This easy Air Fryer Ham is sure to become a family favorite! A brown sugar and pineapple glaze is spread on boneless ham, and it is then air-fried until it is warm, golden, and just right. Great for the holidays, or anytime!.
Air fryers make cooking bone-in ham easy and delicious. The moving hot air quickly makes the outside crispy while keeping the inside juicy and tender. It’s easy to air fry a whole bone-in ham if you follow this simple guide.
Benefits of Cooking Ham in an Air Fryer
Cooking bone-in ham in the air fryer has many advantages over the traditional oven method:
- Cooks ham quickly – reduces time up to 50%
- Less drying out – ham stays juicy
- Easy crispy exterior – air frying promotes browning
- No baking tray needed – cooks right on fryer basket
- Minimal splatters – contained hot air prevents messes
- Adds smoky flavor – air fryers impart a light smoke essence
Choosing the Right Ham
For the air fryer, look for:
- Bone-in ham roast – bone adds flavor and prevents drying
- Uncooked, cured ham – not a pre-cooked or spiral-cut ham
- Weight of 1.5 – 3 lbs – fits in air fryer basket
- Good fat marbling – keeps ham moist
Avoid very large, whole bone-in hams meant for bigger appliances. Stick to smaller roasts suitable for the compact air fryer.
Prepare the Ham
Take the ham out of the packaging and rinse under cool water Pat it completely dry with paper towels
Score the fatty outer layer in a diamond pattern with a sharp knife to help render fat and promote browning.
Rub the ham all over with a teaspoon of oil or butter – this aids air fryer cooking. Season generously with salt, pepper, brown sugar, and any other seasonings you enjoy. Massage the seasoning into the meat.
Put brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and spices in a small bowl. Mix them together to make a simple glaze. You’ll brush this over the ham later to caramelize it.
How to Cook Bone-In Ham in an Air Fryer
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Preheat air fryer to 320°F.
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Wrap ham tightly in foil, with seam on top. This contains splatter.
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Cook ham 25 minutes per 1 lb weight. For a 3 lb ham, cook 75 minutes.
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Carefully unwrap foil and brush ham with glaze
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Cook unwrapped 5 more minutes to caramelize glaze.
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Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 140°F
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Let ham rest 5 minutes before slicing to serve.
Air Fryer Ham Cooking Times
To ensure food safety and proper doneness, always check the internal temperature of ham with a meat thermometer. But use these general time ranges as a guide:
- 1-2 lb ham: 25-35 minutes at 320°F
- 2-3 lb ham: 50-75 minutes at 320°F
- Whole ham ≥4 lbs: Cook in oven
Add 5 minutes after applying glaze if desired. Check temperature and cook longer if needed to reach 140°F.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your perfect air fried ham with classic side dishes like:
- Macaroni and cheese
- Scalloped potatoes
- Green bean casserole
- Baked sweet potatoes
- Cornbread muffins
- Biscuits or rolls
- Fresh fruit salad
Pro Tips
- Inject ham with broth or apple juice for extra moisture
- Use a meat thermometer for accurate doneness
- Let ham rest before slicing to retain juices
- Add liquids like fruit juice or beer to the air fryer pan
- Use foil to prevent excessive splatters if desired
Common Air Fryer Ham Problems
Ham is dry: Cook using lower temp (300°F) and wrap in foil to retain moisture. Check internal temp.
Ham is undercooked: Increase cook time and check internal temp with meat thermometer.
Excess splattering: Double wrap ham tightly in foil.
Ham doesn’t brown: Brush with oil or glaze and cook ham unwrapped at end.
The Takeaway
Cooking bone-in ham in the air fryer is quick, easy, and delicious. Follow the recipe steps for choosing the right ham, preparing it properly, cooking at 320°F, and monitoring temperature. In about an hour, you’ll have perfect juicy ham with a crispy exterior and smoky flavor. Enjoy this shortcut to holiday-worthy ham any time of year!
How to Bake Ham in the Air Fryer
This process is so easy, you guys. But keep in mind that you will be unfolding and folding the foil several times, as well as raising and lowering it. So you may want to double-layer the foil to avoid possible tears and spilling!.
Make the Glaze. Put the butter, brown sugar, grated ginger, crushed pineapple (with juices!), and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Mix them together to make the sweet and sticky glaze. Heat the mixture until it starts to simmer. Keep stirring it for two minutes so that it doesn’t burn. Remove the glaze from the heat, and set it aside.
Score the ham and make a foil container.
