After a big holiday dinner, the last thing you want is more heavy, fattening food. So, I have gathered up these 35 Healthy Leftover Ham Recipes from my fellow food bloggers to help you with some healthy leftover ham inspiration! Whether you have a leftover spiral ham, picnic ham, slow cooker ham, or you have a precooked boneless ham you picked up at the grocery store, I have easy leftover ham recipes for all of it! Healthy leftover ham recipes are especially popular after Easter, but also during the holiday season (Christmas and Thanksgiving) or anytime that you have ham to use up. I have leftover ham recipes for easy dinners, breakfast and brunch, sides, soups, salads, and main dishes.
I have included my favorite leftover ham recipes, as well as leftover ham salad, soup, pasta, rice, and leftover ham casseroles. I specifically selected these recipes for you not only because they are healthy, but many of them are WW friendly or can be lightened up with lower fat items like low-fat cheese, low-fat mayonnaise, light sour cream, low-fat milk etc..
You don't always have to make ham sandwiches or leftover Ham and Split Pea Soup, although you still can, as I have also included a great recipe for both! Or you can make your own ham soup stock and freeze it or use it to make other ham soups and healthy leftover ham pastas. So if you're in a bit of a leftover ham rut, these recipes are sure to spark your enthusiasm for using up that extra ham!
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This roundup was inspired by my own Picnic Ham with Orange Glaze Recipe, which pairs exceptionally well with my Scalloped Potatoes, Carrot Casserole, or Healthy Roasted Carrots with Brown Sugar, and my Easter Creme Egg Chocolate Swiss Roll, or Healthy & Light Carrot Cake for the perfect Easter dinner!
Try my Black Forest Yule Log Cake or Grand Marnier Cheesecake for dessert if you're having ham with your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!
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Okay, here's a "Why Healthy?" section you can add to your post. It focuses on the benefits and makes a good case for choosing these recipes.
Why Choose Healthy Leftover Ham Recipes?
We all love a good ham dinner, but what about the delicious leftovers? While ham can sometimes get a bad rap for being high in sodium or fat, it's actually a fantastic lean protein source that, when paired with the right ingredients, can be incredibly nutritious. Choosing healthy recipes for your leftover ham offers a multitude of benefits:
- Reduce Food Waste & Save Money: This is a big one! Instead of letting that delicious ham go to waste, transforming it into new meals is an eco-friendly and budget-savvy choice. You're getting more mileage out of your initial grocery investment.
- Boost Your Protein Intake: Ham is packed with high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, feeling full and satisfied, and maintaining muscle mass. Incorporating it into various meals helps ensure you're meeting your daily protein needs.
- Incorporate More Vegetables: Many healthy ham recipes brilliantly pair the savory meat with an abundance of fresh vegetables. This is an easy way to increase your intake of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, often making your meals more colorful and flavorful.
- Control Ingredients & Portions: When you cook at home, you're in control. You can reduce added salts, unhealthy fats, and processed ingredients often found in pre-made meals. This allows for better portion control and ensures you're fueling your body with wholesome ingredients.
- Versatility for Different Dietary Needs: Leftover ham is incredibly versatile. It can be easily adapted to fit various healthy eating plans - think low-carb options, gluten-free meals, low Fodmap, or recipes focused on whole grains and plenty of produce.
- Enjoy Flavor Without Guilt: By focusing on fresh, balanced ingredients, you can enjoy the wonderful taste of ham in dishes that leave you feeling energized and good about what you've eaten. It's about smart substitutions and creative pairings that elevate both flavor and nutrition.
By opting for healthy leftover ham recipes, you're not just making a meal; you're making a smart choice for your wallet, your plate, and your well-being!
Tips for Storing Leftover Ham
- Refrigerate Promptly: The most crucial step! As soon as your ham has cooled down (ideally within two hours of cooking), cut it into manageable portions. This helps it cool faster and prevents it from sitting in the "danger zone" (between 40°F and 140°F / 4°C and 60°C) where bacteria multiply rapidly.
