When the air fryer first appeared on the culinary scene around 2016, many viewed it as a novelty. Yet, it quickly proved to be an indispensable kitchen appliance, capable of transforming everyday meals and even holiday classics. Fast forward to today, and I’m thrilled to share a recipe for an Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham that epitomizes juiciness, tenderness, and perfectly caramelized crust. Growing up in a Southern kitchen, honey-glazed ham was a cherished centerpiece for every holiday gathering, instilling in me a deep appreciation for its authentic taste and texture. After countless hours of testing and refining, I’ve perfected this recipe, ensuring it’s not only foolproof but also consistently delivers that nostalgic, melt-in-your-mouth experience. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your go-to guide for a spectacular holiday ham, guaranteed to impress every time without the stress.
Table of Contents
The Magic of Air Fryer Ham: A Holiday Centerpiece Made Easy
Transforming a holiday ham into a succulent, sweet, and perfectly caramelized masterpiece has never been simpler, thanks to the air fryer. This often-underestimated appliance is a game-changer for achieving that desirable crispy glaze and tender interior without the hassle of a conventional oven. Our Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham recipe is designed to deliver a show-stopping dish that will become a new tradition in your home. Forget dry, overcooked hams; this method ensures every slice is bursting with flavor and moisture, coated in a sticky-sweet, spiced glaze that’s utterly irresistible. Prepare to be amazed by how quickly and effortlessly you can create a centerpiece dish that tastes like it took hours of intricate preparation.
Why Choose an Air Fryer for Your Holiday Ham?
The air fryer’s unique convection technology makes it an ideal choice for cooking ham, especially during busy holiday seasons. Here’s why it stands out:
- Unmatched Efficiency: Air fryers heat up incredibly fast, significantly reducing preheating and cooking times compared to traditional ovens. This means your ham gets on the table quicker, freeing up your oven for other side dishes.
- Perfectly Crispy Glaze: The circulating hot air creates an ideal environment for caramelizing the glaze. You’ll achieve that coveted sticky, slightly crispy crust on your ham, enhancing both flavor and texture.
- Juicy Interior: While the exterior crisps up, the foil wrapping method used in this recipe ensures the interior remains incredibly moist and tender. The air fryer’s consistent heat prevents drying, locking in all the savory juices.
- Space-Saving: For smaller gatherings or when oven space is at a premium, the air fryer offers a compact solution, allowing you to cook your main dish without monopolizing your primary oven.
- Minimal Cleanup: Cooking the ham mostly in foil, combined with the air fryer’s non-stick components, makes cleanup a breeze. Less mess means more time enjoying your meal and company.
Selecting the Perfect Ham for Air Frying
The success of your air fryer ham begins with choosing the right cut. For air frying, we recommend a boneless, fully cooked ham. Here’s what to look for:
- Type: Opt for a boneless, fully cooked ham. These are pre-cooked and only require reheating and glazing, making them perfect for the air fryer. Spiral-cut hams are particularly convenient as the glaze can seep into the slices, ensuring maximum flavor in every bite.
- Size: A ham weighing between 3 to 4 pounds is ideal for most standard air fryer models (typically 5-6 quart capacity). Larger hams, like a 5-pound or heavier, might require slicing down to fit properly, ensuring it doesn’t touch the heating element and allows for proper air circulation. Always measure your air fryer basket or tray before purchasing.
- Pre-sliced vs. Whole: While pre-sliced (spiral-cut) hams are easier to glaze and serve, a whole boneless ham will also work. If using a whole ham, you might consider scoring the surface in a diamond pattern to help the glaze penetrate deeper.
Essential Ingredients for a Luscious Ham Glaze
Crafting the perfect glaze is key to an unforgettable honey-glazed ham. This simple yet potent combination of ingredients creates a sweet, savory, and aromatic coating that truly elevates the dish.
- Boneless Fully Cooked Ham: As discussed, a 3-4 pound ham is perfect. Ensure it’s fully cooked, as we’re primarily focused on reheating and glazing. Spiral-cut hams are highly recommended for optimal glaze distribution.
- Honey: The star of the glaze! Honey provides natural sweetness, a beautiful golden hue, and helps create that desirable sticky texture. It’s crucial for the caramelization process in the air fryer.
- Brown Sugar or Sweetener: Brown sugar adds depth with its molasses notes and contributes to the rich caramelization. If you’re looking to reduce sugar content, a brown sugar substitute (like erythritol-based sweeteners) can be used effectively without compromising flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon and Cloves: These warm spices are holiday classics, imparting a comforting aroma and a subtle complexity to the glaze. They perfectly complement the savory ham and sweet honey.
- Cornstarch: A small amount of cornstarch mixed with water forms a slurry, which is essential for thickening the glaze. This ensures the glaze adheres beautifully to the ham, rather than just running off.
- Foil: Aluminum foil plays a vital role in keeping the ham moist during the initial cooking phase and for easy cleanup.
- Water: Used in the glaze to dissolve sugars and create the right consistency, and also to form the cornstarch slurry.
