Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites
Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites, are a tasty nibble that have been showing up at parties and holiday dinners in my family for years now! And if you want something healthy to nibble on while they turkey cooks, these low-carb appetizer bites are also Keto, low-glycemic, gluten-free, and can be South Beach Diet friendly. Use Thanksgiving Recipes for more holiday appetizer ideas.
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It was my sister Pam who introduced our family to these Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites and since then they’ve made an appearance at nearly every family holiday celebration and have become a popular recipe on Kalyn’s Kitchen, thanks Pam! And these tasty appetizer bites with ham, cream cheese, and pickles are also a tasty option if you’re looking for something that’s a bit lighter for game-day fare. My sister Pam first had ham and dill pickle bites as a store sample, and now in my family even the non dieters will chow down on them for Super Bowl party food or an appetizer before a holiday meal.
If you’d like to make these dairy-free and even lower in calories, you can skip the cream cheese. Through the years lots of other variations have popped into my head, so check after the main recipe for more options And apparently there are endless ideas for similar little appetizer bites like this; check the comments to see what other readers have suggested. And if your family has a fun version of this, please share that in a comment as well!
Start by cutting the dill pickles lengthwise into fourths or sixths, depending on how big the pickles are. I had baby dills, so I bought smaller slices of ham so match the size of the pickles. The only part of this recipe that’s remotely labor-intensive is spreading the cream cheese on the ham, and if you let it sit out and get soft it’s pretty easy. Spread lightly or the extra will seep out when you cut the ham!
Put a dill pickle spear on each ham slice, preparing to roll them up. (If the ham was a lot wider than the pickle spear, I’d trim it before I rolled it up.) Roll the ham slice around the pickle spear. Then put toothpicks in each roll, aligning them where you want to cut the ham. (With bigger ham slices you can get up to 5 of these from a piece of ham, but with the smaller ham I only cut 3.)
Cut the rolls so each piece has a toothpick in it, arrange on a plate, and serve. You can also make them without cream cheese if you have guests who can’t do dairy or you want to reduce the calories even more.
Find More Low-Carb Appetizer Recipes:
50+ Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Super Bowl Appetizer Recipes
25+ Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Appetizers, and Salads
My Favorite Recipes for Deviled Eggs
The BEST Low-Carb Meatball Recipes
Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites
These Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites are made with ham slices spread with cream cheese and then wrapped around a sliver of dill pickle! And the variations are endless!
Ingredients:
- dill pickles
- thin deli ham slices
- cream cheese (or use whipped cream cheese if you prefer)
Directions:
- Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you make these.
- Cut dill pickles lengthwise into fourths or sixths, depending on how thick the pickles are. You need as many cut pickle spears as you have ham slices.
- Spread each slice of ham with a very thin layer of cream cheese. (I used about 1 tsp. cream cheese on each ham slice. The ham doesn’t need to be completely covered with cream cheese.)
- Put a dill pickle on the edge of each ham slice and trim the ham if it’s very much bigger than the dill pickle spear. Roll up the ham around the dill pickle, then place toothpicks where you want each piece to be cut. Cut into pieces so that each piece has a toothpick.
- Arrange on plate and serve.
Notes:
Other Ideas That Might be Fun:
-You can make dairy-free Ham and Dill Pickle Bites by omitting the cream cheese.
-For a spicier appetizer, mix some Green Tabasco Sauce into the cream cheese.
-For a sweeter flavor combination, try some Sugar Free Apricot Preserves or cranberry sauce mixed into the cream cheese.
-Try a flavored cream cheese (like pineapple) for a different twist.
-If you like mustard, try a very thin swipe of mustard on top of the cream cheese.
-Serve the Ham and Dill Pickle bites with a mayo-mustard dipping sauce.
This recipe came from my sister Pam, who first tasted these as a store sample.Check the comments for many more great ideas for these! I love the way this recipe seems to have inspired creative cooks.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
When made with lean ham and reduced-fat cream cheese, Easy Low-Carb Ham and Dill Pickle Appetizer Bites are great for any phase of the South Beach Diet. With higher-fat dairy, these are suitable for most other low-carb eating plans, including Keto.
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We make them with corned beef or salami with multiple slices overlapped, spread with cream cheese, roll whole Claussens and sliced like thick coins.
Kind of off topic but we also put a slice of salami on top of our bagels with cream cheese. I always need a pickle on the side b/c then I get all the flavors of the pickle rolls, as we call them 🙂
I have made them using asparagus, not a dill pickle. They go over as a huge success.
