This Easy Ham Salad Recipe is a homemade favorite that is creamy, flavorful, and comes together quickly with simple ingredients. Perfect for sandwiches, crackers, or a quick lunch. It is a nostalgic classic that never goes out of style.
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This post was originally posted on 06/19/2020 and updated on 03/19/2026.
I have been making simple, from scratch recipes like this for years, from my time working in restaurant kitchens to feeding my family at home. This one always brings me back to watching my dad make ham salad with a hand grinder clamped to the table, and I loved getting a turn at the handle. Now I make it for him, using a food processor for ease, but keeping all the flavor just as I remember it. My family loves it for easy lunches, and you can trust this recipe to be simple, reliable, and full of that same nostalgic flavor.
Why We Love This Easy Ham Salad Recipe
- Easy to make with just a few basic ingredients.
- Creamy, flavorful texture with that classic old fashioned taste.
- Great way to use up leftover ham.
- Comes together quickly with a food processor or grinder.
- Perfect for sandwiches, crackers, or quick lunches.
- Make ahead friendly and stores well in the fridge.
- Perfect for picnics, potlucks, and everyday meals.
- A nostalgic recipe that brings back memories of simple homemade meals.
Ham Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Cooked Ham
- Mayonaisse
- Dill Pickles
- Mustard Powder
- Black Pepper
Substitution Suggestions
- Mayo: The debate is strong in our house over mayo and Miracle Whip. I prefer Miracle whip, but since this recipe is from my dad and usually for my dad I use mayo. His vote is mayo. You can use either one and it will be delicious!
- Pickles: I like to use dill pickles best not anything sweet. If you like you can use dill pickle relish. Just drain some of the liquid from it.
- Seasonings: I keep it simple with mustard powder and black pepper, but you could add some of your favorite spices! You could use yellow or dijon mustard instead of mustard powder too.
- Ad ins: There are a lot of things you could add to this easy ham salad. Finely chopped hard boiled eggs, celery, red onion, or roasted red peppers are some classic options. For a little kick you could add some horseradish. You can also process the ad-ins with the ham in the food processor to make it super simple!
How To Make Easy Ham Salad
- Finely mince the ham, I use a food processor. Place the ham in the processor and pulse until finely minced. Be careful not to make it into paste. The ham will look like crumbs when it's done. You could also use a hand grinder or finely mince the ham with a knife.
- To a large bowl add: ham, mayo, pickles, mustard powder and black pepper.
- Mix it all together really well.
- Chill in fridge until ready to serve.
How To Serve Easy Ham Salad
This ham salad is delicious as a dip or sandwich spread.
- Serve as a dip with a variety of crackers, pretzels or chips.
- Use it in between your favorite bread.
- Smother it on a tortilla, add some shredded cheese and a few lettuce leaves, roll it up tight and slice it into pinwheels.
- Serve it in a romaine or bib lettuce leaf for a lower carb snack or lunch.
- Use it as a vegetable dip. The saltiness from the ham makes this a fabulous dip for raw veggies.
This is just one delicious way to use up leftover ham, but there are so many more to try. Turn it into a quick Ham Fried Rice, a hearty Ham and Bean Soup, a cozy pan of Scalloped Potatoes and Ham or a creamy Ham Pasta Salad. For easy breakfasts, you can't go wrong with Ham and Cheese Oven Omelet or Ham Egg and Cheese Bake. These recipes make it easy to turn leftover ham into meals your family will keep asking for.
Storing Ham Salad
Store this ham salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I don't recommend freezing this.
Heather's Favorite Tools for this Recipe
- I love my Cuisinart food processor.
- These nestled mixing bowls are my favorite for prepping ingredients.
Tips for Easy Ham Salad Recipe
- Don't overprocess the ham. It should look like fine crumbs, not a paste.
- The ham salad is best when served chill. Let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- To serve this salad as a dip for any gathering, put the bowl of ham salad inside another bowl filled with ice. It will help keep the salad cold for a longer period of time.
Looking for a go to ham recipe? My Crock Pot Honey Ham is an easy, set it and forget it favorite that turns out perfect every time.
More Easy Salads and Lunch Recipes:
- Classic Egg Salad
- Southwestern Chicken Salad
- Tuna Stuffed Peppers
- BLT Chicken Salad Wrap
- Avocado Chicken Wrap
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Easy Ham Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups diced ham
- 1¼ cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup minced dill pickles
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the diced ham in the processor and pulse until finely minced. Be careful not to make it into paste. The ham will look like crumbs when it's done.
- In a large bowl combine ham, mayo, pickles, mustard powder and black pepper. Mix it all together really well.
- Chill in fridge until ready to serve. At least 30 minutes.
- Serve with crackers, veggies or in a sandwich.
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