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    Home » Appetizers

    Ham Salad

    Published: Mar 9, 2020 by heather · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Ham Salad is a classic dish, especially in the south. I love making this recipe when I have leftover holiday ham. It’s great for a sandwich, on a cracker or by itself. My mom adds a special ingredient that sets it apart for the rest. 

    Ham salad in a white bowl with crackers in the background

    Growing up my mom would serve this with a glass of pineapple lemonade and cucumber tomato salad for a delicious summer meal. 

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients needed 
    • How to make
    • What is chow-chow?
    • Cooks tips
    • How long does it keep in the refrigerator?
    • Can you freeze?
    • Variations
    • More Recipes You Might Enjoy
    • Ham Salad

    How do I use up this extra ham? I find myself asking this question each holiday and this is the recipe that I usually pull out so my ham doesn’t go to waste. It’s especially good on any leftover rolls…yum!

    Why this recipe works

    • It’s easy and doesn’t require many ingredients. 
    • The chow chow adds the perfect amount of tang, crunch and color. 

    Ingredients needed 

    Diced ham – Use leftover ham or prepackaged ham. 

    Mayonnaise – I use full fat but low fat works well. 

    Celery – Gives a nice crunch. 

    Onion –

    Chow-chow – You can also use pickle relish.

    Diced ham in a food processor

    How to make

    Scroll to the bottom for full printable recipe with ingredients list. 

    • Begin by chopping the ham. Take the ham and place it into a food processor or chopper. You can also finely dice the ham with a knife. Pulse the food processor a few times making sure not to blend the ham to much. 

    diced ham in a food processor

    • Place the chopped ham into a large bowl. Stir in finely chopped celery, onion and chow -chow. 

    What is chow-chow?

    Chow-chow is a pickled relish and recipes vary depending on region of the country. It typically contains tomatoes, cabbage and other vegetables. 

    My mom makes her own chow-chow and uses it for her ham salad instead of pickle relish. You can buy chow-chow at the grocery store in the pickle section. 

    diced ham, diced celery, onion, chow chow and mayonnaise in a bowl

    • Stir in mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. 

    Cooks tips

    • Make sure not to over chop the ham. If you put pulse it too much in the food processor it will become mushy.
    • Dice the onion and celery very small. This helps to keep everything about the same size. 
    • Drain the Chow Chow. Make sure to drain off excess liquid from the chow chow. Too much liquid will make the ham salad runny. 
    • Substitutes: You can replace the chow chow with sweet pickle relish. You can also use low fat mayonnaise if you prefer. 

    ham salad in a bowl

    How long does it keep in the refrigerator?

    This ham salad recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Make sure not to let it sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

    Can you freeze?

    It can be frozen right after making it. Place it in a freezer safe bag making sure to get all the air out of the bag and freeze immediately. To eat, let thaw in the refrigerator.

    Variations

    • Serve on bread or croissant for a yummy sandwich. 
    • Add chopped hard boiled eggs for a delicious change. 
    • Spread the mixture on a tortilla, roll-up and refrigerate for a few hours. Slice to make pinwheels.
    • Mix with pasta for a main course meal. 

    More Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Chicken Croquettes – One of our family’s favorite meals. 
    • Farmers Casserole – Great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Egg casserole filled with cheese and veggies. 
    • Banana Pudding Dip – Love this pudding dip! Tastes just like the classic dessert. 
    • Waldorf Salad – Cut up fruit mixed with a tasty dressing. 

    **Make this recipe? Be sure to give it a star rating below. 

    Bowl of ham salad.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Ham Salad

    Easy ham salad is the perfect way to use up holiday ham. 
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: ham salad
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 517kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 2-3 cups diced ham
    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • 1 stalk celery, finely diced
    • 1/3 cup chow-chow or pickle relish
    • 1/4 cup finely diced sweet onion
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Place pieces of ham into food processor. 
    • Pulse to processor a few times until the ham is small and crumbly. Do not over pulse.
    • Pour ham in large bowl and mix in celery and onion. Drain chow-chow of any excess liquid and add into the bowl.
    • Add in mayonnaise and stir until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

    Notes

    • Make sure not to over chop the ham. If you put pulse it too much in the food processor it will become mushy.
    • Dice the onion and celery very small. This helps to keep everything about the same size. 
    • Drain the Chow Chow. Make sure to drain off excess liquid from the chow chow. Too much liquid will make the ham salad runny. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 1230mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @foodlovinfamily or tag #foodlovinfamily!

    **This post was updated 3/9/2020

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jocelyn

      April 02, 2019 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      Our whole family loves this easy salad! It’s a great way to use up leftover ham from dinners!

      Reply
    2. Toni

      April 01, 2019 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      My kids really loved it! A new favorite in our house!

      Reply
    3. lauren kelly

      April 01, 2019 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect spring and summer salad! Love it!

      Reply
    4. Valentina

      April 01, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      This Ham Salad looks like the perfect summer salad! Love the idea.:)

      Reply
    5. Rachael Yerkes

      April 01, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      so much yumminess!

      Reply

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