The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (2024)

Easy Pork Recipes Holiday Cuisine Main Courses By Kristen Chidsey | 16 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Made with a sweet and savory pineapple ham glaze, this recipe for Baked Ham makes an easy, yet impressive entree fit for the holidays.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (1)

Just like my recipe for Instant Pot Ham, this recipe for Baked Pineapple Ham proves that pineapple and ham are a magical combination. The sweetness of the pineapple juice not only pairs well with the savory flavor of the ham, but the pineapple juice works to help tenderize the ham.

why you'll love this recipe for pineapple ham

  • Incredibly Easy Recipe. There is no basting, no broiling, and no babysitting required with this recipe for baked ham.
  • Impressive Flavor. The ham is baked low and slow with an easy sweet and savory pineapple ham glaze that gives this baked ham the most incredible, mouth-watering good flavor.
  • Moist and Tender. Because the glazed ham is wrapped in foil and cooked low and slow, you don't need to worry about your ham drying out and the pineapple juice in the ham glaze works to tenderize the ham.
  • Perfect for a Crowd. Not only does everyone love the flavor in this Pineapple Ham, but you can easily double the ham glaze or cut the glaze in half to accommodate the size of ham needed to serve your guests. Of course, this glazed ham is so good, I often plan to make extra just to enjoy leftovers!

Notes on Ingredients

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (2)
  • Ham: This recipe is designed for a cured, precooked ham, also referred to as a city ham. Do not purchase uncooked ham or cured, uncooked ham which is referred to as country ham. You can purchase a whole or sliced ham, boneless or bone-in. I prefer a spiral-sliced ham with a bone. Not only is it easier to serve and I love that the glaze can drip in between the slices, but the bone can also be used to make a delicious Ham and Bean Soup, Split Pea soup, or Potatoes and Green Beans with Ham.
  • Pineapple Ham Glaze: The pineapple glaze on this ham is OUT OF THIS WORLD! While it has a few unique ingredients, it creates an easy glaze that is the perfect balance between sweet and savory.
    • Pineapple Juice: Pineapple juice naturally sweetens the glaze and the acidic sweetness pairs perfectly with the salty ham.
    • Apricot Preserves: This may sound like an odd ingredient, but the apricot sweetens the ham and adds so much flavor to this glaze. I use All Fruit Apricot Preserves, to cut down on added sugars, but you can use any brand you like. If you can't find apricot preserves, feel free to use honey in place of the preserves.
    • Dijon Mustard: The Dijon adds a sharp note to the glaze.
    • Horseradish: Trust me on this, the tiny bit of horseradish opens up your palate to allow the flavors of the ham and glaze to come to life. It does not overpower the flavor of the glaze nor is it a prominent flavor.
    • Brown Sugar: Just a tad to add to the sweetness in this glaze. Plus the brown sugar gives notes of rich molasses flavor.
    • Spices: I use a tiny bit of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. These are traditional spices found in a ham glaze and add classic notes that are common in holiday ham recipes.

How to Bake Ham with Pineapple Glaze

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One: Make Pineapple Ham Glaze. The glaze comes together quickly by heating the ingredients in a heavy-bottomed small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is well combined.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (3)

Step Two: Glaze the Ham. Place the unwrapped ham on a large piece of heavy-duty foil, folding up the sides to form a "bowl" around the ham. If your ham is sliced, gently loosen the slices apart to allow the glaze to drip down in between the slices. Pour the glaze evenly over the ham.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (4)

Step Three: Bake Ham. Bake the ham until an internal temperature of 140 degrees F is reached. The best way to determine the ham reaches the right temperature is to use an oven-safe digital thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (5)

Step Four: Serve. After resting the ham, serve this Glazed Pineapple Ham with scalloped potatoes or mashed potato casserole, roasted asparagus, and a strawberry spinach salad for the most spectacular holiday meal, and be prepared to hear your dinner guests sing your praises.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (6)

