featured 10948

18 Creative Leftover Ham Recipes for Fresh Weeknight Meals

Serving ham for the holidays and left with extra? Here are 18 creative leftover ham recipes—everything from ham salad and scalloped potatoes to soups and breakfast casseroles—to turn leftover ham into exciting meals.

These ideas cover breakfast, lunch and dinner with hearty soups, sandwiches, casseroles and easy weeknight dinners that make the most of every bite.

A group of leftover ham recipes such as scalloped potatoes and ham, ham salad and ham casserole.

Ham has long been a holiday staple, but it’s common to end up with more than you can eat in one sitting. These leftover ham recipes will help you use every last bite. From make-ahead breakfasts to comforting dinners, there’s an idea here for every appetite.

Ham sales spike around Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even a modest-sized ham can produce plenty of leftovers. To make life easier, portion extra ham into resealable freezer bags so you can thaw just what you need. Below you’ll find everything from quick sandwiches and sliders to slow-cooked soups and baked casseroles.

If your household leans toward turkey, try using the same approach with leftover turkey recipes—same concept, different flavor. And if you’re tempted to buy a ham just to try these dishes, you’re not alone.

18 Leftover Ham Recipes

A collection of leftover ham recipes including sandwiches, soups and casseroles.
img 10948 3

Hash Brown Egg Casserole

A baked breakfast casserole with hash browns, ham, vegetables and cheese—great for special mornings or brunch.

Get the Recipe

This ham bone soup is loaded with beans and veggies and is the perfect way to use up leftover ham!

Ham Bone Soup (Slow Cooker)

A slow-cooked soup built on a ham bone with beans and vegetables—rich, comforting and economical.

Get the Recipe

A stromboli recipe with pepperoni, ham and cheese wrapped up in pizza dough and baked.

Stromboli Recipe

Tender dough filled with sauce, cheese and meats—slice and serve for a quick, crowd-pleasing dinner.

Get the Recipe

A slow cooker full of ham and bean soup made with vegetables, dried beans and diced ham.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

A comforting crockpot meal of dried beans, tomatoes, vegetables and diced ham—set it and forget it.

Get the Recipe

A pressed Cuban sandwich with layers of ham, cheese and pickles.

Cuban Sandwich

A hearty pressed sandwich with ham, roasted pork, cheese and pickles—simple to assemble and full of flavor.

Get the Recipe

A casserole dish of scalloped potatoes and ham, topped with melted cheese and parsley.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Layered thin potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce with diced ham—baked until golden for a filling main or side.

Get the Recipe

Ham salad served in a croissant.

Ham Salad

Finely diced ham mixed with mayonnaise, vegetables and seasonings—serve on sandwiches, crackers or over greens.

Get the Recipe

A pile of cuban sliders filled with ham, cheese and pickles.

Cuban Sliders

Potato buns stacked with ham, pork, cheese and pickles, brushed with garlic butter and baked—perfect for gatherings.

Get the Recipe

A pot of ham and beans garnished with parsley.

Ham and Beans

Creamy white beans simmered with ham, vegetables and seasonings for a simple, soul-warming meal.

Get the Recipe

A plate of Monte Cristo sandwich with fresh fruit and raspberry jam for dipping.

Monte Cristo Sandwich

A battered and fried sandwich with ham, turkey and cheese—serve with raspberry jam for a delightful sweet-savory contrast.

Get the Recipe

How long does cooked ham last?

Cooked ham will keep in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze ham for up to 3 months. Portioning ham into smaller bags before freezing makes thawing and using just what you need much easier.

How do you store cooked ham?

Slice ham from the bone and store slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If freezing, dice the ham into usable portions and seal in freezer bags to speed thawing for recipes.

Several images of ham recipes such as ham sliders, ham and potato soup and ham and egg cups.
A plate of ham and egg cups topped with diced tomatoes and chives.

Ham and Egg Cups

Ham slices pressed into muffin tins, filled with eggs and cheese, then baked—an easy make-ahead breakfast or brunch item.

Get the Recipe

Ham and cheese pinwheels are an easy savory party snack.

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Savory rolls filled with ham and Swiss, topped with a buttery poppy seed glaze—perfect for parties and potlucks.

Get the Recipe

A bowl of ham and potato soup loaded with veggies in a creamy broth.

Ham and Potato Soup

A creamy soup with diced ham, potatoes, carrots, celery and cheddar—quick to make and deeply satisfying.

Get the Recipe

Ham and cheese sliders on a serving plate, garnished with parsley.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Hawaiian rolls layered with ham and Swiss, brushed with a sweet-savory butter and baked until gooey—ideal for feeding a crowd.

Get the Recipe

Ham casserole with egg noodles and broccoli, topped with melted cheese.

Ham Casserole

Egg noodles, broccoli and diced ham in a creamy sauce topped with cheese—baked into a comforting family meal.

Get the Recipe

These slow cooker black eyed peas are loaded with ham, sausage and veggies. The perfect crock pot meal to get your new year off to the right start!

Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

A slow cooker classic with black eyed peas, ham, sausage and vegetables—great for New Year traditions or any chilly day.

Get the Recipe

A bowl of ham and corn chowder garnished with bacon.

Ham and Corn Chowder

A creamy chowder with ham, bacon, potatoes and corn—rich, filling and excellent for using diced ham.

Get the Recipe

Red beans and rice with sausage, ham and vegetables, topped with herbs.

Red Beans and Rice

Dried red beans simmered with ham, sausage, vegetables and spices—served over rice for a satisfying, flavorful meal.

Get the Recipe

How to reheat leftover ham

To reheat leftover ham, place it in a baking dish, cover with foil and warm at 275°F (135°C) until heated through. For a whole ham, plan about 10 minutes per pound; for sliced ham, 5–7 minutes per pound is usually sufficient. Reheating gently helps preserve moisture and flavor.

Ham is too good to waste—use these recipes to transform leftovers into meals you’ll look forward to. From quick breakfasts to hearty dinners, these dishes put leftover ham to delicious use.