- Airtight Containers are Your Best Friend: Transfer the cooled ham pieces to shallow, airtight containers or heavy-duty resealable bags. Removing as much air as possible helps prevent spoilage and freezer burn.
- Use Within 3-5 Days (Refrigerated): Properly stored cooked ham will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Always give it a quick sniff test before using - if it smells sour or has a slimy texture, it's best to discard it.
- Consider Freezing for Longer Storage: If you have a large amount of ham or don't plan to use it all within a few days, freezing is an excellent option.
- Portion It Out: Freeze ham in individual meal-sized portions or quantities suitable for specific recipes. This makes thawing much easier and prevents refreezing large blocks.
- Wrap Well: Wrap ham tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place it in an airtight freezer bag or container. This double layer of protection helps prevent freezer burn.
- Label and Date: Always label your frozen ham with the date it was frozen. It can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 1-2 months for best quality, though it will remain safe longer if kept at 0°F (-18°C).
- Thawing Frozen Ham: When ready to use frozen ham, thaw it slowly in the refrigerator overnight. Avoid thawing at room temperature, as this can encourage bacterial growth. For quicker thawing, you can use the microwave (cook immediately after) or the cold water bath method.
- Bone-In vs. Boneless: Boneless ham is generally easier to store and portion. If you have a bone-in ham, consider carving off most of the meat before storing, but don't discard the bone-it's fantastic for making stock (see recipe above) or flavoring soups!
By following these storage tips, you'll ensure your healthy leftover ham remains delicious and safe, ready to be transformed into any of the mouth-watering dishes in this collection!
🍽Ham Main Dishes
These Ham Main dishes include healthy dinners with everything from ham pastas, ham pizza, ham rice, and ham sandwiches.
🥣Leftover Ham Soup
Make your own stock and freeze it for later or use it in one of these hearty ham soups!
🍲Ham Casseroles
These leftover ham casseroles include cheesy ham casseroles, rice, cauliflower rice leftover ham casseroles, and spaghetti casserole!
🥗Leftover Ham Salads
Leftover ham salads are the perfect way to keep it healthy and light. They are also perfect for packing lunches!
🥘Ham Sides
🍳Leftover Ham Breakfasts and Brunches
If you're looking for an easy breakfast, leftover ham is the perfect choice!
Expert Tip
An instant read thermometer- (affiliate link) is the very BEST way to check for doneness This one is great for everything food related! Cook ham until the internal temperature is 160 °F (71 °C) for raw and 140 °F (60 °C) for precooked.
❔Leftover Ham FAQ's
Cooked ham is good for up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
If you purchase a precooked ham, it can be frozen prior to the best before date. After cooking or heating a ham, leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Absolutely! The ham bone is perfect for making a rich and flavorful stock. Use it as a base for soups like split pea, white bean, or vegetable soup. You can freeze the bone for future use if you don't plan to make stock right away.
Reheat ham in the oven by wrapping it in aluminum foil with a small amount (1-2 tsps) of liquid, like broth or water, to keep it moist. Heat at 275°F (135°C) in the oven until warm. Alternatively, reheat small portions in the microwave with a cover (do NOT put aluminum foil in the microwave).
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So if you're looking for leftover spiral ham recipes, leftover classic ham, picnic ham, or boneless ham, or healthy recipes for leftover ham in general, you'll love these!
Asha
Will never run out of ideas for what to do with leftover ham again! Such a great roundup. That first pasta has my attention
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Asha!
Elaine
Terri, this is such a useful roundup! So many great ideas besides split pea soup (which I love.) That sweet potato hash is calling my name!
Bernice
You can never have too many leftover ham recipes. For me, ham leftovers are the best part and I always make a giant ham so we have many leftovers. Today is ham quiche day!
nancy
great round up of recipes! I will work my way through this!