Make your Sunday ham or your holiday ham easily and quickly in the air fryer! This delicious air fryer ham saves room in your oven so you have plenty of space to make the rest of your holiday side dishes.
Air Fryer Ham
This air fryer ham is the best ham recipe you’ll ever make! It’s perfect for the holidays – especially Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter, and it makes a delicious Sunday family dinner.
Ham in the air fryer is cooked at a low temperature, which means it’s super moist and juicy. Then it’s finished off at a higher temperature, which caramelizes the sweet and sticky glaze perfectly.
The flavor of the glaze is perfectly balanced. It’s made from a combination of orange juice, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and pepper.
Those flavors pair with the salty ham and create the perfect holiday vibe. Everyone will be asking for seconds of this delicious glazed spiral ham! Trust me, every bite is a delight!
This recipe really is easy as pie to make, even on a busy night. The air fryer not only heats up the ham quickly, but it also locks in all the juices, making sure your ham is moist and delicious every single time. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe is sure to impress.
Ingredients
Spiral Ham: You’ll need a fully cooked spiral ham for this recipe. The spirals allow the glaze to seep in between the slices.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar brings a sweetness to the glaze that complements the savory ham perfectly. Its molasses content also helps create a lovely caramelization when the ham is air fried.
Honey: The thick consistency of honey helps the glaze stick to the ham.
Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a tangy twist, balancing the sweetness of the honey and brown sugar.
Apple Cider Vinegar: A touch of apple cider vinegar adds a subtle tartness.
Orange Juice: It brings a fresh citrus note that works perfectly with the other ingredients.
Ground Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a hint of warmth and depth to the glaze.
Ground Cloves: Ground cloves add a sweet and spicy note to the glaze.
Black Pepper: A dash of ground black pepper adds a bit of heat to the glaze, providing a nice balance to the sweet and tangy flavors. Freshly ground black pepper will have a spicier kick than pre-ground pepper.
How To Cook Air Fryer Ham
Preparing the Ham: Begin by making sure your ham fits in your air fryer basket. You can trim it a bit if you need to. You want to allow some space for the air to circulate for even cooking. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Making the Glaze: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and black pepper. Whisk them together to create a smooth glaze consistency.
Glazing the Ham: Place the spiral ham on a cutting board. Brush about two-thirds of the glaze generously over the ham and in between the slices.
Air Frying the Ham: Place the glazed ham inside the air fryer basket. We’ll cook the ham at a lower temperature to start to make sure the ham heats through without burning.
Finishing Cooking: Brush the remaining glaze over the ham. Increase the temperature and cook until the glaze is bubbling and caramelized and the internal temperature reaches 145F.
Resting and Serving: Once the ham is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for a few minutes. After resting, transfer the ham to a serving platter, garnish, and serve. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Don’t skimp on the glaze. It’s what keeps the ham moist and adds a ton of flavor.
- Be patient and let the ham rest for a few minutes after air frying. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more moist ham.
Can You Heat Up Ham In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! It’s a super convenient way to cook your holiday ham so that your oven is free to cook all the tasty side dishes.
What Is The Best Way To Cook A Precooked Ham?
There’s a couple great ways to cook a precooked ham, but I love the quickness and convenience of the air fryer. It’s fast and easy and makes the glaze perfectly caramelized. Plus, the cleanup is way easier.
How Long To Cook Sliced Ham In An Air Fryer?
This recipe for spiral sliced ham takes about 55 minutes in the air fryer, while ham steaks take about 10-12 minutes in the air fryer. The cooking times vary based on the thickness of the slices and the cooking temperature used. It’s always best to use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked to 145F.
How Do You Cook A Precooked Ham Without Drying It Out?
The key to cooking a precooked ham without drying it out is to use a glaze and cook it at a lower temperature initially. This method ensures the ham stays moist while it warms through. The glaze not only adds flavor but also helps to keep the ham moist.
Can You Heat Up Sliced Cooked Ham?
Yes you can, just place the slices in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping, and heat at 350F until they’re warmed through.
What Can I Add To Ham For Flavor?
A sweet and savory glaze, like the one in this recipe, is an excellent way to add flavor to ham. Glazes and ingredients that pair super well with spiral ham are brown sugar glaze, pineapple, cloves, maple syrup, honey mustard, citrus, apple cider, garlic, herbs, and barbecue sauce.
Do I Put Liquid In With Ham?
In this recipe, there’s no need for additional liquid. The glaze we’re using provides all the flavor and moisture the ham needs.
How Do You Keep A Ham Moist?
The combination of the glaze and air frying at a lower temperature work together to keep your ham moist.
What To Serve With Ham
Ham pairs well with a variety of sides. Classic holiday side dishes like mashed potatoes, Crockpot green beans, and rolls are always a hit. You could also try serving it with a fresh salad or roasted vegetables.
Can I Make the Glaze Ahead of Time?
Of course! The glaze for this ham can definitely be made ahead of time. Just whip it up, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. Be sure to warm it up before applying it to the ham so that it spreads evenly.
How Can I Use Leftover Ham?
You can use it to make sandwiches, stir it into scrambled eggs, toss it in salads, or even use it as a topping for homemade pizza.
Keep In Touch
Pork Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other ham recipes. These are great holiday recipes and recipes to use up leftover ham. Some reader favorites are:
- Ham Gravy
- Ham Balls
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole (Scalloped Potatoes with Ham)
- Ham and Noodle Casserole
- Ham Steak Recipe
- Instant Pot Ham
- Ham Pot Pie
- Honey Baked Ham
BEST Air Fryer Ham Recipe
Make this quick and easy holiday ham in the air fryer! This delicious air fryer ham saves room in your oven for your holiday recipes.
Ingredients
- 6 pound spiral-cut fully cooked ham
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by checking to see if your ham will fit in your air fryer basket without trimming it. A 6-7 pound ham will likely fit without trimming if your air fryer basket is a square shape, but if your air fryer basket is a circle shape, it will likely need a bit of trimming. You want to make sure that there is some space around the ham for the air to circulate, which is necessary for even cooking. The ham in the photos was about 6.5 pounds and I needed to shave off a small amount from the edges for it to fit correctly in a round air fryer.
- Preheat your air fryer to 275F.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and black pepper. Whisk them together until the glaze is a smooth consistency.
- Place the spiral ham on a cutting board. Generously brush about two-thirds of the glaze over the ham, making sure to brush it between the slices and in all the nooks and crannies.
- Place the ham inside the air fryer basket.
- Cook the ham at 275F for 45 minutes. Cooking at a lower temperature ensures the ham stays moist while it warms through.
- After 45 minutes, take the basket out of the air fryer and brush the remaining glaze over the ham.
- Increase the temperature to 350F and cook the ham for an additional 10 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbling and caramelized and the internal temperature reaches 145F on an instant read meat thermometer.
- Once the ham is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes.
- After resting, transfer the ham to a serving platter, garnish, and serve.
Notes
- Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat the ham slices in the air fryer at 275F for about 3 minutes or in the microwave at 50% power for 2 minutes.
- If you’d like to amp up the flavor even more, consider adding a teaspoon of orange zest to the glaze.
- If you don’t have Dijon mustard on hand, regular mustard will work just fine.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 494Total Fat: 12.2gCarbohydrates: 27.3gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 26.5gProtein: 71.8g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
I hope you enjoy making and eating this air fryer ham as much as I do!
