This honey ham glaze is the easy recipe I turn to when I want to infuse a spiral ham with maximum deliciousness. Made with honey, melted butter, Dijon mustard and seasonings, it creates a sweet, sticky glaze that bakes into the ham for incredible flavor.
The sauce takes just 10 minutes to make, and you simply drizzle it over and inside the spiral sliced ham and let the slow cooker do the rest. (As a bonus, warming the ham in the crock pot keeps your oven free if you need to heat additional side dishes!)
I love how the glaze caramelizes on the edges and seeps between the ham slices, so every bite is juicy and so tasty.
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This easy ham sauce is perfect for a holiday spread, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Sunday dinner, and you’ll love how simple it is to prepare.
Recipe Highlights: Honey Glaze Ham Sauce
Why Make It: Easily add amazing flavor to a store bought spiral ham.
Technique: Make the simple sauce, drizzle on the ham, and use moist heat to warm the ham for serving.
Tools: A slow cooker with a “low” setting is perfect for warming the ham.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to make this honey glaze ham recipe:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter – butter helps keep the ham moist. Since ham is generally salty, I usually use unsalted butter.
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder – adds nice flavor, and dissolves easily in the sauce. If you’re not a garlic fan, you can omit this.
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup honey – I used local honey, but you can use your favorite.
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard – you can substitute stone ground mustard or spicy mustard if you prefer.
You’ll Also Need
A boneless sliced ham – I used a 4 pound ham, which feeds 8 to 12 people. (If your boneless ham is not sliced, make 1/4 inch vertical slices but leave about 1/2 inch uncut at the bottom to keep the ham intact for cooking.) The ham shown above is from the Honey Baked Ham Company.
1/2 cup liquid – I used water in the bottom of the slow cooker, but you can use pineapple juice, orange juice, or ginger ale to add a little extra sweetness if you prefer.
Pro Portion Tip: Allow for about 1/3 pound boneless ham per person if you’re serving several side dishes, or about 1/2 pound per person if the ham is the main event.
If you want everyone to be able to take home leftover ham, double these numbers!
Equipment Needed
The only special kitchen equipment you need to make this holiday ham sauce is a slow cooker that the boneless ham will fit in, with a Low setting.
The crock pot gently warms the ham with low, moist heat that won’t dry out the ham.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE: Pour the water or other liquid inside the slow cooker, and set the heat at Low.
STEP TWO: Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the pepper and garlic powder.
STEP THREE: Add the honey and mustard, and stir or whisk until fully combined.
STEP FOUR: Place the ham in the slow cooker, and gently separate the slices with a fork.
STEP FIVE: Drizzle the sauce over the ham and inside each slice.
STEP SIX: Cover and cook just until the ham is warmed through and reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. (Check the temperature with an instant read thermometer.)
With a 4 pound ham in a 6 quart slow cooker, this took about 1.5 hours in my home kitchen. Your exact time may vary, depending on how your crock pot heats. Use tongs to remove the ham to a platter. Serve and enjoy!
PRO COOKING TIP: If you need to hold the ham before serving, use tongs to transfer it onto a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Spoon some of the juices on top and wrap tightly in foil until serving. This will keep the ham warm and moist until you serve it.
What to Serve with Honey-Glazed Ham?
Some of my family’s favorite side dishes to serve with ham include:
- Deviled eggs
- Green bean casserole or steamed green beans
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Hash brown casserole
- Creamed corn or fried corn
- Glazed carrots
- Macaroni salad
- Brussels sprouts with bacon
- Soft homemade rolls
How to Store Leftovers and Freezing Directions
Store leftover honey glazed ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you have extra honey-Dijon glaze, spoon a little over the ham before storing it to help keep the meat moist and flavorful.
You can also freeze leftover ham in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 2 months. (I like to wrap the slices tightly in parchment paper before freezing.) Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQs
Yes! These hams are already smoked, cured and cooked. All you need to do is glaze and reheat the ham.
Because a boneless spiral ham is already precooked, it’s important to cover the slow cooker while cooking on low heat, so that the ham doesn’t dry out.
Yes. Cool the slices completely, then stack them in meal-size portions and wrap tightly in parchment paper. Place the wrapped ham in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight freezer container, pressing out as much air as possible, and label with the date. Freeze for up to 2 months for the best quality, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Here’s the full, printable recipe:
Honey Glaze Sauce for Boneless Spiral Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 boneless spiral sliced ham about 4 pounds
Instructions
- Pour the water or other liquid inside the slow cooker, and set the heat at Low.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the pepper and garlic powder.
- Add the honey and Dijon mustard, and stir until fully combined.
- Place the ham in the slow cooker, and gently separate the slices with a fork.
- Drizzle the sauce over the ham and inside each slice.
- Put the heat on Low, cover and cook just until the ham is warmed through and reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F, about 1.5 to 2 hours. Your exact heating time may vary. (Do not overcook.) Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Storage: Store leftover honey glazed ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing: Wrap ham slices tightly in parchment paper, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 2 months for best quality. Thawing: Thaw frozen ham overnight in the refrigerator. Reheating: Place ham slices in a covered baking dish with a little extra glaze or water. Warm in a 325 degree F oven until heated through, or microwave individual portions in short intervals until warm.
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #HappySimpleLiving so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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Eliza Cross is the creator of Happy Simple Living, where she shares ideas to help busy people simplify cooking, gardening, holidays, home, and money. She is also the award-winning author of 17 cookbooks, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon.
