Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (2024)

Leftover Christmas ham can be used a ton of delicious recipes! I have been hosting Christmas dinner for 23 years. I love cooking up a huge ham with my family’s secret sauce. But I also make so many side dishes and goodies that there is always a good amount of leftover Christmas ham to be used up.

But I don’t worry about that anymore because I have collected and used so many amazing recipes now that I am able to use up all the leftover Christmas ham without making the whole family sick of it!

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (1)

Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes

I’ve listed 35 amazing ways to use your left ham from Christmas. The hardest part just might be picking which one to use!!! I typically can get 2 or 3 leftover meals out of my leftover ham; which is great because I don’t want to shop or cook much after the holidays.

FAQ About Leftover Christmas Ham

How long is leftover ham good in the refrigerator?

According to FoodSafety.gov most consumer-cooked hams (like pre-cooked spirals or sliced) can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days after being removed from packaging and cooked at home.

Can I freeze leftover Christmas Ham?

Again, according to FoodSafety.gov a packaged, pre-cooked ham, that has been consumer cooked at home can be frozen for up to 2 months. Some uncured hams can go as long as 4 months.

Be sure to check the entire list for Ham Storage to make sure the exact time you can store or freeze your ham.

My Favorite Recipe for Leftover Christmas Ham

My favorite way to use our leftover ham is my grandmother’s ham and beans! It is a great, and yummy, way to use a lot of ham at once. And if you have your family staying with you after Christmas, this will still feed a large crowd. Serve it with leftover Christmas rolls, make some drop biscuits or whip up some cornbread.

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (2)

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My Grandma’s Best Southern Ham and Beans Recipe

This is a delicious budget-friendly meal. And if you have a big crowd, this recipe is easily doubled so everyone can enjoy it!

Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1lbsof dry pinto beansor whatever bean you prefer
  • 4or 5 smoked ham hocksor use dicedleftover ham, about 1/2 – 3/4 lbs should do it
  • 1large yellow onionchopped
  • 2– 3 teaspoons of black pepper
  • 1bay leafoptional
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Wash the beans (you don’t have to soak them overnight with this method)

  2. Put the beans, ham hocks, chopped onion, pepper and bay leaf in a large stock pot and cover with water.

  3. Bring to boil and then turn down to a low simmer.

  4. Cover and let simmer low for several hours.

  5. Stir and check often – you may need to add a bit more water, but only enough to keep everything covered

  6. Beans will be tender and the sauce will thicken up.

  7. Break up the meat into the beans and serve in a bowl with warm corn bread.

Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes

Leftover Ham Recipes – Breakfast / Brunch

Feeding a crowed or just your family the day after Christmas? Here are some wonderful breakfast and brunch recipes for that leftover Christmas ham!

Kohlrabi, Ham & Mushroom Frittata from Lil Suburban Homestead

Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole from Cooking Classy

Baked Western Omelet with Ham from The Seasoned Mom

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (3)

Easy Ham and Cheese Quiche from I Heart Naptime

Stuffed Honey-Ham Biscuits from Pillsbury

Breakfast Ham Fajitas from Cooking Classy

Leftover Ham Breakfast Enchiladas from Grace and Good Eats

Overnight Breakfast Casserole from Food Storage Moms

Leftover Ham Recipes – Soups

A warm bowl of soup with leftover Christmas ham can be the perfect winter meal!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup fromImperfectly Happy

Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup from Spend with Pennies

Creamy Ham Potato & Corn Chowder from Cooking Classy

Slow Cooker Creamy Ham & Wild Rice Soup from Betty Crocker

LeftoverHamRecipes–Casseroles

A fast and easy casserole is about all I want to cook after all my holiday endeavors! LeftoverChristmashamcasserolestotherescue!

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (5)

Ham and Noodle Casserole from the Salty Marshmallow

Cheesy Leftover Ham and Rice Casserole from I Wash You Dry

Cheesy Ham, Potato and Bacon Casserole from Oh Sweet Basil

Mother’s Ham Casserole Recipe from Taste of Home

Leftover Ham & Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes from The Seasoned Mom

LeftoverHamRecipes– Pasta

Mix up your leftover hams with some yummy pasta – game changer!

Macaroni Ham and Broccoli from Belle of the Kitchen

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (6)

Ham and Cheese Penne from Jo Cooks

Ham, Peas and Pasta with Garlic Parmesan Sauce from Damn Delicious

One Pot Ham, Cheese and Pasta Recipe from Show Me the Yummy

LeftoverHamRecipes–EverythingElse

Pockets, Puffs and Pizza…oh my leftover ham!!!

