This homemade ham salad recipe is packed with all the classic flavor add-ins you love - mayo, celery, sweet pickle relish, onion, and even a hard-boiled egg. Every bite is creamy, crunchy, and downright irresistible. Serve it piled high on crackers, tucked into a soft sandwich, or set out as a quick and easy party dip.
I made this with leftover ham and it turned out so good. Creamy with just the right seasoning!
★★★★★- Catalina
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🔍 Quick Look: Homemade Ham Salad
⏱️ Prep Time: 8 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 10 minutes
👥 Servings: 8
📊 Calories: 313 per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Ham, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickle relish, and Dijon mustard
🧑🍳 Method: Pulse cooked ham in a food processor, then mix with remaining ingredients until creamy and spreadable.
🥪 Serve With: Sandwiches, croissants, crackers, lettuce wraps, or celery sticks
❄️ Make Ahead: Yes! Chill for at least 1 hour before serving for the best flavor.
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
Ham salad is a true Southern staple - you'll spot it in just about every grocery store deli, sitting proudly beside pimento cheese and chicken salad. And I'll admit, when I'm feeling a little lazy, I'll grab a container and happily pile it high on soft white bread (the good kind - not the healthy, whole wheat kind).
But nothing compares to homemade ham salad - it's fresher, creamier, and easy to make. This recipe whips up a generous batch that's perfect for snacking on all week long, and it's hands-down one of the best ways to use up leftover ham. I hope you love it as much as we do. Enjoy! Xoxo - Katie.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make the best ham salad recipe.
- boneless cooked ham- Smoked ham or ham steaks work beautifully in this salad and are easy to find year-round. However, leftover holiday ham is hands down the best. It has the richest flavor and makes great use of leftovers. Skip the pre-sliced deli meat. It is too thin, too processed, and ends up mushy. Avoid country ham. It is too dry and salty for this recipe.
- hard-boiled egg- The hard-boiled egg works as a binder and adds creaminess.
- onion- I like to use sweet Vidallia onion, but you can use white onion, red onion, or green onions. You can also substitute with ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
- celery stalk- If you do not like the texture of celery, you can substitute the celery with ¼ teaspoon of celery seed. Omit the celery if you do not like it.
- mayonnaise
- sweet pickle relish- Sweet pickle relish is traditional in Southern ham salad. You can substitute with finely chopped sweet pickles or butter pickles. The sweetness balances the saltiness. However, for a tangy, briny kick you can substitute with dill pickle relish or finely chopped dill pickles. I personally like to use Wickles' sweet relish. It is sweet with just the right tangy kick, giving the ham salad an extra flavor punch.
- Dijon mustard- Dijon mustard is adds a little more creaminess and adds a touch of complexity in flavor. However, feel free to use regular yellow mustard.
Steps
Follow these simple steps to make Southern ham salad.
- Roughly chop ham, celery, onion, and hard-boiled egg. (This will make it chop evenly in the food processor.)
- Add to a food processor. Pulse short quick pulses until it is finely minced, but not a paste.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix mayonnaise, sweet relish, and Dijon mustard.
- Stir in ham mixture. You can serve immediately, but it is best to chill an hour or two before serving. Serve it on crackers or bread, spooned over lettuce, or paired with fresh veggies like cucumber slices, sweet peppers, and celery sticks.
Watch how to make
How long does homemade ham salad last?
Store ham salad in an airtight container up to 5 days.
I do not recommend freezing ham salad. The mayonnaise and egg additions does not make it good for freezing.
I'd love to know how you liked this easy ham salad recipe. Is there anything additional you like to add? How do you enjoy your ham salad - piled on soft white bread, spread over crackers, or maybe another way? And do you go for sweet pickle relish or dill? Share in the comments below. I enjoy hearing your stories and the different ways families make this Southern classic their own.
Also post your picture of your Southern ham salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Best Homemade Ham Salad Recipe - A Southern Classic
Equipment
- 1 food processor
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound boneless cooked ham
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 2 tablespoons onion
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Instructions
- Roughly chop ham, celery, onion, and hard-boiled egg. (This will make it chop evenly in the food processor.)1 ½ pound boneless cooked ham, 2 tablespoons onion, 1 celery stalk, 1 hard-boiled egg
- Add to a food processor. Pulse short quick pulses until it is finely minced, but not a paste.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and Dijon mustard.1 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- Stir in ham mixture. You can serve immediately, but it is best to chill an hour or two before serving. Serve it on crackers or bread, spooned over lettuce, or paired with fresh veggies like cucumber slices, sweet peppers, and celery sticks.
Catalina says
I made this with leftover ham and it turned out so good. Creamy with just the right seasoning!
Ben says
My Granny used to make a ham salad just like this! This one really brings back memories.
Beth says
This is just like the ham salad I grew up on. I absolutley adore it.