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Honey Baked Ham is a holiday tradition everyone looks forward to! Sweet and smoky with succulent spices, this copycat recipe tastes just like the original.
Honey Baked Ham
Honey Baked Ham was a centerpiece at many Christmas Eve and Easter dinners growing up. Our parents often purchased it at one of our favorite places, the Honey Baked Ham store. What we didn’t realize at the time was how expensive that ham could be. Now that we’re in charge of our own Christmas Eve and Easter dinners, we’ve found a way to make a sweet, sugary copycat honey Baked Ham at home. The price is right, and baking it in our own kitchen makes our house smell absolutely divine!
How Much Does a Honey Baked Ham Cost?
Buying a ham from the Honey Baked Ham store can cost well over $100! Sure, they’re tasty, but you can make the same delicious baked ham at home for a fraction of the cost. A similar sized ham from the grocery store will cost you less than $30, and the ingredients for the rich, sweet honey glaze are pantry staples you probably already have! Save that money AND make your house smell yummy all at the same time.
What Kind of Ham is Best?
For this recipe we use a cooked spiral cut, bone-in ham. A spiral cut ham is super easy to use and glaze because it has been pre-cut into nice, thin slices. Spiral hams are super easy to find at most grocery stores, especially around Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you prefer, you can also use a boneless ham, however I prefer bone-in because the ham slices are more tender and I love using the ham bone to make soups like split pea soup and ham and bean soup.
Honey Baked Ham Glaze
I actually love the process of glazing this Honey Baked Ham. The rich sauce is easy to make and I love how it seeps into the crevices of the ham and creates a slightly crispy golden crust. Here’s what you do:
- Combine butter, brown sugar, honey, and all the delicious spices into a saucepan.
- Bring the whole thing to a boil, just until the sugar dissolves.
- Using a basting brush, spread most of the decadent sauce all over the ham, making sure to brush inside each slice.
- Then, baste the ham once more about halfway through the baking time. Pour any remaining glaze evenly over the ham if desired.
- Finally, broil the top of the ham in the oven at the end so the sauce caramelizes and bubbles. It’s SO delicious!
How to Cook Honey Baked Ham in the Oven
Baking a ham is the best way to get that perfect caramelized crust while keeping the ham plump and juicy. Check out the recipe card below for all the details. But the trick here is low and slow. Since ham comes precooked, all you really need to do is warm it through and allow the honey and brown sugar mixture to coat the meat thoroughly. It’s a lengthy process but it’s easy. One heavenly slice of ham is worth all that patience.
How Long to Cook a Precooked Ham in the Oven
For this copycat honey baked ham recipe, we cook the ham for 5 hours at 200-degrees F. However, if you are in a hurry, you can speed up the process by raising the temperature to 275-degrees and cook for 2-3 hours. No matter the temperature or the amount of time you cook it, you want to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving. You want the internal temperature of the thickest part of the ham to be 140-degrees F.
Tips for Cooking Honey Baked Ham
Don’t be intimidated by cooking a ham. It’s really very simple. But here are a few tips to making the best Christmas ham ever!
- Line your roasting pan with foil. That glorious honey and brown sugar mixture is delicious, but it makes a sticky mess! Save yourself some clean-up time and line the pan. Then, all you have to do is toss it afterward!
- Cover the ham with foil or a lid when cooking. You want to keep all those juices in the ham.
- Use a heavy duty roasting pan if you can. We love the Magnalite Roasting Pan.
- Baste your ham with the honey mixture halfway through the baking process. If you really want to have a strong glaze, baste it several times throughout the baking process.
- When basting, use a silicone basting brush. The honey mixture is sticky and you don’t want little stringy fibers getting into your baste with other types of brushes.
- To give your ham that golden, caramel crust, put the ham under the broiler for a few minutes at the end. You can also use a kitchen blow torch to give it that caramelized touch.
- Make sure to let the ham rest about five minutes or so before slicing and serving.
How to Cook Honey Baked Ham in the Crock Pot
If you want to go for the ease of cooking your ham in the crock pot, you can! Just make sure to line your crock pot because it’ll get messy with all of that delicious sauce. Cook on low for 5-6 hours and then pop it in the oven under the broiler to crisp up the top. Try our Slow Cooker Ham with Maple and Brown Sugar too. It’s so delicious!
How Long Does Honey Baked Ham Last in the Fridge?
An uncooked ham can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to seven days. After it’s been baked, you can store leftovers for up to a week. Wrap the ham well in plastic wrap, in a resealable bag, or in an airtight container. If you know you won’t use you leftovers that quickly, consider freezing them for later use in casseroles or soups.
Can Cooked Ham Be Frozen?
Absolutely! Freeze any leftover ham in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to four months. It will still be safe to eat after that time, but may not taste as good. To reheat, let it thaw in the refrigerator completely, then microwave or put in the oven, covered, for about 30 minutes.
Leftover Ham Recipes
Ham leftovers make some of our favorite meals! Yes, sandwiches are always a solid choice, but sometimes it’s fun to try something new like our Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes. Try your leftover ham in one of these other delicious dishes too:
What to Serve With Honey Baked Ham?
This ham is so delicious and versatile, the possibilities of what to serve alongside a thick slice are endless! Recipes like Russet Potato Mashed Potatoes and Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole are great with our honey ham. Here are a few more tried and true combinations we love:
- Funeral Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Parmesan Garlic Grilled Potatoes
- Corn
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Christmas Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
Still want more side dish ideas? HERE is a quick link to ALL of our easy side dishes and our Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
You want to cover the ham tightly with foil or in a roasting pan with a lid. This helps keep all the juices inside. You also want to check the temperature and remove from the oven when the ham reaches 140 degrees F. If the ham gets too hot, it will start drying out.
