What to Do With Leftover Smoked Ham: 12 Ideas Better Than Another Plain Sandwich

Having too much smoked ham is not a problem. It is meal prep.

A glazed holiday ham might be the centerpiece on Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, but some of its best work happens the next morning. Smoky, salty, sweet around the glazed edges, already cooked and already sliced. That is a refrigerator full of possibilities.

Before you make another cold ham sandwich and call it a day, here are 12 better options.

1. Ham and Swiss Sliders

This might be the king of ham leftovers. Layer smoked ham and Swiss onto Hawaiian rolls with a thin spread of Dijon. Brush the tops with melted butter seasoned with garlic and a little Worcestershire, then put the whole tray on the grill over indirect heat until the cheese melts and the tops turn golden.

2. Smoked Ham Breakfast Hash

Dice the ham and crisp it in cast iron with potatoes, bell peppers, onion and jalapeno. Once everything is browned, make a few wells and crack eggs directly into the skillet. Cover until the whites set.

3. Ham and Cheese Breakfast Biscuits

Warm biscuits, smoked ham, cheddar, egg, hot honey. That is the recipe.

4. Smoked Ham Mac and Cheese

Fold diced smoked ham into your favorite mac and cheese. For more BBQ flavor, move the finished mac to a cast iron skillet and smoke it until the top starts browning. Bits of glazed edge mixed throughout are particularly good.

5. Ham Fried Rice

The sleeper pick. Dice the ham small and let it crisp on a hot griddle or in cast iron, then add rice, egg, peas, carrots, scallions, soy sauce and a little sesame oil. Salty-sweet smoked ham works ridiculously well here.

6. Smoked Ham and Pineapple Pizza

Yes. We said it, and we are not apologizing. Smoked glazed ham, charred pineapple, mozzarella and jalapeno makes excellent pizza, especially if your original ham had a pineapple-forward glaze.

7. Ham and Bean Soup

If you bought a bone-in ham, do not throw away the bone. That is not garbage, it is an ingredient.

Simmer it with white beans, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, stock and herbs, then add chopped leftover ham toward the end. One holiday dinner just became another complete meal.

8. Smoked Ham Grilled Cheese

Good bread, sharp cheddar, Swiss, smoked ham, a thin layer of Dijon, butter, cast iron. No need to overcomplicate it.

9. Ham, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Tacos

Crisp diced ham on the griddle, then add scrambled eggs, cheese, avocado and hot sauce to warm tortillas. Finish with cilantro and lime. Holiday breakfast in about 10 minutes.

10. Loaded Smoked Ham Baked Potatoes

Bake or smoke russets until fluffy, split them open and load them with butter, cheddar, chopped smoked ham, sour cream and scallions. Back on the grill until the cheese melts.

11. Smoked Ham Quesadillas

Ham, Monterey Jack, pickled jalapenos, caramelized onions and a little BBQ sauce. Griddle until crisp, cut into wedges, watch them disappear.

12. The Ultimate Leftover Holiday Sandwich

We said no boring ham sandwiches, and this is not one. Toasted sourdough, warm smoked ham, brie, cranberry sauce, arugula, Dijon and a little leftover glaze, pressed in cast iron until the bread is crisp and the brie starts melting.

Save the Ham Bone

Worth repeating, because somebody needs to hear it. Use it for ham and bean soup, split pea soup, collard greens, beans or stock. There is a large amount of flavor still in it.

How Long Does Leftover Ham Last?

Get the ham refrigerated promptly after dinner. USDA guidance says spiral-cut ham and leftovers from consumer-cooked ham can generally be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the portions you will not use right away.

The best way to store it

Do not throw the entire half ham into the refrigerator uncovered. Divide it into useful portions: some sliced for sandwiches, some diced for breakfast, soup or mac and cheese. Freeze whatever you will not reasonably use in the next few days. Future you will appreciate it.

How to reheat ham without drying it out

Remember what this ham has already been through. It was cooked, then smoked, then reheated. It does not need to be punished again.

Warm individual portions gently with a little moisture, or build the ham into a dish where it reheats alongside other ingredients. If you are reheating leftovers as leftovers, USDA recommends bringing them to 165F.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does leftover ham last in the fridge?

Generally 3 to 5 days per USDA guidance for spiral-cut ham and consumer-cooked leftovers.

Can you freeze leftover smoked ham?

Yes. Portion it first, some sliced and some diced, then freeze in sealed bags with the air pressed out.

What temperature should you reheat leftover ham to?

165F, per USDA guidance for reheating leftovers.

What can you do with a leftover ham bone?

Ham and bean soup, split pea soup, collard greens, beans or stock.

Can you use leftover glaze on other dishes?

Yes, and you should. Warmed glaze is excellent brushed inside sliders, spooned over baked potatoes or stirred into mac and cheese.

One Ham, a Week of Possibilities

Dinner might be the main event, but the next few days give you breakfast, lunch, sliders, pizza, mac and cheese, soup, tacos, fried rice and arguably one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches of the year.

Still planning the main event? Start here: How to Make the Perfect Glazed Holiday Ham.

Discover. Refine. Master.