There certainly is no shortage of ham salad recipes out there, but some are better than others to be quite frank. And, this Southern Deviled Ham Spread is the most flavorful one I’ve ever encountered. You might wonder what’s so special about this one and I will tell you: it’s got more flavor than it has any right to have!

The secret to this flavorful ham salad is the seasonings and we’re not just talking a few spices here and there. These are Seasonings with a capital S and this spread takes the term “deviled” to a new level!

There’s pepper sauce, 2 kinds of mustard, and even some pepperoncini juice in the mix. The liquid from a jar of these mildly hot peppers adds just a bit more of a kick, but also incorporates a tangy flavor from the vinegar since they are pickled.

For the pepper sauce I like to use Sriracha sauce, but you can use Cholula or Frank’s if you like. Each has its own distinctive flavor so use whichever one you enjoy the flavor of.

Aside from the hot sauce the other ingredient that to me gives this the most unusual spin is some lemon zest. This adds a whole new dimension to the ham salad that is so fresh and so unique that it makes you want to go back in for another dip…and another, and another. Serve this with crackers and watch it disappear or make sandwiches to make sure everyone gets their share.

This style of deviled ham is far more spiced than some other recipes and to me this is such a wonderful way to enjoy a ham salad. I don’t think I can go back to the regular kind after tasting this Southern Deviled Ham Spread!