This ham is very flavorful on its own. If we are serving the ham as leftovers on a ham and cheese board, you can serve with dijon mustard, pepper jelly, or hot honey.
If your ham is pre-cooked, it should be heated to 140-degrees F before serving.
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Conventional Oven
- Large Roasting Pan
Ingredients
- 1 (8-10 pound) fully cooked bone-in spiral sliced ham
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a roasting pan with foil or a roasting pan liner. Place ham in prepared pan. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine all remaining ingredients. Heat over medium-low until sugar is just dissolved. You do not need to bring it to a boil.
- Baste ham with about one-third of the honey mixture. Be sure to get in between all the slices.
- Cover and bake for 5 hours, basting a second time halfway through using half of the remaining honey mixture. Check the temperature often. When the ham reaches 140 degrees F, it is ready.
- Remove ham from the oven and set the oven to broil. While the oven is getting to temperature, baste ham one last time using the remaining mixture. Be sure to get a nice even coating over the top.
- Place ham, uncovered, back in the oven. Watch it closely! When the glaze starts to caramelize and bubble up, remove the ham from the oven. Allow ham to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Save yourself some cleanup time and line your roasting pan. That glorious honey and brown sugar mixture is delicious but it makes a sticky mess! If you line your pan, then all you have to do is toss the liner out afterward.
- Use a heavy-duty roasting pan if you can. We love the Magnalite roasting pan. Cover the ham with foil or a lid when cooking. You want to keep all those juices in the ham.
- When basting, use a silicone basting brush. The honey mixture is sticky, and you don’t want little stringy fibers getting into your baste wit other types of brushes.
Am trying this for Christmas this year, 2024. Can I use a cooking bag? Thanks
Yes, you can definitely use a cooking bag if you would prefer. Hope this helps!
Brush on all of the glaze? Or open bag and brush on more after half baking time? Take completely out of the bag to broil at the end? Thanks
Loved this recipe! Made it for Christmas and will make it again this Easter. My family loved the ham and the sauce it made!! Thank you!!!!
Honey Baked Ham Recipe
You are correct, these hams have gotten expensive. When you add in shipping costs, I purchase the grocery store spiral ham. Since moving to the Midwest Honey Baked Ham was always on my table. The crunchy glaze was so good.
Thank you for this recipe. It will bring back memories at Easter dinner. The left overs will be appreciated in my scalloped potato casserole and pea soup. “Gotta” have the pea soup! It’s another tradition.
Thank you, Best ham recipe I’ve had. Love it 😀 !!!
Great ham recipe, kid,s loved it.
Great recipe! Ham was fantastic! Whole family loved it!
The ham was delicious. Kudos just as good as honey baked ham
This was great better than the name brand! I warmed it up on a smoker grill and will definitely do it again!
Super great. Better than the honey baked hams that i order.
I followed the recipe to the letter, but I cooked my ham at 275 for 10 minutes per pound. I bought my 11 pound ham for $10.99 from Target after reading a rave review on Consumer Reports. It was amazing! I will never buy a Honey Baked Ham again. My friends didn’t believe it wasn’t the $100 ham!
I plan to cook my honey bake ham the day before. What do I need to do to the ham the next day to serve it? Do I need to warm it again. The store bought ham says to take it out of the frig. and can eaten it at room temp.
Yes, you can eat it right out of the fridge. Or, you can warm it in the oven or crock pot.
My favorite way to cook a ham for a special occasion 😋
Ham is just synonymous with Easter and this copycat recipe will do the Bunny proud.
Ham has always been our tradition but now Im curious what it might be like with my homemade maple syrup
We love this honey ham. We eat it several times a year.
Thank you, Tammy! I’m so happy you like it!
So delicious!
Hello, I’d like to make this in the Crock pot version so I read to cook on low for 5 to 6 hrs then broil to crisp the top for the Best Honey Baked Ham (Easy Copycat). Stated Bone-in, Spiral sliced.
Then I looked at the recipe for Spiral Ham with Maple and Brown sugar and it said to cook for only 2 to 3 hrs on low. Stated boneless ham or Bone-in ham.
Why the difference in cook time – as it’s the same 8 to 10 lb for each and is stated for the CP Maple and Brown sugar one – boneless ham or bone-in ham? I must be missing something here…?
It all depends on the weight of the ham. The most important thing is to check the internal temperature. It has to reach 140 degrees before serving. Check after the first two hours and then every hour after until it reaches that temperature.
Can this recipe be converted to a crock pot and if so, would it be cooked on high or low and for how long? Thanks.
If you want to go for the ease of cooking your ham in the crock pot, you can! Just make sure to line your crock pot because it’ll get messy with all of that delicious sauce. Cook on low for 5-6 hours and then pop it in the oven under the broiler to crisp up the top.
Can the ham be cooked the day before and reheated on Easter? Assuming “Yes” at what temperature and for how long?
We suggest reheating the ham, covered with foil, at 275 for 10 minutes per pound. If it gets too hot it will dry out. Hope this helps!
How about anise with this recipe?
That sounds delicious too! Let us know how it turns out!
hello, not a review but just a comment. This copycat recipe is it exactly like the ham from the famous honey-baked stores? I am obsessed with trying to find the real honey-baked ham clone. I have been trolling different recipe sites on the internet for several years now, whenever I see the words copycat recipe for Honey baked ham. So far the closest I have ever gotten to the real thing is only the words “Copycat recipe for honey baked ham”