One of our favorite party tricks is to be ready for the unexpected, especially on holidays where dinner is the main event (ahem, Thanksgiving and Easter). We’ve gotten used to extra guests and forgetting some ingredients. One thing we never expect is how much food (especially ham!) we have left over. To make the most of it, we’ve been cooking lots of casseroles, sandwiches, soups, and other things. If you feel the same way and have too much extra ham this year, check out our 53 favorite recipes that will make your leftovers taste great again.
For many of these recipes, deli-sliced ham is called for. You can easily use any leftovers instead. Make it as thin as you can, and then enjoy the extra taste and texture that you won’t get at the deli. If you have guests staying the night after the big holiday meal, you can make our crowd-pleasing ham by mixing leftover ham with eggs or potatoes. For lunch, you can make all the different kinds of ham sandwiches. If you add a fried egg, you have a tasty Croque Madame that you can eat for any meal.
Just don’t throw away that ham bone! It’s the key to making the best split pea soup (along with bacon!).
Want more leftover inspiration? Check out our are our top go-to ways to make leftovers more exciting. And since you’re using leftovers for your main meal, why not go “ham” on dessert?!.
A Monte Cristo is a sandwich with Dijon mustard, Swiss cheese, ham, turkey, and dipped in a French toast batter. It is then fried in a shallow pan and served with jam and confectioners sugar. Basically, it has all of the classic American diner flavors: sweet, salty, cheesy, and indulgent. Get the Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe.
Potato croquettes are one of the most popular Spanish tapas, or small plates, and for good reason. They make mashed potatoes and ham that are a day old taste great again, and they’re the perfect bite-sized snack when you want something different from potato chips but still tastes like comfort food. Get the Potato Croquettes recipe.
It’s the day after a big holiday feast, and you’ve got leftover sliced ham and a couple unused glaze packets sitting in your fridge. Now what? As tempting as it is to toss those unopened seasoning packets don’t do it! With a little creativity you can transform that leftover glaze into delicious recipes that will add flavor to many different foods.
I’ve rounded up 12 tasty ways to use up extra ham glaze so none of it ends up in the trash. From glazing chicken pork chops even veggies, to mixing it into dips, baked goods, and more, you’ll be able to get every last bit of use out of the seasoning. Read on for tips and recipe ideas.
Glaze Pork Chops or Tenderloin
The obvious choice is to use the glaze on another type of pork. Brush it onto pork chops, tenderloin, or even pork roasts before cooking. It adds sweetness and spice that pairs perfectly with the pork.
Glaze Chicken Pieces
Chicken takes beautifully to the ham glaze treatment. Grill, bake or pan fry chicken breasts, thighs, wings or drumsticks with a nice coating of glaze brushed on top.
Glaze Fish Fillets
Salmon, tilapia, cod, haddock and more are enhanced by a light ham glaze glaze. Add flavor and caramelized sweetness to fish dinners.
Make Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potato wedges or baked sweet potato fries are kicked up a notch when tossed with a bit of ham glaze before cooking.
Season Vegetables
Drizzle the glaze over roasted veggies like carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or broccoli before roasting for a flavor boost.
Stir into Beans
Add a spoonful of glaze when cooking dried or canned beans like pinto, kidney, black or cannellini. It gives a sweet, smoky flavor.
Mix into Cornbread
Stir some glaze into cornbread batter before baking for a hint of sweetness and spice in every bite.
Swirl into Baked Goods
Add a spoonful of glaze when making banana bread, zucchini bread or even pancakes for a little something extra.
Make a Spread or Dip
Mix glaze into room temperature cream cheese or mayo to create a sweet and spicy spread for crackers, sandwiches, or veggies.
Use on Grilled Fruit
Try brushing the glaze onto grilled fruit like peaches, pineapple, apples or pears. It caramelizes nicely.
Blend into Salad Dressing
Whisk a bit of the glaze into oil and vinegar for a salad dressing with extra flavor. Goes well on greens or pasta salads.
Make a Glaze for Ham
You can definitely use leftover glaze to coat ham again whenever you cook it. Just warm it up and brush onto slices.
With a little resourcefulness, you’ll be able to avoid waste and enjoy every last bit of flavor from the glaze mix. It can add sweet, savory, spicy notes to all kinds of dishes. So next time you have leftover ham glaze, get creative with these ideas. Your cooking will benefit from the extra flavors.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
After scrolling through all of our amazing Instant Pot recipes, we know what your answer will be. But one of its absolute best uses is for soups. Soups, like split pea, often taste better after simmering for a couple of hours and letting the flavors blend. It only takes a short time to do in an Instant Pot, so this will be ready in (almost) no time. Get the Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe.
Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
If you like potato soup, you’ll love this new version. This creamy soup is comfort food you know and love, with a little something extra: chunks of soft potatoes, salty-sweet ham, and soft vegetables.
Get the Creamy Ham and Potato Soup recipe.
How do I use a ham glaze packet?
FAQ
What to do with a packet of ham glaze?
How to use ham glaze?
How long can you keep glazed ham?
Can you cook ham and glaze next day?
Can you save a ham glaze packet?
If you have an unused ham glaze packet, you can save it for later. This is a good option if you know you will use the packet within a few months. To save the packet, you can put it in a zip-top bag and store it in the fridge. If you want to use the ham glaze packet right away, you can use it to make a new dish.
How long can ham be without refrigeration and still be safe?
Most food experts recommend that ham, should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. After that time, you should discard it.
What to do with leftover ham glaze?
One great way to use up an unused ham glaze packet is to mix it into a homemade vinaigrette. Just whisk together the ham glaze with some apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. This makes a delicious and slightly sweet dressing that is perfect for salads or roasted vegetables.
Can you freeze a ham glaze packet?
When you have a ham glaze packet that you are not going to use right away, the best way to store it is in the refrigerator. This will help to keep the packet from drying out and becoming unusable. If you are not going to use the packet within a few days, you can also freeze it. How can I use an unused ham glaze packet in a recipe?