My most-asked-for ham salad recipe only needs leftover ham, mayonnaise, celery, onion, and the right amount of seasonings.
Ham salad is a classic potluck and picnic dish that’s easy to whip up. The delicious mix of smoky, salty ham with crunchy vegetables and creamy dressings makes it a crowd-pleasing favorite. But making ham salad can be tricky without a food processor to dice up the ingredients.
Well, I’m here to show you that you can absolutely make tasty homemade ham salad without any fancy appliances. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk through simple techniques for dicing ham and veggies by hand along with easy dressing recipes. You’ll learn handy tips for chopping mixing and storing ham salad, plus fun flavor variations. Let’s dive in!
Why Make Your Own Ham Salad?
Here are some of the main benefits of making ham salad from scratch at home
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Control ingredients – Make it just how you like it. Add your favorite mix-ins.
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Avoid preservatives – Homemade has no mystery chemicals.
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Save money – Buying ham and making it costs less than prepared ham salad.
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Use up leftovers – Turn holiday ham into something new.
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Make ahead – Ham salad keeps for a week refrigerated.
With just a knife, cutting board, bowl and spoon you can whip up fresh delicious ham salad in no time.
Hand Dicing Ham, Eggs and Veggies
Without a food processor, we’ll need to dice the ham salad ingredients by hand. Here’s how:
Dice Cooked Ham
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Choose boneless fully cooked ham. It’s easier to cut.
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Cut ham into 1/4 inch slices, then stack slices.
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Cut stacked slices into 1/4 inch wide sticks.
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Finally, cut across sticks into 1/4 inch cubes.
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Add to a large bowl as you chop.
Dice Hard Boiled Eggs
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Peel eggs and rinse off any shell bits.
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Slice eggs in half lengthwise, then widthwise into quarters.
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Chop each quarter into thirds. Pieces around 1/4 inch.
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Add to bowl with ham.
Dice Onion and Celery
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Trim ends from onion and celery stalks. Peel onion if desired.
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Slice onion and celery crosswise into thin rounds.
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Stack rounds and chop into small cubes, about 1/4 inch.
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Add diced veggies to ham and egg mix.
It takes a little time, but hand dicing gives you uniform pieces for the best texture.
Making Your Own Creamy Dressing
A rich, creamy dressing brings all the diced ingredients together. Make your own easy dressing with:
Mayonnaise – Use real mayo, not low fat. It provides creaminess.
Mustard – Yellow, Dijon or whole grain. Gives tang.
Relish – Sweet pickle relish adds nice crunch and flavor.
Juice – Lemon juice brightens up the salad.
Sour Cream – Adds cool tanginess.
Salt and Pepper – Season to taste.
Adjust ingredient amounts to your preference. The dressing possibilities are endless.
Hand Mixing Ham Salad
With the ingredients prepped, it’s time to mix it all together:
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Combine diced ham, eggs, onion, celery and any other vegetables in a large bowl.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, relish and any other dressing ingredients until smooth.
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Pour dressing over ham salad ingredients.
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Use a large spoon to toss and coat evenly.
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Add any other mix-ins like fresh herbs now.
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Season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice if desired.
And that’s it – your creamy ham salad is ready to enjoy!
Serving and Storing Ham Salad
Ham salad keeps well in the fridge for about 5-7 days. Here are some storage tips:
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Store in an airtight container to prevent drying out.
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Press plastic wrap onto surface before sealing to prevent oxidation.
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For longer storage, tightly wrap individual portions to grab and go.
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Keep ham salad chilled at all times – do not leave out!
Ham salad is delicious in a sandwich or wrap, on top of greens, stuffed in tomatoes or hollowed out bell peppers, and more. Bring it to picnics, potlucks and lunchtime for an easy crowd-pleasing dish.
Get Creative with Fun Ham Salad Ideas
Beyond the classic version, you can take ham salad in all sorts of flavor directions. Try out these fun ideas:
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Use a mix of smoky ham and roasted turkey for more depth.
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Add diced sharp cheddar, Gruyère or Gouda for a cheese lover’s salad.
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Mix in crunchy nuts like pecans, almonds or pine nuts.
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Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a tangy twist.
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Add crisp diced apple or sweet golden raisins.
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Use citrus juices like orange, grapefruit or lime instead of lemon.
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Add spices like dry mustard, smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.
The possibilities are endless for customizing your own signature ham salad creation.
Ham Salad Success Without a Food Processor
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- Boneless cooked ham—you can use leftover ham for this recipe, or you can buy a small smoked ham.
- hard-boiled egg—this makes the dish taste better than you think it does, and you can’t even tell it has eggs in it. But if you really don’t like eggs, you can leave them out.
- Adding celery and onion gives this dish more flavor. Feel free to use what you like, or leave it out if you don’t. But I promise you, these ingredients are worth it.
- There is sweet pickle relish and dill pickle relish. I don’t know why relish is always controversial, but if you don’t like it, leave it out.
- mayonnaise – I am a mayonnaise purist. For me, it has to be Hellman’s, Duke’s, or JFG. Miracle Whip is not something I like at all, but if you do, then enjoy it.
- Some people might think it’s strange to add mustard to ham salad, but it makes it taste great in the background and you can’t taste it on its own.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HAM SALAD:
Add the ham, egg, celery, and onion to a blender or food processor. Add a little salt and black pepper to taste. Pulse (short, quick pulses) 20-25 times to mince.
Combine remaining ingredients into a separate bowl (sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, mustard.)
Then stir it into minced ham mixture. Cover and chill. I like to chill ham salad for several hours. It definitely gets better as it chills for a while.
Serve on rolls, in a sandwich or with crackers!
Old Fashioned Ham Salad Spread
FAQ
What is ham salad made of?
Why is ham salad pink?
How long is ham salad safe to eat?
Can you make homemade ham salad with a food processor?
Homemade ham salad is a quickie lunch fix, whether you have a food processor or not. Here’s all you do: Very finely dice the ham or whirl it in a food processor. Transfer the ham to a bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients (per the recipe below). Serve the ham mixture in rolls or on bread or even put it out for guests to dip crackers into.
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.
Can ham salad be made without mustard?
Ham salad made without it is kind of boring. I recommend using a spicy brown mustard or a Dijon mustard for the best results. Yellow mustard can be used, but it is my last choice and I recommend using half the amount and then adjusting to taste because it just doesn’t have the same balancing effect as the Dijon or spicy brown mustard.
How do you eat a ham salad?
Here are some suggestions. Lettuce Wrap: Place the ham salad into a leaf of Romaine lettuce and enjoy a crunchy wrap that is bursting with flavor. Macaroni Salad: Mix your ham salad into boiled and cooled macaroni noodles for a flavorful pasta salad. Add extra mayo, mustard, relish as needed and add in some frozen peas and cheese chunks if desired.