25 Best Leftover Ham Recipes Your Family Will Love
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25 Best Leftover Ham Recipes Your Family Will Love
Turn that holiday ham into 25 cozy, family-approved meals — from creamy casseroles and hearty soups to quick breakfast bakes and weeknight dinners.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Budget-friendly and freezer-friendly. One holiday ham stretches into a full week of dinners — and most of these dishes freeze well for later.
- Ready in 30 minutes or less. The majority of these recipes (fried rice, quesadillas, sliders, omelets, pasta) come together faster than delivery.
- Kid-approved comfort food. Casseroles, sliders, pizza, and fried rice are family-table favorites that even picky eaters will clean their plates of.
- Organized by meal occasion. Breakfast, soup, casserole, weeknight dinner — flip straight to what you need without scrolling through 25 random links.
- Zero waste. A dedicated ham bone broth section means even the bone goes to work, turning into the base of next week's soups.
These leftover ham recipes are exactly what you need when the holiday roast is gone but the fridge is still full of pink, salty, perfectly cooked meat begging to be used. Whether you carved into a honey baked ham on Christmas Eve or pulled a glazed spiral ham out of the oven for Easter dinner, leftover holiday ham can quietly take over your meal plan for the entire week — in the best way possible. Casseroles, soups, breakfast bakes, fried rice, sliders, quiche... ham plays nicely with almost everything in your pantry.
I rounded up 25 of my absolute favorite leftover ham recipes, organized by meal occasion so you can flip straight to "what's for dinner" or "what's for breakfast" without scrolling forever. There's a featured recipe at the bottom — a creamy, golden-topped ham and potato casserole that's become my family's most-requested post-holiday dinner — plus a dedicated section on what to do with that beautiful ham bone you absolutely should not toss.
If you're standing in front of the fridge at 6 p.m. trying to decide what to do with that hunk of ham wrapped in foil, you're in the right place. Grab a sharp knife, a cutting board, and let's get cooking.
A Quick Look at the Featured Recipe
Before we dive into all 25 ideas, let me introduce the recipe at the heart of this post — a cheesy ham and potato casserole that turns leftovers into a dinner everyone fights over. Thinly sliced Yukon Golds get layered with diced ham, a quick Dijon cream sauce, and a generous blanket of sharp cheddar that bubbles up gorgeous and golden in the oven. It's the kind of cozy, weeknight-friendly bake that makes you grateful for leftovers in the first place.
The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post with exact measurements, timing, and step-by-step instructions. Everything else in this roundup is meant as inspiration — quick descriptions of dishes you can build from what you already have on hand without much fuss.
Casseroles & Bakes with Leftover Ham
Casseroles are the heavy lifters when it comes to leftover ham recipes — they're forgiving, freezable, and they stretch a small amount of meat across a whole pan of dinner. The ham gets to play a supporting role here, lending salty, smoky depth to creamy potatoes, tender pasta, or pillowy layers of bread. If you have even one cup of diced ham in the fridge, you can build a casserole tonight.
1. Cheesy ham and potato casserole. Our featured recipe — sliced potatoes, ham, sharp cheddar, and a Dijon cream sauce baked until bubbling. The benchmark for using up holiday ham.
2. Ham and noodle bake. Egg noodles, peas, ham, and a quick béchamel topped with buttered breadcrumbs. Comfort food in 40 minutes flat.
3. Scalloped potatoes with ham. A grandma classic — paper-thin potatoes layered with ham and a velvety milk gravy that thickens up perfectly in the oven.
4. Ham and broccoli rice casserole. Cooked rice, steamed broccoli florets, diced ham, cheddar, and a touch of cream of mushroom soup for that retro casserole magic.
5. Cheesy hash brown ham bake. Frozen hash browns, sour cream, ham, and crushed cornflake topping. A potluck legend that disappears in minutes.
6. Croque monsieur strata. Cubed brioche, ham, gruyère, and Dijon-spiked custard baked into a savory bread pudding worthy of a brunch party.
Soups & Stews to Use Up That Ham Bone
Don't you dare throw away that ham bone. It's pure flavor gold — the foundation of some of the coziest soups in your repertoire. A long, slow simmer with onion, celery, carrot, and a couple of bay leaves turns it into ham bone broth that's richer and more savory than anything you can buy in a carton. Strain it, save it, and use it as the base for everything in this section.
7. Classic split pea soup with ham. Dried split peas simmered low and slow with the ham bone until silky, then finished with diced ham and a swirl of cream.
8. Ham and bean soup. Great Northern or navy beans, ham, mirepoix, and a parmesan rind for extra body and a rounder finish.
