These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (2024)

Repurpose those leftovers into dozens of delicious dishes, from soup to casseroles!

By Chloe Gorman and Christopher Michel
These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (1)

Easter Monday means one thing: half the fridge filled up with leftover Easter ham.

No matter how many people we invite, or how many times we try to calculate how much ham to prepare, it's inevitable that we'll have ham for days. Luckily, ham is delicious, keeps well, and can easily fit in a wide variety of dishes!

For our April breakfasts, we're often making a Spring Veggie Frittata, or munching on some pre-made Ham and Cheese Pinwheels. For lunch, you might find us whipping up a Croque Madam sandwich with fries, and for dinner, we're probably eating some Corn Risotto with chunks of the leftover ham flecking the surface.

You can also freeze ham! We like to dice it up and then put it in separate portion-sized baggies, for adding to soups, casseroles, and even scrambled eggs. And don't forget that bone! It's perfect for flavoring beans and soups.

What's your favorite thing to do with leftover ham? Let us know in the comments!

1

Spring Vegetable, Ham, and Goat Cheese Frittata

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If there was ever a brunch recipe just begging for you to set some leftover ham aside for it, it's this one. Spring veggies, simple cheese, and farm fresh eggs complete the meal.

Get the recipe for Spring Vegetable, Ham, and Goat Cheese Frittata.

2

Croque Madames

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It's quite possibly the most decadent sandwich. Make it for dinner, make it for brunch. But whatever you do, save a little of the leftover ham to make it.

Get the recipe for Croque Madames.

3

Black Bean-and-Chile Soup

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Dried beans cooked with ham hocks — or with a leftover ham bone— take on a delicious smoky, rich flavor. Here's it's the base for a lick-the-bowl soup.

Get the recipe for Black Bean-and-Chile Soup.

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4

5-Bean Summer Salad

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Want a lighter dish that'll still use up that leftover ham bone? Use it to flavor the lima beans in this fresh bean salad.

Get the recipe for 5-Bean Summer Salad.

5

Ham and Pimiento Grilled Cheese

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Leftover ham is turned into a lunch you want to munch with the caviar of the South: pimento cheese.

Get the recipe for Ham and Pimiento Grilled Cheese.

6

Cobb Sandwiches

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This recipe calls for diced turkey, but leftover ham works equally well.

Get the recipe for Cobb Sandwiches.

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7

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

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Though the recipe calls for thinly sliced deli ham, small strips of ham will also work in these tasty, savory puff pastry rolls.

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Pinwheels.

8

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Country Ham

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We love Brussels sprouts recipes of all kinds here, but the combo of ham, sprouts, and a tangy vinegar, really makes this side dish sing.

Get the recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Country Ham.

9

Ham and Potato Gratins

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These simple, elegant sides are an easy way to turn leftovers into something everyone will want to eat.

Get the recipe for Ham and Potato Gratins.

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10

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake

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One of our favorite make-ahead breakfast casseroles, this is super easy to prepare the night before, and then just bake off in the morning. We've been known to do it the day after Easter!

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake.

11

Corn-and-Ham Risotto

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If you want a way to elegantly elevate your leftover ham, this risotto idea is a delicious way to do just that.

Get the recipe for Corn-and-Ham Risotto.

12

Spinach and Ham Egg Bakes

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These hearty little egg bakes are perfect for busy mornings.

Get the recipe for Spinach and Ham Egg Bakes.

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13

Ham Biscuit Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard

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These flaky biscuit sandwiches make great brunch snacks—or excellent New Year's Eve treats!

Get the recipe for Ham Biscuit Sandwiches.

14

Ham-and-Leek Baked Gnocchi

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Chop up some of that leftover ham and add it to a package of gnocchi and some fontina cheese.

Get the recipe for Ham-and-Leek Baked Gnocchi.

15

Avocado and Ham Sandwiches

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Our take on the classic French country lunch — a ham and butter sandwich on a baguette — is improved, we might boast, with a simple slice or two of avocado. Try it and see.

Get the recipe for Avocado and Ham Sandwiches.

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16

Cuban Sandwiches

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Crunchy pickles, gooey cheese, pork, and ham makes these warm sandwiches great for both lunch and dinner.

Get the recipe for Cuban Sandwiches.

17

Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche

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Give yourself the gift of this make-ahead brunch, and you can have a lazy weekend morning that is actually lazy!

Get the recipe for Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche.

18

Ham and French Toast

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You know what makes a classic French toast recipe even better? A thin slice of ham—the savory addition perfectly balances out the sweet maple syrup.

Get the recipe for Ham and French Toast.

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19

Ham Pot Pie

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Sure, ham itself is considered comfort food, but we think you should up the ante by turning it into pot pie. Feel free to use your leftover vegetables, like corn and peas, in this recipe.

Get the recipe for Ham Pot Pie at Chelsea's Messy Apron.

20

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder

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Chowder isn't only enjoyed in the summer, you know. Case in point? This recipe that uses tasty morsels of your leftover ham.

Get the recipe for Cheesy Ham Chowder at The Chunky Chef.

These Leftover Ham Recipes Will Make the Post-Easter Meal Plan Easy (2024)

FAQs

How long can you eat leftover Easter ham? ›

Now that Easter is over, you might be wondering what to do with leftover ham. Of course there are many options, but one thing you should not do is let it sit too long in the refrigerator. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

Is Easter dinner ham or turkey? ›

Ham is the most traditional Easter meat. Although it's also popular at Christmas and many Thanksgiving tables include ham as an additional meat entree, Easter is when ham fully occupies the spotlight. Most conventional hams are cured with sugar or honey, which significantly raises the sugar levels of the final product.

Is a 2 year old frozen ham still good? ›

Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.

Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›

Slimy, super-wet, or oily textures on the outside of your ham might indicate bacteria growth. Juice can just be congealed oils, so use your senses to see if anything else is off.

What type of ham has the best flavor? ›

Rump, Butt, Or Sirloin

It is a more tender and flavorful cut of meat and can often be more expensive.

Do Christians eat ham on Easter? ›

Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Christian tradition, ham has been associated with Easter celebrations for centuries.

What kind of ham is best for Easter dinner? ›

What kind of ham is best for Easter dinner? Look for a fully-cooked, bone-in ham that isn't spiral cut—it stays juicier in the oven! Shank-end hams are the big, beautiful ones you're used to seeing for the holidays and those work great here.

Can 7 day old ham be eaten? ›

Once you open a package of ham, or if it comes open — like if it was sliced at the deli counter— you can safely eat your leftovers for up to five days. In addition to these dates, it's always best to stick to the use-by date printed on the ham's package.

Can you eat ham after 7 days? ›

When Should You Throw Out Ham? If your ham has been stored in the fridge for more than five days after the package has been opened or in the freezer for more than six months, it is best to throw it out. Ham that has been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should also be disposed of.

How long is ham good in the fridge after Easter? ›

The beauty of making a baked ham for Easter (or any holiday or large gathering) is that there's bound to be leftovers. Leftover ham, which will last for up to five days in the fridge, can be a springboard for other meals during the week.

How long is leftover precooked ham good for? ›

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. See also Ham and Food Safety.

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