The Best Dutch Oven Ham

This dutch oven ham needs to go on your list of the best dutch oven recipes this year! With a honey glaze it is perfect for Christmas or Easter dinner.

How to Cook Dutch Oven Ham

We have made this two different ways. One with the ham not sliced as you see below, and the second is above sliced. Overall it came out better when sliced.

Whether you buy a spiral sliced ham in the store or slice it yourself (what I did) it cooks more evenly if it isn’t in 1 big chunk. Stay tuned for the best way to cook a ham this year.

What you’ll need to make a delicious dutch oven ham this year

1. A dutch oven – this is the one I have, it’s 7 qt.
2. Ham – I used a pre smoked, refrigerated, quartered ham that was about 4 lbs.
3. Onion – because I add onions to everything, your choice
4. Brown sugar
5. Pineapple juice – about 3 ounces, you can use orange juice if you’d rather
6. Honey
7. A small bowl to whisk the 3 ingredient ham glaze together.

You will use the last 3 items on the list to make your ham glaze at the end. It comes out amazing using just these things.

When you are let’s say Smoking a Cooked Ham you can use really any size because the area is much larger. In this case you are confined to how big your pot is.

Choosing a Ham

• Keep the size of your dutch oven in mind when choosing a ham to bake
  • My 7 qt. comfortably fit a quartered ham
  • If you don’t find the size you want ask your butcher. They may have more in the back or be able to cut a half ham in half.
• Decide whether you want a smoked or a pre cooked traditional ham. Both will be in the refrigerated section in the meat department of your local grocery. Both will be pre-cooked.
  • Smoked will have a smokier flavor already. The outside will be a darker color and already be a bit tougher from the smoking process.
  • Traditional ham is fully cooked when you buy it in U.S. stores. It is lighter in color. They seem to absorb the liquid/glaze a bit more because the outside doesn’t have a crust like smoked hams do.
• Choosing a pre-sliced ham or uncut like we have here
  • A spiral ham will cook faster as it is already cut thin. The heat can reach into the middle of the ham easier.
  • A ham that isn’t sliced will take a bit longer. There will be a much bigger difference in how done the outside pieces are vs. the middle. 
  • In my experiences I think I prefer a spiral ham or pre-slicing your ham.
  • I will note that I have NEVER cooked or baked a ham that wasn’t already pre-cooked. I’ve never even seen that as an option in the stores I’ve frequented.

How long do you cook a ham in the oven?

Follow the guidelines below when it comes to accurate cook times. If you do purchase an raw ham you definitely need to be very careful when it comes to the internal temperature. 

Proper ham internal temperature

It is always very important to know the temp it should reach before eating. Cook time will depend on what cut you’re using. Previously smoked, or pre cooked hams also have a bit different timings. The last slight variation is whether you’re cooking a boneless ham or bone in ham. Typically 18 minutes per pound is accurate and works well for us.

• Just make sure the internal temperature is 145 degrees in the middle. Take this after removing from the oven to get an accurate read. 

Here is a screenshot of the ham cook time chart directly from the USDA to ensure the internal temperature of your ham is safe and the range of cook times for the type of ham you’ve chosen. Ours is based on a smoked ham, bone-in and sliced. Cook time of 18 minutes of cooking per lb. was perfection!

Should you cook a ham in the oven covered or uncovered?

Cooking a dutch oven ham is really no different than baking in a pan in the oven, covered with foil. BUT it turns out a lot more moist. The cast iron really traps the heat so it doesn’t dry out. It is always best to bake pork covered. If you do want a bit of crisp you can do so just by removing the lid in the last few minutes.

That way the edges of each slice can get wonderfully slightly crispy. The sweet sauce you pour on top makes the entire ham so flavorful too.

Should you slice a ham before cooking it?

Our ham actually came from an entire pig we bought from a local farmer. The butcher didn’t cut our quartered hams. I have cooked them both ways. If left alone, unsliced the middle section isn’t nearly warm enough once the outside pieces are done. I would highly suggest that you use a sliced ham, or slice it yourself before placing inside your dutch oven.

5 other ways other than making this dutch oven ham method

1. Instant Pot ham – this same cut took about 10 minutes and tasted great
   1. Ninja Foodi ham is similar but with a slightly different glaze.
2. Crockpot ham recipe – if you’re a slow cooker lover this is great, or cook any way you like and then once it’s sliced put it into your crockpot on warm so it can be eaten all day long
3. Smoking a pre cooked ham – if you love your electric smoker this might be a fun new way to serve your main dish this year
4. Deep fried ham recipe – we haven’t tried this yet but come on, everything is better fried
5. Baked ham in the oven – traditional way to cook a ham but if you’re looking for tips on cooking the best ham this year there’s some here

Of course the best way to bake a ham includes the best baked ham glaze which we’ve used here with pineapple juice instead of fresh orange juice, but either option is wonderful.

What can you make with leftover ham in a Dutch Oven?

Looking for the best leftover ham recipes, here are a few;

• Black eyed peas and ham
• Pressure cooker ham and beans
• Crockpot split pea soup
• Leftover ham turnovers

When you’re done enjoying your dutch oven ham, you should try our dutch oven whole chicken recipe. Remember that cast iron skillet care to clean your dutch oven is different, you don’t want to scrub it clean. Now go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 degrees and get going!

Below is how to cook dutch oven ham: And make Dutch Oven bread to serve on the side.