Spiral Ham glazed with brown sugar and honey is the perfect dish for holidays like Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas. Learn how to cook a spiral cut ham with this easy recipe.
For more delicious holiday entrees, try my Smothered Turkey Wings and Oven Roasted Chicken next.
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Spiral Cut Ham
A pre-smoked spiral cut ham is my go-to hack for an easy holiday meal. What’s great is that spiral hams are already pre-cooked and sliced, so my prep time is only about 10 minutes! It’s so much faster than dealing with a raw one.
To keep it from drying out, I slather it in a mouthwatering homemade glaze made with pineapple, honey, and brown sugar. The natural sweetness of the ham pairs perfectly with savory sides like mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.
With just a little effort, you’ll have a flavorful, juicy ham that’s perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, or any special occasion. Give it a try, and I promise your guests will be coming back for seconds!
Ingredients
- Spiral Ham: This recipe requires a bone-in ham that is 6-7 pounds.
- Honey: This natural sweetener is the base of the sticky glaze.
- Pineapple juice: Pineapple juice contains natural sugars and acids that caramelize during baking, creating a delicious crust on the ham. The acidity also balances the richness of the ham, adding a bright and refreshing element to the dish.
- Sugar: Use both brown sugar and granulated sugar (white sugar) for depth of flavor.
- Spices & Seasoning: garlic powder, paprika, ground clove, allspice, seasoned salt
How to Cook a Spiral Ham
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
I start by preheating the oven to 350°F and spraying a deep 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, I mix the honey and half of the pineapple juice until it’s well combined.
Next, I place the spiral ham in the baking dish and pour the honey mixture all over, making sure to get it into every slice.
Then, I cover the dish with aluminum foil and let it bake for 45 minutes.
Glazing Spiral Ham
After the 45 minutes are up, I take the ham out of the oven and carefully pour the juices from the baking dish into a small pot on the stove over medium heat. I add the remaining pineapple juice, brown sugar, white sugar, garlic powder, paprika, ground clove, allspice, and seasoned salt.
I give it all a good stir and let it simmer on medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until it thickens into a glaze.
Once the glaze is ready, I brush (or spoon) it all over the ham, making sure it's fully coated. Then, I return the ham to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 30 minutes.
Broil the Ham
I like to set the oven to broil and broil the ham for about 3 minutes, keeping a close eye to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once it's golden and beautiful, I pull it out.
Now it’s time to serve and enjoy!
How Long to Cook a Spiral Ham
Spiral ham comes pre-cooked so technically, you are not cooking it but simply reheating a fully cooked ham. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the ham. A general rule of thumb for cooking spiral ham is 10-15 minutes for every 1 lb.
When in doubt, use a meat thermometer. The ham is ready once it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
How to Cut a Ham
Spiral-cut ham comes pre-sliced to the bone. Start to cut the ham around the bone and as you slice, the meat will start to fall away from the bone for easy grabbing at the dining table.
Pro Tips
- Skip the glaze packet that comes with most hams. My homemade brown sugar glaze tastes much better without it!
- Do not try to shorten the cooking time by increasing the oven temperature. Cook at a low temperature so the ham stays moist.
- Looking for ways to use leftover ham? Add it to a cheesy croissant casserole, sprinkle it over a breakfast pizza, or toss it with grains for pork fried rice.
Storage
Store leftover slices in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat spiral ham in an oven preheated to 275°F for about 10-15 minutes. Be sure to cover it with aluminum foil to keep it moist.
Alternatives and Variations
- Boneless Ham: Use this recipe to cook a boneless spiral ham. It takes less time (10 minutes per pound) but keep it covered for longer because it's easier to dry out.
- Juice: You can swap pineapple juice for orange juice.
- Slow Cooker Spiral Ham: If you want your ham extra moist and have extra time, consider putting your ham in the crockpot. Cook it on low heat for 4-5 hours.
- Sliced Pineapples: Use a toothpick to add sliced pineapples and maraschino cherries for a beautiful display and added flavor!
FAQ
What is the best way to cook a ham so it doesn't dry out?
Cover the ham with aluminum foil for the first 45 minutes of cooking. This keeps the ham moist.
How long does it take to cook spiral ham?
Although precise cooking times will vary, 10-15 minutes per pound is a great rule of thumb. On average, it takes at least an hour to about 1 ½ hours to cook a spiral ham.
What side goes down when cooking a spiral ham?
Place the ham cut side facing down. This is where the slices are made into the ham, creating the spiral effect. Doing this helps retain moisture while cooking and prevents the exposed slices from drying out.
What is the difference between a spiral ham and a regular ham?
A spiral ham is pre-sliced in a spiral pattern around the bone, making it convenient for serving individual slices. Regular ham is not pre-sliced and requires manual carving.
What is the best way to heat a fully cooked ham?
The best way to heat a fully cooked spiral ham is to bake it at 350°F, covered with foil, for about 45 minutes to keep it moist. After that, brush on the pineapple honey glaze and let it cook uncovered for another 30 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to caramelize the top. This method ensures the ham stays juicy and flavorful without drying out.
Related Recipes
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After you try this Spiral Ham recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-10 pound Spiral Ham
- ⅓ cup Honey
- 1 cup Pineapple juice divided
- ½ cup Brown sugar (light brown)
- ½ cup Granulated sugar (white sugar)
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Ground clove
- ½ teaspoon Allspice
- ¼ teaspoon Seasoned salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven into 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13 deep baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix the honey, and ½ of the pineapple juice until thoroughly combined. Place your ham into your baking dish and pour the honey mixture over the ham. Be sure to get it into each slice of the ham.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in the oven to bake for 45 minutes.
- Make the Glaze for the Spiral Ham
- After the first 45 minutes, remove the ham from the oven and carefully pour the juices from the baking dish into a small pot on the stove over medium heat.
- Add the remaining pineapple juice into the pot along with the brown sugar, white sugar, garlic powder, paprika, ground clove, all spice, and seasoned salt.
- Stir everything together until it is combined, and simmer over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, until it begins to thicken.
- Brush or spoon the glaze mixture all over the ham. Place the spiral ham in the oven and cook for another 30 minutes uncovered.
To brown the top of your ham:
- Place the oven on broil and broil the ham for 3 minutes, keep a close eye on the ham so it doesn’t burn. Remove it from the oven.
- Serve right away, And Enjoy!
Video
b says
This is my go to ham recipe i made it last year now i make it for every occasion thank u 😊😊
Tamara J. says
You're welcome!
Halie McBee says
I tried to make this last year with a non-spiral ham and it turned out dry, but this year I decided to do it right with a spiral ham and it came out delicious! I made it this year for Turkey Day and people loved it so much that I got asked to bring it to the Christmas party!
Tamara J. says
Haha! I love to hear that! I'm glad you guys enjoyed it 🙂
Gonna says
So good
Rose says
Super good
Linda says
Yum
Troy says
Yum
Brenda says
Super good