Basic Glazed Ham Recipe

This Basic Glazed Ham Recipe is a tender and flavorful recipe, which is made with bone-in ham and a choice of sweet or spicy glazes. It’s the ultimate holiday centerpiece, ready in about 3 hours.

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Basic Glazed Ham Recipe Ingredients

The Ham

• 1 10- to 12-pound fully cooked bone-in half ham (shank or butt portion)
• 2 cups water (for the pan)
• Whole cloves (optional, for studding)

Glaze Options (Choose One):

• Mustard-Orange: 1 orange (sliced + juice), 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup Dijon mustard.
• Pineapple-Rum: Pineapple slices, 2 cups pineapple juice, 1 cup preserves, 1/4 cup dark rum, spices.
• Pomegranate-Jalapeño: 2 cups pomegranate juice, 1/4 cup spicy mustard, chili powder, hot sauce, seeds.
• Cranberry-Maple: 2 cups cranberries, 1 cup juice, 3/4 cup maple syrup, thyme, cinnamon.
• Ginger-Juniper: Juniper berries, peppercorns, 1 cup ginger preserves, vermouth, vinegar.
• Rosemary-Honey: Rosemary sprigs, 1/2 cup whole-grain mustard, 1/2 cup honey, white wine.

How To Make Basic Glazed Ham Recipe

1. Room Temp & Prep: Let the ham sit at room temperature for 1 hour. This helps it heat evenly. Position an oven rack in the lowest position and preheat to 350°F (175°C).
2. Trim and Score: Trim off any thick skin or rind from the ham, leaving a roughly 1/2-inch layer of fat. Using a sharp knife, score the fat in a 1-inch crosshatch (diamond) pattern. Be careful not to cut deep into the meat itself.
3. Roast: Place the ham, fat-side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the pan to keep the oven moist. Depending on your glaze choice, you may want to stud the diamonds with whole cloves or add aromatics (like juniper berries or rosemary) to the water now.
4. First Bake: Tent the pan loosely with foil to trap steam. Bake until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 110°F. This typically takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours (approx 12-15 mins per pound). Add more water to the pan if it evaporates.
5. Prepare the Glaze: While the ham bakes, prepare your chosen glaze on the stovetop. (See ingredient list for combinations). Generally, simmer the juices/liquids until syrupy (reduced by half), then whisk in the preserves, mustard, sugar, or spices.
6. Glaze and Caramelize: Remove the ham from the oven and uncover. Increase oven temp to 400°F if you want a quicker crust, or keep at 350°F. Whisk 1/4 cup of the pan juices into your glaze. Brush the ham generously with about half of the glaze. Return to the oven uncovered. Bake for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours, brushing with the remaining glaze every 20-30 minutes, until the glaze is caramelized, shiny, and the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
7. Rest and Serve: Transfer the ham to a carving board and let it rest for 15-20 minutes. This is crucial for juicy meat. Meanwhile, strain the remaining pan juices into a saucepan and boil until slightly syrupy to make a sauce. Spoon this reduction over the sliced ham.

Recipe Tips

• Shank vs. Butt: The shank end (the classic picture-book ham shape) is easier to carve and looks prettier on the table. The butt end is meatier and arguably more flavorful but has a trickier bone structure to navigate.
• Don’t Overcook: Remember, the ham is already fully cooked (cured). You are essentially just warming it up. If you cook it beyond 140°F, it will begin to dry out.
• Scoring: Scoring opens up the fat cap, allowing the fat to render out and the glaze to penetrate deeper into the meat, creating those delicious “burnt ends” of ham.
• Foil Tenting: Keeping the ham covered for the first phase of cooking steams it gently, preventing the outer layer from turning into leather before the center is warm.
• Glaze Timing: Sugar burns. Do not apply the sugary glaze until the last 30-45 minutes of cooking.

What To Serve With Basic Glazed Ham Recipe

Ham is versatile, but these classics never fail.

• Scalloped Potatoes: Creamy and cheesy.
• Green Bean Casserole: Or simple blanched beans.
• Glazed Carrots: To echo the sweetness of the ham.
• Yeast Rolls: Perfect for making little ham sandwiches.

How To Store Basic Glazed Ham Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store leftover sliced ham in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep the bone for soup!
• Reheat: Reheat slices in a skillet with a little water or glaze to keep them moist. Do not microwave for too long.
• Freeze: Ham freezes exceptionally well. Dice it up for omelets or soups and freeze in bags for up to 3 months.

Basic Glazed Ham Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 350
• Total Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 15g (depending on glaze)
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 14g
• Protein: 30g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 12 servings).

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