32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (2024)

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Mmm, egg caprese cups

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (1)

By Delia Mooney

Published Dec 8, 2021

Additional reporting by

Katherine Gillen

The Christmas ham was stunning in its glory…but once the festivities are over, all you can focus on are those sad slices lingering in the fridge. Believe it or not, they’re about to be tonight’s amazing dinner. From simple ham and cheese sliders to cheesy ham mashed potato cakes to classic split pea soup, here are 32 leftover ham recipes that will make your holiday feast last forever.

How long can you use leftover ham?

According to the USDA, spiral-cut hams and their leftovers can be kept in the fridge for three to five days. So, depending on when you bought that glorious ham, you have up to five days to eat it (or freeze it).

Can you freeze leftover ham?

You’re in luck: As long as your leftover ham is less than five days old, you can stash it in the freezer for one to two months, per the USDA.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Croque Madame Dutch Baby

Fluffy pancakes for dinner? That’ll be a “yes” for us.

Get the recipe

2. Caramelized Pineapple Ham And Cheese Turnovers

This might be the most ingenious combo ever. It’s like Hawaiian pizza, but pinkies out.

3. Ham And Cheese Breakfast Casserole

The perfect lazy brunch dish after all the holiday festivities.

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4. Schinkennudeln (ham & Cheese Pasta)

Mac and cheese lovers, this one’s for you. (There are two types of cheese!)

5. Ham And Sausage Hash Brown Egg Bake

This breakfast of champions takes only 10 minutes to prepare.

6. Overnight Ham And Cheese Strata

Now this is something we’d get out of bed for, post-holiday soirée.

7. Ham, Egg And Cheese Pockets

This childhood favorite is making a comeback (and hopefully this time it won’t scorch the roof of your mouth).

8. Cheesy Ham And Potato Soup

Comfort food is absolutely necessary once the glow of all the celebrations wears off.

9. Microwave Egg Caprese Breakfast Cups

You’ve never had pesto for breakfast? You’re in for a treat.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Cuban Sliders For A Crowd

Because nothing says “party” like mini sandwiches.

Get the recipe

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11. Ham Mashed Potato Cakes

Do it for the cheese pull.

12. Ham, Spinach And Swiss Stuffed Crepes

We’re never eating plain old sandwiches again.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Ham, Cheddar And Chive Scones

We appreciate a sweet treat as much as the next person, but some things can benefit from a little bit of savory.

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Emily Morgan

14. Ham, Swiss And Apple Sandwich

Wait, did we swear off sandwiches? We were totally kidding.

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Michael Beltran

15. Cuban Sandwich

Savory and cheesy doesn’t begin to cover it—this sammie’s topped with *plantain chips* for crunch.

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32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (17)

Averie Cooks

16. Ham And Cheese Sliders

These beauties are brushed with a buttery mustard topping that's loaded with poppy seeds and dried onion.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (18)

Averie Cooks

17. Baked Ham And Cheese Omelet

Standing by the stove flipping individual omelets for everyone at the table? Not today.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (19)

The Defined Dish

18. Split Pea Soup With Ham

ICYMI, soup season is September through April. This one is going on our weekly rotation, leftover ham or not.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

19. The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

What better way to mark the most important meal than with the mac daddy of morning treats? Behold this breakfast sandwich.

Get the recipe

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (21)

Damn Delicious

20. Instant Pot Leftover Hambone Soup

Sure, this soup is simple, but it’s also anything but boring thanks to that smoky ham.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (22)

Damn Delicious

21. Baked Ham And Cheese Croissants

The sprinkle of poppy seeds takes this already-OTT recipe to a new level.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (23)

Spoon Fork Bacon

22. Croque Madame Toast

The French basically invented the concept of “put an egg on it.”

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (24)

Damn Delicious

23. Ham, Egg And Cheese Breakfast Quesadillas

We’ve never met a quesadilla we didn't like, breakfast included.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (25)

Damn Delicious

24. Broccoli Ham And Cheese Soup

It’s not just cozy and warming, it’s also kid friendly to boot.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (26)

Damn Delicious

25. Ham And Peas Pasta With Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

This one comes together in practically no time. (And by that, we mean 30 minutes tops.)

