Orange Glazed Ham for the Holidays

This Easy Orange Glazed Ham Recipe features a sweet and citrusy glaze brushed on a pre-sliced spiral-cut ham adorned with fresh orange slices. It’s a foolproof yet impressive main dish for any special occasion!

Just like how roasted turkey is a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple, Orange Honey Glazed Ham is synonymous with Easter and grand family dinners!

I’ll show you how to make the most impressive, glistening ham roast using spiral cut ham and a simple 3-ingredient orange glaze. It’s a main dish not to be missed!

Why You’ll Love This Orange Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

• Orange and honey-glazed ham is a popular main dish to serve at Easter, Christmas, or any holiday feast. Pair it with your favorite side dishes and enjoy leftovers once the celebration ends.
• The spiral-sliced holiday ham and simple glaze made from orange marmalade, brown sugar, and honey keep this main dish easy and accessible.
• The glaze is bright, citrusy, and sweet, while the ham is juicy, savory, and meaty. It’s the perfect balance of flavors!

Orange Glazed Ham Ingredients

If your ham came with a glaze packet, toss it away (or save it for another recipe)! This glazed ham recipe features a simple orange, honey, and brown sugar glaze that’s easy to make from scratch.

It brings out the sweet flavors of the ham while adding a bright citrusy zip to every bite—yum!

These are the ingredients you will need:

• Spiral sliced ham. Pick up an 8-pound bone-in ham (or close to it) for this recipe and have a meat thermometer ready on the side. Spiral ham is already cooked but you want to make sure you reheat it to the precise temperature.
• Fresh oranges, like Navel or Cara Cara. The orange slices are arranged between the ham slices to infuse the meat with subtle orange flavors.
• Orange marmalade. Marmalades include the rind, unlike jams or jellies, for even more bright citrus flavor.
• Brown sugar (coconut sugar will work as a substitute)
• Honey (or maple syrup)

This recipe is written so you use the entire jar of orange marmalade. It makes two cups of glaze, which is more than you’ll need for an average ham. Reserve some for serving or use extra glaze on pork tenderloin.

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: If you’re cooking a smaller ham, keep the same ratio to make a small batch of glaze: equal parts orange marmalade and brown sugar and 1/2 part honey or maple syrup. You can use leftover orange marmalade to make a homemade sauce for orange chicken or Crispy Orange Tofu.

Swaps and Substitutions

This recipe is all about using the fewest ingredients possible to produce a truly foolproof and impressive dish. Still, there are a few ways you can customize the flavors:

• Give the glaze a boost of flavor with the right mix-ins.
  • Try a splash of bourbon or brandy for added depth
  • Fresh rosemary or ground cinnamon for warmth
  • Grated fresh ginger, whole grain mustard, or Dijon mustard for a little more zing
• Tuck pomegranate seeds in between the ham slices alongside the oranges for a touch of juicy sweetness, similar to how some traditional ham recipes use whole cloves
• Experiment by replacing the orange slices with mango slices or pieces of pineapple. Both are just as citrusy and bright and pair well with ham.

How to Make Orange Glazed Ham

The oven does most of the work for you in this recipe. However, you’ll need to set the ham out at room temperature for about an hour before glazing and baking. This ensures it heats evenly in the oven.

The only thing you need to do is make the glaze and brush it over the ham. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Add the glaze ingredients to a small saucepan. Heat to a simmer over low heat, stirring until it becomes thick and smooth. Take it off the heat.
2. Meanwhile, cut the orange into thin slices. Stuff the orange slices in between the spiral cuts in the ham.
3. Transfer the ham, flat side down, to a lined baking dish or a good roasting pan. Brush half of the glaze over the ham. Loosely cover or tent with aluminum foil.
4. Roast the ham for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Take it out of the oven and brush the remaining glaze over the top. Continue baking until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140ºF. Note: Cooking time will depend on the size of your ham.
5. Transfer the glazed ham to a serving platter and slice it around the center bone.

Once it’s out of the oven, set the roasted glazed ham aside to rest for 15-20 minutes. Ham isn’t cheap, and this will help get you the best results! This gives the natural juices and glaze time to soak into the meat, leaving you with juicy and tender slices. 

Serve and enjoy! Make it a true show-stopper by garnishing with fresh herbs, parsley, or colorful orange slices.

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: If you want more of a crust on top, use high heat (350-360 degrees F) for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. Just avoid using the broiler, which may scorch the glaze.

What to Serve with this Baked Ham Recipe

You can serve this glazed ham year-round for holiday celebrations and regular dinners. There are all kinds of complimentary sides to pair with it, like:

• During Christmas, you can pair the ham with a roasted turkey, Baked Apple Cranberry Stuffing, green bean casserole, Creamy Spinach Rice, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Cranberry BBQ Meatballs.
• Glazed ham is a perfect main dish for Easter Sunday as well. Serve it with a Split Pea Salad, my Pomegranate Glazed Salmon, and a simple Mixed Greens Salad.
• Comfort foods and ham go hand in hand during everyday family dinners. Think scalloped potatoes, mac and cheese, and plenty of gravy!
• The slices would be delicious in a sandwich with Swiss cheese, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce.
• Even the leftover ham comes in handy when you’re craving a hearty salad, breakfast hash, or soup!

Baked Ham Storage Tips

Wrap the cooled ham slices in a layer of foil and transfer them to an airtight container or ziplock bag. They will keep in the fridge for up to three days and in the freezer for up to one month. Allow the leftovers to thaw before reheating.

You can reheat leftover ham in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat. Reserve some extra orange-honey glaze and brush it over the warmed slices before serving.

Orange Glazed Ham FAQs

What’s the difference between spiral ham and regular ham?

Spiral hams come pre-cooked and pre-sliced, so all you have to do is flavor them with a glaze and slice off the pieces once it’s done. Regular ham or whole ham will need to be butchered before it’s prepped and roasted.

How long does it take to cook a spiral-sliced ham?

An 8-pound ham will take about two hours to roast using the low and slow method in this recipe. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat while it’s roasting to check for doneness. You’ll know it’s ready to eat when the internal temperature reaches 140ºF.

When in doubt, bake for 12-15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F. And if your ham says “cook before eating” the internal temp needs to hit 160 degrees F, so add extra time as needed.

How do I prevent the ham from drying out?

I didn’t have a problem with the ham drying out, since the orange slices add moisture and the glaze creates a steaming effect. Don’t wrap the foil too tightly, but covering the ham for most of the cooking time ensures it doesn’t dry out.

The outermost slice may be more dry or darker than the other slices, but this baking method should help your savory ham stay moist and juicy.

How many people does this recipe serve?

There should be enough meat on an 8-pound spiral ham for approximately 12 to 16 people. I would plan on giving everyone about 6-8 ounces of ham each. This is a pretty hearty serving, so if you serve less than that, you’ll have plenty of extra ham.

Don’t worry about ending up with too many leftovers—they can be used in endless other recipes!

What should I do with leftover ham?

Whatever you do, don’t throw that hambone away! There’s still tons of meat and flavor for Leftover Hambone Soup or ham and beans. You can also try sandwiches, Ham and Sweet Potato Hash, Ham Fried Rice, or a chef’s salad with plenty of fresh, crispy veggies.

Baking a whole ham can be a big undertaking, especially for new cooks. If it’s your first time, don’t worry! This Orange Glazed Ham recipe is meant to be low-stress, high-reward. It’s practically fool-proof! I’d love to know what you think, so leave a rating or comment below.

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Cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!