This Ham Sauce is a delicious mustard and brown sugar sauce to serve with ham. It's super easy to make and adds tons of flavor to any baked ham. I've made it to accompany dinner many times including for Thanksgiving ham and Christmas ham. It's always a hit!
The sweetness of the brown sugar balances the vinegar and sharp flavor of the mustard. As it cooks down, it caramelizes and brings out the molasses flavor of the brown sugar. It's so yummy poured over ham - especially if you use grapes or golden raisins for texture.
If you like mustard sauce recipes, you will love creamy honey mustard. Don't forget about our honey mustard dip, it's also worth checking out.
Why You'll Love This Ham Sauce Recipe
- Quick recipe: It only takes a few minutes to whip up this ham glaze.
- Only 5 ingredients: You need just 5 simple ingredients to make this delicious sauce - many of which are pantry staples!
- Budget-friendly: This recipe is so inexpensive to make. I always have some in my refrigerator.
Ingredients
Below are the 5 ingredients needed to make a tasty and balanced homemade ham sauce. Each component is super affordable and may even be in your kitchen right now!
- Brown sugar: This adds the perfect amount of sweetness and caramelization to the ham sauce. I like light brown or dark brown sugar for it.
- Dry mustard: Not only does the mustard add a tangy flavor to balance the sweetness, but it also helps thicken the sauce.
- Flour: This is going to help with achieving the right consistency. I use all-purpose flour.
- Vinegar: I typically use white vinegar but apple cider vinegar may be used instead. It adds depth of flavor!
- Water: You will notice on the recipe card that there is a range for the measurement. This is because you may need a little more water to slightly thin the sauce to keep it from becoming pasty.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Pineapple sauce for ham: Add pineapple juice or crushed pineapple to the ingredients for a sweet pineapple flavor. You may need less water if you use the juice.
- Cherry sauce for ham: A couple of scoops of cherry jam or preserves will add tart cherry flavor that goes great with ham.
- Maple mustard sauce for ham: Replace some or all of the brown sugar with maple syrup for a fun twist.
- Orange: Swap some of the water for fresh orange juice for a more complex and flavorful sauce.
How to Make Ham Sauce
It takes minimal effort to put this ham sauce recipe together. Once all of the ingredients have thickened and cooked down, it's ready to serve!
Step 1: Add ingredients to a saucepan. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until they are well combined.
Step 2: Simmer and thicken. Heat the mixture over medium heat and let it bubble and thicken until the brown sugar is melted and all of the ingredients are hot. Add more water if the sauce is too thick. Stir well to combine and heat through.
Step 3: Add raisins. Once it reaches the desired thickness, add yellow raisins or halved green grapes.
Step 4: Heat and serve. Heat for an additional minute or two to warm. Spoon over ham or sandwiches and enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: You may leave out the raisins or grapes if you choose. I like to add them for a contrast in texture. If you use them, give them a couple of minutes to slightly soften in the sauce before enjoying it. Raisin sauce for ham is yummy, though!
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our mustard maple syrup.
Dr. Pepper Glazed Ham (Crock Pot and Oven) has a great flavor too. Try out our Baked Honey Mustard Ham recipe if ham is the way you want to go.
Storage
- Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: To freeze, allow the sauce to cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Ensure that you remove as much air as possible and let it lay flat so it freezes evenly. Thaw it in the refrigerator before you reheat it.
- Reheating: Pour the leftover glaze into a saucepan and heat gently over low heat until warmed through. It may also be enjoyed at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
This sauce is perfect for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving, Easter dinner, or other special occasions! Here's some inspiration for serving it up!
- Instead of spooning it over a classic ham dinner, try it over these ham and egg cups for a unique breakfast idea.
- Use this ham sauce as a dipping sauce on these ham sliders for a little added sweetness.
- If you want a classic serving idea or holiday meal, this glaze is always well served with my Instant Pot spiral ham, fresh green beans, and mashed potatoes.
- Try another cut of pork and add some sweet and tangy goodness to sous vide pork chops or pan fried pork chops.
I don't know about you but I'm one of the strange people who love to put Turkey Gravy Without Dripping all over my ham. Does that make me weird?
If you want a touch of flavorful spice, try making this Creamy Horseradish Sauce. One bite and you'll be a lover for life. Believe you me!
Recipe Tips
- Use cornstarch: if you do not have flour on hand, you may use cornstarch in this recipe instead.
- Don't use high heat: If you let the heat get too high, it can burn the sugar in the ham sauce. Keep it to medium heat if possible.
- Taste test: Give the ham glaze a taste while it cooks to adjust any of the ingredients to your liking.
Recipe FAQs
I prefer the flavor of brown sugar but you may use Stevia or monk fruit sweetener as a substitute. Coconut sugar works well too and is very close the appearance and flavor of brown sugar.
You may have added too much water or it hasn't cooked long enough. Allow the sauce to simmer a bit longer to see if it thickens. If not, you may add a little flour.
You may, but I prefer it reheated on the stovetop to prevent separation.
Video
More Delicious Condiment Recipes
Do you like making homemade condiments and sauces? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Mustard Ham Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon flour
- ¼ cup vinegar
- ¾ - 1 cup water
- ¼ cup golden raisins or halved grapes
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until they are well combined.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat and let it bubble and thicken until the brown sugar is melted and all of the ingredients are hot.
- Heat to thickened, stirring. Add up to the additional ¼ c water if too pasty or thick. Stir well to combine and heat through.
- Toward the end of cooking and has reached desired thickness, add ¼ c seedless (yellow) raisins OR halved green grapes.
- Serve immediately on ham or sandwiches.
Video
Notes
- Use cornstarch: if you do not have flour on hand, you may use cornstarch in this recipe instead.
- Don't use high heat: If you let the heat get too high, it can burn the sugar in the ham sauce. Keep it to medium heat if possible.
- Taste test: Give the ham glaze a taste while it cooks to adjust any of the ingredients to your liking.
Carol-Ann says
How long will this sauce last in the fridge?
Karin and Ken says
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: To freeze, allow the sauce to cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Ensure that you remove as much air as possible and let it lay flat so it freezes evenly. Thaw it in the refrigerator before you reheat it. I hope you enjoyed the sauce as much as we do! All the best. Karin
Cheryl says
Absolutely wonderful addition to our ham dinner and leftovers. I made a double batch and next time will double that so I don’t have to make it twice. So tasty! Thanks for sharing 💕
Karin and Ken says
You’re most welcome. We love it too. All the best. Karin