When the holidays roll around, ham recipes for dinner and lunch are probably on your mind. From Easter to Christmas or just for quiet weeknight dinners, these amazing ham recipes have got you covered!
Have a hankering for ham? We’re almost always in the mood for it, especially come the holidays. As they approach, meal planning is first and foremost on our minds because we want to make that day special and memorable. Quite often, ham is at the top of the list, and rightfully so! Ham being at the heart of our food traditions, it’s a national treasure. Given that ham is so simple and easy to make, serving it as a main dish is a no-brainer.
Ham has become a big part of our lives because it’s an awesome way of getting a scrumptious meal on the table fast. Plus there’s a ton of ways to use ham leftovers!
If there are any leftovers, that is, which can be challenging when just about all of my family and friends adores ham! Sometimes I’ll buy one a little bigger, just so I have some left over to make other fabulous recipes with.
Ham is a great choice because it’s so adaptable, and you can make all kinds of meals with it. It comes in a variety of cuts, and there are thousands of different recipes for it out there.
I LOVE how versatile and simple these ham recipes are. And when it comes to flavor, there’s no mistaking ham for anything else. The aroma is fantastic and the taste is undeniably good.
Crowning ham with a glaze gives it a texture and taste like no other. Every time you make ham, changing the glaze will give ham a slightly unique and different taste.
How cool is that?
What is Ham?
In a nutshell, ham is pork that has been smoked or salted and dried. It weighs up to twenty pounds and can serve as many as 25 people.
Ham is either cut from the rear leg of the pig or shank, where the meat is leaner and only has a single bone. The alternative is the butt or top part of the ham that includes a joint (bone) that can be difficult to carve around; but it’s fattier and therefore, more tender and full of flavor.
You can find tons of ham recipes for dinner that use both cuts.
Estimate just under a pound of sliced ham, per serving or person if the ham has a bone, and a half pound if serving boneless ham. Aiming for one that is 8 to 10 pounds should allow for leftovers for about two meals.
Although I’ve never had to buy an entire ham, my family has a huge appetite for it. Buying a bigger ham has been the answer for me. Having leftover ham is an absolute must for other recipes and I’ve been quite vocal about that!
Easy Ham Recipes for Dinner
Now that you’ve established ham is going to be the star of the show, below are some of the best ham recipes ever! I’ve made every single one of them at various times throughout the year, and they’ve always been a huge hit!
Celebrations are great fun, but again, they do require a plan.
It bears worth repeating just how wonderful these ham recipes are, especially during the holidays. For those that think the festivities wouldn’t be the same without turkey, I’ve included cooking a turkey as a companion to this ham recipe.
Being HUGE ham fans, we use different ham recipes regularly all year long! And the instant pot, slow cooker and oven gets the job done. These ham recipes are so good, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
Decide which method works for best for you and how well your ham turned out. Then tell me about it. My door is always open!
Whether making whole ham or sliced ham recipes, you’ve come to the right place for all your ham needs. Christmas and Easter dinners never looked so good.
Ham Recipes for Dinner – Choosing the Right Ham
Choosing the right ham for these cooked ham recipes can be challenging. Bone-in or boneless, spiral, cooked, smoked or shank end? No doubt, it can be confusing. So, it’s incumbent upon me to explain the differences, and what you need to look for in picking the perfect ham for you.
Country hams may or may not come cooked. They’re heavy on the salt and are commonly cured and preserved by smoking.
Fresh hams are not cooked or cured and must be purchased from a butcher.
The most common kind of ham is already cooked and is either bone-in or boneless. Both can be found in the refrigerated section of your local market and these are the hams to choose when making any of these easy ham recipes.
Read the Label
Always read the label before purchasing a ham. Watch for added water or juices because the less water that’s infused in the ham, the more intense the flavor it will be.
Less water makes for better texture too. It should look a little drier, but not be dry at all. Bottom line: avoid hams with added water.
Check and see if the ham is already glazed, as you don’t want to add glaze to an already glazed ham. I made that mistake years ago and that’s why I always check the label first. Make sense?
Then decide whether you want a boneless or bone-in ham.
Bone-In Ham
Generally speaking, ham or any meat with a bone has better flavor. Full stop.
Carving a bone-in ham may be a bit difficult, but when it comes to flavor, it’s a sure bet. Afterward, the bone can be used to make soup like in this Hambone Bean Soup recipe. It’s simply one of the best ham soups out there. I kid you not!
An INCREDIBLE soup that tugs at the heart and is so darn satisfying. Delicious comfort food at it’s finest.
Boneless Ham
Super convenient and easy to carve, the bone has been discarded and the ham is processed or pressed into that recognizable oval shape commonly seen at grocery stores.
Sliced Ham Recipes
In the 1920s, a Detroit man by the name of Harry Hoenselaar invented the spiral ham slicer. The idea came to him in a dream and the first one was built using a pie tin, tire jack, knife, and a motor from a washing machine! Yikes!
By the 1930s, he was selling honey-glazed hams to drugstores and taught employees how to slice them with a knife. Later his slicer came on the scene and in 1957 he founded the HoneyBaked Ham Company and Cafe. Consumers no longer had to wrestle with carving ham away from the bone.
Thus, many whole ham dinner recipes became sliced ham dinner recipes.
While being processed, the ham is held inside a machine that thinly slices the ham around the bone. So all you need to do is heat and glaze the ham (assuming it’s not already glazed).
