Basic Ham Salad Recipe (perfect for crackers, sandwiches and more)

This basic ham salad recipe can be thrown together in less than 10 minutes, but tastes best when chilled for at least an hour before serving. Makes 2-4 servings.

How to make a basic ham salad recipe? Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, Ham Salad, and even Seafood Salad make up the Four Horse Persons of the Finger Sandwich Apocalypse!

Anyone that has ever attended a wedding, funeral, tea time, baby shower, or other social gathering has probably crossed paths with some variation of one of them. Possibly even on a platter of triangle cut 3 inch buns.

I have to say as a personal preference, I enjoy ham salad the most even though it is probably the one that I eat the least. There are a near infinite amount of variations to this recipe, so it is heavily customizable to whatever ingredients you have available and whatever your taste preference is. However, this is a bog standard no frills Basic Ham Salad Recipe, and I would still eat pounds of the stuff straight with a spoon.

Nutritional Information: Basic Ham Salad

The provided nutritional information has been compiled from various online sources and should be regarded as an estimate. Actual nutritional values may vary based on factors such as specific ingredients used, variations in portion sizes, and individual preparation methods. It is advisable to consider these numbers as general guidelines rather than precise measurements. For accurate nutritional information, it is recommended to consult with a registered dietitian or utilize specialized nutritional analysis tools based on the exact ingredients and quantities used in your preparation.

• Serving Size: 1/4 th of total

• Calories: 174

• Protein: 11 g

• Fat: 12 g

• Net Carbohydrates: 7 g

Basic Ham Salad Recipe Ingredients and Utensils

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of ham

• 1 large stalk of celery

• 1/2 of a large onion

• 1/3 cup of mayonnaise

• Salt & pepper

Utensils

• 1 food processor

• 1 kitchen knife

• 1 cutting board

• 1 mixing bowl

• 1 mixing spoon

How to Make Basic Ham Salad (Step-by-Step)

Preparation.

You could buy ham specifically to make ham salad with, however, I have always used this recipe as a way to use up leftover ham. I am a fan of spiral cuts but any ham dinner that you have leftovers from the night before will work for this. This means that oftentimes the ham salad will actually be an applewood smoked, or brown sugar ham salad in the end. I like to think of that more as a perk rather than a negative though. Use whatever ham you prefer but for texture reasons I would shy away from sliced deli ham.

Step 1. Vegetable preparation.

This recipe will use a single large stalk of celery and half of an onion. Both are finely diced and added to the mixing bowl. The celery adds color, and a nice crunch and texture to the salad while I would certainly miss the flavor that the onion adds if it were not there. The type of onion does not matter, and it is a matter of preference and availability.

Step 2. Ham preparation.

The easiest way to prepare the ham is using a food processor. Take about 8 ounces of ham and cut into small chunks so that it fits easily into the processor. Then pulse until the chunks break down into small crumbles that are around the size of the diced celery and onions. Exact size does not matter and the processor won’t cut them uniformly in any case. It is fine as long as the sizes are roughly the same. Once pulsed, add the ham to the mixing bowl.

Alternatively, this can be done with a knife and a cutting board if you do not have access to a food processor, or even if you just don’t want to wash the food processor after either. In this case, cut the ham into slices and then dice into chunks about the same size as the onions and celery. Sometimes hand cutting everything even gives the whole dish a quaint and rustic feel to it.

Step 3. Seasonings and dressings.

Add a couple of tablespoons of a sweet relish to the mixing bowl. I grew up absolutely spoiled because the only sweet relish we ever had in the house was a homemade zucchini relish canned in those glass Ball mason jars, and I will always and forever judge relish against that standard. However, storebought relish or even diced pickles are fine as well.

Then add about ⅓ of a cup of mayonnaise to the mixing bowl as well. These seasonings and dressings are also points of customization. If you are a fan of Miracle Whip style dressings, then swap that in for the mayo. You can also add in some mustard if you enjoy that as well. I just find that I enjoy the flavor of some type of smoked ham, sweet relish and a mayo. I don’t even have a huge preference between Helman’s, Duke’s, or Kewpie.

Next, it is time to add whatever seasonings that you prefer. I don’t often add much if any salt because the ham is heavily salted. I will add pepper. Once your seasonings of choice have been added, it is time to thoroughly mix everything together until it is well blended. Taste it to see if you need to adjust your seasonings, or maybe it looks a little dry and needs some more mayo. Once you are satisfied with the ham salad, refrigerate for at least an hour or so before serving chilled for best flavor. It should last at least a couple of days chilled in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Alterations and Customizations.

Sometimes if the mood strikes I might include other seasons as well such as;

• Onion Powder

• Garlic Powder

• Paprika

• Cumin

• Dill

• Parsley

When serving, there are a lot of options. That includes right out of a bowl with a spoon!

• The ham salad could be presented as a dip with a platter of crackers or chips.

• Scooped into pita bread or rolled into a wrap with lettuce and cheese.

• As an old fashioned sandwich filler between two pieces of white bread.

• Make mini ham salad sliders or finger sandwiches for a party!

• Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

• Swap relish for chopped pickles.

• Add a chopped hard boiled egg or two to the mixture.

Thanks for stopping by! If you give this ham salad recipe a try, be sure to post your masterpiece on BlueSky and tag @bakitchen.bsky.social. I can't wait to see how you put your own spin on this nostalgic favorite!