Creative Ham Repurposing Ideas

Welcome to our favorite Easy Leftover Ham Recipe, a delightful creation your entire family, especially the kids, will absolutely adore! This versatile recipe isn’t just for ham; you can effortlessly adapt it as a leftover turkey recipe too, using the exact same simple ingredients for an equally popular dish. Crafted with flaky crescent rolls and melted cheese, these savory turnovers make for an excellent and fuss-free lunch or a satisfying dinner any day of the week.

After the festive occasions like Christmas or Easter, finding creative ways to use up all that delicious leftover ham can be a challenge. We’ve all been there – a large ham, bought because it’s so affordable during the holidays, often leads to an abundance of meat that can quickly become repetitive with endless sandwiches or the same old soup. In the past, a significant portion of our leftover ham regrettably went to waste. That’s why I’m continuously searching for innovative and exciting leftover ham recipes that breathe new life into holiday remnants, ensuring nothing goes unappreciated and lasts us well into the following week.

Leftover Ham Recipe with Crescent Rolls: A Family Favorite for Any Occasion

Whether you’re faced with a substantial amount of ham in your fridge after a holiday feast or simply have a few extra pieces of ham steak from the oven, this recipe offers a brilliant solution. Dicing the ham into small, manageable pieces and incorporating it into a brand new meal is an excellent strategy to minimize food waste and simplify dinner preparations for the next few nights. While I certainly enjoy tossing leftovers into our beloved slow cooker ham and beans, I always need a few more inventive ideas to ensure that every last bit of ham is savored. Let’s be honest, there’s only so much sliced ham and Swiss cheese one can truly enjoy before craving something different, right?

Before we dive into the details, let me emphasize a personal cooking philosophy: I absolutely abhor waste, especially when it involves delicious ingredients like leftover ham! When I have a bag full of flavorful meat, I feel an undeniable compulsion to find an exciting way to utilize it. Casseroles are, of course, a fantastic option and often my go-to for transforming leftovers. Typically, I might throw whatever I have into my Instant Pot or a classic casserole dish, perhaps like a creamy tetrazzini with pasta, and voilà – dinner is served.

A few years ago, I developed this delightful cabbage and ham recipe, which was a huge hit. But then came this incredibly yummy and surprisingly easy dish we now affectionately call “little turnovers.” They quickly became a staple, enjoyed by everyone in our household. If you’re also on the lookout for a fun, hands-on meal that bakes perfectly in a muffin tin, these turnovers might just become your family’s next obsession. Don’t just take my word for it; read the comments! Countless people have raved about this delightful, handheld finger food, perfect for dinner. What’s more, it’s just as delicious when made with leftover turkey meat. Once you’ve tried our simple cubed ham and cheese baked creation, be sure to let us know what you think!

Essential Ingredients for Your Easy Leftover Ham Turnovers

Gathering the right ingredients is key to creating these wonderfully savory turnovers. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

Key Components

• Leftover Ham: You’ll want about 2 cups of small, bite-sized, cubed ham. This could be from a holiday roast, or even cubed ham steaks. The smaller the pieces, the better they’ll integrate into the filling. Make sure it’s cooked ham!
• Shredded Cheese: We find that 1.5 cups of shredded Swiss cheese offers a wonderful, nutty flavor that complements the ham perfectly. However, if you prefer, mozzarella provides a milder taste and excellent meltiness. Really, almost any melty cheese will work, but through our experiments, Swiss or mozzarella deliver the best flavor profile for this recipe.
• Mayonnaise: To keep the filling moist and bind it together with a creamy texture, you’ll need ½ cup of mayonnaise. In our opinion, brands like Best Foods (or Hellmann’s, depending on your region) generally offer a richer flavor compared to Miracle Whip for this particular dish.
• Dill: A pinch of dried dill is my seasoning of choice, adding a subtle, fresh herbaceous note. If you have fresh dill on hand, that’s always superior and highly recommended!
• Salt and Pepper: A pinch of each, or to taste, will enhance all the flavors in the filling.
• Refrigerated Crescent Rolls: For the dough that wraps all this deliciousness, grab one tube of refrigerated crescent rolls. A standard tube typically yields 8 individual rolls, making 8 turnovers. This recipe is easily scalable, so feel free to double or triple the ingredients if you’re feeding a crowd or want more leftovers!

Smart Substitutions & Delicious Variations

Don’t be afraid to experiment with this recipe! I’ve even made a variation, which you can see in the video below, when I mistakenly bought a crescent sheet instead of the pre-perforated crescent rolls. They are indeed NOT the same, but I made it work beautifully! If you find yourself in a similar situation, or simply want to try something different, here are some ideas:

• Crescent Sheets: If you grab a crescent sheet by accident, no worries! You’ll just need to cut it into triangles yourself. Roll out the sheet and cut it into 8 equal triangles, then proceed with the recipe as usual.
• Other Meats: As mentioned, this recipe is fantastic with diced leftover turkey. You could also try cooked chicken.
• Add-ins: For extra flavor and texture, consider adding finely diced onions, bell peppers, or even a touch of Dijon mustard to the ham mixture.
• Different Cheeses: Cheddar, provolone, or a Colby Jack blend would also be delicious alternatives to Swiss or mozzarella.

