Classic Ham Salad Recipe

You've heard of egg salad, tuna salad, and of course chicken salad, but what about ham salad? It may not be as popular as the other meat salads, but it definitely holds up when it comes to the flavor test. "There are so many things I love about this recipe," recipe developer Susan Olayinka raves. "The ham and pickles give it a great salty flavor, while the celery and onion add a nice crunch. Plus, it's super easy to make, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways."

One of the easiest ways to enjoy ham salad is to simply eat it on its own, but Olayinka notes that it's also tasty "on a bed of lettuce, or on a croissant." Serve this ham salad as an appetizer, side dish, or enjoy it for a healthy lunch. It's easy to make, with only 10 minutes of prep time, and requires a mere handful of ingredients. Move over, chicken salad, because ham salad will be the new dish in your lunch rotation. 

Ham is the star of this recipe, and you'll need ½ pound of your choice of ham. You'll also need some celery, white onion, pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard. 

First, dice the onion, celery, pickles, and ham into bite-sized pieces. Mix together the diced ingredients, mayonnaise, and mustard in a bowl, until evenly coated. "Feel free to add in other chopped vegetables, such as carrots or green onions," Olayinka suggests. "You could also mix in some shredded cheese, or crumbled bacon for extra flavor. Be sure to taste the salad before serving to adjust the seasonings as needed."

Once the ham salad is all mixed up, you're ready to serve it, as desired. Olayinka enjoys it on a croissant as a sandwich, though you could enjoy it on any type of bread. You can skip the bread, and opt for a bed of lettuce, or eat it straight from the mixing bowl.

If you have leftovers, you're in luck. "This ham salad will last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days," Olayinka notes.