Ham Patties

I love ham. It doesn’t matter whether it’s glazed or smoked, grilled, pan-fried or tucked into sandwiches. However, unless I’m cooking one for friends or family, a ham often leaves my family of three with a lot of leftovers. While there are plenty of recipes that are perfect for using leftover ham, I’m always looking for something new to try. This retro recipe for ham patties is easy to make and a fun way to use up leftover ham that the whole family will love.

Like some ham salad recipes, ham patties are made from cooked ham that’s been passed through a food processor or meat grinder (some stand mixers have this attachment). Combine the ham with binders such as eggs and bread crumbs, season it with sweet relish and ground mustard, and cook the patties in a hot skillet on the stovetop. They’re excellent as an appetizer or a main dish, sandwiched on a soft roll.

Ingredients for Ham Patties

• Egg: A lightly beaten egg binds the ham patties together.
• Sweet pickle relish: This versatile condiment adds a sweet, crunchy texture to the patties.
• Bread crumbs: Dry bread crumbs are a pantry staple that act as a binder and keep the patties moist. Crushed saltines, potato chips or corn flakes are all suitable bread crumb alternatives.
• Ground mustard: Dry ground mustard adds a tangy flavor to the patties; you can also substitute a dollop of prepared mustard if you prefer. (Dijon, yellow, brown or whole grain mustard would all work well in this recipe.)
• Ground fully cooked ham: Pulse chunks of ham in a food processor or zip them through a meat grinder. You want the ham to be smooth, so that it blends easily and makes cohesive patties that won’t fall apart.
• Whole milk: Milk is optional; use it only if you need to thin the patty mixture. If you do use it, use it sparingly, adding a little bit at a time until you get the right consistency.
• Butter: You cook the patties in butter, but you could use vegetable oil or another neutral cooking oil if you prefer.

Directions

Step 1: Make the patties

In a large bowl, combine the egg, the pickle relish, 6 tablespoons of bread crumbs and the ground mustard.

Crumble the ground ham over the mixture and mix it well. If the mixture is too thick, gradually add milk.

Shape the mixture into four patties. Sprinkle each side with the remaining bread crumbs.

Editor’s Tip: Too much milk will make the patties too soft, and they won’t hold together well when you cook them. If you add milk, add 1 tablespoon at a time.

Step 2: Cook the patties

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and cook the patties for four to five minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted into the centers reads 160°F. Serve the patties with a sprinkling of minced fresh parsley and your preferred dipping sauce.

Ham Patties Variations

• Add cheese: Cheese is always a good idea! To make ham-and-cheese patties, mix in a handful of your favorite shredded cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella or pepper jack.
• Add seasonings: For additional flavor, add a teaspoon of your favorite spice or herb blend to the ground ham mixture, such as Cajun seasoning, a pork seasoning blend, or Italian seasoning. To add heat, sprinkle in crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or smoked paprika.
• Add a dip: Serve the ham patties with a creamy Dijon-mayonnaise sauce or honey mustard.

How to Store Ham Patties

Store leftover ham patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze ham patties?

You can freeze both cooked and uncooked ham patties. To freeze cooked patties, let them cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Label them with the date, and store them in the freezer. To freeze uncooked patties, place the formed patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flash freeze them until they’re stiff to the touch, 30 to 60 minutes. Then transfer the frozen patties to a freezer-safe storage container. Store cooked or uncooked ham patties in the freezer for up to three months.

How should you reheat ham patties?

The easiest way to reheat ham patties is in the microwave. Place them on a microwave-safe plate, lightly cover them, and reheat them for one minute or until they’re heated through. Alternatively, you could reheat them in a pan on the stovetop with a little bit of oil or melted butter. If you’re reheating them from frozen, thaw the patties in the fridge overnight first.

Ham Patties Tips

What’s the best way to grind ham for patties?

You can use a meat grinder or a stand mixer with a meat grinder attachment to easily grind the ham for these patties. If you don’t have a meat grinder, you can use a food processor to make ground meat. To grind ham with a food processor, first cut the ham into one-inch cubes. Then place the cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the food processor blade on the baking sheet, too, and freeze them for about 30 minutes. Once cold, carefully place the blade in the food processor, and fill the bowl half-full with ham cubes. Pulse the ham up to 10 times, using one-second pulses, until it’s evenly ground. Remove the ground ham and repeat with the remaining cubes.

What else can you serve with ham patties?

You can serve ham patties as is, or on buns with your toppings such as lettuce and tomato. Serve the ham patties with au gratin potatoes, roasted green beans or macaroni and cheese.