Crafting Your Easy Leftover Ham Turnovers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful ham and cheese turnovers is incredibly straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfect batch every time:

1. Prepare Your Muffin Tin: Begin by thoroughly spraying your muffin tin with a non-stick cooking spray. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures your turnovers release easily once baked.
2. Mix the Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine your cubed ham, shredded cheese, mayonnaise, dill, and pinches of salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined and the ham is evenly coated. You can adjust the amount of mayonnaise slightly if you prefer a creamier filling.
3. Preheat Oven and Arrange Crescent Rolls: Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on your crescent roll package (typically around 350-375°F or 175-190°C). Open the tube of crescent rolls and separate each triangle along the pre-made seams. Gently place one crescent roll triangle into each muffin cup. Position the larger, wider part of the triangle at the bottom of the muffin cup, allowing the smaller, pointed end to hang out over the edges.
4. Fill and Seal: Using a spoon, scoop a generous amount of the ham mixture into the center of each crescent roll-lined muffin cup. Once filled, take the smaller, pointed end of the crescent roll that’s hanging over and fold it over the top of the mixture. Tuck the edges slightly underneath the filling or press them gently into the sides to seal the turnover, creating a neat little package.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the muffin tin into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes, or according to the timing suggested on your crescent roll package, until the tops are beautifully golden brown. It’s important to ensure they are adequately golden on top; otherwise, the insides of the crescent dough might be a bit gooey, which isn’t ideal.

Once baked, these turnovers emerge as perfect, golden brown, handheld treats. Kids especially love them because they can easily pick them up and eat them without any utensils – making cleanup a breeze! It’s a quick and satisfying meal that pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad, making dinner a stress-free affair.

I know you likely have a bag of cooked ham in your fridge right now, especially if it’s the day after Christmas or Easter. Whether you’ve prepared an air fryer ham or roasted one in the oven, it’s rare to finish it all in one sitting.

Here’s another fun tip for utilizing a crescent sheet (the kind without perforations), like I mentioned, I once bought it by mistake! The package will clearly state “crescent sheet” or “crescent rolls.” If you happen to find only the sheet version, there’s absolutely no need to worry because your turnovers will turn out just as delicious this way. You’ll simply need to roll out the dough and cut it into 8 equal triangles before proceeding with the filling and baking steps. It’s a testament to making the best out of a minor “mistake”!

4.77 from 13 votes

Leftover Ham & Cheese Turnovers

By
Justine

This easy leftover ham recipe with crescent rolls is a guaranteed hit with your kids! Use your holiday ham leftovers to create these cheesy, savory turnovers or roll-ups for a fantastic lunch or dinner idea.

Prep:
10 mins

Cook:
8 mins

Total:
18 mins

Servings:
6

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Equipment

• 1 muffin tin
• 1 Bowl

Ingredients

• 2 cup ham, cubed, or dice leftover turkey and use that
• 1.5 cup swiss cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 pinch dill
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 container crescent rolls, refrigerated, to make 8

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Instructions

1. Cube ham, shred cheese, and add to a bowl. Add mayonnaise. If you want more of a coating you can add a bit more mayo, up to you.
2. I like to add a pinch of dill and salt, you could add a pinch of thyme too.
3. Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray and lay crescent rolls inside holes with the larger side of the triangle on the bottom of the muffin pan holes.
4. Mix ham mixture and fill muffin holes, then fold small part of crescent triangle over the top of the mixture.
5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes or until tops are nice and golden brown.

Video

A video tutorial for this recipe is available to guide you through each step. Please check the original blog post for the embedded video.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz,
Calories: 240kcal,
Protein: 10g,
Fat: 21g,
Saturated Fat: 4g,
Cholesterol: 36mg,
Sodium: 673mg,
Potassium: 133mg,
Vitamin A: 10IU,
Calcium: 3mg,
Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Main Course, Snack

Cuisine:
American

Tried this recipe? Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

More Delicious Leftover Ham Recipes to Explore

• You can craft a quick and satisfying hash brown casserole right on the stovetop with diced ham. It’s a superb one-pan meal, perfect for a speedy brunch or a “breakfast for dinner” option that the whole family will appreciate.
• For a truly comforting and thick soup, our Crockpot Ham and Potatoes is an absolutely fabulous choice, especially for a hearty family brunch.
• Elevate your side dishes by dicing your ham and adding it to leftover scalloped potatoes for a complete and delicious meal idea.
• Kickstart your morning by adding ham leftovers to scrambled eggs – a simple way to create some truly delightful ham and egg goodness!
• An easy and flavorful classic, Black-Eyed Peas and Ham is a breeze to throw together, offering a soulful and satisfying dish.
• Our Crockpot Breakfast Casserole is another fantastic recipe to incorporate those savory ham bits into, ideal for meal prep or a weekend breakfast.

Storing Leftover Ham: Freshness and Freezing Tips

Knowing how to properly store your leftover ham is essential to maximize its flavor and ensure food safety. Here’s what you need to know:

How Long is Leftover Cooked Ham Good For in the Refrigerator?

Most cooked ham leftovers can be safely stored in the refrigerator for approximately 3 to 5 days. To maintain its moisture and prevent it from drying out, always store your ham in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. This will help preserve its quality and extend its shelf life.

Can I Freeze Leftover Ham?

While I personally prefer to dice it up and use it in various meals over the next 2-3 days until it’s completely used, freezing is an excellent option for longer storage. My favorite immediate next-day meal after making turnovers is our delicious Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder. If you do have a substantial amount of ham leftovers and wish to preserve them for an extended period, you absolutely can freeze them. Simply place your sliced or cut-up ham into airtight freezer bags or vacuum-seal bags. When stored properly, frozen ham can last for 2 to 3 months, ready to be thawed and incorporated into future dishes whenever you need a quick, flavorful ingredient.