Deviled Ham Spread
Looking for a few ideas to use up a leftover holiday ham? Whip up a batch of creamy deviled ham spread. From sandwiches to snacks, you’ll find a variety of ways to use this versatile, low carb ham salad.
It’s inevitable … whenever I bake a glazed smoked ham for dinner, no matter what size I purchase, I always end up with a ton of leftover ham. I can usually get away with serving sliced ham for dinner a second time and offering ham sandwiches for lunch. After that, I’ve got to get creative or risk throwing the ham leftovers out. Thankfully, I have a few recipes in my arsenal to pick from, like this easy ham salad recipe.
Why is deviled ham called deviled ham?
I remember vividly the time my sweet son, who was four years old at the time, earnestly asked me if he would get in trouble for eating devil eggs. I assured him that eating one of his favorite appetizers was not a sin. It simply refers to seasoning a dish with hot spices. If you are a spicy food wimp like I am, don’t worry. While there is a bit of hot sauce and cayenne pepper in this deviled ham recipe, it won’t knock your socks off.
Ingredients and tools you will need to make ham salad spread
You’ll love this great ham salad recipe not only because it tastes delicious and you can whip it up in no time, but most of the deviled ham ingredients are likely already in your kitchen. To make this homemade ham salad recipe, you will need:
- 1 pound fully cooked ham, roughly chopped
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional – add if you like a little more heat.
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish – I used sweet pickle relish to balance out the salty ham, but you could also use dill pickle relish if you prefer.
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- Food processor or mini chopper
How to make deviled ham spread
- Combine the ham and celery in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the ingredients are finely minced. If you don’t have a food processor, chop the ham and celery by hand.
- Transfer the minced ham and celery to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, pickle relish and green onions.
- Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Cover the bowl and allow the deviled ham to chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
Deviled ham serving ideas
My preferred way to to eat deviled ham salad is a ham salad sandwich served on my favorite bread topped with a few fresh lettuce leaves and a sliced tomatoes. However, it’s also excellent wrapped up with a slice of cheese in a soft tortilla or as a filling for a lettuce wrap. Looking for a snack or easy appetizer? Serve it as a dip for crackers, pita chips and carrot or celery sticks.
Storage instructions
Within two hours, transfer any leftover ham salad dip to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Consume within four days.
Frequently asked questions
If you anticipate having a lot of leftovers, skip adding the mayo. Freezing mayonnaise will cause the emulsion to separate and you will end up with a watery, grainy consistency after the salad has thawed. Allow the ham salad the thaw in the refrigerator. You may have excess water once it’s thawed, so it’s a good idea to drain it. Add the mayo right before serving.
Yes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Transfer the ham salad to a casserole dish. Cover the dish and bake for 20 minutes until heated through.
Yes, yellow mustard can be used as a substitute for Dijon in this recipe.
Try plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead.
Look in the packaged meats section of your grocery store. You may be able to find a small cooked boneless ham or ham steaks, which are packaged ham slices. The Smithfield brand even sells ham that has already been cooked and diced. Stay away from lunchmeat, it’s generally not thick enough and won’t give you the same texture. Also, country ham may be too salty. If you decided to use country ham, I suggest soaking it in water first to remove some of the sodium.
Deviled Ham Spread for Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 pound fully cooked ham
- 1 stalk celery sliced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Combine the ham and celery in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the ingredients are finely minced. If you don’t have a food processor, chop the ham and celery by hand.
- Transfer the minced ham and celery to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, pickle relish and green onions.
- Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Cover the bowl and allow the deviled ham to chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
