This Honey Glazed Ham is a holiday main that looks impressive but is actually really easy to make, even if it’s your first time cooking ham! Instead of splurging on the store-bought version, this homemade honey ham gives you the same irresistible flavor at a fraction of the price. It’s a total showstopper with a sweet, succulent finish (that’s a little addictive in the BEST way). Each slice has warmth from the honey, brown sugar, and warm spices, and it makes your whole kitchen smell like Easter dinner is well on its way. And the leftovers are half the fun. So let me show you how it all comes together!
Easy Glazed Honey Ham Recipe
I use a smoked spiral-cut half ham here, which is already fully cooked, so all you’re really doing is warming it through and layering on flavor with an easy homemade glaze. Ham glazes are often made with either honey or brown sugar. Honey gives ham a lighter, floral sweetness and a glossy finish, while a brown sugar glaze brings a deeper, more caramelized flavor, like in our baked ham recipe.
I love both flavors, so I use honey and a little brown sugar in this ham glaze recipe for the best of both worlds. That’s also one reason I prefer homemade over store-bought glazed ham whenever I can. Store-bought versions are convenient, but they often come with extra preservatives and less flexibility in flavor. Making the glaze myself means I can balance the sweetness with Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, and a few simple seasonings for a more customizable glaze with the best sticky-sweet finish!
Recipe Success Tips
Go for a spiral-cut ham if you can. This recipe works best with a pre-sliced spiral ham and is written for that. I love it because it’s already sliced and ready to serve. The glaze also seeps down between the slices as it bakes, creating the most flavorful honey ham. Using an uncut ham? Just score the surface in a diamond pattern so the glaze has something to cling to.
Pick the right size ham for your table. I usually estimate about 5 oz. (roughly 1/3 lb.) of ham per person, so a 3.5-4 lb ham works out to around 12 servings (depending on how generous you are!). That little guideline makes it much easier to decide how much ham to buy, especially if you want leftovers for sandwiches the next day.
Boneless is usually the cheapest option. Since ham is often priced by weight, I prefer using boneless ham because you’re not paying for the bone, and it usually cooks a little faster, too. That said, a bone-in ham will still work if you give it more time in the oven covered with foil (the internal temp needs to reach 140°F). Either way, make sure you’re starting with an unglazed ham so the homemade honey glaze can do its thing!
Simplify it even more. This easy recipe uses just a few simple ingredients for the glaze, so it’s perfect for beginners. You can even skip the Dijon mustard, spices, and vinegar for an even simpler 3-ingredient honey glazed ham (honey + brown sugar + ham).
Don’t skip the water in the pan. I like adding a little water to the bottom of the dish to create a steamy environment that gently heats the ham without letting the glaze burn. The glaze will still thicken up and caramelize once you remove the foil near the end.
Make it in a slow cooker. Place the ham in a slow cooker, pour the glaze over top, cover, and cook on low for 3-4 hours, brushing once or twice if possible.
Make-ahead glaze. You can make the honey glaze up to 24 hours in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm it slightly before using.
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Honey Glazed Ham
This easy Honey Glazed Ham recipe turns a spiral-cut smoked ham into a sweet, sticky, holiday main dish with a simple homemade glaze made from pantry staples!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Total Cost $18.13 recipe / $1.51 serving
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour30 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour50 minutesminutes
Servings 12servings (~1/3 lb./5 oz. each)
Calories 211kcal
Author Jennie Alley
Equipment
Small Saucepan
9×13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
For the Honey Glaze
½cuphoney170g, $1.87
¼cupbrown sugarpacked, (50g) $0.11
1tspDijon mustard5g, $0.02
1tspapple cider vinegar0.18 oz., $0.04
½tspgarlic powder$0.02
½tsponion powder$0.02
¼tspsalt$0.04
¼tspblack pepperfreshly cracked, $0.08
¼tspground cinnamon$0.01
For Roasting
4lb.fully cooked smoked hamboneless and spiral cut, $15.92*
½inchwater$0.00
Instructions
Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
In a small saucepan, whisk together honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Heat over medium until sugar is dissolved and glaze is slightly thickened.