Kalyn, there is a Somersize group on Facebook that I belong to. A member had asked for meal suggestions that could be eaten while she's driving. I suggested these (and all these combinations!). I added a link back to your site and wanted to let you know.
Teri
Teri, that's great, and thanks for letting me know.
These went on every party menu by my mom when I was growing up. Love them!!
I love your Phase 1 recipes! I am going to start making them in March when I add beans back into my meal plan 🙂
I'm definitely making these tomorrow! But I'm a vegetarian so I'll try both Tofurky peppered deli slices and Smart Deli bologna! I was also thinking Laughing Cow garlic & herb could be delicious low call option. I spread laughing cow on my tofurky slices as little "sandwiches" every day at work haha.
So glad people are still liking this recipe. I love hearing the different names and how to adapt them.
Horseradish mixed into the cream cheese. I've also used the creamed horseradish by itself but as I don't have any here right now I'm not sure of the sugar content. Plain, ground horseradish with the cream cheese would be the SB way to go for sure. It has a nice bite!
Oh my!! Adding a bit of horseradish would just take it over the top for me. (I love horseradish!) Thanks for sharing that great idea.
Horseradish! Yes! Fantastic idea. I am making them tomorrow for New Years Eve. Thx for the recipe and added suggestion!!
im starting the atkins diet whic is very similar to south beach diet and i love your site. lots of good ideas. i have one favor though, it would be very helpful if you could include the net carbs and calories and such. just a suggestion. thank you for what you do 🙂
Crystal, I chose the South Beach Diet to manage my weight because I didn't want to have to calculate carbs, calories, points, or fat grams, and I already spend 4-5 hours on every recipes, so I'm probably never going to start including that information. However you can easily calculate it yourself by entering the recipe and number of servings into this site.
Started making something similar when i lived in Texas where salsa goes with/in everything. Mix up either red or green salsa with some softened cream cheese, and then spread the mixture on slices of ham, beef, turkey, whatever. I'm not "hardcore" when it comes to "heat", but you can drop some pieces of jalapeno or habanero into the mix or put them down the center where the pickle would go if you want. If cream cheese is used, most of the time you don't need toothpicks to hold the spirals together after they're cut.
My mom made these when we were little. We used sweet pickles – yum!
I love those things! We often wrap tender-crisp asparagus (sometimes with a few thin strips of fresh basil) like this too.
Love the pickled okra and pepperocini suggestions too.
Party time!
What a fun idea for an appetizer! These would be great at any party 🙂
I made these on Super Bowl Sunday, and they were a hit! It's hard to believe something so simple can taste so good, but it really does! One thing I might recommend is that you drain your pickle spears on a couple of paper towels for a few minutes before rolling them in the ham. I also patted dry both the ham and the pickle with a paper towel before putting them together. The cream cheese sticks better that way. I will definitely make these again.
I've made these many times over the years, but thanks to all of you I'm going to try some of the other/new to ne ideas. Thanks all!
I know this is an old one, but as I was scanning through the site looking for healthy inspiration for a winter season that is, thus far, too warm for soups and stews, I came across this and smiled. My family has been making these for years and years… turns out they were lo-carb and didn't know it!
We use whole pickles and slice them into thin rounds… with a bit of garlic salt to season the cream cheese. Totally going to be making these this holiday season!
CJ, you know how great minds think alike and all that! We have loved them for years too.
I featured this recipe on my blog today! Thanks so much for sharing! We're going to be making these for our Christmas party next week.
Thanks Alli, always appreciated!
in 1983, my sister informed my dad that she had to take some "edible item" to school the next day. This was around 10 pm at night. My dad, being the chef of the family came up with these. We called them ham doo doos. the were not only a big hit then, but i have taken them around the world in the military for multiple functions. there are always the first thing to go from the buffet line. got a great laugh when i saw this on pintrest…. told my dad he was finally famous!
Katielou, that's fun!
We make these every year with horseradish and green onion…..yummy!
Hi Kalyn! I was wondering what kind of ham you use? It looks a lot better than deli ham. Thanks!
Wish I could remember, but I don't have any right now and don't remember the brand. It comes in a blue&white package sold near the cheese. If I can remember I will come back and list the brand next time I buy it.
When watching sodium, I like to make these with regular cucumbers (sliced into spears), and add a little fresh or dried dill in with the cream cheese. This way they make not only a light appetizer but can be a fulfilling lunch as well!
