Orange Glazed Ham

This Orange Glazed Ham is the holiday masterpiece that tastes just as stunning as it looks. With its sweet citrusy bourbon caramelized glaze and juicy, tender slices, this ham is the perfect balance of savory, sweet and bright. It’s unbelievably easy making it great for the holidays or any special occasion. 

This orange glazed ham gives you gourmet results with almost no effort. As it bakes, the ham slowly warms in a glossy citrus bourbon glaze that pops with fresh orange flavor, warm spices and sweet honey infused through it. Each slice is tender, juicy and coated in the most amazing sticky sweet glaze that drips down the edges in the most irresistible way. It’s comforting, festive and the kind of dish that brings everyone together.

If you are looking for more holiday main dishes, check out this Roasted Cajun Turkey or this Perfect Roasted Chicken.

Why Everyone Loves Bourbon Glazed Honey Ham

From holidays to special occasions, this bourbon glazed honey ham is a showstopper and everyone at the table will enjoy!

• Crowd-pleasing: I’ve never had anybody over that didn’t love this ham. It is a family favorite and will be in your house too!
• Amazing glaze: This is what makes this ham truly stand out! The bourbon orange-based glaze caramelizes into a shiny, sweet crust that tastes like candy.
• Unbelievably simple: For this recipe, we bake, coat, broil and done! So easy for the holidays.
• Pairs with everything: This ham goes with any holiday side dish, from roasted vegetables to these Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
• Sunday dinner or holiday centerpiece: Orange glazed ham is the perfect main dish for dinner any day of the week. It’s also the perfect Easter or Christmas ham recipe.

Ingredients You Need

You can find all of the ingredients for this ham recipe at your local grocery store.

Note: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Spiral ham: I recommend using a pre-sliced, spiral cut ham that cooks easily and will soak up all the sweet-savory glaze. I aim for 1 pound per person. Ham makes great leftovers, so more is better!
• Chicken broth: Helps line the pan with the ham to keep it moist. If you don’t have broth, use water.
• Orange juice: Fresh orange juice is the best to give the glaze that bright, citrusy fresh flavor making the glaze pop. 
• Brown sugar: Brings a rich, caramel molasses sweetness that give the glaze the beautiful golden finish.
• Honey: Naturally sweet flavor that ties all the glaze flavors together well. Maple syrup can be used as well.
• Butter: Because everything’s better with a little butter; it adds richness and shine to the glaze.
• Bourbon or rum (Optional): A splash of warmth and flavor that makes the ham taste extra special. Totally optional but highly recommend! You can also use vanilla extract if you don’t want to use bourbon.
• Sliced oranges: Fresh orange slices make it look gorgeous but also infuse around the ham as it cooks.
• Spices: You will need allspice, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground cloves for all those warm holiday flavors.

How to Make Orange Glazed Ham

This easy glazed ham can be on your holiday table in under an hour!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300°F. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar until melted. Stir in the orange juice, orange juice, honey, spices, and bourbon (if using). If your ham comes with a glaze or seasoning packet, you can also whisk that into the mixture now too.

Step 2: Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking frequently. Stir in ½ cup chicken broth, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until thickened.

Step 3: Place the orange slices in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish or large roasting pan and then place the ham on top. Pour the remaining chicken broth in the bottom of the pan, then baste or pour half of the glaze over the ham. Cover the pan with foil.

Step 4: Pour the remaining chicken broth in the bottom of the pan, then baste or pour half of the glaze over the ham. Cover the pan with foil.

Step 5: Cook the ham in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until it is hot and steam is coming out of the aluminum foil. Then remove the ham from the oven, remove the foil, and baste the ham with the juices in the pan.

Step 6: Return to the oven and cook for another 15 minutes. Broil at high degrees for 5 minutes or until the sauce has glazed. The ham should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F.

Serve with the rest of your orange bourbon glaze honey sauce.

Expert Tips

• Choose the right ham. I recommend a spiral ham that you can buy from Walmart or Costco. You want one that is 1 pound per person you are serving.
• Use freshly squeezed orange juice. The bottled version just lacks the brightness and zest that fresh will have. Try to use freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Tent the ham with foil. For the first half of baking, you will want to do this to keep it moist.
• Pour glaze over ham evenly. Make sure when pouring that every inch of the ham is covered. We want to create a lacquered finish.
• Broil ham at the end of cooking. For a very sticky, extra caramelized finish, broil the ham for the last 2 to 3 minutes. Ham is fully done when it’s reached 145°F.
• Let ham rest 10 minutes before serving. The ham needs time for the juices to settle and the glaze to fully thicken.

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

This orange glazed ham pairs perfectly with cozy sides like these:

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Honey Butter Cornbread
• Fresh Green Bean Casserole
• Creamy Mac and Cheese

You can also use leftover ham to make ham and cheese sliders the next day!

Storage and Make Ahead

To store, place sliced ham in an airtight container refrigerated for 4 days.

To freeze, place sliced ham in a freezer friendly airtight container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

To reheat, warm slices in a covered baking dish at 300 degrees F with a splash of water and leftover glaze until heated through. You can also gently reheat via stovetop skillet.

Make Ahead: You can assemble the glaze up to 2 days in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge. When ready to cook, simply warm the glaze, then pour and bake as instructed. Leftover ham is even better the next day, so this recipe works beautifully for early prep ahead.

More Holiday Recipes

Holiday Recipes

Roasted Cajun Turkey Recipe

Dinner

Braised Beef Short Ribs

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble

Dinner

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

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