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (27)

Damn Delicious

26. Ham And Cheese Hash Brown Foil Packets

That melted cheese makes you want to dive right in, doesn’t it?

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (28)

Pinch of Yum

27. Ham, Egg, And Cheese Brunch Cups

We won’t tell if you sneak a few in the kitchen before serving at your co*cktail party.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (29)

Pinch of Yum

28. Egg And Croissant Brunch Bake

It’s all the cheesy, flaky goodness of a breakfast sandwich wrapped into one dish.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (30)

Pinch of Yum

29. Hot Ham And Cheese Sandwiches With Bacon And Caramelized Onions

The ham is great and all, but we can’t get enough of the caramelized onions.

Chellie Schmitz/Chef Junior

30. Apple Sandwiches

Feel free to swap in any lunchmeat once that leftover ham is all gone.

Get the recipe

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (32)

Spoon Fork Bacon

31. Creamy Baked Gnocchi With Ham And Peas

Your leftovers have never looked (or tasted) fancier. Even better, it’s ready in 35 minutes.

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (33)

Foodie Crush

32. Ham Salad Sandwiches

A mayo-based salad made that also cleans out the fridge is the greatest holiday gift of all.

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32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (34)

Delia Mooney

Freelance PureWow Editor

read full bio

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (35)

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

read full bio

32 Leftover Ham Recipes That Taste Just as Good on the Second Day (2024)

FAQs

What to do with an already cooked ham? ›

A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

How do you make ham taste better? ›

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

How do you keep leftover ham moist? ›

Add up to ½ cup of chicken broth to keep the meat moist or opt for a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil to give the ham a nice sear.

Do I have to boil ham before roasting? ›

It's very popular to boil hams and then glaze in the oven afterwards, but to me a Christmas ham is only baked without bubbling away in a ham pot beforehand. Itsd well worth becoming familiar with baking a ham rather than boiling one as the flavour will reward your effort ten-fold!

Can you bake an already cooked ham? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

How long is leftover precooked ham good for? ›

Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

What spices complement ham? ›

4 Spices That Pair Perfectly With Your Spiral Ham
  • Brown Sugar: Sweet and Salty. Think of brown sugar as your secret weapon that can transform your spiral ham into an irresistible treat! ...
  • Black Pepper: An Earthy Spice. ...
  • Cloves: Warm and Aromatic. ...
  • Cinnamon: Woody and Slightly Citrusy.

What type of ham has the best flavor? ›

Buy bone-in ham. Yes, the bone is a little more work to cut around, but the meat is more flavorful and the hambone can be used to flavor soups and stews.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

How do you warm up leftover ham without drying it out? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

How do you revive a cooked ham? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Can you boil ham then roast next day? ›

If you want to cook it the night before serving, leave to cool and store somewhere cold overnight (a garage or shed is ideal, just keep it covered), then glaze and bake the next day.

Can I boil a ham and bake it the next day? ›

For years, I've been making my glazed ham the day before serving then just reheating it on the day of. It comes out 100% perfectly. The glaze is just as good as freshly made and the ham flesh doesn't dry out at all.

Is it OK to leave boiled ham in water overnight? ›

Although hams tend to be much less salty nowadays, soaking overnight is still a good idea. 2. Place the ham in a large pan and cover with cold water. Leave to soak for at least 6 hours or overnight is best, then drain.

How do you heat up a precooked ham without drying it out? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Can you eat a fully cooked ham without warming it? ›

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), as they are already fully cooked.

How do you reheat a fully cooked ham with bone? ›

Heating Ham
  1. Heat oven to 325ºF. Remove all packaging materials and place ham on its side, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil.
  2. Heat approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound until heated through.
  3. Remove ham from oven and let stand, covered, 20 minutes before serving.

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