35 Christmas Ham Recipes for an Extra Festive Holiday Dinner
Sweet and tangy glazes, yes please!
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Turkey might reign supreme on Thanksgiving, but now that we are in December, our minds turn instantly to Christmas ham. Sweet, savory and super aromatic, a whole baked ham is a holiday classic for a reason. That being said, you don’t have to stick to the same old glaze recipe. As the great Bob Dylan once said: "The times, they are a-changing." So why not give your ham a reboot?
Luckily, ham tastes great with a myriad of flavors. Tired of sickly sweet glazes? Try cutting molasses-y brown sugar with a dab of sharp, tangy Dijon mustard. You can also try crusting your ham with whole crushed coriander seeds and black peppercorns for a fragrant, woodsy rendition and a subtle crunch. We even like adding our favorite sodas to the glaze, such as Dr. Pepper or ginger beer.
You may think that elevating your classic Christmas ham will require more time and effort in the kitchen, but these seriously delicious recipes are still a cinch to make. It doesn't hurt that they’ll also look beautiful in the center of your Christmas table, and give you the perfect excuse to make these tasty leftover ham recipes. Just don't forget about the delicious Christmas appetizers and side dishes for ham.
Honey-and-Balsamic Glazed Ham
This fail-proof recipe calls for little more than whisking honey and balsamic vinegar with two kinds of mustard to make a rich, sweet and tangy glaze.
Note: If you only have smooth Dijon mustard on hand, the glaze will still taste delicious — though we love the textural contrast of whole grain.
Get the Honey-and-Balsamic Glazed Ham recipe.
Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Citrus, ginger beer and red onion sweeten up this glazed ham, making it the perfect centerpiece for holiday dinner.
Get the Pineapple-Glazed Ham recipe.
RELATED: How to Cut a Pineapple
Ham with Bee-Sting Glaze
Sneak some cayenne into the sweet, sticky glaze to add a subtle hit of heat. PSA: These leftovers make for killer sandwiches or Christmas-style salads.
Get the Ham with Bee-Sting Glaze recipe.
Sweet and Sticky Apricot Glazed Ham
Look no further than your pantry for this ham. With only four ingredients, this is as easy as it gets.
Baked Ham with Root Beer Glaze
The secret to this fancy ham's undeniably sweet flavor? A big can of fizzy root beer.
Orange–Coriander Glazed Ham
Coriander seeds will give the glaze of your ham a textured, full-bodied glaze.
Get the Orange–Coriander Glazed Ham recipe from Woman's Day.
Brown Sugar and Mustard-Glazed Ham
Can you believe it only takes three ingredients to make this flavorful, savory dish?
Get the Brown Sugar and Mustard-Glazed Ham recipe from Woman's Day.
Orange-Red Pepper Jelly and Orange-Glazed Ham
The oranges and peppers in this recipe create a sweet and spicy dish that's hard to resist.
Get the Orange-Red Pepper Jelly and Orange-Glazed Ham recipe from Woman's Day.
Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Crock-pots make everything easier, like this perfectly cooked ham that requires only 15 minutes of prep work.
Get the Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe from Delish.
Apricot and Spice Glazed Ham
The gentle tartness and subtle flavor of apricot jam make it a versatile ingredient that works great in both sweet and savory recipes. Here, we’ve combined it with white wine vinegar and warm spices for a deliciously balanced glaze.
Get the Apricot and Spice Glazed Ham recipe from Woman's Day.
Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham
Honey mustard is great on almost everything, so it was only natural for us to slather a whole bone-in ham with equal parts honey and Dijon mustard.
Get the Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
This pineapple ham, complete with whole slices of canned pineapple and maraschino cherries, makes for a deliciously retro Christmas centerpiece.
Get the Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham recipe from Delish.
Cherry Bourbon Glazed Baked Ham
If you like the combination of cherry and bourbon in a fall cocktail, this is the baked ham recipe for you.
Get the Cherry Bourbon Glazed Baked Ham recipe from Delish.
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
Apple cider AND apple cider vinegar promise to make you taste the tart and sweet apple flavor in this glaze.
Get the Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze recipe from Delish.
Best-Ever Glazed Spiral Ham
For traditionalists, this sweet and tangy Christmas ham is a slightly elevated take on your favorite holiday staple thanks to the unique addition of apricot jam.
Get the Best-Ever Glazed Spiral Ham recipe from Delish.
Dr. Pepper Pineapple Glazed Ham
It's not the only ham glazed with soda on this list, but with the Dr. Pepper and Pineapple combo, it may be the sweetest.
Get the Dr. Pepper Pineapple Glazed Ham recipe from Delish.
Best Christmas Ham
This buttery glazed ham is cooked low and slow for a super moist, tender slice, and using a whole bone-in ham helps keep it even juicier.
Get the Best Christmas Ham recipe from A Pretty Life.
Instant Pot Ham
It's time to put last year's Christmas gift to work with this quick — we're talking 20 minutes tops! — main dish.
Get the Instant Pot Ham recipe from Delish.
Baked Ham with Raspberry Chipotle Ham Glaze
Sweet raspberry with savory chipotle, need we say more?
Get the Baked Ham with Raspberry Chipotle Ham Glaze recipe from The Food Charlatan.
Coca-Cola Baked Ham
There's more you can do with this beloved soda pop than serve it on the side — you can also use it to completely transform your meal.
Get the Coca-Cola Baked Ham recipe from A Spicy Perspective.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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