Crafting the Perfect Honey Glaze
The success of your Air Fryer Glazed Ham hinges on a rich, flavorful, and properly thickened glaze. Follow these steps to create an irresistible coating:
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: In a small saucepan, combine the honey, brown sugar (or your preferred sweetener), ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ¼ cup of water. Place the saucepan over medium heat.
- Dissolve and Heat: Stir the mixture continuously until the brown sugar or sweetener has completely dissolved and the mixture is warm and fragrant. Bring it to a gentle simmer.
- Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: In a separate small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until a smooth slurry forms. This prevents lumps when added to the hot glaze.
- Thicken the Glaze: Pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering glaze mixture in the saucepan. Stir constantly as you add it. Continue to stir until the glaze thickens to a consistency that coats the back of a spoon. It should be thick enough to cling to the ham.
- Remove from Heat: Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat. The glaze will continue to thicken slightly as it cools. Set it aside, ready for application.
This method ensures a smooth, luscious glaze that will perfectly adhere to your ham, creating that beautiful caramelized finish we all love.
Step-by-Step Guide: Air Frying Your Glazed Ham
With your ham selected and your glaze prepared, it’s time to bring it all together in the air fryer. This method ensures a perfectly cooked, juicy ham with a delectable caramelized crust.
- Prep the Ham: Begin with your boneless, fully cooked ham. If it’s a larger ham (over 4 pounds) and doesn’t fit comfortably in your air fryer basket without touching the heating element, consider carefully slicing it into smaller, manageable sections. For pre-sliced hams (spiral-cut), separating the slices slightly will allow the glaze to penetrate deeper, infusing every part with flavor. If your ham comes with netting, you can leave it on during the initial cooking phase to help it hold its shape.
- First Glaze Application: Lay out a piece of aluminum foil large enough to completely wrap the ham, but keep the top exposed for now. Place the ham in the center of the foil. Generously brush about half of your prepared honey glaze over the entire surface of the ham, ensuring it reaches into the crevices if it’s spiral-cut.
- Foil Wrap and Initial Air Fry: Now, loosely wrap the foil around the sides of the ham, leaving the top slightly open. This creates a small chamber that traps moisture, preventing the ham from drying out while allowing some air circulation for light caramelization. Carefully place the foil-wrapped ham into your air fryer basket or onto the tray.
- First Cook Cycle: Air fry the ham at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes per pound. For a 4-pound ham, this would be approximately 40-60 minutes. This slow, steady heat allows the ham to warm through gently and absorb the initial glaze.
- Second Glaze Application & Caramelization: Once the initial cooking time is complete, carefully open the air fryer. If your ham had netting, remove it now. Completely unwrap the foil from the top of the ham, exposing the entire surface. Re-warm any remaining glaze if it has thickened too much, then generously brush the ham with the remaining glaze.
- Final Air Fry for Caramelization: Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C). Air fry the ham (now fully uncovered) for an additional 5-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on it during this stage, as the high heat will quickly caramelize the glaze, creating that beautiful golden-brown, sticky crust. This step is crucial for achieving that signature holiday ham finish.
- Rest and Serve: Once the glaze is perfectly caramelized, carefully remove the ham from the air fryer. Transfer it to a cutting board and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender and moist ham. Spoon any extra glaze drippings from the foil or air fryer basket over the sliced ham for an extra burst of flavor.
By following these detailed steps, you’ll achieve a honey-glazed ham that is both visually stunning and incredibly delicious, making it a memorable addition to any holiday table.
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Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds fully cooked ham I love to use boneless, spiral cut because it’s easier.
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar or sweetener
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- foil
Instructions
- Combine the honey, brown sugar (or sweetener), ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ¼ cup water in a saucepan at medium heat. Stir until the sweetener has dissolved.½ cup honey, ½ cup brown sugar or sweetener, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ cup water
- Combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir until fully combined and then add this mixture to the simmering glaze. Stir well. Turn off the heat and continue stirring until the glaze thickens to a rich, syrupy consistency.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons water
- If your ham comes with netting, you can leave it on during the initial cooking process. Generously brush half of the honey glaze mixture over the ham using a cooking brush. Wrap the ham tightly in foil, leaving the top slightly exposed for air circulation.3-4 pounds fully cooked ham, foil
- Place the foil-wrapped ham in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 40 minutes at 300°F (150°C).
- Open the air fryer and carefully remove the foil from the top of the ham (and the netting if you used it). Brush the ham generously with the remaining glaze. If the glaze has thickened too much, gently warm it for a few seconds to restore its gooey consistency.
- Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C). Air fry the ham for an additional 5-10 minutes, uncovered. Monitor closely during this stage to ensure the glaze caramelizes to a beautiful golden-brown without burning.
- Carefully remove the ham from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow the ham to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This resting period helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful ham. Collect any glaze drippings from the air fryer basket or foil and drizzle them over the finished ham slices before serving.
Notes
Feel free to use a spiral-cut ham; its pre-sliced nature makes glazing and serving incredibly easy. Just ensure it fits comfortably within your air fryer model to allow for even cooking and proper air circulation.
