This honey glazed ham recipe gets an extra boost of flavor using Worcestershire and vinegar. A beautifully sweet and sour glaze that compliments the salty flavor of ham. If you’re looking for an easy ham glaze recipe, this has always been a popular choice around our house.
I’m of the belief that you can’t have Easter dinner without a ham involved. A big centerpiece spiral cut ham glistening with a honey glaze? The sweet and salty combination of flavors just tempts you to reach in a pull a piece of meat from its bone. Doesn’t it?
This is a recipe of a honey thyme glaze that I like to use on a spiral cut ham. Which I usually buy at Costco. I’m fairly picky about ham, only due to the fact that some hams seem to be over salty. Almost too salty to eat. The applewood smoked hams at Costco are seem to be reliably mild in the salty category.
And the this honey glazed ham recipe is one I’ve been using for years. I mean really …take a look at the lineup ingredients for this glaze; honey, thyme, Worcestershire and cider vinegar? Who can resist?
How To Heat Spiral Cut Ham
I find this to be somewhat of a dilemma. After all, the ham is already fully cooked. Cooking it anymore will most certainly dry it out.
I totally ignore the reheating instruction on the package and take my cue from The Honey Baked Ham Company. The experts. Their advice is to serve them at room temperature: “do not heat Honey Baked Hams® – they are made to enjoy right from the refrigerator. If you prefer your meat warmed, gently heat on low heat 275°F for 10 min per pound only by the slice, do not heat the entire ham. Heating may cause the meat to dry out and lose flavor.“
And that’s what I’ve always done. I bring the ham to room temperature for about an hour. But since I like to serve my Easter hams with this honey glaze recipe, I do warm the ham per the instructions above, with a couple of safeguards to keep it from drying out. I do heat the entire ham rather than just slices.
- Place the ham in a large roasting pan with an elevated roasting rack.
- With a silicone basting brush, liberally douse the ham with half of the honey time mixture in this recipe.
- Cover and tuck the ham with a large sheet of parchment paper.
- Then cover snugly with foil.
- Pour a couple cups of water in the bottom of the roasting pan – for steam.
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees and heat and heat for about 30-45 minutes. I usually buy a 5 – 7 pound ham.
- Remove the ham from the oven.
- Reheat the remaining hot glaze.
- Remove foil and parchment and then liberally brush the ham with the remaining glaze. You’ll have some run-off with the glaze, but just keep dousing it until it’s gone.
- Serve immediately.
Note: ham will not be piping hot. And that’s quite alright. Better to be warm than hot and dried out.
What To Serve With Honey Glazed Ham
Sauteed asparagus seems like a natural choice. Here are some more recipe ideas:
- Old Fashioned Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
- Blue Cheese Potatoes Dauphinoise
- Hericot Verts with Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce
- Old Fashioned Green Beans
- Strawberry Tart with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling
Thyme Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
Foregoing heavy glazes, this lighter honey and thyme version allows the meat to shine in all its glory.
I hope you give this honey glazed ham recipe a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a favorite honey glazed ham recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
One of the best things about making a big ham roast are the leftovers. Don’t you agree?
Left Over Ham Ideas
Honey and Thyme Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped thyme fresh, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 5-7 pound spiral cut ham fully cooked. Let sot at room temperature 1 hour before heating.
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup honey
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Let ham stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Melt butter with thyme and let stand until ready to use.
- Boil vinegar in a small saucepan until reduced to about 1 tablespoon. Remove from heat and whisk in honey, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme butter.
- Preheat oven to 275°F with rack in lower third.
- Put ham on a rack in a large roasting pan. Using a silicone basting brush, brush the ham all over with half of the honey thyme glaze.
- Cover the ham with a sheet of parchment paper and then with foil. Tuck in the foil. Pour 2 cups of water on the bottom of the roasting pan for steam.
- Cook for 30 – 45 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Brush ham with remaining half of honey glaze. Make sure the glaze is hot. Reheat stovetop if necessary. You'll have some run-off with the glaze, but just keep dousing the ham. You want to moisten and flavor.
- Remove ham to serving platter and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Honey Glazed Ham Recipe with Thyme … It’s what’s for Easter Dinner.
Looks gorgeous! Ham is such a perfect choice for Easter.
Thank you Sue.
I haven’t made a ham in so long but I’m thinking of bringing it back to the Easter table this year. The glaze sounds delicious!
I’m so picky about my ham. Some are so salty that you can hardly stand to eat them. Therefore I’m reluctant to buy any that isn’t from a specialty market and cost an arm and a leg. :/
I don’t think you could have picked a more perfect recipe for Easter!
Thank you Lauren.
That looks so good. I love the idea of a lighter glaze, so fresh and springlike!
Thank you RMW, always good to hear from you. 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled that you selected ham, that one specifically. It was delicious.
You’re welcome Christiane. Nice cooking with you for this event.
Mmmm fresh thyme is fabulous and this sounds delicious!
Thanks Vickie.
Thank you for the nice recipe and have a great weekend.
You’re so welcome Liz.
We usually have lamb for Easter but this ham would be good anytime of the year.
Lamb is always such a good choice. And I often make it for Easter. Growing up, it was always ham.
Ham is always our tradition for Easter…and yours looks amazing! The Honey and Thyme glaze sounds utterly delicious…a must try this Easter. A great choice!
Thank you Kathy.
I don’t eat ham. But if I did, this would be great!
Thanks Abbe.
The ham looks delicious! The Honey & Thyme glaze sounds fantastic!
What a perfect choice for this month’s theme! Loved having your blog for this month!
This glaze sounds marvelous. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Wendy!
You might win the prize for the prefect Easter recipe today, Lea Ann!
Why thank you Debra.
Yup, that’s my favorite Easter dinner, too. Hard to beat, isn’t it? This look most excellent — thanks so much.
Thanks John.
Wonderful! Your ham would be my choice for Easter celebration… Thyme is my favorite herb and combined with honey…perfect!
I’ve never ever used thyme with ham. Loved it.
Easter is the one and only time I make ham each year. This recipe sounds fabulous—I’m always looking for a new glaze!!!
You really nailed this one Lea Ann. A perfect Easter dinner and so much better than a pre-seasoned ham.
Sam
Thanks Sam.
Thanks Liz.