Pineapple Glazed Ham

This old-fashioned Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Ham is an easy recipe that makes an impressive statement on a holiday table! The Southern baked ham with pineapple and maraschino cherries is the perfect combination of sweet and salty for a delicious dinner that feeds a crowd. There’s a reason this retro classic has been a favorite since the 1950’s!

How to Make Pineapple Glazed Ham | 1-Minute Video

Whether it’s Easter, Christmas, or just a regular Sunday supper at home with the family, large gatherings often start with a big ham! The sliced ham is a beautiful addition to any buffet, and the leftovers can be enjoyed in next-day sandwiches, in hearty soups, or in weeknight casseroles. You get a lot of bang for your buck when you bake a Pineapple Glazed Ham — and it couldn’t be easier!

What does glazing a ham do?

A glaze adds flavor, color, and texture to a baked ham. The sugars in the glaze (from the pineapple juice and the brown sugar) caramelize on the outside of the ham while it’s baking in the oven, which gives the meat extra flavor, a beautiful color and shine, and a crispy exterior.

Should you slice ham before glazing?

No, for this recipe you’ll glaze the ham before and during the baking process. Then slice the ham at the very end, just before serving.

How to Keep Moisture in a Ham

This baked ham stays moist and juicy, since the glaze adds moisture and you’ll keep the ham covered with foil after the first hour. Start with the foil off of the ham so that it has a chance to caramelize, then cover the ham to trap the moisture in the meat and to prevent excessive browning.

Ingredients for Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

This is just a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need to make a pineapple glazed ham. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Fully-cooked, bone-in ham: look for a smoked ham that weighs about 7-9 lbs.
• Pineapple juice: the sweet, bright, tangy, and fruity base for the ham glaze. Pineapple is a popular ingredient to pair with ham because the sweetness of the pineapple helps to neutralize the saltiness of the meat.
• Brown sugar: adds sweetness and helps the outside of the ham caramelize.
• Dijon mustard: thickens the glaze and adds a zesty, savory flavor.
• Ground cloves: just a touch of warm spice, cloves are a classic addition to a ham glaze.
• Canned pineapple slices and maraschino cherries: a decorative addition to the outside of the ham. They also give the meat more flavor!

How to Make Pineapple Ham Glaze

While it looks impressive, this ham is actually really simple to prepare! The meat gets its flavor from a pineapple ham glaze made with pineapple juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cloves. Studded with pineapple rings and cherries, the sweet and fruity exterior is the perfect balance for the smoky, salty meat.

1. Prepare the brown sugar glaze for the ham by simmering the pineapple juice, brown sugar, mustard and cloves in a saucepan for about 10 minutes.
2. While the glaze bubbles away, it’s time to get the ham ready for the oven! Start by using a sharp knife to score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern.
3. Arrange the pineapple slices and the cherries on top of the ham and secure with toothpicks.
4. Spoon some of the glaze over the meat and cook the ham in a 325°F oven for 2 -2 ½ hours, basting with extra glaze and pan juices every 30 minutes. Shield the ham loosely with foil during the final 30-60 minutes, or when it reaches the desired color, to prevent excessive browning. The ham is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 140°F.
5. Let the ham rest for at least 15 minutes before carving and serving.

What to Serve with Pineapple Glazed Ham

A perfect entrée for Christmas dinner or Easter brunch, this baked ham goes well with any of the following sides:

• Party Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes, Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Cheesy Potato Casserole, or Easy Au Gratin Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
• Southern Pineapple Casserole
• Ambrosia Salad
• Watergate Salad
• Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, or Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits
• Easy Creamed Spinach Casserole
• Creamed Peas
• Green Bean Casserole
• Apple and Butternut Squash Casserole
• Cornbread Stuffing or Sausage Stuffing
• Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes or Cheesy Party Potatoes
• 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins or Pumpkin Bread
• Skillet Cornbread or Corn Muffins
• 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
• Cranberry Sauce or Cranberry Jello Salad
• Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese or Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
• Jiffy Corn Casserole
• Old-Fashioned Cranberry Muffins

Storage

You can safely keep this easy baked ham in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheat the ham in a 325°F oven for no more than 10 minutes per pound, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 135-140°F. If I’m reheating just a small portion of ham (such as a few slices), I like to wrap it in foil before placing it in the oven (this keeps it nice and moist).

Leftover Ham Recipes

We all know that leftover ham is one of the best reasons to prepare the meat in the first place! It’s delicious in soups, sandwiches, and casseroles, so here are a few recipes that use leftover ham in a delicious way:

• Layered Ham and Potato Casserole
• Ham Casserole
• 5-Ingredient Ham and Noodle Casserole
• Ham, Cheddar and Broccoli Quiche
• Ham, Brie and Apple Panini Sandwich
• Split Pea Soup
• Leftover Ham and Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes
• Egg and Cheese Monkey Bread with Ham

Recipe Variations

• Adjust the size of your ham to suit the size of your family. If you’re hosting a big gathering, you might need a larger ham. Similarly, you can use a smaller boneless ham for a more intimate group or regular weeknight dinner. Just remember to adjust to the total cooking time according to the weight of your ham. See my note below for those instructions.
• Skip the pineapple and cherries on the outside of the ham if you don’t want to fuss with the extra decoration. The meat will still be delicious with the pineapple ham glaze!
• If you’re using a spiral-cut ham, it might be difficult to attach the pineapples and cherries on the outside, so just keep that in mind. You can insert toothpicks between the spiral cut slices to help attach the fruit, or you can just skip the fruit altogether.

Tips for the Best Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe

• How Long to Bake a Pre-Cooked Ham: You can use this recipe with just about any size ham. A good rule of thumb to remember is that a smoked ham bakes at 325°F for 15 to 20 minutes per pound. For instance, I roasted an 8-lb. ham for 2 hours. As always, an instant read thermometer is the best way to know when your ham is done. When the temperature registers 140°F, it’s safe to pull the meat out of the oven.
• Glaze the ham before, during and after baking! The glaze and pan juices add flavor and moisture to the meat as it cooks, so I recommend pour, brush, or baste with the glaze every 30 minutes or so.
• Should you cover a ham when you bake it? I find that it works best to start with the ham uncovered. This gives the glaze a chance to caramelize on the outside of the ham, adding beautiful color and flavor to the meat. Keep an eye on the ham, though. When it reaches the desired color, you’ll want to loosely shield the ham with foil to prevent it from getting too dark as the meat continues to heat through.
• How Much Ham Per Person: A good rule of thumb is to assume about ¾ lb. per person for a bone-in ham, so an 8 lb. ham will feed about 10-11 people.

More Easy Ham Recipes to Try

• Virginia Brown Sugar Baked Ham
• Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze
• 5-Ingredient Baked Ham with Apricot Glaze
• Easy Citrus Glazed Baked Ham

This recipe was originally published in March, 2020. The photos were updated in December, 2021.