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
Pro Tips & Frequently Asked Questions for Your Air Fryer Ham
Ensuring your air fryer ham turns out perfectly every time involves a few clever tips and answers to common queries. Master these, and you’ll be serving up a succulent holiday ham with confidence.
Absolutely not! Most hams available in grocery stores are sold fully cooked and often pre-smoked. Your main goal when preparing a fully cooked ham is to reheat it thoroughly and, most importantly, to create that irresistible, caramelized glaze. Always double-check the packaging to confirm it’s fully cooked, which will save you a lot of time and effort.
Yes, this air fryer honey glazed ham is excellent for meal prep! You can cook the ham entirely, allow it to cool completely, then wrap it tightly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, simply reheat individual slices or the whole ham in the air fryer or oven at a lower temperature (around 275°F/135°C) until warmed through, brushing on a little extra glaze if desired for freshness.
For best results, a 3–5 pound boneless ham (either a half ham or a smaller spiral-cut variety) fits comfortably in most 5–6 quart basket-style air fryers. This size range allows sufficient space for air circulation around the ham, which is crucial for even cooking and excellent caramelization. If you have a larger ham, you might need to slice it into smaller sections to ensure it doesn’t touch the heating element or overcrowd the basket. I personally recommend using a 7-quart air fryer for versatility and ample space.
While technically possible, bone-in hams are generally much larger and can be quite challenging to fit into a standard air fryer basket. They also require more precise temperature control due to the bone affecting heat distribution. For ease of cooking, glazing, and carving, boneless hams are significantly more manageable and recommended for air fryer preparation.
We start the cooking process at a moderate 300°F (150°C) to ensure the ham warms through evenly and remains juicy. For the final crucial step, where the brown sugar and honey glaze truly caramelizes and becomes wonderfully sticky and glistening, you’ll increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) for 5-10 minutes. This two-stage temperature approach gives you control over both heating and achieving that perfect glaze.
Cooking time depends on the weight of your ham. For a 4-pound ham, I found that approximately 40 minutes at 300°F (150°C) was ideal for reheating, followed by 5-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C) for caramelizing the glaze. A good rule of thumb is to aim for about 10 minutes per pound for the initial reheat, then factor in the final high-heat glazing stage. Always check the ham’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should reach 140°F (60°C) for fully cooked ham.
The key to a moist air fryer ham is aluminum foil. During the initial cooking phase, wrap the ham loosely in foil, ensuring the top is slightly open to allow some air circulation while still trapping steam. This method locks in moisture. You only fully expose the ham during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking at a higher temperature to achieve that beautiful, bubbly, caramelized glaze without drying out the interior.
Brown sugar and honey form the classic and most recommended base for this delicious glaze, providing a rich, complex sweetness and aiding in caramelization. However, if you’re managing carbohydrate intake, you can successfully substitute brown sugar with a suitable sugar-free brown sugar alternative. The honey component is particularly important for its sticky texture and gorgeous glossy finish, so try to keep that element if possible for the best results.
While ground cloves add a wonderful, traditional warm and spiced depth that perfectly complements ham, they are not strictly mandatory if you’re not a fan or don’t have them on hand. You can certainly omit them. Alternatively, if you desire a similar warm flavor profile, you could swap them for a pinch of allspice, a bit more cinnamon, or even a touch of nutmeg. Experiment to find your preferred spice blend!
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Your Honey Glazed Ham
A glorious honey-glazed ham deserves an equally impressive array of side dishes to complete your holiday feast. Here are some of my favorite pairings that complement the sweet and savory notes of the ham perfectly, creating a balanced and memorable meal:
- For a Green Delight: If you’re looking for another air fryer favorite, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans. They’re quick, vibrant, and packed with flavor.
- Southern Comfort Classics: You can’t go wrong with classic Southern sides. Pair your ham with a comforting Chicken and Dressing, rich and creamy Southern Baked Mac and Cheese, and incredibly tender Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes for a truly authentic spread.
- Fresh and Bright: A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette can cut through the richness of the ham and glaze, offering a refreshing contrast.
- Roasted Vegetables: Beyond green beans, consider Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus or Brussels sprouts for simple, healthy, and flavorful additions.
More Air Fryer Holiday & Thanksgiving Recipes
Make your holiday cooking a breeze with these convenient and delicious air fryer recipes that free up oven space and deliver fantastic results:
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Cornish Hens
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus
More Classic Holiday Dinner Recipes
Explore these beloved recipes that bring warmth and flavor to any holiday table, from savory sides to hearty main courses:
- Southern Baked Ham With Pineapple
- Instant Pot Collard Greens
- Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
- Southern Homemade Cornbread
- Air Fryer Crab Legs
- Air Fryer Lamb Chops
For even more festive inspiration, don’t forget to check out my comprehensive post on 20 Quick and Easy Air Fryer Holiday Recipes. This collection offers a wealth of ideas to simplify your holiday cooking and impress your guests with minimal effort.
