How to Get Creative with Leftover Ham

A ham dinner is the perfect meal to enjoy all week with leftovers. When you have a lot of ham to spare, however, it can be difficult to use it all up before it goes bad. You also don't want to get stuck in the rut of dining on the leftovers, in the same way, day after day. Fortunately, ham is one of the most versatile meats you can use, and there are plenty of delicious but varied meals you can make with it.

Macaroni and Cheese

Ham upgrades the tried and true classic of macaroni and cheese, adding flavor, texture, and protein. Whether you are making mac and cheese from a box or homemade with milk, flour, butter, and cheese, simply toss pieces of ham in and mix throughout. Combining these two delicious foods will make a very satisfying meal.

Grilled Cheese

Give a twist to this classic with your leftover ham. The added taste and texture transforms the sandwich and gives you more to enjoy. Start with thick slices of white bread, add sharp cheddar cheese and ham, and finish the sandwich with a spread of mustard. Once you cook it in butter using a sautee pan, you'll have the perfect grilled cheese.

Egg Salad

Egg salad is the ideal comfort food, but it can be made even better with ham. Simply add ham, cut into cubes or shredded, to your egg salad, made traditionally of boiled eggs, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Egg salad can be made a variety of ways, however, and adding mustard to it can really compliment the ham. Served with toast, you've got a simple but tasty meal.

Ham and Broccoli Casserole

This easy-to-cook casserole is a healthy and simple meal for all the family. All you need to do is mix cooked but firm broccoli, ham, and a cheese sauce together. Like with macaroni and cheese, the sauce can either be bought ready to use in a jar or made from scratch with nothing but butter, flour, milk, and sharp cheddar cheese. Once you have combined the ingredients, put it all into a casserole dish, and cover with plenty of breadcrumbs and some additional grated cheese. This topping will add some crunch to your dish's texture.

Poor Man's Potatoes

This traditional Spanish dish can be made with or without ham, though the meat will make it more hearty and delicious. While this is a dish that has a different recipe depending on which Spanish grandmother is serving it, it is a staple that is known for being cheap but tasty. First roast potatoes, onions, peppers, and ham in the oven in a dish. Once it is ready, top it with fried eggs. A simple but flavorful meal.

Ham and Mushroom Tagliatelle

While a lot can be done with tagliatelle, the Italian classic traditionally uses a cream and mushroom sauce. Whether you get this from a jar or make it yourself with heavy cream, garlic, thyme, and a generous amount of mushrooms, adding ham at the end will bring the dish to new heights.

Pizza

Ham on pizza is a classic, and it can be the perfect way to use up your leftover ham, so it doesn't go to waste. Whether you're making homemade dough or you simply have a frozen pizza, you can cover it generously with ham and add a little excitement to a regular cheese pizza. It can also be combined with other classic pizza toppings such as mushrooms, olives, or pineapple to give you a completely new flavor.

Quesadilla

Add leftover ham to a traditional cheese quesadilla to liven up the dish. Best with cheddar cheese, add a generous helping of shredded ham to the quesadilla for an extra bold flavor. Serve it up with cilantro and lime rice, black beans, and sour cream for the perfect Mexican meal.

Omelet

Adding protein to an omelet is as tried and true as the dish itself, and there's no better option than ham. Add thick cubes of ham, along with mushrooms, red onion, salt, and pepper, to whisked eggs, sautee, flip, and serve. Paired with toast or biscuits, this makes a wholesome and homey dish.

Croissant

Ham, fresh mozzarella, spring onion, and balsamic oil on a croissant make for a simple and delicious sandwich. If you're in the mood for something hot, it can be toasted in the oven. With a glass of orange juice, a ham and cheese croissant is the go-to for a delicious and sophisticated brunch.