Last Updated on December 9, 2024 by Kimberly Stroh

I love a great ham for holidays, but we have to mix it up after day two of leftovers and keep things exciting. My Grandmother always made this Leftover Ham 7 Layer Salad and I still love it. Whether you’re making it after Christmas or Easter, it’s a delicious way to use leftover ham. With layers of lettuce, pasta, peas, homemade dressing, cheese, hard-boiled egg and ham- you can’t go wrong. Leftovers are no longer boring.

When To Make This 7 Layer Salad

This recipe has become a tradition for our family to enjoy after holidays, when we’ve got leftover ham. I chop up my leftover Holiday Bourbon Ham. However, you can make this any time of the year and purchase a steak of ham from your butcher to chop. The combination of hard-boiled eggs and ham reminds me of Easter, but it’s great for any time. I’ve made it for bridal and baby showers since it’s a light and spring-y salad recipe. It’s so beautiful with the layers in the trifle bowl.

What To Serve With 7 Layer Salad

This salad is a one-bowl meal. It’s a balanced combination of protein, carbs and vegetable starches. I’ve enjoyed the salad on its own, but it’s also great with a baguette of fresh bread or crackers. Try these Black Pepper and Thyme Olive Oil Crackers if you want a homemade cracker to accompany the salad. It’s a hearty salad, but you can also serve a light broth soup with the salad.

Recipe Variations

There are a few ways that you can make this salad your own. I love to mix up the cheeses. Colby jack or Monterrey jack cheese works well. I’ve also use raw broccoli instead of peas in the salad. The green layer adds color, so I never omit it. I just change it out to a different green vegetable. Pick what is in season, if you want to pass on frozen peas.

How To Store Leftovers

Check on the freshness of your ham and follow the USDA guidelines on refrigerated leftover ham. Typically, I enjoy the salad for 2-3 days after making it. Just add plastic wrap over your trifle bowl and store the salad in the refrigerator after enjoying. It doesn’t need to thaw before serving. This is not a recipe to freeze. Enjoy the salad for a few days and toss it.

Looking for another trifle salad to make? I love this Layered Bacon Cornbread Salad during the summertime as a side dish for BBQ.

Leftover Ham 7 Layer Salad Ingredients:

• Rotini Pasta: I love the spiral pasta, but a tube pasta also works. Use whatever you prefer!
• Chopped Iceberg Lettuce
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: Prep the eggs before making the salad to ensure they’re chilled.
• Ham: Leftover ham (we’ve used HoneyBaked before) or ham steak works
• Green Peas: Cook a bag of frozen peas and let them chill
• Cheese: Monterey Jack Cheese, Colby or Cheddar works
• Mayonnaise: This makes your dressing creamy
• Sour Cream: This will make your dressing thick
• Dijon Mustard: Adds flavor to your dressing
• Green Onions: Adds color to your dressing and tang
• Salt: For Seasoning
• Pepper: For Seasoning

Step-by-Step Directions To Make Leftover Ham 7 Layer Salad

Before preparing the salad, hard boil the eggs and cook the rotini pasta. For the peas, I just use frozen peas that I cook in the microwave. This salad is beautiful in a trifle bowl, to really showcase all of the layers! To start, layer your cooked rotini pasta on the bottom.

Next, chop your head of iceberg lettuce for the second layer. You could substitute whatever lettuce you prefer. Add it on top of the cooked pasta.

For the hard-boiled eggs, I like to slice them with an egg slicer so they’re perfectly portioned. Add them on top of the lettuce layer, as the third layer. You can lay some eggs horizontal so they’re showcased on the side of the trifle bowl.

Add them on top of the lettuce layer, as the third layer. You can lay some eggs horizontal so they’re showcased on the side of the trifle bowl.

Add your cooked green peas on top of that.

On top of the peas, add your diced ham.

For the dressing: mix together: mayonnaise, sour cream, dijion mustard, green onions, salt and pepper.

Mix together and set aside. Top with shredded cheese and add your dressing to finish.

Chill for one hour before serving. Serve with crackers or dinner roll for a complete meal. Keep it in the refrigerator after serving.