Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
This Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is a juicy and tender main course that your whole family will love. It’s a show-stopping spiral-cut ham coated with a delicious brown sugar and pineapple glaze, creating the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
This pineapple brown sugar glazed ham is my go-to holiday recipe because it’s easy to make and always turns out perfectly. You can never go wrong with a ham for your family dinners.
One thing about making ham is that I always have plenty of leftovers for different meals. This Farmers Market Ham & Egg Breakfast and this Slow Cooker Ham, Potato, Corn, and Veggie Chowder are my favorite ways to use leftovers.
Table of Contents
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- So Tasty: The sticky glaze gives this ham the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors. It’s finger-licking good.
- Minimal Prep: This recipe also doesn’t require much prep work, so you don’t have to worry about overly complicated steps.
- Great For Special Occasions: It looks pretty and tastes amazing, so it’s perfect for holiday meals or whenever the craving hits.
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Ingredient Notes:
- Bone-In Ham
- Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Glaze
Substitutions and Additions
- Festive Touch: Want to add a little more festive flair to this holiday staple? Place pineapple rings and maraschino cherries on top of the ham with toothpicks before you bake it for a beautiful look.
- Cloves: Whole cloves can also be added to the outside of the ham with toothpicks to give it a little more flavor and a nice look.
- Ham: I used a bone-in spiral-cut ham to make cutting easier. You can also use an uncut ham if that is what you prefer.
How to Make Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham (step-by-step directions)
Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pineapple juice, melted butter, mustard, garlic and cloves. Mix well.
Step 2: Place the ham in a roasting pan cut side down.
Step 3: Brush the ham generously with the glaze. Cover with foil and bake for 2.5 to 3 hours.
Step 4: Remove the foil and cover the ham with additional glaze. Return to the oven until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.
Recipe Tips
- I like to dry the surface of the ham with paper towels before I add the glaze so that it doesn’t slide off.
- To get a nice juicy ham, it’s helpful to allow the ham to come to room temperature before placing it in the oven.
- If you are using uncut ham, I recommend scoring the ham in a diamond pattern before you glaze it so the glaze can soak into the ham and give it a great flavor.
- Keep in mind that large or smaller ham will change the cooking time. I recommend cooking for at least 15 minutes per pound.
Storing Tips
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: You can also freeze leftover ham for 2-3 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Just make sure to use a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
- Reheating: Reheating baked ham is easy; reheat it at 325°F for about 15 minutes per pound. You can also add some water or broth to keep it moist while reheating. You can also microwave single servings for 1-2 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
When serving a spiral-cut ham like this one, I like to pair it with our favorite holiday sides such as this Fresh Green Bean Casserole and these Baked Sweet Potatoes! You can pair them with a sweet treat like this 3-ingredient Turtle Rolo Pretzel recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use a boneless ham for this recipe. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
I like to apply the brown sugar glaze before cooking and then again after for the best taste.
The brown sugar glaze is made of a combination of brown sugar, pineapple juice, dijon mustard, and spices.
The glaze is what makes this ham from good to great.
Fresh pineapple adds a bright and tangy flavor to the ham. It also helps to tenderize the meat.
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Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
Equipment
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- 10 pound (4 ½ kg) fully cooked bone-in ham
- 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar packed
- ½ cup (118 2/7 ml) pineapple juice
- ½ cup (113 ½ g) salted butter melted
- ¼ cup (59 ⅐ ml) Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Place the ham in a roasting pan, cut side down.10 pound fully cooked bone-in ham
- Combine the brown sugar, pineapple juice, melted butter, mustard, garlic, and ground cloves. Stir until combined.1 cup brown sugar,½ cup pineapple juice,½ cup salted butter,¼ cup Dijon mustard,½ teaspoon minced garlic,½ teaspoon ground cloves
- Brush the ham generously with the glaze, covering the entire surface. Cover the ham loosely with foil and bake for 1.5 to 2 hours, basting with the glaze every 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil for the last 30 minutes of cooking, covering the ham in additional glaze. Bake until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F (60°C).
- Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- I like to dry the surface of the ham with paper towels before I add the glaze so that it doesn’t slide off.
- To get a nice juicy ham, it’s helpful to allow the ham to come to room temperature before placing it in the oven.
- If you are using uncut ham, I recommend scoring the ham in a diamond pattern before you glaze it so the glaze can soak into the ham and give it a great flavor.
- Keep in mind that large or smaller ham will change the cooking time. I recommend cooking for at least 15 minutes per pound.
Nutrition Information
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