Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe (Easy Oven Baked)

Brown sugar glazed ham is a delicious balance of sweet and savory, with a sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven. 👇👇

This oven-baked ham uses a sticky brown sugar glaze made with butter, honey, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. As the ham bakes, the glaze melts into the scored surface and slowly caramelizes, creating a glossy crust with rich sweet-savory flavor.

This oven baked ham recipe is a classic choice for Christmas dinner, Easter ham, or any holiday meal when you need an easy centerpiece.

Close up of sliced brown sugar glazed ham

Why I Love This Recipe

Okay, friends, I have to tell you: this glazed ham recipe is hands down one of my all-time favorites! It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory, with a simple brown sugar glaze that makes it feel extra special.

Simple holiday centerpiece - A bone-in ham with brown sugar glaze looks impressive but takes very little hands-on time.
Sweet and savory flavor - Brown sugar, honey, orange juice, and warm spices create a rich glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
Feeds a crowd affordably - Ham is one of the most budget-friendly proteins for large meals, making it perfect for holidays or family gatherings.
Great for leftovers and meal prep - Extra ham can be used for sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, soups, or quick dinners later in the week.
Reliable oven method - Cooking the ham low and slow helps keep the meat moist while the glaze thickens and forms that classic glossy crust.

Recipe Ingredients 👇👇

8-10 lb bone-in cooked ham
⅓ cup water

For The Glaze:

1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup salted butter
½ cup honey
¼ cup orange juice
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT: I used my Staub Cast Iron Saute Pan to bake the ham and a Meat Thermometer to make sure the center reached the perfect temperature without overcooking.

What Ham Should I Use?

For the best results, start with a fully cooked bone-in ham. These hams are already cooked and only need to be reheated, which makes them much easier to work with than raw cuts of pork.

Bone-in ham tends to stay more moist and flavorful, and the bone helps distribute heat evenly while the ham warms in the oven.

If you're feeding a crowd, an 8-10 pound ham is a good size and typically yields plenty of servings with leftovers for the next few days.

Types of ham you may see at the grocery store include:

Bone-in ham: Often the most flavorful option because the bone adds richness while cooking.
Spiral-cut ham: Convenient because it's pre-sliced, though it can dry out slightly faster if overcooked.
Boneless ham: Easy to slice and serve, but usually a bit less juicy than bone-in.

How To Make Brown Sugar Glazed Ham 👇👇

Four images grouped, first is had with paper towel over ham, second and third is ham surface raw with diamond shapes sliced into it, last image is ham face down in a pan

STEP 1: Prep Ham

Allow the ham to sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before cooking. Use a sharp knife to create shallow cuts in a diamond pattern all over the ham, about ¹/₂ inch deep.

STEP 2: Bake The Ham

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Adjust the oven rack to the lower third of the oven. Place the ham face down in a baking dish. Pour ¹/₂ cup of water into the base of the dish. Cover the ham loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Two images of a pot, first with butter, cinnamon and liquid dumped in, second everything mixed together to form a glaze.

STEP 3: Make The Glaze

While ham is cooking you can make the glaze. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt ½ cup butter with 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup honey, ¼ cup orange juice, 2 Tbsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ½ tsp ground cloves. Stir together so that brown sugar dissolves.

Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir often so sugar doesn't burn. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. The consistency will thicken as it cools down.

Four images grouped, first is ham in black pan, second has meat thermometer poking into ham, third is close up of meat thermometer, fourth is silicone brush over ham

STEP 4: Glaze The Ham

After 30 minutes of baking, remove the ham from the oven and poke the meat thermometer into the center of the ham (if you're using one). Pour ¹/₂ cup glaze over the ham, brushing it into the cuts to coat evenly.

STEP 5: Bake Ham

Return the ham to the oven and bake uncovered. Brush the ham with the leftover glaze every 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F.

Quick Tip

Baste the ham with the glaze every 30 minutes for the best caramelized crust. Be sure to spoon the glaze over the top and let it drip down into the nooks and crannies.

Four images of a glazed ham with diamond shapes cut into it, the skin has darkened and is glistening with glaze over top

STEP 6: Let Rest, Then Slice

Transfer the ham to a cutting board. Brush on more glaze. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Once sliced, serve and enjoy!

How to Slice a Bone-In Ham:

Place it on a cutting board with the bone facing you. Carefully work around the bone for clean slices.
Identify the muscle fibers and slice perpendicular to them.
You can slice about ¹/₈ to ¹/₄ inch thick, or thicker if you prefer!

