This one earns a genuine stamp of approval from my mother-in-law, and it only has three ingredients. Keto ham salad with pickle is the answer whenever leftover ham is sitting in the fridge after a holiday.
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You do not even need salt here, the ham brings plenty on its own. A grind of pepper is optional, and honestly this is fine served exactly as is.
Canned ham works fine too, just drain it well first, it holds a surprising amount of liquid.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Ham Salad with Pickle
Canned ham is a genuinely good option here, but it needs a bit more attention than leftover cooked ham. Drain it thoroughly first, pressing the lid down against it to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
Canned ham also runs saltier than leftover ham typically does, so taste it before adding any salt at all, you may not need any. Add the mayo gradually too, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the creaminess you want, rather than dumping it all in at once.
Finely chop the pickle rather than leaving it in big chunks, that way you get a bit of pickle in every single bite instead of an occasional lucky one.
This is genuinely easy to riff on. Dill or sweet pickle relish both work in place of chopped pickle for a different flavor direction, and a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce pushes this closer to a deviled ham style. I like serving this as part of a composed salad plate too, alongside egg salad and chicken salad, the kind of spread you would find on a deli menu.
You do not even need salt here, the ham brings plenty on its own. A grind of pepper is optional, and honestly this is fine served exactly as is.
What You’ll Love About Ham Salad with Pickle
- Ready in about 10 minutes, with a food processor doing most of the work.
- Just three ingredients, and no salt required at all.
- A genuinely great way to use up leftover holiday ham.
Ingredients
- Ham – Leftover cooked ham, or well-drained canned ham.
- Pickle – Diced or finely chopped. Dill or sweet pickle relish both work as substitutes.
- Mayonnaise – Add gradually to reach your preferred creaminess.
How to Make Ham Salad with Pickle
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Pulse the ham in a food processor until it’s crumbly and finely chopped. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Dice the pickle and mix it into the ham along with the mayonnaise. Taste and adjust with additional mayonnaise or a grind of pepper if desired, and serve.
Make It A Meal
Build a composed salad plate with Egg Salad and Southern Chicken Salad, the way you’d find it on a deli menu.
For a picnic or BBQ spread, Pickle Slaw with Bacon is a natural pairing too.
Storage
This does not freeze well once mixed, the ham releases liquid as it thaws and turns everything runny. You can freeze plain leftover ham on its own though, then thaw and drain it before making the salad. Refrigerated, this keeps for a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe runs about 1 net carb per 1/2 cup serving. The number in the recipe card below will recalculate once this post is republished, so use it as an estimate until then.
Yes, just drain it very well first, pressing with the lid to squeeze out excess liquid, and taste before adding any salt, since canned ham runs saltier than leftover ham.
Yes, dill or sweet pickle relish both work in place of chopped pickle, and a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce pushes this toward a deviled ham style.
On a bed of lettuce, in a lettuce wrap, or on a low-carb tortilla all work well, or as part of a composed salad plate with egg salad and chicken salad.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups ham
- 1/4 cup pickle diced
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
Instructions
- Pulse the ham in the food processor until it is crumbly and chopped fine. Remove and put into a mixing bowl.
- Dice the pickle and mix with the ham and mayonnaise.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Drain canned ham thoroughly if using it, pressing with the lid to squeeze out excess liquid.
- Taste before adding salt, especially with canned ham, which runs saltier than leftover ham.
- Add the mayonnaise a tablespoon at a time to reach your preferred creaminess, rather than all at once.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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- Love cauliflower? This recipe is the bomb!
When the mother in law approves, you KNOW it’s good! This was a great way to use up leftover ham!
How true! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
What a great recipe for using up that leftover ham from Easter! Cool! Thanks so much for sharing.
I’m always looking for ways to use up leftover ham and this is my new favourite. What a great idea – thank you! xx
I never thought to make ham salad, this is such a great idea! Perfect way to use up leftovers!
Simple yet tasty! My husband loves pickles, and he loved this ham salad on Maria Emmerich’s viral buns!
Just like my mother used to make. Thank you!