Bourbon Glazed Ham

This is the best oven baked bourbon glazed ham perfect for Easter, Christmas, or year round for your family. Whether you amp up your regular 3 ingredient ham glaze recipe or make this brown sugar thick sauce it will be an amazing dinner.

Looking to bake a ham with a killer glaze this year? Well you’ve gotta try this bourbon brown sugar rub that people just can’t stop talking about. It’s a sweet and savory blend with just a few ingredients and over the top delicious with every slice.

From tweaking this with a bit of tang using orange juice to sticking with the rich bourbon flavor we love, it’s really all about bold flavors. I mean it is really all about the sauce over the top right? You can use it over our Ninja Foodi ham made in a pressure cooker or baked in the oven as we have here.

For the last few holidays we also have experimented with different methods. Instant Pot ham with a pineapple glaze, and smoking a cooked ham that didn’t need much else once it was taken out we just can’t get enough of it.

You can buy this large piece of pork pre-sliced, or do that yourself. Sometimes I slice it slightly before baking but either way works. If you do not it will just take longer to warm all the way to the center. Another option is to use this same glaze after braising pork shank this way.

Is ham cooked?

If you are buying it at a grocery store it is in fact precooked. If it says smoked, that means it is not raw either and safe to eat as is. Most people like it to be warm when served, so this is how to cook it. Well not really cook, but warm it thru to the inside.

Do you have to glaze a ham?

No, but it sure makes it taste amazing if you do. Another reason, other to add flavor, is to keep it moist. It is best to brush your glaze on 15 – 20 minutes before it’s done to avoid burning.

How long does bone-in ham take to cook?

It depends on how large it is but typically about 2-3 hours cook time. You want to warm it until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer for this, and remove it from the oven before inserting for an accurate temp.

When should you glaze a ham?

You don’t want to do it too early or the sugars in it will cause it to burn before the inside is as warm as you’d like it to be. Instead, wait until the last 20 minutes or so to brush it on, then let it caramelize on top until YUM. The exception to the rule is if you use a slow cooker like we did to make coca cola ham.

Cooking Tips

I would highly suggest slicing first if you do want the most flavor. We do this with our How to Cook a Spiral Ham in the Oven with this same layer of yum on top and since the slices are so thin they really soak in all the sweetness.

You can use light or dark type of sugar for this one. Adjust the thickness with the liquid but as is will work quite well. The exception is if you are baking a really large one, if so you might want to make 1.5 times what is listed below to coat well.

Keep in mind that it is generally 15 minutes per pound to cook a ham in the oven perfectly. Slicing a diamond pattern on the top is quite effective. It is best to leave it out to reach room temperature instead of throwing it in right out of the fridge.

How to carve a ham

Whether you make this or our air fryer ham, make a perpendicular slice all the way down to the shank side. Go all the way in until you hit the bone. Then cut at a 45 degree angle so you have equally proportioned pieces. It is best to only cut the pieces that will get eaten at that time. Leave the rest whole if you’re going to have leftovers, it will stay moister that way.

Best side dishes to serve with ham

I mean mashed potatoes are a given and well, kinda’ predictable and plain if you ask me. Think outside of the box on your favorites and make those! We love this cream cream corn casserole and baked cabbage steaks for all holidays with this Pepperidge Farm sausage stuffing.

What to make with leftovers

If just reheating slices, pour a bit of pineapple juice over the top to moisten and microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

• We make this leftover ham recipe every single year with cheese wrapped up in a warm crescent roll, it’s always a hit.
• You can dice it up and make this pot pie soup.
• Instead of turkey, use this to make an easy ham pot pie recipe.