Wondering what to do with leftover holiday ham? Here's how to use it for a healthy dinner, lunch, brunch, or breakfast. These casserole recipes are quick, easy, and simple. Some low carb ideas and some with potato.

I like big family feasts. I like to be in my own home, work like mad to prepare foods, treat everyone, and then eat the leftovers for a week.
It's how I roll.
The last two Easters, we've gone to visit my cousins and grandparents near Pittsburgh, and we've eaten at a restaurant. Not my favorite, but I don't think a lot of other people enjoy the entertaining the whole gang bit like I do.
When you eat at a restaurant, you have no leftovers. That's the worst part.
The other worst part is that everyone gets together for an hour. You kiss each other's cheeks in the parking lot, give hugs all around, go in, get seated, and eat. Then everyone stands up, hugs again, and leaves. There are no games. There is no visiting. It's like a transaction, get in, eat, and get out. I kind of hate it.
If you are lucky enough to have family come to your house for dinner, you probably have some ham leftover. I wanted to put together some recipes that you could use to repurpose that ham, just in case you're sick of ham sandwiches by now.
One of my picky eater kids LOVES ham steaks, so we try to cut some of our leftover ham into thick slices and freeze them for later dinners. As for the rest, Joe cuts it up into bite sized pieces and makes one of the recipes below.
8 Ways to Use Up Leftover Ham
- My favorite way to use ham is to dice it and use it to fill my ham & cheese omelet roll. An omelet roll is a super easy breakfast for dinner idea that uses a dozen eggs and rolls up like a pumpkin roll with lots of ham and gooey cheddar cheese inside. It's simple and so good. Your whole family will love this one.
- I came up with this low carb ham and cauliflower casserole earlier this year. It's cheesy and rich and low carb and so so so good. It's definitely not low calorie, but it doesn't have any potatoes or bread in it, so it's a little easier on the diet than some ham casseroles would be.
- My kids love BBQ ham sandwiches. I remember my mom making these when I was little, and I loved them, too. When we have leftover ham, we use it in these, but when we don't, we just use deli ham. Easy peasy.
- If you like ham and apples together (the sweet and salty really mesh well together), then try ham and apples with rice and carrots.
- My mom would love ham and pineapple melts.
- I am going to put this cheesy ham and pasta bake into our permanent meal rotation.
- Velveeta? Check. Sour cream? Check. Potatoes. Yum! Ham n Potato Casserole is another that could earn a permanent spot in our meal rotation. Don't forget that you can get lower fat versions of most of the ingredients to lighten the recipe, including non-fat Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
- Ham, egg, and cheese breakfast crepes take my favorite eggs and ham to a whole new level.
If I had to choose, I think I would pick #2, the ham and cauliflower casserole over all the others, even though the ham & cheese omelet roll is my traditional, old reliable recipe. That ham and cauliflower, while supremely unhealthy, is a home run in terms of cheesy flavor.
Whether your leftover ham is from Easter, Christmas, or just another Sunday, you can't go wrong with any of these delicious recipes. Stop back and let me know which ones you've tried!
Carolina Moore says
First thing that comes to mind - Hawaiian pizza! YUM! also, Chicken Cordon Bleu. Yum! Lastly, cubing the ham and putting it in the freezer to use later (you know... when I haven't had ham for 4 meals straight)!
I'm with you on entertaining at home. I love it, and I love the leftovers. I love that people can pick at the leftovers at their leisure while we play games or watch a movie (a deviled egg here... slice of ham there...). I love that the kids don't have to be on their "best behavior" and that parents can enjoy themselves without stressing about kids bothering people at the next table. And, above all, I love planning a feast for my family... and watching them enjoy the fruits of that labor. : )
Tara @ Feels Like Home says
Great ideas!
I also love that people can pick on the leftovers. In my eyes, there's nothing not to love about having holidays at home. I just think it feels weird to eat out on holidays (and I've done it enough to pass that judgment). It doesn't work for me.
Tara @ Feels Like Home says
Joe adores jambalaya. What a great idea!
Mirela says
Ham and Bean Soup.... one onion chopped, sauteed with very little oil, add some carrots sliced or cubed, celery pieces. sauteed a little. then add ham and 2 cans of white beans or navy beans, add about 3 cans of water, little paprika, some pepper, and simmer about 20-25 min. when cooked sprinkle some fresh dill on top. Enjoy