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This honey glazed ham is covered in a delicious brown sugar and sweet honey glaze! It’s tender and juicy and goes with everything making it ideal for any festive meal!
During holidays at our house, meat is always the star of the show! try this Peru, Prime Ribor Wellington’s Beef Below, more delicious recipes to enjoy at your holiday dinner!
A reader’s review
“I made this ham last night and it was a huge success! The ham is so juicy and flavorful! Thanks for sharing!
-Cynthia
The BEST honey glazed ham recipe
Trust me, this honey glazed ham is one of the most tender and juicy hams you will ever eat. Either Easter or Christmas, this ham is sure to be the star of the dinner table! This ham also pairs well with a number of different side dishes. You can mix and match! And did I mention the potential for leftovers? Use leftover ham to Sliders, quicheor even that Potato Hash with Ham and Eggs!
A lot of people ask me how to make the perfect ham. It’s very simple, but there are a few tricks to make your ham taste fantastic. My favorite tip is to use simple honey ham glaze so the ham has a sweet, caramelized flavor. Once you’ve done it once, you won’t want it any other way.
Ingredient list
I love the smell of ham cooking in the oven, it makes me so excited for the holidays! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.
- Ham: You want a ham that weighs about 5 pounds and is pre-cooked. I used a spiral-cut boneless ham, but a bone-in ham works too.
- Butter: For wealth!
- Honey: Thus, the glaze has a sweet taste and perfect sticky texture.
- Brown sugar: For the perfect caramelized outer layer. A must for honey glazed ham!
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg: This is an optional ingredient, but I LOVE the added flavor. It perfectly complements the ham!
How to make honey glazed ham
For easy preparation, you can buy a pre-cooked ham at your local grocery store! If you choose a larger ham, simply fold the glaze mixture to cover the ham.
- Let your ham rest: Remove the ham from the refrigerator and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make the glaze: Prepare the topping by heating the butter, honey, brown sugar and spices over medium heat. pan over medium-low heat. Reduce heat and simmer until glaze begins to thicken. Remove from heat and let the topping cool slightly.
- Prepare the ham, add the topping: Place the ham in the middle of the roasting pan or roasting pan with the cut side facing down. Brush half the nail polish on top and go through all the crevices! Cover the ham completely with aluminum foil so it doesn’t dry out.
- To roast: Bake the ham according to how many pounds you have, about 15 minutes per pound. My ham took about 1 and a half hours.
- Glaze and Grill: Once the ham is heated through, remove the foil to caramelize the top. Brush additional glaze over the top of the ham. Save some to serve if you like! Adjust the heat to broil and allow the topping to caramelize and darken for about 3-5 minutes. Watch closely!
- Rest: Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing! Serve with your favorite vegetable side dish and mashed potatoes!
How do you know when your ham is cooked?
Most hams are already pre-cooked. Basically you are heating your ham in the oven. The thickest part of the ham needs to be cooked to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit according to the proper food safety temperature.
common questions
Some doubts always arise when cooking this honey-glazed ham. So I thought I’d put them all together so you could answer them all in one place!
- How much ham per person? It’s usually about 1/2 pound of ham per person. If you want leftovers at the end, estimate 1 kilo per person when purchasing your ham.
- What size pan? You can receive several people, but the important part is the size of the pan that will roast it. A 6- to 8-quart pot or 12 x 16 pan will fit a 6- to 7-pound ham.
- Will this honey glazed ham cook overnight? Yes! This is a great idea when you need more time for other things during the day. Just preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Follow the instructions to prepare and bake the honey-glazed ham. Bake uncovered for 6 to 7 hours. While baking, continue spreading the glaze over the ham.
- Do you cover your ham? Yes, this is a great way to keep the ham from overcooking and becoming dry. At the end of cooking the ham, remove the foil and grill to obtain a crispy outer layer. The caramelization is the best part!
- Should I glaze ham before cooking? Yes! Brush the topping mixture over the top and as much of the ham as possible. Continue to glaze the ham throughout the cooking process every 15 to 20 minutes for best results. (It’s tedious, but worth it!) When the ham is finished cooking, brush on the remaining glaze mixture and grill the top and outer layer of ham. This will leave a caramelized appearance and texture on your honey-glazed ham.
Variations for honey-glazed ham
This is a tried and true honey glazed ham that we make year after year in our family. I love the traditional honey flavor of this recipe, but here are some variations you can make.
- Sweetener: Instead of honey, try using maple syrup or add a little more brown sugar.
- Spices: This is an optional ingredient, but it adds so much flavor! I also love adding ground nutmeg.
- Add juice: Add 1/2 cup of pineapple juice, apple cider or orange juice to the bottom of the pan before adding to the ham. The juice adds delicious flavor and moisture to the ham as it cooks.
How to Store Leftover Honey Glazed Ham
This honey glazed ham is perfect to prepare in advance, save for leftovers and even freeze! Here are the best ways to store your honey-glazed ham after the holidays:
- In the fridge: Once the honey-glazed ham has cooled, place it in a Ziploc bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- In the freezer: Once the ham is cooked, place it (sliced or not) in a Ziploc bag and let it sit for up to 1 month.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to eat the ham again, first let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or oven until heated through.
Have a meal!
This honey-glazed baked ham is a tried-and-true favorite and will soon become your family’s new tradition. Here are a bunch of ideas for others side dish recipes you can do to complete the meal! Ham is great because it goes well with all. So mix and match with a few of these and you’re sure to have an unforgettable holiday meal!
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Remove the ham from the refrigerator and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Prepare the topping by heating the butter, honey, brown sugar and spices over medium heat. pan over medium-low heat. Reduce heat and simmer until glaze begins to thicken. Remove from heat and let the topping cool slightly.
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Place the ham in the middle of the roasting pan or roasting pan with the cut side facing down. Brush half the nail polish on top and go through all the crevices! Cover the ham completely with aluminum foil so it doesn’t dry out.
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Bake the ham according to how many pounds you have, about 15 minutes per pound. My ham took about 1 and a half hours.
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Once the ham is heated through, remove the foil to caramelize the top. Brush additional glaze over the top of the ham. Save some to serve if you like! Adjust the heat to broil and allow the topping to caramelize and darken for about 3-5 minutes. Watch closely!
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Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing!
Originally posted on December 16, 2018
Calories: 137caloriesCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 0.1gFat: 4gSaturated fat: twogPolyunsaturated fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated fat: 1gTrans fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 4mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 118UIVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.2mg
Nutritional information is automatically calculated so should only be used as an approximation.
