more time on the preparation end.
I like to toss the ham, the celery, and the onion all into my food processor for super quick chopping.
I love recipes that can be used in multiple ways. I also love recipes that make good use of leftovers (like that baked ham). This Ham Salad is one of those recipes. It’s a dip AND a delicious sandwich spread. It’s also super customizable! You can add relish, scallions, hard boiled eggs, or spice it up with hot sauce and jalapenos. Don’t have leftover ham? You can use deli ham or canned ham. How you make this dip – and how you use it – is up to you!
Storage
- Ham salad can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Pairing Suggestions
This recipe used as a dip goes great with:
- Crackers
- Crusty Bread
- Fresh Vegetables
- Tortilla chips
- Pretzels
Variations for Old Fashioned Ham Salad
- Ham salad can be served as a dip or a spread for sandwiches.
- Any ham will work in this recipe including leftover ham, ham steaks, or even canned ham.
- Feel free to customize this recipe and make it your own by adding pickles, relish, diced hardboiled eggs, jalapenos, hot sauce, bell peppers, cucumbers, lemon juice, dill, or chives!
Tips
- The ham is salty already, so I don’t include extra salt, but adjust to your taste.
- Depending on the type of ham you use, you may need more or less mayonnaise. Adjust to your desired consistency.
- When serving, follow FDA guidelines for the length of time mayonnaise-based recipes can be left at room temperature. The last thing you need in your post-holidays life is about of food poisoning!
Old Fashioned Ham Salad
Equipment
- 1 Food processor
Ingredients
- 3 cups Ham chopped (about 1 pound)
- 1 stalk Celery finely chopped
- ⅓ cup Onion finely chopped
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tbsp Parsley fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a food processer, pulse the ham to dice it into small pieces. If you do not have a food processor, you can dice the ham with a knife.
- Fold in the celery and onion then stir in the mayonnaise and mustard.
- Top with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Ham salad can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Be careful about how long you let this ham salad set on the counter as this is a mayonnaise-based recipe.
Nutrition
More Great Sandwich Recipes
English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich
Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Deluxe Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Cranberry Turkey Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
Air Fryer Peanut Butter and Jelly
Grilled Ham and Cheese in the Air Fryer
Cheese and Ham Panini Sandwich
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