This is the BEST Honey Glazed Ham recipe ever for the Holidays made in the oven or crockpot! It is tender and juicy, with a caramelized sweet glaze made with honey, brown sugar, mustard, and warm spices.
Table of Contents
What is Honey Baked Glazed Ham?
It is a holiday ham perfect to celebrate Christmas and Easter!
A precooked bone-in spiral ham is coated with a brown sugar honey glaze and slowly heated in the oven until caramelized and crispy on top. The result is a sweet-salty, tender, juicy, and moist ham.
Moreover, it is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb (not keto), and high-protein!
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this spiral-sliced bone-in ham with honey glaze you'll need:
- Bone-in spiral-cut ham, fully cooked (8-10 pound ham)
- Honey (or you may use 100% pure maple syrup instead)
- Packed brown sugar
- Allspice
- Ground ginger
- Onion powder (or garlic powder if you prefer)
- Ground mustard (Or use one 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard instead to provide acidity and balance sweetness)
This was by far the best ham I have ever tasted! Absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. Will definitely make again! ❤️"
-- Debbie
How to Make Honey-Glazed Ham in the Oven
1. Let the ham sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before baking. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place the oven rack on the lowest level -so that the center of the ham will be level with the center of the oven while baking, ensuring even cooking/reheating.
2. Add 1 cup water to the roasting pan. Remove the disc from the ham. Place ham cut-side down so that all the juices can be basted all over. If you have a rack, place the ham on it, but if you don't, skip this step.
3. Tent ham with foil to secure moisture. Bake for about 2-½ hours (or 15 minutes per pound). About 30-45 minutes before fully reheating, take the ham out of the oven and baste it with pan drippings.
4. Make the simple brown sugar glaze for ham: Whisk honey, brown sugar, and spices in a microwave-safe bowl until combined. Then, microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir and cook again for 30 seconds more.
5. Brush half of the honey mixture all over the ham, including in between the slices, so that the honey ham glaze can reach the middle of the ham. Then, return the ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for the remaining time left (30-45 minutes).
6. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham but not touching the bone. The ham is ready when it reads 135 F. Brush ham again with the remaining glaze and serve ham with pan drippings.
Crockpot Honey Glazed Ham
1. To make this crockpot honey ham, let the ham sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before slow-cooking it. Spray a 6-qt slower cooker with nonstick spray and place the ham, facing side down.
2. Pour the brown sugar glaze mixture over the ham and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. TIP: Make sure to stir in ½ to ¾ cup of pineapple juice (or water) in the glaze to help cook the ham. It'll make a delicious pineapple honey glazed ham!
3. You can choose to reheat a fully cooked spiral ham in the oven or throw it in the crockpot and go on about your other tasks. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham but not touching the bone. It's ready when it reads 135 F.
Equipment
- Oven or slow cooker (It depends on the chosen cooking method though)
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Whisk
- Roasting pan
- Foil
- Pastry brush
- Instant read thermometer
Expert Tips for Making The Best Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham
- Let the ham sit at room temp for 1-2 hours before baking. This will help it cook/reheat more evenly.
- Preheat oven: Place the oven rack on the lowest level -- so that the center of the ham will be level with the center of the oven while baking, ensuring even cooking/reheating.
- Add a liquid to the roasting pan (water, broth, wine, or fruit juice such as orange or pineapple). The liquid steams around the ham, creating a moister ham.
- Position the ham face down so that the juices can baste the ham all over. If you have a rack, place the ham on it but if you don't, skip this step.
- Make sure to tent ham with foil to secure moisture.
- Bake ham at 275 for 15 minutes per pound or at 350 F for 10 minutes per pound though.
- About 30-45 minutes before fully reheating, baste ham with the liquid/drippings from the bottom of the pan and then brush it with the honey glaze. In addition, use our honey ham glaze recipe to baste the ham after taking it out of the oven.
- To make a 3-ingredient brown sugar ham glaze, use a blend of spices instead such as Chinese Five Spice.
- Insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the honey-glazed spiral ham but not touching the bone. The ham is ready when it reads 135 F.
