After a delicious ham dinner, what’s next?
Don’t throw out that bone! I have compiled this list of 10 sensational recipes that will help you make the most of your leftover ham bone.
Get ready to transform that bone into culinary gold!
1. Collard Greens With Ham Bone
Most chefs from the South already know this, but here it is: you can even include a ham bone for a savory twist with your collard greens.
It might not be quite as nutritious as eating the greens all by themselves, but many folks find that it certainly is tastier. Its inclusion imparts a salty, meaty undertone that tempers their innate bitterness. If you would like to eat more collard greens but aren’t a big fan, test them out cooked in this way instead; the results may be shocking.
2. Smoky Ham and Black Bean Soup
You do not have to make split pea to enjoy a delicious, smoky, and filling soup. This veggie-heavy ham and black bean soup does the trick.
Its sensational taste is almost too multi-layered to put into words. It is one of those dishes that are hard to understand fully until you experience it, but smelling it offers clues that it’ll be wonderful.
Amp up the flavor by topping with cheese, green onions, sour cream, cilantro, or any of your preferred soup enhancers.
3. Nana’s Epic Navy Bean Ham Bone Soup
Anyone who enjoys hot and slightly spicy soups will want to try this simple, 10-ingredient ham and bean soup. It does not have a ton of “solid” components; rather, it is just ham bone, navy beans, and onions, but due to the herbs and spices you’ll add, it seems like a whole and sophisticated meal with a plethora of tastes.
Garlic, red pepper, fresh thyme, and other goodies combine to elevate this soup. Sample it the next time you need some belly-warming goodness.
4. Ham and Potato Soup
For a chunkier, heartier soup, give ham and potato soup a shot. With the whipping cream, it gets so thick and creamy.
There is a ton of diced veggies and ham to enjoy, including potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips, and celery. Herbs and spices give it a robust, complex flavor.
It takes just 10 minutes of prep (and 90 to cook). At only 11 grams of fat per serving, it’s not too unhealthy, though it may have too many carbs for low carb dieters.
5. Red Beans and Rice
I’m a huge consumer of Cajun fare and a regular visitor to New Orleans, so I love red beans and rice any way you can create them.
Yet, this particular recipe ranks highly among my favorites because it includes way more than basic red beans and rice. There are onions, celery, minced garlic, bay leaves, andouille sausage, ham bone, and more.
It takes some time to make this magnificent dish, especially with the bean soak time of 4 hours, but the outcome is worth it.
6. Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli Ham Bone Soup
This soup boasts so much substance that you can barely even call it soup. It’s chock full of pasta, with a heavy, saucy broth, tons of vegetables, ham, and more.
It is unlike the pasta fagioli you’ll find at Olive Garden. It’s totally different and, I believe, much better.
While the cook time is several hours, prep clocks in at only 10 minutes. The slow cooker does all the work, so it is not hard. The taste is more than worth the effort.
7. Ham Stock
It is possible to make ham stock with the leftover ham bone, and it becomes a sensational base for soups, stews, and so many other recipes. It has loads of natural flavor without being too greasy.
The best part is, you can freeze it for up to a year. That means you’re free to make big batches without any worry of waste.
8. Leftover Ham Bone Lentil Soup
The original creator of this recipe describes it as “hearty, packed with flavor, and wholesome,” and I don’t know if it could be described any better than that.
Lentils are not typically the first ingredient that comes to mind to add to a soup, but this particular soup offers far more than just lentils. There are tender veggies (carrots, onions, celery), tasty herbs and spices (parsley, garlic, thyme, red pepper), and others.
In case you wanted more than just ham bone and chicken broth, an entire pound of sausages gets thrown in! This is a soup that will truly satisfy.
9. Black-Eyed Peas With Leftover Ham Bone
If your family loves black-eyed peas, ham, and greens for New Year’s Day, this recipe is for you. It combines them all into one amazing meal.
While it may not look very appealing, it is delicious with salty, fresh, meaty, earthy, and yummy flavors.
It is a simple way to set yourself up for luck, money, and health all at the same time! It is also wonderful on any lazy Saturday throughout the year.
10. Split Pea Soup With Ham
Split pea soup does not win any beauty contests, but it is super tasty, especially with diced ham and ham bone thrown in. This recipe incorporates both. Its flavor is smoky and rich, and the heavy texture makes it seem extra filling.
Plus, at just 90 minutes from start to finish, it’s a fairly speedy option.