3-Ingredient Ham Glaze

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

Ready to use this glaze? Try it with my smoked ham recipe, pork belly burnt ends, and stuffed meatloaf too.

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

During the Christmas season, Easter, or when we are in the mood for a baked ham, I always whip up this simple 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. 

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make a 3-ingredient ham glaze
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. Frequently asked questions
7. Recipes to try this glaze on
8. 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• Seriously 3 ingredients. All you need is brown sugar, fruit juice, and mustard. No salt or pepper or spices.
• Quick. In less than a minute, your glaze is ready.
• Works with any size ham. Now, hams come in different sizes and weights. My glaze is so easy to scale up or down as needed.
• Versatile. What I love most about this glaze is that you can use it for other cuts of meat, too: lamb, beef, or even chicken.

Ingredients needed

• Brown sugar. While white sugar works, dark brown sugar or light brown sugar caramelizes beautifully, sticks to the ham, and gives it a gorgeous crust.  Please do not use any other kinds of sugar as it just won’t be the same.
• 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. The tangy flavors balance the sweetness.
• Mustard. You need some kind of mustard to balance out the sweet flavors and add a little richness. I’ve made this with Dijon mustard, American mustard, and even hot English mustard.

How to make a 3-ingredient ham glaze

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Make the brown sugar glaze: Whisk together the ingredients in a bowl until a thick and sticky liquid remains. 

Step 2- 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. Transfer the ham to a roasting pan.

Step 3- Roast: Bake ham in the oven as instructed. Brush the remaining glaze over the top and broil for 5-10 minutes until golden. 

Arman’s recipe tips

• Make the glaze fresh. While you can prep the glaze in advance, I find it is the most durable and flavorful when made fresh. Remember, the ham is the star of the show, so the glaze should only enhance it, not overpower it.
• You must use a pre-cooked ham, or else the glaze will seep into the meat.
• For a thicker glaze, add extra brown sugar or even a drizzle of honey.
• If the glaze cools and becomes a little too thick before coating the ham, microwave it for 20-30 seconds.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftover ham can be kept in the fridge for up to one week.

To freeze: Place the glazed ham in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to six months.

Frequently asked questions

Recipes to try this glaze on

Did you know this glaze works well on other main dishes, too? Here’s some favorites I have personally tried:

• Instant Pot pork chops
• Air fryer chicken breast
• Air fryer chicken thighs
• Oven baked bone-in pork chops