By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 15, 2025
When I think of nostalgic recipes, this ham salad is the first one that comes to mind. It’s truly straight out of the 1950s, but it just tastes so good! It’s a must-have for the week after Easter at my house. Diced ham in mayonnaise with sweet relish, mustard, and a host of other goodies. Great for an easy appetizer or sandwich filling.
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5-Star Review
“This is yummy! My husband is not a fan of ham salad and even he loved this. I’ll be making this often. Thank you for this recipe.” – Nancy
Easy Ham Salad Recipe
Let your leftover ham do more legwork with this super versatile and utterly delicious ham salad recipe. This is my absolute favorite recipe to make after Easter! I love using leftovers of my honey baked ham or brown sugar glazed ham . In a pinch, you could use canned ham though it does have a different texture.
This spread is delicious as is, but I like to take it up a notch by adding diced bell peppers or carrots for extra crunch or a few tablespoons of jarred pimentos or diced roasted red peppers for depth of flavor.
Sometimes I’ll even add a little bit of pickle juice to turn it into more of a dip consistency, or toss it with some cooked rotini or macaroni to turn it into ham pasta salad .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup mayonnaise plus more if needed
- ▢ ¼ cup sweet relish
- ▢ 2 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard
- ▢ 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ▢ 1 lb. leftover cooked ham cubed
- ▢ 3 tbsp diced celery
- ▢ 2 tbsp diced red onion use diced yellow or sweet onion for a little less bite
- ▢ 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ crackers, soft rolls, or bread for serving
Video
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise, relish, mustard, and lemon juice together in a large bowl. Set aside. ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sweet relish, 2 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Add the ham, celery, onion, and parsley to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times until it’s more finely chopped and combined, then transfer it to the bowl with the mayonnaise mixture. Stir, tasting and adding more mayonnaise or relish if desired to achieve a spreadable consistency, as well as salt and pepper. 1 lb. leftover cooked ham, 3 tbsp diced celery, 2 tbsp diced red onion, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, salt and pepper
- Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving as is with crackers or on bread or rolls as sandwiches. crackers, soft rolls, or bread
Equipment
- Food Processor
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Ham Salad Step by Step
Gather your ingredients.
Make the dressing: Whisk ½ cup of mayonnaise, ¼ cup of sweet relish, 2 tbsp of grainy Dijon mustard, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice together in a large bowl. Set aside.
Chill and serve: Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving as is with crackers or on bread or rolls as sandwiches.
How to Store
Store leftover ham salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Ham salad is notorious for not freezing well, so I do not recommend freezing it.
Serving Suggestions
This spread makes a great dip! I like to serve mine with Triscuits, but it’s also great with homemade tortilla chips , crispy wonton chips , or even sweet potato chips !
Or, serve it up on Hawaiian rolls or rye bread to make delicious ham salad sandwiches! Add a few slices of cheddar cheese and make a ham salad grilled cheese . Savory, creamy, and tangy—this is one addictive sandwich filling!
more salad recipes to try
Asian Cucumber Salad
Caprese Salad Recipe
Peruvian Chopped Salad Recipe
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Ham Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise plus more if needed
- ¼ cup sweet relish
- 2 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 lb. leftover cooked ham cubed
- 3 tbsp diced celery
- 2 tbsp diced red onion use diced yellow or sweet onion for a little less bite
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- crackers, soft rolls, or bread for serving
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise, relish, mustard, and lemon juice together in a large bowl. Set aside. ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sweet relish, 2 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Add the ham, celery, onion, and parsley to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times until it’s more finely chopped and combined, then transfer it to the bowl with the mayonnaise mixture. Stir, tasting and adding more mayonnaise or relish if desired to achieve a spreadable consistency, as well as salt and pepper. 1 lb. leftover cooked ham, 3 tbsp diced celery, 2 tbsp diced red onion, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, salt and pepper
- Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving as is with crackers or on bread or rolls as sandwiches. crackers, soft rolls, or bread
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