Score the Ham. Make diagonal slices into the ham, about one inch deep. Line up cuts that are one inch apart and half an inch apart across the top of the ham. Then turn the ham and make parallel cuts in the opposite direction. You should end up with diamond-shaped lines across the top of the entire ham.
Make a Foil Container for the Ham. Place the ham, cut side up, in the middle of a long sheet of foil. Fold the sides of the foil up and around the ham to make a “bowl. ” Place the whole thing in the air fryer basket.
Glaze the Ham and Seal the Foil. Brush half of the hot glaze over the ham. Make sure it gets into the diagonal slices you made. Fold the foil over the ham all the way around and crimp or double-fold the edges to seal the top.
Seal the foil and air fry the ham.
Air Fry the Ham. Set the air fryer to 300°F, and let the ham cook for 20 minutes or so. Then take out the air fryer basket carefully, and open the foil package. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham. Reseal the foil, and place back in the air fryer. Cook for an additional 20 minutes at 300°F.
Optional: Brown the Top. To get the top of the ham a little more crispy, just open the foil and fold it back, letting the heat hit the top of the ham. Air-fry at 350° for a few minutes.
Serve. Remove the ham carefully from the air fryer basket. Place it on a serving platter. If you want to put pineapple rings on top of the ham, do that first. Then, pour the rest of the sauce over them carefully before serving.
How long do I cook ham in the air fryer?
The ham in this recipe is already cooked, so all you need to do is air-fry it until it’s warm all the way through and the glaze has had a chance to flavor the meat. I like to cook ham at 300°F for 8 to 10 minutes per pound, but you can check it earlier or leave it in a little longer.
The time doesn’t have to be exact, since the ham is already cooked. And because every air fryer is a little different, you should check on the ham several times until it’s done the way you like it.
That’s it! I’m sure you’ll love how simple and tasty it is to bake a ham in an air fryer. But before you get started, let me just share a few more tips for making this recipe:
- Add Spices: To make this recipe even more holiday-y, add some ground cinnamon or whole cloves to each diamond-shaped cutout on top of the ham. Pretty and yummy!.
- Every Ham Is Different: A flatter, thinner ham will cook through faster than a thicker ham. You might have to cut the ham in half to fit it in the air fryer if it’s really big.
- As with any roasted or baked meat, I think this ham tastes best after it has been left to rest for a while. It will turn out more tender and juicy! About 10 minutes is enough time.
I like to make either a simple meal with a few simple sides or a holiday feast with all the fixings to go with ham. Here are some of my favorite recipes that can be used for either!
- Mac and Cheese: Warm, cheesy macaroni is so satisfying! Try this simple, 15-minute homemade mac and cheese recipe that you make on the stove. It has all the gooey cheese goodness of a slow-baked mac and cheese casserole!
- Green Bean Casserole: This is another comforting classic, and my version is made 100% from scratch. If you don’t have much time, steamed and buttered green beans are also a great vegetable choice.
- In this classic recipe for Cheesy Potato Casserole, potatoes and ham go well together. This sweet pineapple ham would also go well with the casserole. Everyone always wants more, no matter what you call them (in some parts of the US, they’re called “Funeral Potatoes”).
Air Fryer Ham Recipe (Glazed, Fast, & Easy)
How long do you cook a bone in Ham in an air fryer?
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the seasoned bone-in ham in the air fryer basket, ensuring it fits comfortably without overcrowding. Cook the ham in the air fryer for approximately 20 minutes per pound, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) when tested with a meat thermometer.
Can You air Fry a bone-in Ham?
Some air fryers come with a rack or trivet that you can use to elevate the ham slightly, which can help it cook more evenly. There are a variety of different seasoning options you can use to add flavor to your bone-in ham when cooking it in an air fryer.
How long does it take to air Fry a ham?
Air Fryer ham is perfect for a smaller crowd. This is quick, it cooks in less than an hour. The sweet glaze is great with the salty flavor of the ham. We love air fryer dishes for the quick and easy clean up! New to Air Frying? Check out our favorite Air Fryer here. Find everything air fryer here including our best tips, tricks, and recipes.
How do you cook Honey Ham in an air fryer?
Brush on about ⅓ of your honey glaze using a spatula or silicone basting brush. Make sure not to use all of the glazes – you will need it again. Cover entirely with foil. Place in the air fryer and cook at 300°F for 20 minutes. Once 20 minutes is up, unwrap and brush on another ⅓ of your honey ham glaze.