If you’ve ever had ham salad that was dry and bland, this will change your mind. Creamy old fashioned ham salad should be rich, well-seasoned, and have just enough texture to keep it interesting. After a decade of sharing real-life recipes that actually hit, I keep this version simple but seasoned right so it tastes intentional, not thrown together. Make it once and watch it disappear.
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My Slow Cooker Crockpot Spiral Ham, Traeger Smoked Glazed Ham, and Baked Ham with Pineapple recipes pair wonderfully with this salad.
Ham Salad Ingredients
- Diced Ham: Cooked ham is the most common type used. It's readily available at grocery stores and typically comes pre-cooked and sliced. You can use either boneless or bone-in. If you have leftover ham from a holiday meal or another occasion, it's perfect for making salad. Simply chop the leftover ham into small pieces add it in.
- Grated Cheddar Cheese
- Mayo
- Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
- Mustarc
- Celery
- Onions
- Pickle Relish
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt, and Pepper
How to Make Ham Salad
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Combine ham, mayo, sour cream or Greek yogurt, relish, mustard, celery, onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Stir to combine.
- Serve warm or chilled.
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Creamy Ham Salad
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 1 pound diced ham
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup mayo
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 celery stalk Diced.
- ¼ cup diced onions I used red onions.
- ¼ cup pickle relish
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Taste repeatedly and adjust the spices to suit your taste.
- Serve chilled or warm. Chill for 1 hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Substitutions and Add-ins
- Turkey
- Shrimp
- Tofu
- Bacon
- Pickles
- Avocado
- Hummus
- Cucumber
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Grapes
- Cranberries
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Grated Parmesan
How to Serve Ham Salad
- Sandwiches: Spread on white, wheat, rye, croissants, or rolls. Add lettuce or tomato if you like.
- Wraps: Roll it in a tortilla for lunch or slice into pinwheels for parties.
- Crackers or crostini: Scoop onto crackers or toasted baguette slices for an easy snack.
- Over greens: Serve on lettuce, spinach, or arugula for a lighter option.
- Stuffed veggies: Fill hollowed tomatoes, bell peppers, or cucumber boats.
- Party platter: Serve alongside cheese cubes, crackers, veggies, and fruit so guests can build their own bites.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
How you slice it will depend on the texture you are looking for. I prefer ½ inch cubes, but you can also mince it into smaller chunks if you want. You can mince the ham by chopping it with a rocking motion using the tip of your knife. Continue chopping until you reach the desired consistency.
This recipe uses a combination of mayo and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. I like this combo because I favor plain Greek yogurt because it's high in protein. It's an easy way to make this a high protein side dish. If you don't like mayo, that works in your favor because you can go all in with the sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Drain Excess Moisture: After chopping or shredding the ham and any other vegetables, pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This step helps prevent water from leaching into the salad.
Serve Chilled: Serve the ham salad chilled, straight from the refrigerator. Chilling helps firm up the ingredients and reduces the risk of excess moisture accumulation.
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure the container is tightly sealed to prevent air from entering, which can cause the salad to spoil more quickly. Eat it within 3-4 days of preparation. After this time, the quality of the salad may start to deteriorate, and it may not be safe to eat.
You can freeze it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. In general, mayo does not freeze well and usually develops ice crystals.
Pair With These Recipes
Slow Cooker Crockpot Pulled Chicken
Smoked Turkey Legs
How to Grill the Best Burgers
Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
More Salad Recipes
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Dill Pickle Salad
Spaghetti Salad with Italian Dressing
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Lump Crab Salad with Real Crab Meat
Seafood Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Crab
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