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.
Growing up my mom would serve this with a glass of pineapple lemonade and cucumber tomato salad for a delicious summer meal.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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Ham Salad
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
**This post was updated 3/9/2020
so much yumminess!
This Ham Salad looks like the perfect summer salad! Love the idea.:)
This is the perfect spring and summer salad! Love it!
My kids really loved it! A new favorite in our house!
Our whole family loves this easy salad! It’s a great way to use up leftover ham from dinners!