chipped chopped ham

From chipped (past participle of chip, referring to being thinly shaved) +‎ chopped (“finely cut”) +‎ ham. The term is strongly associated with the Pittsburgh region of Pennsylvania, where Isaly's delicatessens popularized the product in the mid-20th century.

chipped chopped ham (uncountable)

1. (Western Pennsylvania, chiefly Pittsburgh area) A finely ground, processed luncheon meat, typically made of spiced ham loaf shaved into thin chips; especially associated with delicatessens and home cooking in Western Pennsylvania.

   Synonym: chipped ham

   • 2021 November 21, McMarlin, Shirley, “Isaly's chipped ham, Klondikes celebrated in new historical book”, in TribLive‎^[1]:

     Is there a Western Pennsylvanian who hasn’t eaten Isaly's chipped chopped ham? When you traveled and saw one, you knew they’d have Klondikes and chipped ham...

   • 2025 November 17, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‎^[2]:

     When I went looking for a chipped chopped ham barbecue sandwich last year as a new Pittsburgher, it was frustratingly hard to find. The classic Pittsburgh sandwich, made with thinly sliced pressed ham cooked in barbecue sauce, is available only at a few places with a long memory.

• Elsewhere in the United States, the product may be referred to more generally as chopped ham or processed ham.

• ham barbecue