3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
This 3-ingredient brown sugar glazed ham is the easiest way to make a holiday ham taste homemade. It’s sweet, a little tangy, comes together in minutes, and way better than the packet that comes with the ham.
Featured Comment:
“Loved the flavor of this ham glaze. Came out great!” -Tina
You will be so glad you tossed the glaze packet that came with your ham. This 3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is sticky, sweet, tangy, and flavorful. Simply put, it’s leaps & bounds better than the store-bought glaze packet.
It’s also really easy to make, so you’ll have to time prepare sides like Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Scalloped Pineapple, or Creamed Corn Casserole while it bakes (those are classics on my holiday menu, anyway!).
I used a spiral sliced half ham, but you can use this recipe for a unsliced ham or a whole ham. Check the notes in the recipe card for increasing the amounts for a whole ham.
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My tips for glazing a ham
- Roast the ham cut-side down in a roasting pan. This will ensure the slices don’t dry out.
- After you brush the outside with the glaze, separate the slices and brush any extra glaze inside the ham. Even more sticky goodness!
- When serving the ham, run your knife around the bone in a circular motion to release the slices easily for serving.
- You can serve the ham warm from the oven, at room temperature, or cold.
Ingredients
Be sure to check the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions!
- I used a spiral sliced half ham. You can also use a whole ham or an unsliced ham. Discard the glaze packet (if it comes with the ham).
- Dark brown sugar lends the perfect amount of sweetness. Light brown sugar is fine, too.
- Dijon mustard adds tanginess and some zip!
How to make a 3-ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Start by placing a spiral sliced half ham, cut side down, in a 13×9 inch pan. Cover with foil and bake at 325°F for one hour. While the ham is warming up in the oven, stir the brown sugar and dijon mustard together in a medium bowl.
After removing the ham from the oven, brush the glaze all over the ham. You can turn the ham on its side and separate the slices slightly to flavor the ham even more.
Turn the ham cut-side down again, then return to the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 350°F. Cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the ham is warmed through and the glaze is sticky to the touch.
That’s it! The ham is ready to serve.
Variations
Here are a few ideas to change up this recipe a bit:
- Add a few tablespoons of pineapple juice or orange juice to the glaze.
- Substitute half of the brown sugar with honey or maple syrup.
- Stir ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg , and a pinch of ground cloves into the glaze (these are the spices that Honey Baked Ham uses).
- Add some heat by sprinkling some cayenne pepper into the glaze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan on ¼–½ pound of ham per person. Go with ½ pound if it’s a bone-in ham.
Yes! Stir together the glaze and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Both. The first hour, the ham should be covered. That ensures the ham gets warm throughout. For the final 30 minutes, the ham should be uncovered. That will ensure the glaze gets sticky on the outside.
Creative Ideas for leftover ham
Anticipating leftovers? I usually make a little extra so I don’t run out, but also so I can have leftovers for one or two of these recipes:
- Make Hawaiian Roll Sliders (my favorite party sandwich!)
- Make an Old Fashioned Ham Salad and serve on a croissant
- Create sandwiches with homemade flaky biscuits and mustard
- Make an Asparagus & Ham Quiche or a frittata
- Add it to scrambled eggs, an omelette, or a breakfast hash
- Put on a pizza
- Add to an old fashioned potato soup
- Macaroni Salad with Ham and Cheddar is another great one for leftovers
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 (8–10 lb) spiral sliced half ham
- ½ cup dark brown sugar (light brown sugar also works)
- ½ cup dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place the ham, cut side down, in a 13×9 inch baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour.
- While the ham is baking, stir together the brown sugar and dijon mustard.
- Remove the ham from the oven and remove the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Brush the brown sugar mixture over the ham.
- Place back in the oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until the glaze is sticky and the ham is warmed through.
- Turn the ham on its side and run a knife along the circular bone in the middle. This will help release the slices from the ham nicely.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Add a few tablespoons of pineapple juice or orange juice to the glaze.
- Substitute half of the brown sugar with honey or maple syrup.
- Stir ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg , and a pinch of ground cloves into the glaze (these are the spices that Honey Baked Ham uses).
- Add some heat by sprinkling some cayenne pepper into the glaze.
I thought the combo of brown sugar and Dijon was really nice with the ham. Easy too.