9. Creamy potato ham chowder. Diced potatoes, leeks, corn, and ham in a velvety milk-based broth that tastes like the love child of New England chowder and Sunday supper.
10. Ham, cabbage, and white bean stew. Brothy, garlicky, and packed with shredded cabbage that softens into the broth.
11. Lentil ham soup. Brown or green lentils, smoked ham, tomato, and rosemary — meal-prep gold that gets better on day two.
12. Tortellini and ham soup. Cheese tortellini, baby spinach, ham, and parmesan in a quick 25-minute broth that feels fancy with almost no effort.
13. Ham and corn chowder. Sweet corn, smoky ham, potatoes, and a finishing splash of cream. The most kid-approved soup in this lineup.
Breakfast & Brunch Recipes for Leftover Ham
Ham was practically invented for breakfast. The salty, smoky chew is the perfect counterpoint to eggs, melty cheese, and buttery carbs of any kind. These recipes for leftover ham pull triple duty — they're great for a slow weekend brunch, but most of them also work as make-ahead breakfasts you can grab on a busy weekday morning when the kids are still half-asleep.
14. Ham and cheese quiche. A flaky pie crust, custardy egg filling, gruyère, and plenty of diced ham. Make it tonight, eat it for three mornings.
15. Loaded breakfast casserole. Cubed bread, ham, eggs, milk, cheddar, and scallions assembled the night before and baked in the morning. The official Christmas-morning move.
16. Ham, egg & cheese breakfast sliders. Hawaiian rolls split horizontally, layered with ham and American cheese, brushed with poppy seed butter, and baked until gooey.
17. Ham and Swiss omelet. A two-egg omelet folded around diced ham, Swiss cheese, and chives. Five minutes start to finish.
18. Eggs Benedict with leftover ham. Skip the Canadian bacon — leftover ham slices crisp up beautifully under the broiler before getting tucked under poached eggs and hollandaise.
19. Ham and cheese breakfast burritos. Scrambled eggs, ham, cheddar, and salsa rolled into flour tortillas. Wrap in foil and freeze for grab-and-go mornings.
Quick Weeknight Dinners with Leftover Ham
When you don't have it in you to assemble a casserole or simmer a soup, these are the back-pocket dinners that come together in under 30 minutes. Most lean on staples you probably already have — rice, pasta, tortillas, eggs — so it's mostly a matter of dicing the ham and tossing things in a pan.
20. Ham fried rice. Day-old rice, diced ham, scrambled eggs, peas, soy sauce, and a hit of sesame oil. The fastest dinner in this entire roundup.
21. Ham and cheese stromboli. Pizza dough rolled around ham, mozzarella, and provolone, baked until golden, and sliced into pinwheels for dipping in marinara.
22. Creamy ham pasta in 20 minutes. Penne tossed with ham, peas, garlic, parmesan, and a quick cream sauce. Serve with a slice of crusty garlic bread on the side.
23. Ham and cheese quesadillas. Diced ham, sharp cheddar, and a swipe of Dijon between flour tortillas, crisped in butter until shatter-crunchy.
24. Hawaiian ham pizza. Naan or pre-baked crust, marinara, ham, pineapple, and mozzarella — under 15 minutes from oven to table.
25. Ham and pea risotto. Arborio rice slowly stirred with homemade ham bone broth, finished with frozen peas, butter, and parmesan. The perfect way to use both your ham and that gorgeous broth in one cozy bowl.
The Featured Recipe: Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
Of all the dishes in this collection of leftover ham recipes, the cheesy ham and potato casserole is the one I make on repeat every January. It's hearty without being heavy, comes together in one baker, and uses up about two cups of leftover holiday ham in a way that genuinely feels like a destination dinner — not a "what do we do with all this ham" afterthought.
The trick is in three layers: thinly sliced Yukon Golds (use a mandoline if you have one), a quick mustard-spiked cream sauce, and a generous handful of sharp cheddar on top. The Dijon cuts the richness, the cream binds everything together, and the cheese finishes it off with that bubbly golden crust everyone fights for. Scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements and timing.
Make the Most of Every Last Bite
Whatever you make this week, label and date your leftovers and dig in within five days. If your week's already booked solid, learning how to freeze cooked ham is the smartest move — portion it into freezer bags, press the air out, and you'll have ready-to-go protein for next month's quick dinners. The ability to freeze leftover ham in pre-measured one-cup portions is honestly what makes the holiday roast feel like a gift that keeps on giving.
Bookmark these leftover ham recipes for next holiday season, save the ham bone for broth, and don't sleep on that quart of soup hiding in the back of your freezer. Future you (the one staring at a 5 p.m. Tuesday with no dinner plan) is going to be very, very grateful.
