Then a ham loaf is the perfect vintage dinner you need tonight.

What’s a ham loaf?

For a more dinner-worthy presentation, we love the spicy chiles on top that become almost likecandied jalapenosduring baking.

Southern Living Ham Loaf on a plate to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

It’s a little bit of heat, yes, but lovers ofpepper jellywill surely appreciate this glaze.

Learn how to make a ham loaf, and enjoy this spin on the beloved weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

1tsp.olive oil

1small(4 oz.

Southern Living Ham Loaf preparing the pan

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

)yellow onion, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1lb.smoked orbaked ham, cut into 1/2-in.

Cook onion:

Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium.

Add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and light golden brown, about 6 minutes.

Southern Living Ham Loaf browning the onions

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Remove from heat, and set aside.

Bake in preheated oven 45 minutes.

Remove from heat, and set aside at room temperature until ready to use.

Southern Living Ham Loaf pulsing the ham in the food processor

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Rest loaf:

Remove from oven, and let rest in loaf pan 20 minutes.

Remove ham loaf from loaf pan using excess parchment paper.

(Discard parchment paper.)

Southern Living Ham Loaf stirring together the ham mixture

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Slice ham loaf, and serve:

Cut into 16 slices.

Serve with remaining 1/4 cup preserve mixture.

What Is Ham Loaf?

Southern Living Ham Loaf adding the ham mixture to the pan

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Ham loaf can be made with minced leftover ham orham steak.

It’s often fortified with more ground pork for texture and moisture.

You’ll need an egg and breadcrumbs to achieve the loaf look and texture.

Southern Living Ham Loaf making the jalapeno mixture

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

That way, it won’t crumble when it comes out of the pan.

Ways To Serve Ham Loaf

We love ham loaf with classic side dishes likemashed potatoesandgreen beans.

But you could have a little fun and mix things up withcreamed corn,pineapple casserole, orhashbrown casserole.

Southern Living Ham Loaf spreading some of the jalapeno mixture over the loaf

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

A wedge ofcracklin' cornbreadwould be great, tooas long as it’s served with some goodsoup beans.

It will last, if stored well in an airtight container, up to four days.

Can You Freeze Ham Loaf?

Southern Living Ham Loaf after baking

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Yes, ham loaf is a great make-ahead meal.

It can be frozen up to three months if stored correctly.

Once baked, let the loaf cool to room temperature.

Southern Living Ham Loaf sliced on a platter to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Wrap first in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil.

Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheat at 350F until warmed through.

Southern Living Ham Loaf ingredients

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Wrap each slice in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze up to three months.

(Be sure to label the slice.)

Thaw in the fridge, and reheat in the microwave.