Old Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe

If you have five minutes to spare, make this creamy Old-Fashioned Ham Salad recipe, and you’ll know exactly why it’s a go-to lunch in the South! Savory chunks of ham and boiled eggs are coated in a rich, tangy mayo-based dressing, then piled high between two slices of soft bread. Simple, filling, and delicious!

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Old-Fashioned Ham Salad
Serves: 3 cups
Main Ingredients: chopped smoked or baked ham, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, peeled and chopped boiled eggs, spicy brown mustard, pepper to taste
Why You'll Love It: If you have five minutes to spare, make this scrumptious and creamy old-fashioned ham salad recipe and you'll know exactly why it's a go-to lunch in the South.

A Simple Ham Salad You Can Make Your Own

Similar to chicken salad and tuna salad, this ham salad is one of those old-timey recipes that use up leftovers and scraps of ham to make an easy, satisfying meal.

There are as many ways to make a ham salad spread as the day is long! So if you don’t have your own old-fashioned ham salad recipe, feel free to take this one and customize it to your taste or make it up with what you have on hand. Don’t have spicy brown mustard? Use a bit of regular mustard and add a little more pepper. Prefer a different mayonnaise than what I use? Go for it. Tweak it, mix it up, taste it, and make it your own.

Fact is, I can think of very few recipes as simple as this one! But while we’re at it, my Classic Southern Tomato Sandwich, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, and Fried Bologna Sandwich are definitely worth a mention!

Ingredients for old-fashioned ham salad sandwich recipe, featuring spicy brown mustard, sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, boiled eggs, black pepper, and chopped ham.

Recipe Ingredients

Spicy brown mustard
Sweet pickle relish
Mayonnaise
Boiled eggs
Black pepper to taste (I usually don’t add salt because the ham is salty, but add it if you like)
Chopped ham

Tasty Variations To Try

Swap out the mayo for sour cream or non-fat Greek yogurt if you prefer.
Not a fan of spicy brown mustard? Dijon or yellow mustard work just as well.
Toss in a rib of chopped celery for a satisfying crunch.
Pecans or walnuts make a great addition if you love a little nuttiness.
Pickle lovers, don’t be shy! Throw in 1/2 cup of chopped dill pickle.
A handful of fresh chopped parsley can really brighten things up.
For a bit of a zesty kick, a dash of lemon juice goes a long way.
Shredded cheddar cheese is always a welcome addition!
Like a bit of bite? Chopped green or red onion does the trick.

How to Make My Old-Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe

1. Chop Ham & Eggs

First, chop up your cooked ham into cubes. You’ll want to do the same for your boiled eggs too.

Note: You can use a food processor if you’d like – it depends on how fine you want the salad to be!

A hand chopping up ham into cubes over a cutting board.

Chopping up boiled eggs on a wooden cutting board.

2. Make Your Salad

Next, place your chopped ham in a mixing bowl.

A hand holding chopped ham in a mixing bowl.

Then add the mayo, pickle relish, mustard, and black pepper to taste.

Stir all this until well blended. Then add your chopped boiled eggs, stirring gently.

Stirring ham salad ingredients together in a glass mixing bowl.

3. Serve & Enjoy

Your ham salad spread is now ready! This recipe makes about three cups of delectable ham salad. You can refrigerate it for a while (an hour is best) to let the flavors blend, or you can eat it right away.

Hands holding piece of ham salad sandwich.

Serve it on sandwiches, homemade dinner rolls, or crackers – whatever’s calling you!

Storage

Store leftover ham salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Because it uses mayonnaise, I don’t recommend freezing. Lucky it’s super easy to make from scratch!

Old-fashioned ham salad sandwich on a decorative white plate.

Old-Fashioned Ham Salad FAQs

Can I use store-bought ham for this recipe?

Yes, store-bought ham works perfectly! I usually pick up whatever’s on sale at the deli counter or throw in some leftover holiday ham. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite ways to use up those holiday leftovers… beats eating the same ham dinner three nights in a row!

How do I know when my boiled eggs are ready?

Your eggs should be fully hard-boiled for this recipe. I usually boil mine for about 10 to 12 minutes, then pop them straight into an ice bath to stop the cooking. This also makes them way easier to peel!

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, and honestly, I think it tastes even better the next day! Making it the night before gives all those flavors time to really come together. Just cover it tightly and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

What goes with a ham salad?

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with potato chips and a fresh green salad. The crunch of the chips and the tang of the pickles are a great match for the rich, savory flavor of the ham salad!

Did this recipe hit the spot? Give it a star rating and leave a comment below. Bonus points if you tell me what you served it with!