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My brown sugar glazed ham steak recipe yields crispy, JUICY ham steaks in minutes. Each one is pan-seared and coated in tangy, sweet, and savory flavors.
Need more holiday recipes? Try my spatchcock turkey, rump roast, or air fryer cornish hen next!
Ham steaks are a Christmas Eve tradition in my house (Easter, too, for that matter). My mom would always buy a whole ham roast premade from the grocery store, but now that I’m in charge of holiday dinner, it’s homemade all the way.
For this recipe, I seared the ham steaks to create a crispy crust and finished them with a sweet glaze until each bite was tender and flavor-infused. My mom was adamant her store-bought ham was better…well, I’ll let you guess what she thinks now!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Deceptively simple. These steaks are perfect for a quick, low-effort main course–especially if you have a half dozen other sides and desserts to work on.
- Perfect for the holidays. Like my smoked ham recipe, it’s quick, easy, and full of flavors everyone will love.
- Or really, any time of year. Why wait for the holidays? After all, they sell ham steaks year-round!
- The leftovers make the BEST ham sandwiches. Trust me, it’ll make you want to swear off deli ham for good.
Ingredients needed
- Ham steaks. I prefer ½-inch thick ham slices, but your grocery store may have different sizes. If your ham is thinner, reduce the cooking time, and vice versa.
- Olive oil. To pan-sear the ham.
- Butter. The base of the glaze. Use unsalted butter and add salt to taste.
- Brown sugar. Brown sugar and ham go together like peas in a pod! For an even thicker glaze, try honey or maple syrup.
- Vinegar. I tested apple cider vinegar and distilled white vinegar, and while I slightly prefer apple cider, you could use either.
- Garlic powder. For aroma and flavor. You can also use freshly minced garlic if you prefer tiny bites of garlic.
- Black pepper. To taste.
How to make ham steaks
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- Pan sear the ham. Heat a large skillet and add oil. Once hot, sear the steaks on both sides, then set aside.
Step 2- Make the glaze. Reduce the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Whisk and simmer until thick and bubbling.
Step 3- Simmer. Add the ham to the skillet, coat all sides in the glaze, and cook until fully cooked.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Prefer bone-in steaks? No problem! You’ll want to increase the cooking time by a few minutes since the bone absorbs some heat.
- Know when the steaks are done. Most ham steaks are sold pre-cooked, so they only need to reach an internal temperature of 145F. If yours happen to be raw, cook them to 165F.
- Save the leftovers. I know I mentioned sandwiches earlier, but that’s not the only way to use leftover ham steak. It’s also delicious in ham and bean soup or as a side with air fryer apples.
Variations
- Substitute the vinegar for pineapple juice. I know it sounds weird, but after all, what’s a better pizza topping than ham and pineapple?!
- Swap the glaze. Use Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and orange juice to make my 3-ingredient ham glaze!
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover ham steak can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To freeze: Let the steaks cool completely, then freeze in a freezer bag (with bits of parchment between each to keep them from sticking together) and freeze for 3 months.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers on the stovetop, in a preheated oven, or microwave until warm.
Frequently asked questions
Most hams are pre-cooked, so technically, you can enjoy ham steaks as is. However, pan-frying them in my homemade glaze transforms them into the most irresistible ham ever.
I don’t recommend adding salt. Ham is naturally salty (even low sodium ones), so adding extra will just make it too salty.
What sides to serve with this
- Air fryer frozen green beans
- Sweet potato casserole
- Green goddess salad
- Smoked mac and cheese
- Air fryer broccoli
- Cauliflower mashed potatoes
Glazed Ham Steak
Ingredients
- 4 ham steaks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large skillet and place over medium heat. Once melted, add the ham steaks and pan sear for one minute per side.
- Remove the ham steaks from the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Add the butter, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder, and pepper. Whisk until combined and heat for 1-2 minutes or until the glaze bubbles.
- Add the ham steaks back to the skillet, coat both sides with the glaze, and cook for another two minutes.