Expert Tips
- Dice for casseroles, shred for soups and sandwiches. A 1/2-inch dice keeps ham distinct in baked dishes; a coarse shred melts into broths and fillings beautifully.
- Always taste before salting. Cured ham is salt-forward, so salt your soup or sauce at the end — and add a splash of cream, a starch, or a squeeze of lemon if it tips too salty.
- Refresh dried-out ham. If your leftovers feel a little tired, warm them gently in butter, broth, or sauce rather than the microwave to bring back tenderness.
- Build flavor with the bone first. Even if you're not ready for soup, simmer the bone the day after the holiday and freeze the broth in quart bags for later.
- For picky eaters, lean mild. Skip the Dijon-forward sauces, smoked paprika, and grainy mustards. Cheddar, butter, and milk are your friends.
Variations & Substitutions
The featured cheesy ham and potato casserole is endlessly adaptable — treat the recipe card as a template and swap freely based on what's in your fridge.
- Cheese swap: Use gruyère, fontina, or smoked gouda in place of cheddar for a more grown-up flavor.
- Veggie boost: Stir in 1 cup of frozen peas, sautéed spinach, or steamed broccoli florets between the layers.
- Sweet potato version: Replace half the Yukon Golds with thinly sliced sweet potatoes for a sweet-savory twist that plays beautifully with ham.
- Crunchy topping: Crush buttery crackers or panko with melted butter and sprinkle over the cheese for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Make it ahead: Assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Add 10 minutes to the covered bake time if going straight from fridge to oven.
Storage & Leftovers
Cooked leftover ham (whether plain or in any of these recipes) keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days at 40°F or below. For longer storage, dice or slice the ham, portion it into zip-top freezer bags or vacuum-sealed pouches in pre-measured one- or two-cup amounts, press out as much air as possible, and freeze flat for up to 2 months for the best flavor and texture. Label every bag with the date so you're not playing freezer roulette in March.
The ham bone deserves the same attention. If you can't make broth right away, wrap it tightly in foil, slip it into a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready, simmer it directly from frozen with onion, celery, carrots, peppercorns, and a couple of bay leaves for 2 to 3 hours, then strain. Cooled finished casserole keeps for 3 days refrigerated and reheats best, covered, in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is leftover ham good for in the fridge?
Properly stored in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in foil, cooked leftover ham keeps for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. For best flavor, slice or dice it within the first day or two, since exposed surfaces dry out faster than a whole piece. If you're not going to use it within five days, plan to freeze it instead. And if it ever smells sour, looks slimy, or develops an off color, toss it — when in doubt, throw it out is always the safer move with cured meats.
Can I freeze leftover ham?
Yes, and it's one of the smartest ways to extend your holiday roast. Dice or slice the ham first so you can pull out exactly what you need later, portion it into zip-top freezer bags or vacuum-sealed pouches in one- or two-cup amounts, press out as much air as possible, and freeze flat for up to 2 months for the best flavor and texture. Label each bag with the date and quantity. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using, and avoid refreezing once it's thawed — it changes the texture significantly.
What can I do with a leftover ham bone?
Make broth. Simmer the bone with quartered onion, celery stalks, carrot chunks, peppercorns, and a couple of bay leaves in enough water to cover it by 2 inches, low and slow for 2 to 3 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and you've got rich, savory ham bone broth that's the foundation of split pea, ham and bean, lentil, and creamy potato soups. Cool it completely and store in quart containers in the fridge for 4 days or freeze flat in bags for up to 3 months.
What flavors pair best with leftover ham?
Ham loves cheese (especially sharp cheddar, gruyère, and Swiss), potatoes, eggs, mustard, maple syrup, brown sugar, pineapple, peas, beans, and creamy dairy-based sauces. Because cured ham runs salty, the goal is almost always to balance it with starch (potatoes, pasta, rice), dairy (milk, cream, cheese), or a touch of sweet (honey, maple, fruit). Acid helps too — a splash of Dijon, a squeeze of lemon, or a hit of vinegar in a soup keeps things from feeling heavy. Avoid pairing it with other heavily salted ingredients like bacon or anchovies in the same dish.
Are these recipes for leftover ham kid-friendly?
Most of them, absolutely. Casseroles, ham fried rice, breakfast sliders, ham and cheese quesadillas, creamy pasta, and Hawaiian pizza are family-table favorites that disappear fast. For picky eaters, lean toward dishes with cheddar, butter, and mild creamy sauces, and skip the Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, or anything with visible green herbs they might protest. The split pea soup and lentil soup can be polarizing for younger kids, so save those for the adults or blend them smooth and call it 'green soup.' Serving familiar carbs alongside (rolls, biscuits, rice) usually seals the deal.