∗ Tips to Remember ∗

  • Evenly glaze your ham. To ensure every morsel of the ham is well seasoned, gently pull apart the slices of the ham and pour the glaze over the ham, drizzling in between the slices.
  • The key to a great ham is to NOT overcook it. We have all had our share of dried-out ham and that is not pleasant! We want to be sure to just warm the ham, as it is already cooked. According to the USDA, ham is safe to eat after being reheated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to determine how long to bake is to insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the ham and set an alarm for 140 degrees F. Cooking to this temperature will ensure your ham stays moist and juicy and is safe to eat.
  • Another way to ensure your ham remains juicy is to cook the ham in a moist environment. That is why when I am preparing a small ham, I use my recipe for Instant Pot Ham as the pressure cooker creates a moist environment. But for a large ham, we can easily create an environment in the oven that will keep this ham moist and juicy, and deliver fabulous results! To create moist heat in the oven, I use a roasting pan fitted with a rack and bake the ham over water. The water will create steam as the ham bakes, which will help to evenly and slowly cook the ham without drying it out.
  • My number one tip for a juicy baked ham is to wrap the ham in foil.As the ham bakes, it stays moist, thanks to the foil, and the glaze seeps into the ham, flavoring the entire ham--not just the outer layer. Plus this makes the process of clean-up super simple!
  • Let the ham rest after baking. It is best to allow the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This will help the ham stay juicy and tender.

FAQs about Making a Glazed Ham

How long does it take to bake ham?

When baking ham at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you should plan on 15 minutes per pound for a bone-in ham and 20 minutes per pound for a boneless ham.

How much ham per person?

As for how much ham you need, you should plan on ½ of a pound of ham per person for bone-in-hams and ⅓ of a pound of ham per person if using a boneless ham.

Can I caramelize the ham glaze?

If you want the crispy, caramelized edges on the exterior of the ham, you can opt to broil the ham. To do this, remove the ham from the foil and place the ham back on the roasting pan. Broil the ham under high heat, keeping a close eye on it so it does not burn, and broil for a couple of minutes. Please keep in mind, that this tends to dry the ham out VERY quickly and isn't necessary. The glazed ham is perfect simply baked.

Storage Instructions

  • Refrigerate: Allow the baked ham to cool fully and then transfer slices to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Place slices of the cooled ham into a freezer-safe container or bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat: If needed, allow the ham to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. To keep the ham from drying out, cover the bottom of a baking dish with chicken stock, pineapple juice, or water and add in the slices of ham. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 300 degrees F for 15-20 minutes just warm through. The liquid and foil will prevent the ham from drying out when reheated.

Recipes Using Leftover Ham

Browse my full collection of leftover ham recipes or check out the inspiration below.

  • Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets
  • Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
  • Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
  • Ham Stromboli
  • Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole
  • Potatoes and Green Beans with Ham
  • Instant Pot Ham and Cheese Pasta

If you enjoyed this recipe for Pineapple Ham, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (7)

Baked Ham with Pineapple Ham Glaze

Baked low and slow in the oven with a sweet and savory pineapple ham glaze, this recipe for Baked Ham is tender, moist, and has the most incredible flavor.

5 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 257kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

  • 7-10 pound ham see notes about type of ham

Ham Glaze

  • cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup apricot preserves
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar light or dark
  • 1 teaspoon prepared Horseradish
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon ground cloves
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

  • Remove ham from the refrigerator for 1 hour before baking.

  • Preheat the oven to 325℉. Pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of a large roasting pan that is fitted with a rack and set aside.

  • Prepare the ham glaze by combining pineapple juice, apricot preserves, Dijon, horseradish, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice together in a heavy-bottomed small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking often, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is well combined. Remove the glaze from the heat.

    The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (8)

  • Unwrap the ham and discard the packaging and any plastic caps or inserts that are sometimes found in a bone-in ham. Place the ham on heavy-duty foil, folding up the sides to form a "bowl" around the ham. If your ham is sliced, gently loosen the slices apart to allow the glaze to drip down in between the slices. Pour the glaze evenly over the ham.

    The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (9)

  • If using, insert the probe of an oven-safe digital thermometer into the middle of the ham (the thickest part.) Tightly wrap the foil around the ham to cover. Place the wrapped ham on the prepared roasting pan.

    The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (10)

  • Bake ham until an internal temperature of 140℉ is reached, or for 15 minutes per pound for bone-in ham and 20 minutes per pound for boneless ham.

  • Remove the ham from the oven and let rest for at least 10 minutes. Carefully unwrap the foil, slice, and serve.

Notes

Apricot Preserves: If you can't find apricot preserves, feel free to use honey in place of the preserves.

Pineapple Juice: Use canned pineapple juice or replace it with honey.

Horseradish: For sensitive palates, or a sweeter ham, omit it from the glaze.