- Heating a precooked boneless ham in the oven: Most boneless ham comes precooked (smoked or cured). So you only need to heat it up to an internal temperature of 135F to 140°F. For this, place the ham in a roasting pan with some water, covering it with foil or a lid, and bake it at 325°F for about 10 to 15 minutes per pound, basting it with a glaze in the last 15-20 minutes.
- Although possible, I don't recommend to heat it up a boneless ham in the slow cooker even on the low setting. It comes pre-cooked and tends to become tough or rubbish when heated in the crockpot.
- If your ham fits in a roaster, apply the same instructions for an oven-baked ham to one that is cooked in a roaster. The ham is fully reheated when reaches a temp of 135 F.
- Removing the rind: Spiral hams come without a rind! If you buy fresh whole ham, you can remove the rind (not the fat underneath) to make the outside crispy. The fat is needed to baste the ham and keep it moist! If you buy a skin-on cured ham, remove the skin because the amount of sugar in the brine will make the skin burn and get bitter before achieving the proper crisp.
- Wondering how much ham to serve? Buy about ¾ pound per person for a bone-in ham, and ½ pound for boneless ham. That way if you intend to buy a bone-in ham and feed 12 people, e.g., you will need to buy a 9-pound ham.
What to Serve With
- Broccoli Gratin
- Mac and Cheese
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Low Carb Biscuits
- Oat Rolls with Honey Butter
- Keto Cranberry Sauce
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
FAQ's
Yes! We used a bone-in spiral-cut ham which comes already precooked. Therefore, you'll only have to heat it up!
Fully cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham (aka spiral sliced ham). It's not only easier to find in stores, but also you'll only need to warm it up. They also cost less per pound than fresh ham and are more flavorful since they have been brined. That means it is safe to eat it right from the package.
It depends on whether you cook the brown sugar ham in the oven or in the slow cooker. If cooking it in the oven, you put the glaze about 30-45 minutes before the ham is fully reheated, return it to the oven, and then apply the glaze again after removing the ham from the oven. If you cook the ham in the crock pot, you put the sweet honey glaze over the ham before start cooking it.
How to Store
- Fridge: Store honey-glazed ham leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Thus, you can make this honey ham recipe several days ahead.
- Freezer: Freeze it for up to 3-4 months. Thaw it in the fridge!
- To reheat, place the slices of honey brown sugar glazed ham onto a microwave-safe plate, without overlapping. Then, cover it with a paper towel, and heat the ham for 30 seconds at a time, flipping each time though.
Other Ham Recipes
- Slow Cooker Ham Recipe
- Ham and Cheese Baked Rice
- Ham and Cabbage Soup
- Broccoli, Ham, and Cheese Pop Tarts
- Ham and Bean Soup
- Ham Dip
- Potato and Ham Breakfast Casserole
PIN AND ENJOY!
The BEST Honey Glazed Ham
Equipment
- 1 oven or 6-qt. Slow Cooker (depending on the chosen cooking method)
- 1 roasting pan
- 1 Microwave-safe bowl
- 1 whisk
- 1 Foil
- 1 pastry brush
- 1 Instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
- 10- pound bone-in spiral-cut ham fully cooked (8-10 pound ham)
- 1 cup honey or you may use 100% pure maple syrup
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon onion powder or garlic powder if you prefer
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard or use one 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
Instructions
In the Oven
- Let the ham sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before baking. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place the oven rack on the lowest level -- so that the center of the ham will be level with the center of the oven while baking, ensuring even cooking/reheating.
- Add 1 cup water to the roasting pan. Remove the disc from the ham. Place ham cut-side down so that all the juices can be basted all over. If you have a rack, place the ham on it, but if you don't, skip this step. Tent ham with foil to secure moisture.
- Bake for about 2-½ hours (or 15 minutes per pound). About 30-45 minutes before it is fully reheated, take the ham out of the oven and baste it with pan drippings.
- Make the simple brown sugar glaze for ham: Whisk honey, brown sugar, and spices in a microwave-safe bowl until combined. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and cook again for 30 seconds more. Brush half of the honey mixture all over the ham, including in between the slices, so that the honey ham glaze can reach the middle of the ham.