Spiral hams look pretty sitting on the table, but I don’t always buy one because my husband is a master at carving bone-in hams
If you’re not a fan of carving, I recommend buying a spiral or a boneless ham.
After enjoying a wonderful ham dinner, moving on to leftover ham recipes is my next favorite thing. Thank goodness, there’s no shortage of them!
Big List of Ham Recipes for Dinner or Lunch That Everyone Will Love
Instant Pot Ham
Roasting ham in the oven is a beautiful thing. But if you haven’t tried this Instant Pot ham recipe, you’re missing out on something exceptional. Instant Pots are revolutionary!
This remarkable device has the efficiency of a pressure cooker and the benefits of a slow cooker.
Whether preparing a scrumptious feast featuring Instant Pot spiral ham, savory Instant Pot scalloped potatoes and ham or Instant Pot ham and bean soup, you’re going to marvel at this modern wonder and what it can bring to the table.
Give me a reason to make this instant pot ham recipe and consider it done. The early years of Easter with my son was all about Easter bunnies, egg hunts, yellow chicks, painted eggs, and ending the day with that special ham dinner, of course! Although those magical activities are long gone, Easter dinner is still pretty special at our house.
Ham was always oven-roasted back then, but over the course of time, the Instant Pot, being the fabulous kitchen invention that it is, changed the way we do ham and other meals forever!
Holiday meal planning can be hectic, but with the help of the Instant Pot, you can make one glorious ham in no time!
Crock Pot Pineapple Ham with Dr Pepper
Crock pot pineapple ham recipe is a classic. And this Crock Pot Dr. Pepper Ham puts a tasty twist on this classic. It’s one of the best sliced ham recipes you’ll ever make, in my opinion. Slow cooker Dr. Pepper Ham cooks up perfectly and topped with the most delicious glaze ever, makes taste superb!
I know what you’re thinking…Dr. Pepper and ham? What in the world? I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. One bite and I was convinced that Dr. Pepper can really showcase the flavor of an already tasty meat.
When you discover what’s in Dr. Pepper, marrying it with ham is not that far-fetched. There are 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper like cherry, almond, vanilla, blackberry, and orange just to name a few. Throw in crushed pineapple and the flavors are explosive!
Smoky ham with the sweetness of the pineapple and a kick of Dr. Pepper melds together beautifully, resulting in the most tender ham with flavors that run deep.
Maple Dijon Boneless Spiral Ham Recipe
Don’t miss out on this Maple Dijon boneless spiral ham recipe. If maple and Dijon were people, they’d be lovers! With this glorious glaze, you’ll be stuffing down this ham so fast, you won’t know what hit you! That sweet maple flavor with that unmistakable Dijon, pairs perfectly with the salty ham.
I tend to gravitate to this recipe at Easter and before we’ve finished eating, my husband and son are asking when I plan to make this lovely maple Dijon ham again! Not once, have I heard gotten a single complaint about this ham recipe…ever! Make it once and you may very well get asked that same question.
My taste-tester neighbor, Renate, has always claimed chicken is her favorite protein, hands down. But when I make this maple, Dijon boneless spiral ham, she invariably asks me the same question my husband and son do. When are you making this again??? Invite me over when you do!
Not only is this one of the best Easter ham recipes around, the maple Dijon combo makes the ham extra special at Christmas too! Hamtastic!😉
Once you discover how fast and easy it is to make this tasty ham, you’re not going to waste any more time on other ham recipes (except the ones in this post, of course). And if you’re lucky enough to have any leftover ham, the flavor just keeps getting better and better!
Honey Mustard Baked Ham
Speaking of sweet and salty, honey mustard ham is ideal. Honey and mustard are also lovers, and I have a lot of love for these two flavors. The combination creates one splendid ham!
The blend of honey and mustard tends to create a lighter color glaze for the ham, but it doesn’t impact the flavor. It still packs a punch. Using different types of mustard will also give the flavor a slight twist. S change it up once in a while. You won’t regret it.
Coat the ham with this wonderful glaze and take your taste buds for a ride!
Brown Sugar Ham Recipe with Teriyaki Glaze
Brown sugar ham recipe with teriyaki glaze is an absolute delight. Delicious, sweet and tangy, this glaze will light up your guests’ taste buds! One of my all-time favorite ham recipes for potlucks, holidays and get-togethers, it’s a sure to please a crowd.
I’ll admit it. I’m hooked on ham and I will always have a special place in my heart for this brown sugar ham with Teriyaki glaze. These flavors really takes ham to the next level.
If there’s any leftover, well, that’s a bonus!
Easy Ham Side Dishes That’ll Have You Hungry For More
Easy ham side dishes are a thing of beauty. The best side dishes complement and accentuate the ham. That’s what we’re aiming for.
Ham is one of those main dishes many of us crave, especially during holidays and family gatherings. Since it needs a sidekick, we’ve gathered up over 30 of our favorite side dishes that go perfectly with ham!
Go beyond the holidays and make a point of making ham in the Instant Pot at least once a month. Did I mention leftovers? There are so many ways of serving left over ham. Where do I begin?
Don’t limit your ham consumption to Christmas or Easter, as it can be enjoyed all year-round. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best side dishes for ham.
Always remember ham makes for the perfect leftover dish! Baked ham recipes are great for breakfast, casseroles, souffles, stews, quiches, salads, soups, side dishes, and more!
If there’s too much ham left over (what are the chances of that?), just pop it in the freezer for a great meal down the road!
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