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Ham isn’t just a holiday highlight but a food that deserves a spot at your dinner table all year long. You are going to love these irresistible ham dinner ideas, which are here to make your meals easier, tastier, and exciting. Get ready to fall in love with ham all over again with these tasty dinner recipes with ham!
Whether you have leftover Easter ham or grabbed some ham steaks at the grocery store, these great ham dinner ideas are sure to please. The flavorful, versatile meat really can help you turn any night of the week into something special. With these ham recipes, you can enjoy this juicy, tender meat all year long for a cozy dinner!
Quick and Easy Meals Made With Ham
Are you ready to discover your new favorite ham recipe for dinner? Well, I am ready to help! Here are my all time favorite ham recipes that I know you will love. From sliders to salads, you are sure to find a creative, new way to add ham to your dinner table. You may have to try them all!
1. Ham and Swiss Cheese Sliders
These ham and cheese sliders are my favorite thing to make with leftover ham. They are so simple to put together, but will really fill you up. These savory sliders are a perfect dinner, lunch, or even breakfast! I also love that you can quickly make 12 perfect sliders in under 30 minutes making this a perfect recipe to serve a crowd.
2. Ham and Cheese Quiche
This is another great meal to make using leftover ham. I actually make a few of these quiches in the week after Easter and freeze them. It’s a fantastic way to use all my Easter ham and stock my freezer with meals for the next few months.
Use a store-bought pie crust or a homemade pie crust. You’ll make the filling with heavy cream, chopped ham, shredded cheese, and simple seasonings. While the recipe does call for chopped ham, it is also fantastic when made with bacon.
3. Crock Pot Ham
Cooking ham in the crockpot is such an easy way to make a whole ham for dinner. This is my go-to recipe when my local store has ham on sale, but I don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. It is easy, delicious, and perfect as a Tuesday dinner or a Christmas ham. Make a green bean casserole or some hot cross buns to complete the meal.
4. Ham Salad
Ham salad is a tasty side dish that uses a lot of ham. If you have lots of ham leftovers, this is the recipe to make! Ham salad is a deli classic that you can quickly make at home and it’s a satisfying dinner salad because it’s so filling. Serve ham salad on crackers, bread, or just in a bowl as a side. I think it is best when enjoyed cold.
5. Ham and Bean Soup
I love a warm bowl of ham and bean soup. It’s a classic, satisfying soup that is hearty enough to be a complete meal. It is worth buying an entire ham just to make a huge batch of this ham and bean soup recipe.
My ham and bean soup has carrots, onions, celery, and garlic in the mix. I use canned cannellini beans which are already perfectly soft and don’t need to cook long. A little bit of thyme, salt, and pepper are all the seasonings you need!
6. Leftover Ham Casserole
My whole family loves this ham casserole and I love making it. It’s the perfect way to use up a honey baked ham and turn it into a new, delicious dinner. I also love that it’s a complete meal, big enough to serve 8, in one casserole dish.
7. Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
If you like the idea of ham casserole, then you should definitely give this recipe a try. It’s a great ham dinner idea that is so easy to make. You only need 7 simple ingredients and your dinner will be ready in under an hour.
8. Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Ham and cheese pinwheels may look like an appetizer, but they definitely make for a filling meal. My family actually asks me to make these on Easter as part of the Easter meal. They just can’t wait for the ham leftovers!
Crescent roll dough is slathered with butter, garlic, dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. Thinly sliced deli ham and swiss cheese is layered on top of the crescent dough and rolled up into pinwheels. The ham and cheese pinwheels bake quickly and you will soon have 8 warm ham pinwheels that are ready to eat for dinner.
9. Ham Tetrazzini
Ham tetrazzini is a fun way to use leftover ham and also a great way to use any leftover spaghetti you may have. It’s creamy, cheesy, and a perfect one-pan meal to make during the week.
Onions and mushrooms are sautéed together until golden brown. Condensed mushroom soup, milk, salt, and pepper are added to the pan and mixed with some ham, cheddar, and parmesan cheese. Once the sauce is melted, the spaghetti is added to the pan and the whole thing is put into the oven to bake. Once you see that cheese sauce bubbling, you know that the ham tetrazzini dinner is ready!
10. Ham Breakfast Burritos
I actually love to serve breakfast foods for dinner. Why should we limit nutritious eggs to just one meal? Make the burritos ahead and wrap them in foil to reheat later. This is also a great dinner to prepare for eating on the go. They are fantastic for busy family sports nights when you will need to serve dinner in a hurry!
11. Hot Ham Pie
This is the best ham pie recipe I have ever made. The filling is so creamy and flavorful and the sweet but salty ham goes so well with the buttery pie crust. You will fall in love with ham pie after just one bite!
12. One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet
Who doesn’t love a one dish meal? I definitely do! That is what made me want to try this ham and penne skillet recipe and it definitely did not disappoint. Penne skillet is a fantastic recipe for an easy weeknight meal that may quickly become a staple in your house.
13. Antipasto Squares
This is a whole new way to enjoy antipasto. The layers of sliced ham, cheese and sauce are seriously delicious. Skip the regular, boring antipasto platter and try this delicious recipe instead!
14. Bow Tie Pasta Salad
I love this bow tie pasta salad as a ham dinner idea, but also as an easy lunch. It is perfect for meal prep and delicious both cold or hot. You will want to double the recipe so you have extra for the week!
15. Baked Ham with Maple Dijon Glaze
You are going to go crazy for the sweet and savory glaze that coats this tasty spiral ham. It is the perfect match for the salty ham and will be a ham recipe for dinner that will quickly become your go-to favorite.
FAQs
The best way to cook ham is to bake it. Preheat your oven to 325ºF and spread a layer of mustard over the ham. Place the ham in a roasting pan, fat side up, and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 18 minutes per pound and then remove the foil and brush more mustard onto the top. Return the ham to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes. Let the cooked ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and serve with your favorite sides.
Yes, ham is a healthy meat to eat. It’s a good source of protein and provides essential vitamins and minerals like phosphorus, selenium, zinc and B vitamins. However, it is high in sodium so it should be eaten in moderation. Additionally, when choosing pre-packaged ham at the grocery store make sure to check the nutrition facts label to make sure you’re not consuming too much sodium.
Ham pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes, such as roasted potatoes, roasted vegetables, salads, and cornbread. You can also make sandwiches with leftover ham or serve it with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Additionally, for a special occasion, consider serving ham with an apricot or pineapple glaze. No matter what side dish you choose, it’s sure to go great with your sliced ham!
Cooked ham can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
No, you don’t need to wash ham before cooking. It is important to keep raw meat away from other food items in order to prevent cross contamination but it is not necessary to wash it. Additionally, washing a ham can make the meat tough as the water washes away some of the natural fats and moisture present in the meat.
One of the best ways to keep ham moist is to cover it with foil while baking. This will help trap the natural moisture in the meat and prevent it from drying out during cooking. Additionally, basting the ham with a glaze or mix of oil, honey, and broth can also help keep it nice and moist. Be sure to cover the ham in between basting sessions and remove from the oven when it has reached an internal temperature of 145°F.
Yes, you can freeze cooked ham. It is best to store the cooked meat in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer. Cooked ham will stay fresh for up to 3 months when stored correctly. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw the ham in the refrigerator and heat it back up before serving.