Storage: Leftover ham should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow the ham to defrost overnight in the refrigerator if needed. Cover the bottom of a baking dish with chicken stock, pineapple juice, or water, and add in the slices of ham. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 300 degrees F for 15-20 minutes just warm through. The liquid and foil will prevent the ham from drying out when reheated.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 2532mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 2mg

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About Kristen Chidsey

Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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  1. Shelly

    The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (11)
    This ham recipe was sooo worth the effort! Made this recipe last year, doubling the sauce, and it came out very tasty and moist. Always had dried ham, and this recipe and method solved that issue! Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Kristen Chidsey

      I love hearing this, Shelly! Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Easter.

      Reply

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The Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you cook the ham before you glaze it? ›

You don't want to add it too early or the sugars in the glaze could cause it to burn, and you don't want to add it too late or you won't get that caramelized coating. I usually bake the ham for about 2 hours before adding some of the glaze. Then I'll pop it back in the oven for 20 minutes, add more glaze, and repeat.

What juice keeps ham moist? ›

How to Prepare the Most Tender, Juicy Ham With Apple Juice or Pineapple | Livestrong.com. If you want to prepare pre-cooked ham so it's tender, juicy and flavor, the key is in the glaze. Here's how to bake the best ham with apple juice or pineapple.

What makes ham taste better? ›

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

Should you use fresh pineapple on ham? ›

Don't bother decorating the outside of your ham with fresh pineapple, as the enzymes in the fruit will turn the meat to mush.

Is it best to glaze ham during cooking or at the end? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

How do you get glaze to stick to ham? ›

About 20 minutes prior to the end of cooking time, begin glazing the ham but applying it with a silicon brush. Continue to glaze every 5 minutes until the ham is done. The ham is ready when a thermometer reads an internal temperature of 135-140f.

How do you make ham not dry? ›

How do you bake a ham without drying it out? Spiral cut hams should be covered with aluminum foil to help retain moisture when re heating. You could also place a foil pan with water underneath the ham to create some steam inside the oven to keep everything moist.

What should I soak my ham in? ›

If necessary, soak the gammon (ham) in cold water to reduce saltiness, according to butcher or packet instructions (most do not need this anymore as curing methods have changed). Weigh to calculate the cooking time. Place in a large pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil.

How do you add moisture to cooked ham? ›

To reheat ham slices on the stove, add a few slices at a time to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add up to ½ cup of chicken broth to keep the meat moist or opt for a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil to give the ham a nice sear.

What is the tastiest ham in the world? ›

The story of Jamón Ibérico ham is steeped in mystery and romance. The ancient oak pastures of Spain, the noble black Ibérico pig, the mountain air which caresses each ham as it magically is transformed into one of the world's most exquisite foods - all play a part in this uniquely Spanish phenomenon.

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham on a rack in a large baking pan and add about 1/4- to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F.

Why does my ham taste funny? ›

A very common reason why cured ham may have a flavour that is not what it should be is that the same knife is used both to remove the outer layers and to slice the ham, so that remains of these rancid parts remain on the edge of the knife and are transferred to the slice.

What is the natural meat tenderizer in pineapple? ›

In the case of pineapples, the bromelain is actually a mixture of two enzymes classed as proteases that break down proteins. These proteases target the large protein molecules in meats (specifically the connective proteins called collagen), and break them down into shorter segments.

Why do people put pineapple on ham? ›

The pineapple adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the savory ham, making it a crowd-pleaser that will leave everyone asking for seconds. Plus, the recipe is super easy to follow, so even novice cooks can create a show-stopping dish in no time.

How do you heat and glaze a precooked ham? ›

Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F. Unwrap the ham and apply the glaze; increase the heat to 400F and bake for 15-20 minutes longer until the glaze is burnished.

How long do you cook a 10 lb precooked ham? ›

Approximate cooking time for precooked ham, depending on size:
  1. 5-lb. precooked ham: 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours.
  2. 7-lb. precooked ham: 2 hours–2 hours 45 minutes.
  3. 10-lb. precooked ham: 2 hours 30 minutes–3 hours.
  4. 15-lb. precooked ham: 3 hours 45 minutes–4 hours 30 minutes.
Sep 18, 2023

Should you bake a ham covered or uncovered? ›

Bake the ham in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 140°F, basting every 30 minutes with 1/2 cup of the glaze. Be sure to keep an eye on the ham, and cover it loosely with foil if it starts getting too dark.

How long does the glaze take on a ham? ›

You could apply 1/3 cup of glaze about an hour before the ham is done. Then 20 minutes later you can apply another 1/3 cup, and then the remaining 1/3 cup 15 minutes after that. For a smaller ham, it's fine to apply the glaze all at once.

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