- Return ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for the remaining time left (30-45 minutes). Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham but not touching the bone. The ham is ready when it reads 135 F. Brush ham again with the remaining glaze and serve ham with pan drippings.
in the Crockpot
- To make this crockpot honey ham, let the ham sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before slow-cooking it. Spray a 6-qt slower cooker with nonstick spray and place the ham, facing side down.
- Pour the brown sugar glaze mixture over the ham and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. TIP: Make sure to stir in ½ to ¾ cup of pineapple juice (or water) in the glaze to help cook the ham. It'll make a delicious pineapple honey glazed ham!
- Baste the spiral honey ham with the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker almost every hour while it is cooking and right before you serve it. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham but not touching the bone. The ham is ready when it reads 135 F.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Fridge: Store honey-glazed ham leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This means you can make this honey ham recipe several days ahead.
- Freezer: Freeze it for up to 3-4 months. Thaw it in the fridge!
- To reheat, place the slices of honey brown sugar glazed ham onto a microwave-safe plate, without overlapping, cover it with a paper towel, and heat the ham for 30 seconds at a time, flipping each time.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
This post was first published on December 17, 2019.
Debbie says
This was by far the best ham I have ever tasted! Absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. Will definitely make again! ❤️
Denise Browning says
Hi Debbie! I am very happy to hear you enjoyed this family favorite ham recipe! My family always requests it for the holidays and Easter. Happy Easter!
Denise says
Made ham for Christmas. First time making one, used this recipe. Easy and delicious. I am not a ham person, but this was exceptional. Would recommend and definitely volunteer to bring the ham for Easter.
Denise Browning says
Hi Denise! 🙂 This Denise here thank you a lot for your review. I am so happy you made ham for the first time and found our recipe easy adn delish. 🙂 My family always asks me to make it every year. I hope your celebration was filled with joy. Happy new year!
G. Wilson says
Hello, in your article, you listed this needs acidity like orange juice, or wine. However, neither of these are in your recipe. Is one of these needed?
Denise Browning says
Hi G. Wilson! The recipe asks for mustard which can be count as the acidic ingredient in this recipe. Mustard, wine, vinegar, and citric juices are all acids. But acids are not an essential ingredient although they greatly cut down the sweetness and balance the flavor of the glaze. The can also tenderize meats but the ham already comes brined and is slowly heated covered. As i said, an acid is not essential but it will convey greater flavor.
Maryetta Murayama says
This was the best honey baked ham that i made so far Denise. I will be making again on Easter.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Honey Baked Ham is a favorite in our home. Yours looks perfectly cooked. Wishing you Merry Christmas on this special day.
Denise Browning says
Thank you! I hope you had a wonderful holiday.
mary anderson says
making dessert or main meal is so difficult on weekend because they always want something new and this site is my hack lol thanks for making different recipes i can copy lol
Denise Browning says
Hi, Mary! The pleasure is always mine. I am so happy you enjoy our recipes. This honey baked ham is indeed very easy to make and quite yummy. More cost effective than the one from store.
JB says
Oh man, I had this honey baked ham and it was out of this world. The whole ham disappeared in about two days. We had this with some quick bake butter crescent rolls (like the kind you pop open from a can in the refrigerator case of the store) and it was like music in your mouth.
Veronica says
I love honey baked ham and your tips and pictures are great! Can wait to have a piece.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Mmmm, ham. Haven't baked a whole one for ages. You've got me craving one now. Terrific post -- loads of great info. Thanks. And Happy Holidays!
María says
This honey baked ham looks delicious. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe, it's great for Christmas.
Anabella Mirowski (Aeroconcierge) says
Excelente y completísima la receta, aclarar ó todas mis dudas. Este jamón de navidad con miel luce espectacular. Definitivamente voy a probar esta receta pues en casa a todos nos encanta el jamón de navidad! Gracias por compartirla!
MARIA JOSE CAYUELA says
Thanks for all the information and recipe of honey baked ham. It looks great and delicious
Melba says
Denise me encantó tu receta de Honey baked ham ... se me hizo agua la boca, me encantó el color que le da la miel con el azúcar Moreno. Imagino el sabor y el olor que tenía .... lo guardo en mis recetas favoritas