Old Fashioned Ham Salad

There’s something so addictive about this Old Fashioned Ham Salad recipe – is it the simplicity? The combination of flavors? Or its versatility? I don’t know, but I love it, and I’m sure you will too!

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It’s creamy, and with a bit of a tang from the dill pickle, this classic recipe makes the perfect ham salad sandwich. It’s also great as a snack on crackers or just digging into it with a fork!

Ingredients

• Ham – Leftover ham works perfectly!
• Dill pickle – You can use any kind of dill pickles. Some recipes call for sweet pickle but a) we eat too much sugar so why add more and b) ham is sweet enough already.
• Mayonnaise – You can use any kind of mayo.
• Sour Cream – I almost always cut the mayo with sour cream. Sour cream is such an amazing ingredient. Try it this way – I know you’ll love it!
• Food processor – You can chop by hand but this inexpensive food processor will make quick work of that ham. I wouldn’t try to chop the ham by hand… it’d take you forever and the texture will be wrong. If you don’t have a food processor, they’re so handy!

How To Make The Best Ham Salad on the Planet

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Start by cutting the ham into chunks and placing it in a food processor. Pulse just until the ham is finely chopped but not paste-like, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Transfer the chopped ham to a mixing bowl.

Finely dice the dill pickle and add it to the bowl with the ham. Stir gently to distribute it evenly throughout the mixture.

Add the sour cream and mayonnaise, then mix until the salad is smooth and creamy. The ham provides enough salt on its own, so no additional seasoning is needed.

Serve right away, or cover and chill for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld before serving.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• I use mayo and sour cream instead of just mayo. Personally, I think the jarred stuff is nasty, so I cut it with sour cream. The result is a less sweet version with a bit of tang. In this dish, it’s a perfect match.
• I use dill vs sweet pickle relish in this recipe. I think we get enough sweet – the dill is delicious. Try it!
• You can pop the pickle into the food processor to chop, but I love the lovely larger bits of dill pickle, so I chop it by hand.
• You can also use store-bought dill pickle relish if you don’t want to chop it.
• Add enough sour cream and mayo (half and half) until it’s as creamy as you’d like it to be!

MAke It A Meal

I love this tasty ham recipe on crackers as a snack, I’ve included it on charcuterie boards, and it makes an awesome ham salad sandwich! Wash it down with this terrific protein smoothie, or serve it with this German Pretzel recipe for a hearty meal! I also just love a serving of this with a delish Buttermilk Drop Biscuit on the side! Or dig into a serving of this delicious Pickled Pike recipe!

Storage

This tasty salad will keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to a week. You can freeze leftover ham but I wouldn’t freeze this salad. Instead, freeze your ham and then thaw it when you’re ready to make the salad. Frozen and thawed ham tends to give off some water so be sure to drain it well before using thawed ham.