Recipe Tips

Make sure to coat the ham generously with the brown sugar glaze, but leave some glaze for basting every 30 minutes or so during cooking. This ensures the glaze thickens and caramelizes beautifully.
Slow and steady is the key: Cook the ham at a lower temperature to prevent the sugar in the glaze from burning. A long, slow cook gives the flavors time to meld together.

If you're planning a full dinner around this ham, you can also browse my family-friendly dinner recipes or my easy holiday recipes to build a complete meal without a lot of extra work.

How To Store Leftovers

REFRIGERATE - Wrap leftover ham tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also store it in an airtight container. Leftover ham will stay good in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
TO FREEZE - Slice the ham and freeze it in an airtight container or freezer bags. It'll last up to 2-3 months in the freezer. When reheating, you can either defrost in the fridge overnight or warm slices in the oven.

Reheating Tips

OVEN - When reheating, add a little moisture (like a splash of water or broth) to prevent the ham from drying out. Cover it with foil and bake at 325°F for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
MICROWAVE - Microwave individual slices for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

Why This Cooking Method Works

Baking the ham covered first allows it to warm slowly without drying out.

Once the glaze is added, the ham finishes baking uncovered, which helps the brown sugar glaze caramelize and form that sticky outer coating.

Scoring the ham in a diamond pattern also helps the glaze sink into the surface, creating more flavor in every slice.

This slow oven method keeps the ham juicy while building that classic holiday glaze.

What To Serve With Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

A sweet glazed ham pairs well with classic side dishes that balance the rich flavor. These sides work especially well for holiday dinners, Sunday family meals, or larger gatherings.

Creamy garlic mashed potatoes are always a favorite because they soak up the extra glaze from the ham. For vegetables, brown sugar roasted carrots add a little sweetness that complements the glaze beautifully, while sauteed green beans keep the meal simple and balanced.
If you want something lighter, oven roasted asparagus adds a fresh contrast to the rich ham. Soft homemade dinner rolls are so delicious to serve during the holidays, and they're perfect for making small leftover ham sandwiches later.

Ways To Use Leftover Ham

One of the best things about cooking a large ham is the leftovers. Sliced ham stores well in the fridge or freezer and can turn into several easy weeknight dinners or quick lunches during the week.

Ham sandwiches - Layer slices on toasted bread with mustard, cheese, and lettuce for a quick lunch. Or try my ham, cheese and egg toasts.
Breakfast scramble - Dice leftover ham and cook it with eggs, potatoes, and shredded cheese.
Ham fried rice - Chop ham into small pieces and stir-fry with cooked rice, vegetables, and soy sauce like my easy leftover rice recipe.
Ham and potato soup - Add diced ham to my creamy loaded potato soup for extra flavor and protein.
Ham mac and cheese - Stir chopped ham into baked mac and cheese for an easy family-friendly dinner. Try my hidden veggie mac and cheese or tomato soup mac and cheese for this one.
Ham omelets - Use small pieces of ham for simple breakfast omelets or quiche muffins.

Leftover ham works great for meal prep, easy weeknight dinners, and quick family meals during busy weeks.

Slices of glazed ham with the whole ham all on a plate with sprigs of rosemary

Leftover ham is incredibly versatile. You can turn it into a cozy bowl of ham and bean soup, make an easy ham egg and cheese toast for breakfast, or try a different glaze like my mustard thyme ham glaze the next time you bake a ham. If you prefer a hands-off dinner, my Crockpot ham recipe is another easy way to cook it.

FAQs

How long do you cook a precooked ham?

Most fully cooked hams need about 10-15 minutes per pound at 325-350°F. The ham is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.

Should ham be covered while baking?

Yes. Covering the ham with foil during the first part of cooking helps keep it moist while it heats through. Remove the foil when adding the glaze so it can caramelize.

Do you need to score the ham?

Scoring the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern helps the glaze soak into the meat and caramelize as it bakes.

Can I make glazed ham ahead of time?

Yes. Ham reheats very well. You can bake it earlier in the day, slice it, then reheat gently in the oven with foil and a little moisture to keep it from drying out.

How long does leftover ham last?

Leftover ham can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container, or frozen for 2-3 months.

Why I Love This Recipe

Recipe Ingredients 👇👇

What Ham Should I Use?