This simple and affordable ham steak recipe is finished with a sweet and savory brown sugar glaze. Bets of all, it’s ready for the table in just 15 minutes!
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Love this glaze. it’s simple, quick and tasty. It’s quickly become my go to glaze for a quick dinner after a long day…
– Helena
Video: How to Make this Ham Steak Recipe
Ham steaks are an accessible cut of pork readily available in the meat department and behind the deli counter at just about every grocery store — but maybe you’re not sure what to do with them!? Fortunately, this easy ham steak recipe yields a delicious restaurant-quality meal in less than 20 minutes. You’ll love the contrast of the smoky, salty, pan-fried pork with a buttery sweet glaze!
What to Know Before You Get Started
- A ham steak is just a thick slice of ham cut from a whole ham roast. It’s a great option when you need a little bit of ham for a small family meal or to add flavor to a recipe (like a casserole, soup or quiche), but you don’t want to splurge on an entire ham roast. Ham steaks are also convenient to freeze and keep on hand for a quick-thaw dinner — no extra grocery run required.
- You can find ham steaks with the bone-in, but I typically purchase the boneless version. Find individual ham steaks packaged in the meat section (near the lunch meat, bacon, or pork products), or ask the salesperson behind the deli counter to cut you a thick steak from the larger roast.
- Most ham steaks come smoked and fully-cooked, so they are an easy heat-and-eat option. They are also a lean source of protein, as most are about 97% fat-free. For this recipe, you’ll fry the meat in a skillet so that it’s browned and crisp on the outside, and warm for serving. It’s not raw meat, though!
How to Make Ham Steak
This simple ham recipe comes together on the stove top with about 5 minutes of prep and another 10 minutes in the skillet. You don’t even have to turn on the oven, and there are very few dishes to wash at the end! You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Brown the ham steak in a large skillet with butter for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Get the skillet nice and hot before adding the meat. This browns and crisps the ham, which gives the meat and the glaze great flavor.
- Remove the ham to a plate and cover it loosely with foil to keep it warm while you prepare the glaze.
- Make the ham steak glaze in the same frying pan. Whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, cooking and stirring until it thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Pour the glaze over the ham steak just before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, thyme, chives, or other herbs for a bit of color and a bright finishing touch.
Serving Suggestions
This sweet and smoky ham is a delicious addition to brunch (even on a special holiday like Christmas or Easter) when served alongside biscuits or toast, a breakfast casserole, cheesy hash brown casserole, whole wheat banana bread, Amish friendship bread, cranberry bread, muffins, French toast casserole, eggs, and ambrosia salad.
For a quick and easy ham steak dinner, pair it with 3-ingredient buttermilk mashed potatoes, crockpot mac and cheese, Southern-style green beans, brown sugar glazed carrots, vegetable casserole, winter salad with orange vinaigrette, a green bean casserole with frozen green beans, easy coleslaw dressing, or a simple house salad with candied pecans.
How to Store this Simple Ham Steak
- Store leftover ham steak in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months.
- To reheat a ham steak, you can warm it in the microwave or heat in a skillet just until warmed through.
- Store leftover diced ham in the refrigerator and use it on salad, in soup, in eggs, in a breakfast casserole or quiche, or on ham sandwiches.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Ham Steak with Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cooked ham steak (about 8-12 ounces)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- Dash of kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ham steak to the skillet and cook in the butter until the ham is lightly browned (about 3-4 minutes per side). Remove ham to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.
- In the same skillet with the butter, whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard, and salt. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until slightly thickened (about 2-3 minutes). Scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan (this will add flavor to your glaze). Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
- Pour the glaze over the ham steak just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Ham Slice Recipe Variations
- One ham steak serves about 2 people, but you can easily scale up the ingredients to feed a larger family. For instance, if you’re serving 4 people, you can pan-fry 2 steaks and double the ingredients to make twice as much glaze.
- You can also grill ham steaks on an indoor grill pan or outdoor grill. I recommend brushing the steak with butter before putting it on the grill (for flavor and browning, and also to prevent sticking). Prepare the glaze in a skillet for serving, if you like.
- Make the glaze spicy by adding a dash of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes. Sweet heat!
- Use yellow mustard for a more mild flavor, or try 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard for a little bit more zesty kick.
- For a bright, tangy addition to the glaze, add a little bit of apple cider vinegar at the end. A dash of ground cloves adds warmth, and pairs nicely with the ham, too.
More Ham Steak Recipes to Try
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Ham Pasta Salad
50 minutes mins
Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
55 minutes mins
This recipe was originally published in August, 2020. It was updated in November, 2024.
Love this glaze. it’s simple, quick and tasty. It’s quickly become my go to glaze for a quick dinner after a long day.
My variations:
I make my own brown sugar and it’s slightly darker than what’s shown in the video and I think that adds extra flavor. Since we are browning with salted butter, I skip the dash of salt. it doesn’t seem to make a difference to me.
Also, I whisk everything in a bowl while the steaks are cooking, and then just heat/reduce in the skillet. I don’t my dirtying up an extra dish, and it helps keep me in the cooking moment when waiting for the ham to finish.
Thank you for the feedback, Helena! We’re glad you’re able to make the recipe work for you and are enjoying it.
That sounds wonderful I love ❤️ all kinds of recipes Thanks
We hope you enjoy!