How to Cook a Spiral Ham

Why This Recipe Works

• The rack is moved to the lowest position in the oven to allow the meat to be in the center.
• This ham recipe uses a bone-in ham for more flavor.
• This spiral ham is moist because we added chicken broth to the roasting pan, and we tented it with foil so the internal temperature can increase and the juices can redistribute.
• We used a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat and stopped cooking it when it read 125-140°F so it didn't dry out.

Ingredients

The ingredients for cooking this spiral ham recipe are basic pantry staples. Let's talk about the key ingredients.

• Spiral Ham: We used a fully cooked bone-in spiral ham for the best flavor.
• Broth: We used unsalted chicken broth because the ham has plenty of salt. You could also use homemade turkey broth.
• Aromatics: We used yellow onion rings and fresh garlic cloves.
• Spices: We used fresh thyme sprigs and one bay leaf.
• Fat: We used olive oil to saute the aromatics.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make

Gather all the ingredients for this spiral ham recipe.

1. Melt the oil in a small skillet over medium high heat. Sauté the sliced onion until soft, then add the garlic cloves and cook for two minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer the onion and garlic cloves to the roasting pan, then add the fresh thyme sprigs and the bay leaf. (image 1)
2. Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth. Scrape the browned bits, called the fond, off the bottom of the skillet with a wooden turner. (image 2)

3. Pour the fond into the roasting pan. (image 3)
4. Place the room temperature spiral ham in the pan and pour the chicken broth on top. (image 4)

5. Turn the spiral ham cut side down and cover tightly with foil.  Cook a room temperature spiral ham at 275°F for 12 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer reads 140°F.  Uncover for the last 30 minutes. (If the spiral ham is cold from the fridge, cook at 300°F for 10 minutes per pound.) (image 5)
6. If you want to apply a glaze, increase the temperature to 400°F during the last 20 minutes, brush the first glaze all over the spiral ham and in between the slices.  Cook for 10 minutes, then apply the second glaze.  Apply the third glaze, after it's cooked. To get the glaze to caramelize, put the meat under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn't burn. (We did not use a glaze for this savory recipe.) (image 6)

Recipe FAQs

How to Make a Glaze

If you would like to make a glaze for your spiral ham, mix the ingredients together in a saucepan, bring it to a boil, reduce to simmer until it thickens like honey then remove from the heat. Rewarm the glaze over low heat if it thickens too much when it cools.

The best homemade glazes have these elements. You can add butter also, but it's optional.

• Sweet: Light brown sugar for a neutral taste, dark brown sugar for a stronger taste, honey, maple syrup, strained marmalade or apricot jam
• Tangy: Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar
• Liquid: Orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, apple cider
• Warming Spices: cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon
• Savory Spices: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ancho chili powder, sage

If you are looking for an easy ham glaze recipe, try this glaze recipe. Learn how to apply a glaze so your spiral ham looks and tastes its absolute best, read this.

How to Carve

If you are asked to carve the ham, this Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, you'll be ready when you watch these ham carving tips or read the instructions below.

• Set up a carving station in your kitchen and not at the dining room table.
• Let your cooked, tented meat rest 20 to 30 minutes before carving on a large cutting board.
• Put the meat on its side.  Unlike beef, the grain of a ham isn't uniform.
• Use a paring knife to cut around the bone.
• Cut around the visible seams using a carving knife.  These are lines of fat which naturally separate a ham into 2 to 4 sections.
• Slice above the bone to remove an entire section.
• Turn the meat cut side down and slice down along the bone.
• Carefully lay the cut pieces on a platter for serving.  If pieces are too large, stack a few and cut smaller.
• Optional, garnish your meat platter with curly parsley, orange slices, fresh bay leaves or red grapes.

Serve

Planning on making our spiral ham recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter? Serve with scalloped potatoes, asparagus, spiced applesauce, soft dinner rolls and lemon poppy seed cake. It's sure to be a crowd favorite!

If you're looking for more Southern favorites, try all of our 7 New Year's Day recipes, too!

Store

Make Ahead: All spiral hams are fully cooked, so it just needs to be reheated. It's best to do this the same day you plan on serving it so it doesn't dry out.

Leftovers: If you have leftover meat, use it for these other recipe ideas. For breakfast try: quiche, breakfast hash, omelettes, or breakfast sandwiches. For lunch, try using the ham bone and the cubed meat in soups like our ham and bean soup or just the sliced meat in sliders. For supper, try savory pies, casseroles or vegetable sides like collard greens or black eyed peas.

Reheat: You can microwave individual serving sizes in the microwave until warm, or place the leftover meat in a shallow oven proof dish and cook at 300°F for 30 minutes or until warmed.

Freeze: Allow the leftover meat to fully cool, then portion the meat out in freezer zip-top bags and place in the freezer for up to two months. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight.

Expert Tips

• Want more flavor? Use bone-in spiral ham instead of boneless.
• Want to cut down on baking time? Let the meat stand at room temperature for 1 hour to increase the internal temperature of the meat.
• Need moisture? Add 2 cups of unsalted chicken broth to the roasting pan, place a shallow pan with water on the oven rack, or use an oven bag.
• Should I use a meat thermometer? Yes, insert it the thickest part of the meat.  You'll want a reading of 125-140°F.
• Why tent with foil?  The internal temperature will continue to rise 5-15 degrees, and the juices will redistribute.  Let it rest for 15-20 minutes.

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