This easy-to-make Chipotle Glazed Ham is beyond delicious. Its crunchy, sweet and spicy crust and juicy interior will leave your guests impressed and happy! Super easy to make and can feed a crowd. The perfect centerpiece for your holiday table.
Easy Chipotle Glazed Ham Recipe Highlights
This Chipotle Glazed Ham is my husband’s favorite! It has the perfect amount of heat and sweetness. Ham lover’s heaven!
Sometimes kitchen shortcuts are necessary, special during the holidays when you have to make a million things. So, instead of cooking the whole pork leg, I like to prepare pork ham, which is great because it’s super easy to make and can feed a crowd.
This Chipotle Glazed Ham is insanely delicious. Its crunchy, sweet and spicy crust and juicy interior will leave your guests impressed and happy!
P.S. the leftovers are amazing!!
Ingredients You’ll Need, Substitutions & Notes
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities and instructions (scroll down).
You will need:
- A spiral-sliced, fully cooked ham: The weight of the ham will depend on the number of people you will serve. A 5 lb ham would serve 10-12 people.
- Fresh chopped pineapple and cranberries: These are optional, but I like to add them because it makes the ham look over the top.
For the Chipotle Glaze:
- Chipotle peppers in adobo: You can find these in the international aisle of most grocery stores. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Cooking With Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce.
- Pineapple juice: I use no-sugar-added.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar will work well for this recipe.
- Maple syrup: You can substitute it for honey.
- Tomato with chicken granulated bouillon: You can find these in the international aisle of most grocery stores.
Best Ham To Make Glazed Ham
To make a glazed ham, you need a fully cooked bone-in spiral sliced ham. I usually buy Smithfield Bone-In Spiral Quarter Ham. Make sure the ham you buy is not pre-glazed already.
How To Make Chipotle Glaze Ham
Step 1 – Make the Glaze:
- Blend the chipotle peppers with the pineapple juice in a small food processor or blender.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the pineapple-chipotle mixture, brown sugar, maple syrup Tomato with Chicken Granulated Bouillon. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook until reduced and a bit thicker, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and set aside until the ham is done to be glazed.
Step 2 – Cook The Precooked Ham
Place the ham on the baking sheet and tightly cover the ham with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F for 60 – 90 minutes, or until the ham is heated, approximately 20 minutes per pound. After the ham is heated, you can start glazing it.
Step 3 – Glaze
Add the chopped pineapple and cranberries to the baking sheet, if using, and brush the glaze on the ham. Return the ham to the oven and bake uncovered until nice, glossy, and caramelized about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 -10 minutes before carving. Serve warm with the remaining glaze.
Recipe Tips
Baste the ham with the glaze several times while baking to ensure the meat doesn’t dry out.
Make sure to cover the ham well with the glaze, including between the cuts.
Increase the heat during the last 10 minutes of cooking if you’d like to crisp the outer edges.
Allow rest 10 minutes before carving to keep it moist and juicy.
If you want, you can double the glaze quantities to have some extra to serve along with the ham.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for 2 months.
Reheat Glazed Ham Leftovers
Place the portion of ham you want to reheat in a skillet and add 1-2 teaspoons of water. Heat, covered, over low heat until warmed through. I do not recommend reheating the ham in the microwave because there is a big chance that it will dry out.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make a glazed ham, you need a fully cooked bone-in spiral sliced ham. Make sure the ham you buy is not pre-glazed already.
A 5 lb ham would serve 10 people. An average of 1/2 pound per person.
Place the ham on the baking sheet and tightly cover the ham with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F for 60 – 90 minutes, or until the ham is heated, approximately 20 minutes per pound. After the ham is heated, you can start glazing it.
Place the portion of ham you want to reheat in a skillet and add 1-2 teaspoons of water. Heat, covered, over low heat until warmed through. I do not recommend reheating the ham in the microwave because there is a big chance that it will dry out.
More Pork Recipes You’ll Love!
- Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pork Loin
- Slow Cooker Beer Pork Chops
- Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Walnuts
- Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas
- Mexican Pork Tenderloin Adobo
- Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas
- Instant Pot Hawaiian Pineapple Pork
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Recipe Card 📖
Chipotle Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 ( 4 – 5 lb | 1.8 2.2 kg – ) spiral-sliced fully cooked ham
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks in juice, drained (optional)
- 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen) (optional)
Glaze:
- 1-2 chipotle pepper in adobo (or more depending on the level of heat you want)
- 10 oz (1 1/4 cup | 300 ml) pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Tomato with Chicken Granulated Bouillon (see notes for substitute)
Important
Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!
Instructions
- Remove the ham from the refrigerator and set the ham aside to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 350º F (180º C) and arrange a rack in the lower third. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Note: You can also bake the ham in a cast iron skillet.
- Place the ham on the roasting pan and tightly cover the ham with aluminum foil. Bake for 60 – 90 minutes or until the ham is heated through, approx. 20 minutes per pound.
Make the chipotle glaze:
- Blend the chipotle peppers with the pineapple juice in a small food processor or blender.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat combine the pineapple-chipotle mixture, brown sugar, maple syrup and Tomato with Chicken Granulated Bouillon. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook until reduced and a bit thicker, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside until the ham is done and ready to glaze.
- After the ham has been baking for 60 – 90 minutes, remove it from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425º F.
- Remove the foil, and add the chopped pineapple and cranberries to the roasting pan, if using. Pour 1/3 of the glaze all over the ham, brushing in between the cuts to cover evenly. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove from the oven again, brush with another third of the glaze and some of the pan juices, and repeat again after 10 minutes more minutes of baking until a dark golden-brown crust has formed and it looks glossy and caramelized (about 30 minutes total).
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve warm with the remaining glaze.
- Baste the ham with the glaze several times while baking to ensure the meat doesn’t dry out.
- Make sure to cover the ham well with the glaze, including between the cuts.
- Increase the heat during the last 10 minutes of cooking if you’d like to crisp the outer edges.
- Allow rest 10 minutes before carving to keep it moist and juicy.
- If you want, you can double the glaze quantities to have some extra to serve along with the ham.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
This shop was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
This recipe was originally published on December 2016. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information have been added to the post in October 2022 to make it as helpful as possible!
I am going to make this for our Christmas dinner this year, our first ham and I want it to have something special about it and this recipe seems to fit the bill. It also sounds pretty easy. Can you suggest some side dishes that might go with this that also have some Mexican-style flavors?
Hello Brian! Thank you for your sweet comment! I’m so excited that this recipe will be part of your Christmas dinner—it’s a wonderful choice for your first ham, and I hope it turns out beautifully for you. For Mexican-style side dishes, here are a few ideas:
Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites): A creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy corn salad that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Cilantro Lime Rice: Simple yet flavorful, it pairs wonderfully with the ham.
Black Beans: A hearty and flavorful side that adds a delicious Mexican touch.
Avocado Salad: Light, fresh, and vibrant—a great balance for the richness of the ham.
Warm Flour Tortillas: Perfect for serving alongside the ham for a fun twist!
I hope these ideas help make your dinner extra special. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with love and delicious food!
That has got to be the most delicious ham I have ever seen! Can you come cook Christmas dinner for us?
I love trying new recipes and although I am a vegetarian I do love my spices!! Your foodie pictures are GORGEOUS!
That ham looks so delicious. I like the pineapple on the side of the platter.
Your ham looks soooo good! I can’t wait to try your recipe on Christmas!