A perfectly cooked spiral ham is the perfect anchor for a special meal. This recipe keeps things simple yet flavorful to make things as easy as possible. Our glaze is made with brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and a splash of apple juice. It’s just the right mix of sweet and tangy and gives you the perfect caramelized slice of juicy ham.

We also have instructions for making ham in a slow cooker, an option for an orange balsamic glazed ham, and a fun twist with our original pulled ham.

Why Our Recipe

  • A simple brown sugar dijon glaze with a little apple juice for extra flavor.
  • Stress-free cooking method with clear instructions and timing for any size ham.
  • Perfectly caramelized and juicy ham every time.
Spiral ham in a baking dish.

One of the best parts of ham is how easy it is to make. Our clear, stress-free instructions will have you making a juicy, flavorful ham every time. Feed a large crowd, celebrate a holiday, or serve an amazing family dinner at home. With this recipe, you’ll enjoy mouthwatering results with minimal effort!

Ingredient Notes

  • Spiral Ham: Look for a ham that’s pre-cooked and pre-sliced, typically labeled as “spiral-cut ham” at the store. A 7 to 9-pound ham works well for this recipe, but you can adjust the glaze amount for larger or smaller hams.
  • Brown Sugar: Either light or dark brown sugar will work here, but dark brown sugar will give a deeper, more caramelized flavor.
  • Dijon Mustard: If you don’t have Dijon mustard, you can substitute with yellow mustard, but the flavor will be sharper.
  • Apple Juice: This is our preference for this combination, but you could also play around with orange juice or pineapple juice.

Spiral Ham Buying Guide

Label: When shopping, look for a spiral ham labeled as “fully cooked” and “spiral-sliced.”

How Much Ham to Buy Per Person: Aim for 3/4 to 1 pound per person for bone-in hams and 1/2 pound per person for boneless.

Bone-in vs. Boneless: Bone-in hams tend to be juicier and more flavorful, while boneless options are easier to carve. The bone accounts for about 15-20% of the overall weight. The bone can be saved and used to make soups.

Smoked or Unsmoked: Smoked hams offer a deeper, savory flavor, while unsmoked hams are milder. Both work wonderfully in this recipe, so it comes down to personal preference.

Sliced spiral ham on a white serving platter.

Glazing and Basting Tips

Tools: The easiest way to apply the initial glaze as well as apply additional glaze during cooking (which is known as basting) is to use a silicone or pastry brush. If you don’t have one of those, you’ll just use a spoon to scoop and drizzle and the back of the spoon to rub the glaze over the ham. A spoon is cluncky and tricky, so use a brush if you can.

Glaze in Layers: One of the biggest benefits of a spiral cut ham is that the glaze can seep into the layers. Be sure to let the glaze work its magic by smothering it so it can drip into all the slices.

Basting: We have you baste the ham twice during baking no matter what the size. The final basting should occur when you remove the aluminum foil. A rule of thumb is to baste every 30 minutes, but that should be adjusted based on the weight of your ham. The baking time varies based on the weight of your ham at 10 minutes per pound. For a 7 pound ham, you may want to baste at the 20 and 40 minute marks. For a 9 pound ham, you would baste at the 30 and 60 minute marks.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate leftover ham in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 5 days.

Freeze leftovers in a resealable freezer bag or airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. Vauum sealed meats can last 1 to 2 years. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Reheat in the oven for larger quantities: Place slices of ham in a baking dish and cover with foil to prevent drying out. Heat in a 275°F (135°C) oven until warmed through, about 10–15 minutes. Add a little apple juice to the dish to keep it moist.

Reheat in the microwave for individual portions: Arrange slices on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second increments on high, flipping the slices halfway through, until warmed evenly.

Don’t let your leftovers go to waste!

Don’t let those delicious leftovers go to waste! Use those leftovers to make Ham and Cheese Sliders, or dice it up for a comforting Ham and Potato Soup. It’s perfect for breakfast, too—toss it into scrambled eggs, omelets, quiches, frittatas, or a cheesy Breakfast Casserole. For a quick dinner, stir chopped ham into creamy pasta, or use it in Fried Rice. You can even add it to salads or use it as a Pizza Topping. The options are endless!