My kids love baked ham more than any other meal. They would choose ham over turkey dinner any day of the week or on any holiday.
This simple baked ham is juicy, tender, and tasty on the inside. The outside has a brown sugar glaze that caramelizes for a hint of sweetness. We only eat this baked ham on holidays like Christmas and Easter, but it’s easy enough to make any time!
I’m not going to lie—I really only like stuffing with turkey dinner, but everyone else here votes for ham. Even though I make Crock Pot Ham a lot because it’s so easy, I really love the roasted flavor that comes from baking a ham with a tasty glaze!
It’s not hard to bake a ham; just keep an eye on the temperature to make sure it heats all the way through without getting too done. Adding a brown sugar glaze to baked ham takes it to the next level without being overly sweet.
As a longtime home cook and ham enthusiast I’m excited to share my foolproof method for cooking a fully cooked ham in the oven. Whether you’re prepping for a holiday feast or just craving some deliciously glazed ham any time of year, you’ll learn tips and tricks to bake a tender juicy ham worthy of the centerpiece. From start to finish, we’ll cover choosing the right ham, prep steps, oven roasting techniques, glazing, carving, and more. Pull up a chair, preheat that oven, and let’s get cooking!
Selecting the Perfect Fully Cooked Ham
The first step on the tasty ham journey is choosing the right cut at the grocery store. Here’s what to look for:
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Fully Cooked Label – Ensure the packaging specifies “fully cooked.” This means the ham is pre-smoked and ready to heat and eat.
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Bone-In or Boneless – Bone-in hams have more flavor. Opt for boneless for easier slicing.
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Size – For holiday meals choose a half ham (6-8 lbs) to feed a crowd. Get a smaller 3-4 lb ham for everyday.
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Fat Cap—A 1/4-inch layer of fat will keep the meat moist while it roasts.
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Color & Marbling – Opt for pink meat with thin white marbling for best flavor and tenderness.
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Brand – Select a reputable brand like Smithfield for high-quality, consistent results.
Prep Steps Before Cooking
Before popping your ham in the oven, just a bit of simple prep:
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Unwrap Completely – Remove all packaging, leaving just the ham. Discard any plastic disc on the bone.
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Score the Fat Cap – Use a sharp knife to cut 1/4-inch deep diagonal slices in a diamond pattern. This allows the glaze to seep into the meat.
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Apply a Light Coat – For added moisture, gently rub the ham all over with a thin layer of brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
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Let Stand – Allow the ham to sit for 30 minutes to bring to room temperature before roasting.
How to Cook Fully Cooked Ham in the Oven
Now comes the fun part – let’s get this ham in the oven!
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Preheat Oven – Crank oven to 325°F. Be sure to give it plenty of time to fully preheat.
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Place Ham Fat Side Up – Put the ham in a roasting pan, fat side facing up. The fat will baste the meat as it renders.
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Add 1 Cup of Water – Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of the pan to prevent drying out.
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Loosely Tent Foil – Cover ham loosely with a foil tent, leaving openings for some airflow.
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Cook 10-15 Minutes Per Pound – For example, cook a 10 lb ham for 150-180 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temp reaches 140°F.
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Uncover Last 30 Minutes – Remove foil and increase heat to 400°F to brown the outside.
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Rest 20 Minutes – Before carving, let the ham rest for up to 20 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
Glazing Your Ham for Flavor and Color
No ham is complete without a deliciously sweet and sticky glaze. Here’s how to do it right:
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Mix Glaze – Whisk together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp mustard.
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Score Ham – Cut diagonal slices into the fat cap if you haven’t already to help glaze absorb.
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Apply Glaze – Brush half of the glaze over ham during the last 30 minutes of roasting.
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Broil 3-5 Minutes – After resting, broil ham 3-5 minutes to caramelize glaze. Watch closely to avoid burning.
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Brush With Remaining Glaze – Coat ham with the last of your glaze just before slicing to serve.
Carving and Serving Your Masterpiece Ham
You did it! Your ham is perfectly cooked, glazed, and ready to wow your guests. Just a few final steps:
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Slice Against the Grain – Use a sharp knife to cut thin slices against the grain. This produces the most tender bites.
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Remove Bone Slices First – Angle knife along the bone to release those coveted browned bone-in slices your guests will love.
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Serve Warm or at Room Temp – Offer slices warm directly from oven or at room temp for later noshing.
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Refrigerate Leftovers Promptly – Refrigerate any uneaten ham within 2 hours. Use leftovers within 4-5 days.
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Enjoy Ham 3 Ways – Beyond plated ham slices, use leftovers for sandwiches, omelets, casseroles, soups, and beyond!
From choosing the perfect ham to roasting, glazing, carving, and serving, you now have all the tools needed to cook a spectacular fully cooked ham in the oven. I hope you’ll pull up a chair and join me in savoring the rewarding experience of baking ham for your next gathering. Just follow the steps and I guarantee you’ll have happy guests!
How much ham per person
You’ll need about 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person, and a little more if you want extra for Ham and Corn Chowder or Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole. An 8lb ham should feed about 9 people.
How to make Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham
I use my favorite Brown Sugar Glaze for ham in this recipe. It’s made with brown sugar and a little pineapple juice (orange juice works too). The glaze adds flavor without being too sweet, and it makes the outside of the ham taste great by making it sticky.
I add a little more time to the glaze (about 4 minutes) to make it thicker because it sticks to the ham better that way. For this recipe, you can use either dark or light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar tastes a little better, though.
The brown sugar glaze can burn if left in the oven for too long, like any high-sugar food, so it is only added for the last 15 minutes.
To make the brown sugar glaze thicker, let the ham cool down. Then, take it out of the oven and turn up the heat. Brush the glaze over the ham and pop it back into the oven. The high heat will make the most gorgeous golden glaze in just a few minutes!.
Before carving your baked ham, let it rest 15 minutes to help keep it perfectly juicy.
How to Cook a Small Fully Cooked Ham
FAQ
How long do you cook a already fully cooked ham?
Should a fully cooked ham be covered when baking?
How do you heat a fully cooked ham without drying it out?
How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham at 325 degrees?