No holiday menu is complete without a brown sugar baked ham recipe! This version stands out from the culinary competition with a warmly-spiced rub and crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Of all the ways to bake ham in the oven, this is my most-requested baked ham recipe for Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving.
I use a bone-in ham that’s spiral sliced, then cover it with a sweet balsamic, mustard, and brown sugar glaze. What takes this holiday ham recipe over the top, though, is a thick, crunchy topping of herbed breadcrumbs patted onto the glaze and toasted in the oven.
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
- Bone-in ham: If you can’t find an unglazed spiral sliced ham, you have two choices: rinse the glaze from the factory off the ham, or purchase an unsliced, bone-in ham. As long as you’re comfortable carving it yourself, you can forgo the pre-sliced and buy a solid ham, and you can cut the ham slices into the size you prefer. For the most flavor, look for a shank end (or shank portion) ham, which has a fattier meat, more flavor, and has one long bone for easier carving. A butt-end (or butt portion) ham is delicious, too. It just is a little leaner and is a little more work to carve.
- Spicy brown mustard: For a milder mustard, substitute Dijon mustard.
- Panko breadcrumbs: This Japanese-style breadcrumb is commonly used as to coat for deep-fried foods for the crispiest result. You can buy them at the store or make your own panko crumbs.
Step-by-step instructions
- Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set wire rack in sheet. Place 12-inch square of foil in center of rack. Set ham on foil, flat side down, and cover it with oven bag, tucking bag under ham to secure it. Let ham sit at room temperature for 1 ½ hours. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Bake ham to 100 degrees, about 2 hours. (Lift bag to take temperature; do not puncture).
- Meanwhile, combine sugar, brown mustard, vinegar, dry mustard, ginger, and cloves in medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until reduced to ¾ cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool while ham cooks. Combine panko, parsley, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Remove the ham from the oven, discard oven bag, and allow the ham cool for 5 minutes. Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees.
- Brush ham all over with brown sugar-mustard mixture.
- Press the panko mixture against sides of ham to evenly coat the exterior. Bake until crumbs are deep golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Transfer the baked ham, flat side down, to a carving board and let rest for 30 minutes. Carve and serve.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes generous portions for 8 adults. Estimate about ¾ pound per person for a bone-in ham and ½ pound for boneless ham. If you want extra for leftovers, buy a larger ham than the math above suggests.
- Storage: Store leftover ham covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The glaze can be made one day in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature during the first phase of baking the ham.
- Freezer: Baked ham can be cooled and frozen for up to 6 months. Double-wrap, label, and date the ham. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before use.
- Ham bone: Save your ham bone for soup! Slow cooker ham and bean soup is always a favorite. A meaty ham bone makes for a better soup.
- Oven bag substitute: If you can’t find an oven bag, wrap the ham tightly in two layers of aluminum foil during the first stage of cooking.
Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls
When nothing but homemade bread will do, try these easy Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls. They are perfect at your holiday table, piled with any kind of meat, or on the side of Sunday Supper.
View Recipe
Favorite sides for baked ham
Side Dish Recipes
The Best Mashed Potatoes
Vegetable Recipes
Roasted Green Beans
Bread Recipes
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Side Dish Recipes
Scalloped Potatoes
Baked Ham With Crumb Topping
No holiday menu is complete without a brown sugar baked ham recipe! This version stands out from the culinary competition with a warmly-spiced rub and crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
- 1 oven bag
- 8-9 pound ham bone-in, spiral sliced
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mustard dry
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup fresh parsley minced
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set wire rack in sheet. Place 12-inch square of foil in center of rack. Set ham on foil, flat side down, and cover it with oven bag, tucking bag under ham to secure it. Let ham sit at room temperature for 1 ½ hours.
- Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Bake ham to 100 degrees, about 2 hours. (Lift bag to take temperature; do not puncture.)
- Meanwhile, combine sugar, brown mustard, vinegar, dry mustard, ginger, and cloves in medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until reduced to ¾ cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool while ham cooks.
- Combine panko, parsley, oil, salt, and pepper in bowl. Remove ham from oven, discard oven bag, and let ham cool for 5 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.
- Brush ham all over with brown sugar-mustard mixture. Press panko mixture against sides of ham to evenly to coat. Bake until crumbs are deep golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer ham, flat side down, to carving board and let rest for 30 minutes. Carve and serve.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Bone-in ham: If you can’t find an unglazed spiral sliced ham, you have two choices: rinse the glaze from the factory off the ham, or purchase an unsliced, bone-in ham. As long as you’re comfortable carving it yourself, you can forgo the pre-sliced and buy a solid ham. That way you can cut the ham slices into the size you prefer. For the most flavor, look for a shank end (or shank portion) ham, which has a fattier meat, more flavor, and has one long bone for easier carving. A butt-end (or butt portion) ham is delicious, too. It just is a little leaner and is a little more work to carve.
- Spicy brown mustard: For a milder mustard, substitute Dijon.
- Panko breadcrumbs: This Japanese-style breadcrumb is commonly used as to coat for deep-fried foods for the crispiest result. You can buy them at the store or make your own panko crumbs.
- Yield: This recipe makes generous portions for 8 adults. Estimate about ¾ pound per person for a bone-in ham and ½ pound for boneless ham. If you want extra for leftovers, buy a larger ham than the math above suggests.
- Storage: Store leftover ham covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The glaze can be made one day in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature during the first phase of baking the ham.
- Freezer: Baked ham can be cooled and frozen for up to 6 months. Double-wrap, label, and date the ham. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before use.
- Ham bone: Save your ham bone for soup! Slow cooker ham and bean soup is always a favorite. A meaty ham bone makes for a better soup.
- Oven bag substitute: If you can’t find an oven bag, wrap the ham tightly in two layers of aluminum foil during the first stage of cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 516kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 34gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 2053mgPotassium: 515mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 218IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
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Meggan … Yes, we have learned to do these too. We used to buy hams that were pre-made, but they have got very, very expensive. Some around us are like $60 or $70 for this type of Sugared Candied Ham (as we call it). So, we looked online and found a similar recipe, and we made it the prior Christmas in 2019. Honestly, I do think it was as-good or BETTER THAN the store-bought one. I could tell no difference, even had a sweeter and crispier taste. So, we won’t be buying them anymore and just making them ourselves. So, I do plan to try your recipe when we have a Holiday event in the months ahead. Thanks for sharing.
Yesterday was the 3rd time I have made this ham. My husband and I LOVE ham and this is our absolute favorite for a spiral ham. We will never go back to the glaze that comes with the ham. It’s just unbelievable and I can’t emphasize that enough.
We didn’t have fresh parsley, so we did it with 4 tablespoons of dried instead. Honestly, I probably will just do it this way from now on because it’s so much easier, and it wasn’t really any different.
Will continue to make this one over and over and over again!! THANKS!