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (7)

Homemade Ham and Cheese Pockets – Taste of Home

Ham, Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Everyday Maven

Ham and Swiss Stromboli from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Mississippi Sin Ham Dip from McCormick

Ham & Mashed Potato Cakes from All Recipes

Ham and Cheese Spinach Puffs from The Chunky Chef

Ham Fried Rice from Fav Family Recipes

Leftover Ham Hawaiian Pizza from Joanie Simon

Ham and Potato Hash from Simple Recipes

Classic Cobb Salad with Ham from Recipe Girl

LeftoverHamRecipes– Specialty Diets

Keto? Low Carb? Paleo? Still have some great ways you can use your leftover Christmas Ham!

Keto Ham and Cheese Scones from All Day I Dream About Food

Paleo Ham Chowder from Paleo Leap

Keto Cheesy Ham Hash Egg Cups from I Breathe I’m Hungry

Keto Cheesy Ham Hash Egg Cups from I Breathe I’m Hungry

Related posts:

The Most Delicious Vintage Cookie RecipesHow to Make the Perfect Thanksgiving TurkeyBreakfast Casserole with Bacon and Hash Browns

Tasty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Ham 35 Recipes - the Imperfectly Happy home (2024)

FAQs

How long does ham last in a ham bag? ›

“If stored properly, your leg of ham will last for up to ten days,” says Alison Adams, one of our expert food editors. “Soak a calico ham bag – some butchers will provide you with one of these – or a clean pillowcase in a mixture of water and a large splash of vinegar.

How to keep Christmas ham fresh in the fridge? ›

Plan ahead
  1. a leg of ham needs to be stored in the refrigerator.
  2. a special ham bag or clean cotton pillowcase will keep it fresh and maintain quality the longest.
  3. the ham bag or pillowcase needs to be changed or washed and dried every 3 days.

What vinegar to use for ham bags? ›

Here is how to keep your ham fresh and moist. Rinse a ham bag or large, clean tea towel with a mixture of 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon DYC White Vinegar. Squeeze any excess liquid from the bag or tea towel. Place the ham in the bag or wrap in the tea towel to completely enclose.

How do you reheat Christmas ham? ›

Reheat – Take the ham out of the fridge 2 hours prior. Cover loosely with baking/parchment paper then loosely with foil. Reheat in a 130°C oven for 2 hours or until the centre of the ham registers 60°C/140°F (or a skewer inserted into the middle is hot).

How can you tell if ham has gone bad? ›

If your ham starts to take on a green or grey hue, or even gets black or brown in a few areas, throw it away. If it doesn't smell good, throw it away. Ham should have a salty or smokey aroma, almost sweet. If there is a sour smell or something smells off, don't take the chance of a food-borne illness.

Can ham last 2 weeks in the fridge? ›

How Long Does Ham Keep In The Fridge? If you have a whole ham, it can last in the fridge for up to seventy-five days. If you have a half ham, it will last for about sixty days. Ham that has been precooked or spiral cut will last for about one week.

Is it better to freeze or refrigerate ham? ›

Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.

Can dogs eat ham? ›

Yes and no. Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.

Can you freeze leftover Christmas ham? ›

If you have lots of leftover ham, don't let it go to waste. Ham will freeze well for up to four months if stored correctly.

What is the shiny green stuff on ham? ›

What gives sliced ham that iridescent sheen? The shiny, greenish, rainbow like color on sliced ham is a sign of oxidation that occurs when the meat is exposed to the metal on a knife or slicer. The nitrate-modified iron content of the meat undergoes a chemical change that alters the hams pigmentation.

How do you make store bought ham taste better? ›

  1. Hi, there are a number of ways. First off buy a good ham!
  2. You can rub it with brown sugar and put it in a hot oven.
  3. You can inject with a solution of water, salt, maple syrup and white pepper before you cook it.
  4. You can slice it and fry it in butter.
May 24, 2021

Does pineapple remove salt from ham? ›

“Typically, when you're doing a country ham, you need something sweet to neutralize the ham's saltiness, and pineapple does this really well.” And it's not just me and Benton: Pineapple shows up in ham recipes—atop the ham, in glazes slicking the ham, in shield-your-eyes versions of fried rice—the world over.

How do you make leftover ham moist? ›

Preheat oven to 325°F. Arrange slices in a single layer on a greased baking pan. Add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water and cover with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes or until heated through, turning slices once.

How do you moisten dry Christmas ham? ›

Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Wring out excess water and place ham in the Ham Bag, pillowcase or wrap in tea towel. Store in coolest part of fridge. Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out.

How to warm up ham without drying it out? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

How do you preserve ham in a bag? ›

Storing your ham
  1. Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
  2. Wring out excess water and place ham in the Ham Bag, pillowcase or wrap in tea towel. Store in coolest part of fridge.
  3. Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out.

How long is vacuum-sealed ham good for in the fridge? ›

FoodSafety.gov provides several guidelines for safe ham storage depending on which type of product you have on hand: A full, vacuum-sealed ham: Two weeks. Slices, half or spiral cut: Three to five days. Luncheon meat: Three to five days upon being opened.

How long is leftover ham safe to eat? ›

Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.

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