Old-Fashioned Ham Salad

Old-fashioned ham salad is a classic American recipe that has been enjoyed for generations. It features finely diced ham, celery and sweet and zesty pickles all bound together by a medley of mustard and creamy mayonnaise. It’s usually served with crackers or smothered on a sandwich. This is a great recipe for using up leftover ham after Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

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Quick Overview

In Australia, when we refer to a salad we often mean something leafy. This old-fashioned ham salad is NOT one of those recipes. It’s an American-style, creamy chopped salad, almost spread-like, that combines the saltiness of the ham, the crunch of celery, the sharpness of onions, and the sweetness and tang of pickles.

This type of salad is often associated with Southern and Midwestern cuisine and is a popular choice for picnics, potlucks, and casual gatherings.

I’ve always wanted to make it so when I had a bunch of leftover glazed ham, this salad is what I made (as well as my easy ham fried rice). My verdict? I loved it!

The flavours worked so well together and it had a lovely texture. I kept it in the fridge for about 4 days and enjoyed it on toast as a quick lunch, with some crispbreads or crackers as a snack and also as a little side dish with scrambled eggs for extra protein.

For a low-carb version, you can have it as a salad with leafy greens or shredded cabbage.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you need to make a ham salad:

• Ham – leftover baked/glazed ham is perfect for this salad but you can also use regular smoked ham from the deli. If using baked ham, remove the fatty bits and any skin.
• Celery – adds savoury notes and a crunch; if you’re not a fan, replace with diced cucumber, radish or aspragus.
• Pickles – sweet and spicy pickled cucumbers (gherkins) are best; you want tang and sweetness. These must be finely chopped.
• Onion – adds sharpness and texture; you can use yellow or red onion.
• Mustard – a combination of Dijon and yellow or mild English gives the best flavour, in my opinion. You can use more of one type if that’s all you have.
• Mayonnaise – good old whole egg mayo, not to sweet is best.
• Salt and pepper – go easy on the salt as the ham can be quite salty; you can add salt after the salad is mixed to see if it needs any at all.

How To Make Ham Salad

Find the full list of ingredients, nutritional info, and instructions in the recipe card below. Here are some step-by-step pictures to guide you along.

• Trim the ham of any fatty bits and dice it into very small cubes. Dice the celery, onion and gherkins very finely as well. Some people use a food processor and have even finer chopped ingredients. 
• Combine all diced ingredients with two types of mustard, pepper, and mayonnaise. Once mixed, taste for salt. Serve with crackers or in a sandwich or roll. 

Watch How To Make It

Serving Ham Salad

• Serve this old-fashioned ham salad with a side of crackers for a quick and satisfying snack or finger food.
• Create delicious ham salad sandwiches by spreading it between slices of bread or rolls.
• Elevate your salad game by using it as a filling for wraps or lettuce cups.

Variations

• Egg-cellent twist: Add chopped hard-boiled eggs to the salad for extra creaminess and flavour.
• Pickle Power: Incorporate a splash of pickle juice for a tangier kick in your ham salad.
• Spice it up: Enhance the flavour with a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of paprika for a spicy variation.
• Green Goddess: Mix in some chopped fresh herbs like parsley or dill for a burst of herbal freshness in your salad.
• Ham and cheese: Fold in grated cheese like cheddar or Swiss for a cheesy ham salad version.

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Full Recipe 

Find the full list of ingredients, instructions, and a nutritional breakdown below. If you have questions or cook this recipe, please let me know in the comments, and make sure to rate this recipe so it’s easy for others to find.