Tasty Leftover Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes

There’s something comforting about making a meal from holiday leftovers. After all the excitement of a big family dinner, I find myself staring at that ham bone in the fridge, knowing it’s too good to waste. That’s when this simple combination of leftover ham, green beans, and potatoes comes to the rescue. It’s the kind of meal my mom used to throw together when we were kids, and now I make it for my own family.

I’ve learned that the best recipes aren’t always the fancy ones – sometimes they’re just honest, straightforward dishes that make good use of what you have on hand. This one-pot meal has become my go-to solution for those post-holiday evenings when I want something warm and filling, but don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, it helps clear out the fridge, which always feels like a win in my book.

What Kind of Ham Should I Use?

Any leftover holiday ham works perfectly in this recipe, whether it’s from a honey-baked, spiral-cut, or country ham. If you don’t have leftovers on hand, you can pick up ham steaks or thick-cut deli ham from your grocery store and dice them up. The main thing to keep in mind is that you want chunks of ham rather than thin sandwich slices, as the chunks hold up better during cooking and add more texture to the dish. Just try to avoid using heavily processed ham products like spam or canned ham, since they can break down too much during cooking and won’t give you that nice, meaty texture.

Options for Substitutions

This simple, homey recipe is pretty forgiving and works well with several substitutions:

• Ham: Got leftover turkey or chicken instead of ham? Those work great too! You could even use smoked sausage or bacon for that salty, meaty flavor. If using bacon, cook it first and use the bacon fat instead of oil.
• Green beans: Fresh, frozen, or canned green beans all work here. You can also swap them out for other green veggies like Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or broccoli – just adjust cooking time as needed since harder vegetables take longer to cook.
• Potatoes: Any potato variety works well – russet, red, or yellow. Sweet potatoes are also a nice change. Just cut them all into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
• Chicken stock: Vegetable stock works just as well. If you’re using water instead, add an extra pinch of salt and maybe a bouillon cube to make up for the lost flavor.
• Onion: Out of fresh onions? You can use 1 tablespoon of onion powder or 2 tablespoons of dried minced onion instead. If using either, add them with the stock rather than at the beginning.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when cooking this one-pot meal is getting the timing right – adding all vegetables at once can leave you with mushy green beans and undercooked potatoes. Instead, start with the potatoes since they take longest to cook, then add the green beans during the last 5-7 minutes to keep them crisp-tender.

Another common mistake is not sautéing the onions and garlic long enough – take your time to cook them until they’re golden brown (about 5-7 minutes), as this builds a strong flavor foundation for your dish.

Using too much liquid can make your dish soupy rather than hearty, so start with just enough stock to barely cover the potatoes, adding more only if needed during cooking. For the best flavor development, cut your ham into evenly sized chunks (about 1-inch pieces) and add them early enough to let their savory flavor infuse into the broth, but not so early that they become tough and chewy – about 10 minutes before the potatoes are done is perfect.

What to Serve With Ham, Green Beans and Potatoes?

This hearty one-pot meal is pretty much complete on its own, but I love serving it with warm, buttery cornbread or fresh dinner rolls to soak up all the tasty broth. If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, a simple side salad with mixed greens and a light vinaigrette helps balance out the richness of the ham. For extra comfort food vibes, try adding some warm applesauce on the side – the sweet-tart flavor goes really well with the salty ham. And don’t forget some hot sauce on the table for anyone who likes a bit of heat with their meal!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This hearty ham and potato dish is perfect for leftovers! Place it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge – it’ll stay good for 3-4 days. The flavors actually get better after a day as everything mingles together.

Freeze: Want to save some for later? Let the dish cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months, though the green beans might be a bit softer when thawed.

Warm Up: To enjoy your leftovers, simply heat them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. For better texture, warm it up in a pan over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken stock if it seems dry. Give it a quick stir now and then until it’s heated through.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	30-45 minutes
Total Time	40-60 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 60-70 g
• Fat: 20-25 g
• Carbohydrates: 90-100 g

Ingredients

• 1 large onion (or 2 medium-sized ones)
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 pound potatoes
• 1/2 pound green beans
• 2 to 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups chopped ham
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (or any cooking oil)
• A pinch of black pepper

Step 1: Sauté Onion and Garlic

In a large pot, warm up some olive oil or canola oil over medium heat.

Once the oil is hot, add peeled and diced onion to the pot.

Sauté the onion for a few minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.

Then, add finely diced garlic and continue to sauté for another minute until the garlic is fragrant.

Step 2: Add Main Ingredients and Liquid

Introduce the diced ham, green beans, peeled and diced potatoes, and chicken stock to the pot with the onion and garlic.

Increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium to let it simmer.

If you desire a dish with more broth, you can add additional chicken stock at this point.

Step 3: Simmer Until Potatoes Are Tender

Allow the mixture to simmer for 15-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Keep an eye on the potatoes, and cook until they are soft enough to easily pierce with a fork.

This ensures all flavors meld together beautifully.

Step 4: Season and Serve

Once the potatoes are tender, season the dish with black pepper, and optionally add salt to taste.

Stir well and serve the stew immediately while it’s warm.

Enjoy the hearty and comforting flavors!