This easy ham barbecue recipe is a classic Pittsburgh dish made by home cooks for picnics, everyday dinners, and group functions. A tangy delicious treat that can be kept warm in a slow cooker for hours making this an easy option for parties or busy moms.
Growing up in Pittsburgh I've had my share of ham barbecue sandwiches. These were a staple for picnics and birthday parties. Maybe you've had ham barbecue sandwiches too. However, I doubt they were exactly the same.
The Key to Ham Barbecue Sandwiches
The key ingredient, and I've never seen this anywhere else, is the chipped chopped ham. Pittsburgh is famous for its "Chipped Chopped Ham."
What is Chipped Chopped Ham?
It's a type of luncheon meat made up of parts, somewhat like a hotdog, chunks of ham, and seasonings that are ground up and then pressed into a loaf. This chopped ham is then chipped or shaved into thin slices. I remember my mother liked to eat it with yellow mustard on white bread. However, most of the time I think of it as part of ham bbq sandwiches.
I made my own barbecue sauce for this recipe but back in the day, you could buy it bottled from Islays a local dairy chain famous for chipped chopped ham and barbecue sauce. The stores no longer exist but you can buy the ham and sauce in the grocery stores and online.
It couldn't be easier. Just mix up the barbecue sauce with the ham and heat it.
Many people like to cook it and keep it warm in a slow cooker. This is especially great for parties and watching football games. This way people can go serve themselves as they like.
If you can't find chopped ham in your grocery store just order any ham at the deli counter and ask them to chip or shave it thin. Not quite the same but still pretty good.
I confess that I haven't had one of these sandwiches for a while. However, it all came back rushing back with warm and fuzzy feelings when I made some for dinner recently. Tangy, juicy comfort food, oh so good!
Pittsburgh Ham Barbecue Sandwiches
This easy ham barbecue recipe is a classic Pittsburgh dish made by home cooks for picnics, everyday dinners, and group functions.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of Chipped Chopped Ham
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1.5 cup Ketchup (Heinz is best)
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
Instructions
- Make a barbecue sauce by combining the brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, Worchestershire sauce, salt, pepper, mustard, and onion powder together in a large bowl.
- Mix the chipped chopped ham in with the sauce.
- Heat the ham and barbecue sauce on the stove until warmed through about 15-20 minutes.
- Keep warm in a slow cooker until ready to serve.
- Serve on Kaiser rolls.
Notes
You could skip heating the ham barbecue on the stove and go right to the slow cooker. It only needs to warm through and kept on warm after.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 2252mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 20g
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Karen
Hi! It’s my daughters birthday and she asked for ham barbecues and pierogies for her birthday dinner! We lived in Washington PA and my kids grew up eating Isaly’s chipped ham and BBQ sauce, we live in Florida now and of course don’t have Isaly’s around. So I’m really thankful for your recipe! It tasted so close to the original! I remember as a child going to Isaly’s in my hometown of Canonsburg and my mom getting chipped ham and barbecue sauce! It really is a family tradition! There is an Isaly’s in the Wolfdale area of Washington PA. I was just there in June 2021 and bought chipped ham and Isaly’s bbq sauce to make for dinner at my son’s house. I wish I would have bought a couple of jars to bring home to Florida with me. You can also order the chipped chopped ham and barbecue sauce online at pennmac.com and have it delivered! ❤️Pittsburgh
Thanks again!
Karen
Patti Estep
Karen, it's always so great to hear from a fellow Pittsburgher. They are always the nicest people and have the best stories. Thanks for the kind comment info.
He of the E
Isaly's appears to be alive and well in Deutschtown (537 E Ohio St) and in West View (448 Perry Hwy); and, of course, "Jynt Iggl" carries both the ham and the sauce. I pay to have 'em shipped (to Texas), once in a while—think I might have had to do the meat through PennMac,
Usually, though, I chip my own from a par-frozen ham, when I can get it cheap (like after Easter): getting anyone to slice it right, around here, is like some kind of black art.
Patti Estep
Great comment and funny too. Thanks for sharing.
Jewel
Boy, does that take me back to my beginnings. Isaly's also had a barbeque sandwich which we enjoyed after a Sunday afternoon movie. We have stopped in southwestern PA when travelling through just for the 'chipped ham' from Isaly's. Some cannot eat these without a certain lemon drink. But I cannot remember what it was. I can taste it but the name is elusive.
Patti Estep
Jewell, maybe you are thinking of Lemon Blend? I haven't thought about that for years either but it was everywhere when I was young. Thanks for sharing your experience.