Fried Potatoes and Ham Recipe – A Family Favorite
on Nov 20, 2023, Updated Feb 03, 2025
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Fried Potatoes and Ham is one of my favorite recipes from my childhood. This quick and easy recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover ham.
One of my favorite things about Christmas is leftover ham. (I’d probably try to steal my mother’s ham-bone if I could get away with it to make bean soup – but she’s already done that, darn it!) Call me crazy…I can take it! ๐
I can think of at least a half dozen ways to use up leftover ham. I love repurposing leftovers into something else. Ham and potatoes fried in a cast iron skillet is one of my all-time favorite dishes.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Fried Potatoes and Ham
The heart of this dish is leftover ham and potatoes. It’s so simple to make!
- Ham: I love using leftover ham, but you can use diced cooked ham from the store as well.
- Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes work best in this recipe as they are creamy and hold up in the frying process. Russets will also work but are starchier and you will need to adjust cooking time.
- Salt and black pepper: Balance the saltiness of the ham with the spice of pepper. Season according to your taste.
- Garlic: Can you ever have too much garlic? It enhances the overall flavor. When you think you’ve added enough, add one more clove.
- Onions: Sauteed onions give a sweet and savory flavor to complement the earthiness of potatoes.
- Oil: Use oil that has a high smoke point for frying the potatoes. Bacon grease works well, too.
How to Make Fried Potatoes with Leftover Ham
Depending on how much leftover ham and potatoes you have, serve this as a side dish or a main dish. Here’s how:
Peel and slice the potatoes with a sharp knife. When you think you have enough, slice up two more! ๐
Add a bunch of sliced onions and pressed garlic. Add more garlic than you think you need. It’s good for you, and it makes this dish sooooo tasty.
Fry the potatoes, onions, and garlic in oil in a cast iron skillet. When the potatoes are about finished (and make sure you get some nice and crispy) add in a bunch of leftover ham. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe Tip
If you have leftover hash browns, use those in lieu of fresh potatoes. Save yourself even more time!
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Variations on Fried Potatoes and Ham
I make fried potatoes relatively often just to use up other leftovers in my fridge. Depending on what you have, the variations are literally endless.
Change the protein from ham to sausage, bacon, or even beef. If you have leftover hash browns or diced potatoes, use those instead of peeling fresh potatoes.
Add vegetables for extra nutrition. I like to add peppers, peas, and even diced carrots.
How to Store and Reheat Fried Potatoes
If you get leftovers from your leftovers, don’t worry. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
When you’re ready to eat them, just rewarm in a skillet on the stovetop or pop them in the microwave for a minute or two.
What Goes with Fried Potatoes and Ham
As I mentioned above, you can make fried potatoes the main dish or a side dish. Either way, potatoes and ham go great with eggs, a Rainbow Fruit Tray, a Kale Apple Salad, and a strawberry muffin.
More Potato and Ham Dishes You’ll Love
- One Holiday Day Ham – 5 ways to Use the Leftovers
- How to Make Homemade Pierogi from Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- Whole Wheat Potato Bread made from Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Fried Potatoes and Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice potatoes thinly – about 1/4 inch thick.
- Add garlic and onions to potatoes.
- Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.
- Add potatoes, garlic, and onions to skillet. Add salt and pepper to taste. Flip potatoes after 5 minutes or until the underside starts to get crispy.
- Add ham to the skillet. Cook potatoes and ham on the other side for another 5 minutes.
This sounds soooo good. I’m not a huge fan of ham, but I do like it mixed in with a homemade white sauce and served over noodles, with a side of green beans. Delicious!
I LOVE ham!! I love using it for breakfast casseroles. I’ll eat those casseroles for dinner too! I’m trying to really enjoy my last few days of this kind of eating before Jon and I begin our Cleanse… Hopefully we’ll get back to our old way of eating… SUPER HEALTHY!!
I bet this dish would be good with sweet potatoes too… Ham is just darn good with ANYTHING!!
I just began posting about our cleanse plan and will keep up with our experience once it starts… Wish us luck!!
Yum! I love ham and potatoes! My favorite way to use leftovers is in ham and bean soup!
My husband and I brought half a ham home (bone included!) from Christmas. My mother-in-law doesn’t eat ham, so I didn’t have to fight her over it! I’ll probably make split pea soup or red beans and rice with the ham bone–I haven’t decided yet. Your Fried Potatoes and Ham looks delicious!
Beautiful!
I made something similar this morning myself. ๐