3-Ingredient Ham Glaze

This 3-ingredient ham glaze adds the most perfect sticky exterior! Sweet, salty, and full of flavor, it takes your roast to another level! 

How to spruce up your roast ham? Add a fabulous ham glaze made with just 3 ingredients.

During the festive season or when we are in the mood for a roast, we always whip up this special glaze every single time. It’s easy to assemble and stick to the pork perfectly. 

A combination of fruit juice and brown sugar balances out the natural saltiness of the ham, and you’ll be reaching for seconds and thirds in no time. 

What we love most about this ham is that you can use it for other cuts of meat too: lamb, beef, or even a chicken.

Oh, and if you like a simple marinade, try this 4 ingredient chicken marinade: it also works well for pork.

Ingredients needed

• Brown sugar. While white sugar works, the brown kind caramelized beautifully and sticks to the ham and gives it a gorgeous crust. 
• Orange OR pineapple juice. Freshly squeezed juice is always better, but the bottled kind works too. If you choose to use orange juice, ensure it is pulp-free. 
• Mustard. Any mild flavored mustard, like American or Dijon. 

How to make a 3-ingredient ham glaze

This 3 ingredient ham glaze is simple to make: just be sure to use it on a pre-cooked ham, or else it will seep into the meat once it roasts! Here’s the basic idea for making the glaze and using it on your ham (or see the recipe below for specifics): 

• Make the glaze: Whisk together the glaze until a thick and sticky liquid remains. 
• Prep the ham: Remove the packaging off the pre-cooked ham. If it hasn’t been spiral cut, cut slits through the skin and exterior. Brush the glaze generously over the ham. 
• Roast: Cook the ham in the oven as instructed. If any of the glaze remains, brush over the top and broil for 5-10 minutes until golden. 

Variations

We love this glaze as it is, but sometimes to switch it up, we try one of these ways below:

• Cut the sugar by using a brown sugar substitute.
• Drizzle with honey, but be sure to cut out the brown sugar! 
• Switch the fruit by using apple juice or tropical juice.
• Use different mustards like English mustard, grainy mustard, or horseradish mustard (extra heat!).
• Add some garlic either freshly minced or from a jar. 
• Use warming spices like smoked paprika, nutmeg, or cinnamon. 

Storage info

• To store: You can make this glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• To freeze: Place the glaze in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to one month. The ham glaze must be thawed completely before adding it to meat.

Recipes to try this glaze on

Did you know this glaze works well on other protein, too? Here’s some favorites that we have tried:

• Pork chops
• Chicken breast
• Chicken thighs
• Salmon
• Tilapia

Frequently Asked Questions