I usually serve a ham on Christmas eve. We go to a candlelight service and then come home for dinner. The ham is easy to serve shortly after we arrive home since it is precooked and I can keep it warm in a large slow cooker. But even small hams leave us with leftovers. I thought I would share some of the ways that I will be using up the leftover ham.
Ham freezes well. I stretch the leftovers over several weeks, by freezing the ham in usable portions and then thawing it as needed. Don't freeze your ham in one large chunk. Instead, dice it, cube it, or cut it into thin slivers – whatever your favorite ham recipes call for it.
The ham bone can be used to add flavor to soups, so don't toss it out once you remove the meat from the bone. If you don't have time to make soup or cook beans within a few days of serving the ham, wrap the bone in plastic and place it in the freezer to use at a later time. The ham bone will keep for 3 – 4 months in the freezer.
Recipes to Use Up Leftover Ham
Roasted Potato and Ham Casserole
Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese
Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Peas
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Ham
More Recipes using Leftover Ham
Recipes Using Ham from Prep-Ahead Meals from Scratch:
If you have my cookbook, Prep-Ahead Meals from Scratch, you can use leftover ham to make these recipes from the cookbook:
- Skillet Mac & Cheese with Ham and Broccoli p. 50
- Skillet Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Peas p. 54
- White Bean and Ham Soup with Spinach p.60
- Potato, Ham, and Corn Chowder p. 63
- Ham and Cauliflower Casserole p. 64
- Ham and Spinach Waffle Quesadillas p. 72
Marcy says
I usually make a soup that I call “ugly soup” with the ham bone, leftover ham, and just about any veggies that are leftover too. The first time I made it, the mashed butternut squash and the chopped spinach combined into a very ugly color. It was delicious though. I’ve learned how to make it prettier, but the name stuck.
Alea says
I love the name! We make a soup we call “rotting vegetable soup” because the first time I made it I was trying to use up vegetables before they went bad.
Pauline Wiles says
I love leftover ham. I’d probably be happy to nibble on it as-is. Otherwise, throwing some in a risotto always works. A pot pie would be great, too. Happy Christmas!
Alea says
I can eat leftover ham as-is too. My oldest son really doesn’t like to eat the same thing, so I am always trying to rework leftovers to create new variations for him. I love the idea of leftover ham in a pot pie – something I have never tried before.
Tommye says
I make what we call ham scramble. Cut ham in bitesized pieces and brown in a little oil. Add cooked pasta of any vatiety.when pasta is browned add two or three eggs and stir till done
Alea Milham says
Sounds delicious!