Kalyn – did you ever find out the name of that ham? Just curious.
Sorry, but I haven't bought ham since then; still busy moving and have hardly been to the store.
My brother loves a similar snack, which he calls hamcandy, which is small pickles (they are small enough that they don't have to be cut) wrapped in ham (he insists upon using a certain type and brand of ham and pickles, as he claims that those make the best hamcandy) and without the cream cheese, although he has put shredded cheese in his hamcandy before
I have a coworker who makes these with pickled asparagus and roast beef. So good!
All the variations sound yummy.. I havent tried yet but how about some shredded cabbage with a bit of onions, sprouted mung beans or any sprouted beans for a kind of a spring-roll kind of variation without using flour?
Suman..
Jughead, love the sound of that!
Thanks Kalyn.. Hope you try it..
Great appetizer recipe that is not only delicious, but easy and so quick to put together.
Rachel, so glad you like it!
This is soo great, I imagine it with some red wine. I've lost 22lbs with the Loaded Gun Diet and this is exactly what I missed.
So glad you like it!
Kalyn, your site has been a huge help to me. Going low-carb can feel like a huge sacrifice that will require so much extra work, but all of your recipes make it seem sooooo much more manageable. Thank you for providing an awesome resource. Also, you just seem like such a very nice woman, often responding to people's comments (rare for a lot of bloggers), and in sweet, helpful ways. I really appreciate that.
Question about these: Can they be made ahead? How long could they hang out in the fridge before they taste weird?
Thanks again! I hope you're doing well.
Oh Jessica, you are too sweet! I do try hard to be nice, lol!
I haven't made them more than a few hours ahead, but I'm pretty sure you could make them in the morning and serve for a party that night. Much more than that I think the pickles would start to make the cream cheese runny.
Ah, good thought. Thank you so much!
My family has made these for years! We use whole gherkin pickles, add a tsp of garlic salt to the cream cheese and use a thicker (rectangular) sliced ham. one of the keys is to blot the ham with a paper towel before spreading on the softened cream cheese. We slice ours about a half inch thick. They are so, so good!
Thanks for sharing your tricks. I like the idea of the garlic salt in the cream cheese!
I also make these. I do not spread the crème cheese. I buy the reduce fat 8oz crème cheese. I very thinly slice the cheese and lay on ham with dill pickle and roll up. Much easier.
That sounds like a good idea!
How about South Beach phase 2:
pastrami slices, swiss laughing cow and saurkraut inside, and outside a drizzle of thousand island dressing topped with a sprinkle of rye bread crumbs
Yes, I bet that would be good!
These are a great idea- so easy and looks delicious! I love pickles too; I always have a jar of Bubbies in my fridge, just waiting to be eaten! These would be perfect for the upcoming holiday get togethers!
I just love all of these comments! Keto is my WOE (way of eating) so was thinking of bringing a side (boring) dish = relish plate to my sister's house for Thanksgiving. No More! I'm making this & am thinking of assorted meats (ham, roast beef) & adding the dry ranch dressing to the cream cheese. Thank you, Kalyn & everyone else for your thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Isn't it fun to see all the things people have thought of! So glad you like it, and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Lol. We use salami and call them dill pickle surprises – because everyone is always surprised by how good they taste!!
I like the sound of that!
My mother has been making these for years! They are a favorite in our family! I also make them now that I have a family of my own. But just a little tip we have always used dried beef… The sliced dried beef that comes in the jars in the unrefrigerated section you will find them… I know it may seem odd and kind of unappetizing seeing sliced beef in a jar but it actually tastes much better! And the best part is unlike deli meat and ham it isn’t slimy!! So it is super easy to assemble the Roll-Ups and they don’t fall apart or tear through the meat!
I need to try that!
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I love pickles, so this is definitely on my list for appetizer recipes at my BBQ this weekend! Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure; hope you enjoy! I am also a big pickle lover!
Yum! Never thought I’d like something with ‘low-carb’ in the name so much haha! Even the kids loved these and they usually run away from anything pickle related. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed! They’re a hit in my family too, even with the carb lovers!
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My mother used to make these all the time. My lazy version is to chop the pickles, meat, green onion, add minced garlic, horseradish and a bit of Sriracha to the cream cheese and mix it all together to make a dip/spread. Everyone loves it on crackers- low carbers spread the dip on cucumber medallions or celery.
Lisa, that sounds delicious!