Place ham cut side down in a 9×13 casserole dish. Brush half the glaze over the ham.
Pour ½ inch of water into the bottom of the pan around the ham**.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 18-20 minutes per pound, basting once or twice with pan juices. For a 4lb boneless smoked ham, you'll need to bake it for about 1 hour & 20 minutes total. Internal temperature should reach 140°F for pre-cooked ham***.
Remove the foil for the last 20-30 minutes of baking. Brush with remaining glaze every 10 minutes to create a golden-brown, sticky crust.
Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Spoon any extra glaze over slices when serving.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
*I make this recipe with a 3.5-4 lb boneless smoked half ham. I have used a spiral cut ham, but if your ham isn’t pre-sliced, score the surface in a diamond pattern about ¼-inch deep before glazing. This helps the glaze penetrate and creates a beautiful caramelized crust when baked.**Don’t skip the water in the pan. Adding ½ inch of water keeps the ham moist and prevents sugars from burning on the bottom of your dish.***Temperature matters! You’re not “cooking” the ham, you’re warming it through and glazing it as it’s already pre-cooked. Aim for 140°F internal temperature for best texture and moisture.
Gather all of your ingredients and preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
Make the honey glaze: Add ½ cup honey, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper, and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon to a small saucepan. Whisk everything together and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the glaze thickens slightly.
Glaze the ham: Set a 3.5-4 lb. fully cooked boneless spiral-cut smoked ham (cut side down) in a 9×13 casserole dish. Brush about half of the honey glaze over the outside of the ham.
Pour enough water into the baking dish to come up about ½ inch around the ham.
Bake: Loosely tent the dish with foil and bake for 18-20 minutes per pound, spooning some of the pan juices over the ham once or twice as it cooks. For a 4 lb. ham, this will take about 1 hour 20 minutes total.
Since the ham is already cooked, you’re just heating it through, so the center should reach 140°F.
During the last 20-30 minutes of baking, remove the foil. Brush the ham with the remaining glaze every 10 minutes so it develops a glossy, sticky coating.
Rest and serve: Let your honey glazed spiral ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with any extra glaze spooned over the top.
Serving Suggestions
Honey glazed ham pairs beautifully with just about every classic holiday side, which is part of why I love serving it for Easter dinner. Our balsamic roasted vegetables are an easy go-to, and mashed potatoes are pure comfort next to that salty-sweet ham. For a traditional spread, creamed corn is always a winner! A side of mac and cheese will also make the meal feel even heartier and a little extra special. I also like adding a simple salad for something fresh and crisp.
Leftover Honey Glazed Ham Sandwich Ideas!
Leftover honey glazed ham is half the reason to make it in the first place. It’s meal prep GOLD! Ham and cheese sliders are always an easy win for lunch or dinner, especially when you want to use up a good amount of ham at once. They make a nice appetizer for a party or gathering too.
A honey mustard ham panini is another favorite. I layer slices of leftover ham with Swiss cheese and a little honey mustard on sturdy bread, then toast it in a skillet or panini press until the outside is crisp and the cheese is melted.
You could also make a simple ham salad sandwich by finely chopping the ham and mixing it with a little mayo, Dijon, and relish, then piling it onto soft bread or rolls for an easy lunch.
Storage & Reheating
Keep leftover ham tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Store any extra glaze separate if possible. Honey glazed smoked ham also freezes really well. Wrap slices in individual portions, then place in a freezer bag or container. Freeze for 1-2 months for the best quality. To reheat, warm it gently in the microwave or covered in the oven so it doesn’t dry out. Add a spoonful of leftover glaze or a splash of broth to help keep it moist.
Got More Leftover Ham? Try These Recipes:
Our Pasta with Peas and Ham is a fast dinner with sweet peas, savory ham, and Parmesan that’s perfect for busy nights.
I love these Ham and Cheese Biscuits for a seriously comforting breakfast or brunch treat!
This Chunky Ham and Bean Soup is a budget-friendly way to turn leftover ham into a cozy meal with plenty of beans and big comfort-food appeal.
