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Recipe Index » Course » Lunch » Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Published by Meaghan on March 14, 2023 | last updated on March 13, 2023.

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Pittsburgh chipped ham barbecue is a slow cooker recipe you can make right at home that tastes almost exactly like the iconic Isaly version! Shaved ham gets slow cooked in a sweet, tangy sauce and piled high on burger buns.

Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue on a fluffy hamburger bun on a wooden cutting board

Pittsburgh makes some really good food.

We’re talking Primanti’s, Pittsburgh Salad, and now this chipped ham barbecue.

It’s so good!

You’ll want to make it over and over again.

Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue on a fluffy hamburger bun on a wooden cutting board

Is chipped ham a Pittsburgh thing?

Chipped chopped ham isn’t just a Pittsburgh thing- it’s a Pittsburgh icon!

Isaly’s made chopped ham barbecue sandwiches so popular that other diners and restaurants in the area started serving it.

Now you can find it all over western Pennsylvania and even into Ohio and West Virginia.

pittsburgh chipped ham barbecue in the black bowl of a slow cooker

Ingredients

To make this, you’ll need:

  • Oil– Extra virgin olive oil
  • Onion– A minced small onion
  • Relish– Sweet relish
  • Ketchup– Make sure it’s Heinz
  • Chili Sauce– Again make sure it’s Heinz
  • Brown sugar
  • Vinegar– Apple cider
  • Liquid smoke– Only use 1 drop
  • Barbecue rub– Your favorite brand
  • Ham– Chipped or chipped chopped ham are the best for this and most authentic. However, it can be hard to find depending on where you are. So if you can’t find it order finely shaved ham from the deli.

a spoon scooping shaved ham barbecue out of the black bowl of a crockpot

How to Make

To make this chipped ham barbecue, heat the oil to a large skillet set over medium low heat.

Once the oil is hot, stir in the onions and saute them just until they are tender.

When the onions are tender, stir in the relish and cook just until the moisture’s cooked out.

Stir in the ketchup, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, liquid smoke, and barbecue rub to the skillet.

Cook the mixture until it’s heated through.

Spray the bowl of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Add the ham to the bowl of your slow cooker and pour the sauce overtop of the ham.

Stir to combine.

Cover and cook on low heat for 2-3 hours, until everything’s nicely combined and the sauce has thickened some.

Serve on hamburger buns, and enjoy.

a glass mixing bowl filled with pittsburgh style ham barbecue

What type of ham is chipped ham?

Chipped ham or chipped chopped ham is a kind of lunch meat from chopped ham.

Basically it’s pieces of ham, seasonings, and trimmings all ground together into a loaf and sliced thinly.

two pittsburgh style ham barbecue sandwiches stacked on top of each other

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the slow cooker or microwave until warmed through.

a hand holding up a crockpot ham barbecue sandwich

Tips and Tricks

  • Finely mince the onion. You want it to all but disappear into the mixture so you don’t even realize it’s there.
  • For the authentic taste use Heinz brand ketchup and chili sauce. This is nonnegotiable to any Pittsburgher.
  • Do not be tempted to use more than a single drop of liquid smoke, otherwise your sauce will be way too smoky.
  • For authentic serving pile it high on fluffy buns and top it with a single slice of sharp cheddar. Serve it with plain potato chips on the side.

two crockpot ham barbecue sandwiches on a wooden cutting board

Other Ham Recipes

Pittsburgh chipped ham barbecue is a yummy taste of the Steel City.

Make it and enjoy!

Looking for other ham recipes?

Try these:

  • Deviled Ham Salad Recipe
  • Cuban Ham Salad
  • Hot Ham & Cheese Sliders
  • Creamy Dijon Ham Salad

If you’ve tried this easy PITTSBURGH CHIPPED HAM BARBECUE recipe, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue on a fluffy hamburger bun on a wooden cutting board

Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Pittsburgh chipped ham barbecue is a slow cooker recipe you can make right at home that tastes almost exactly like the iconic Isaly version! Shaved ham gets slow cooked in a sweet, tangy sauce and piled high on burger buns.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion minced
  • 1/4 cup sweet relish
  • 2 cups HEINZ ketchup
  • heaping 1/3 cup HEINZ chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 drop liquid smoke
  • 1/4 tsp barbecue rub
  • 1- 1 1/2 lbs shaved ham
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the oil to a large skillet set over medium low heat. Once hot, add the onions and stir. Saute just until tender.
  • Add the relish, stirring to combine, and cook just until the moisture's cooked out.
  • Add the ketchup, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, liquid smoke, and barbecue rub to the skillet. Stir to evenly combine, and cook until heated through.
  • Spray the bowl of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add the ham to the bowl. Pour the sauce overtop of the ham, and stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low heat for 2-3 hours, until everything's nicely combined and the sauce has thickened some.
  • Serve on hamburger buns, and enjoy.

Notes

  • Finely mince the onion. You want it to all but disappear into the mixture so you don't even realize it's there.
  • For the authentic taste use Heinz brand ketchup and chili sauce. This is nonnegotiable to any Pittsburgher.
  • Do not be tempted to use more than a single drop of liquid smoke, otherwise your sauce will be way too smoky.
  • For authentic serving pile it high on fluffy buns and top it with a single slice of sharp cheddar. Serve it with plain potato chips on the side.
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @4sonsrus or tag #4sonsrus!

 

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Hi! I’m Meaghan

Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas. I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Phyllis says

    March 14, 2023 at 8:09 am

    5 stars
    I grew up 45 miles north of Pittsburgh. We had a Isaly’s 3 miles from us. I remember growing up eating chipped ham from Isaly’s and my mom making bbq with the chipped ham and always using Heinz ketchup. Thanks for the recipe and great reminder of my childhood.

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      March 15, 2023 at 9:55 pm

      So glad it brought back childhood memories 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome to 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Hi! I’m Meaghan. Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas.

I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot.

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