Save yourself some serious money during the holidays by making your own Honey Baked Ham recipe at home! Tender ham is cooked with butter and honey, then slathered with a sticky sweet and smoky glaze that’s broiled until it gets a great sugary crust!
This Copycat Honey Baked Ham is one of those recipes we have love to have for holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter. A couple of our other favorite Easter recipes are my Honey Butter Roasted Carrots and Broccoli Salad. This is one of my Easter recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!
HONEY BAKED HAM
In our family, we always got a big Honey Baked Ham for the holidays… a ham for Easter and either a ham or turkey breast for Thanksgiving. One of my relatives used to work for Honey Baked, so we could score them at a pretty good discount… but even with that reduction in price, they were still pretty expensive!
An 8 lb bone-in half ham (like you can find in most grocery stores), from Honey Baked will run you over $75. Seventy Five!!! That’s a 300% markup from what I can buy at my grocery store.
So why not save some serious cash this holiday, and make your own version at home!
HOW TO MAKE HONEY BAKED HAM
I prefer my ham to be warm, so that’s what I’ll be detailing here.
- If warming in the slow cooker, trim ham to fit (if needed). Depending on your ham and your slow cooker, you may need to shave off a little bit to make the ham fit. If you’ll be warming your ham in the oven – omit this step.
- Combine butter and honey then massage into ham. I like to get some of the honey butter mixture in between the slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours. Again, this is for warming the ham in the slow cooker – omit if warming in the oven.
- Combine dry glaze ingredients.
- Pat half of the sugar mixture on the warmed ham, then broil. Just for a few minutes, until bubbly and a little caramelized. Then remove from the oven.
- Add remaining sugar mixture to saucepan with water or ham juices. Heat this mixture to a boil, and boil for about a minute, then remove from heat and brush or pour the glaze over the ham.
- Broil ham again. Just for a minute or two, being careful not to let it burn!
- Let ham rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. This allows the glaze to fully harden and get that classically crackly crust.
ADDITIONAL COOKING TIPS
- DRY THE HAM – The hams from the grocery stores come in those sealed bags, which contain water. Give the ham a little pat dry with some paper towels to make sure the butter and honey don’t just slide right off.
DO YOU HAVE TO COOK A HAM
It depends. Most hams you buy at a grocery store are pre-cooked and/or smoked, which means you don’t have to cook them. You certainly can if you want to, but it comes down to whether you want cold or warm ham to serve. Just double check the package when you’re buying… if it doesn’t say pre-cooked or smoked, head over to the meat counter and ask the butcher to be sure.
VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE
- BOURBON – Not traditional to a Honey Baked Ham, but oh so delicious! Instead of using water or ham juices to make the glaze, try using some of your favorite bourbon.
- OVEN – Bake ham, covered loosely in foil, at 275 F degrees on a foil lined roasting pan or super heavy duty rimmed baking sheet. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes per pound. Then glaze as directed in the recipe and broil.
- ROOM TEMPERATURE – if your ham is smoked or pre-cooked, you don’t have to warm it at all. Take the ham out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Massage the ham with the butter and honey mixture, then glaze as directed in recipe and broil.
MAKING COPYCAT HONEY BAKED HAM AHEAD OF TIME
I’ve not made this entire ham ahead of time, so I can’t guarantee the flavor and freshness if you make it that way.
However, you can combine all your dry glaze ingredients (sugar, seasoned salt, onion powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, paprika and allspice), and store in an airtight container.
STORAGE
Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within 4 days. Leftovers can also be frozen.
You’ll probably have quite a bit of ham leftover, so here are my personal favorites to use up those leftovers (aside from a classic ham sandwich!).
With Easter coming up, it’s the perfect time to watch your grocery store for the prices of bone-in half hams to go down. When you see them on sale, grab one! They can be frozen if need be. This way you can save even MORE on your main dish for the holiday get together!
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE
- Slow Cooker – this 7 qt slow cooker is big enough to hold most 8 lb spiral hams without too much trimming. Plus, it’s programmable!
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.
AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!
Recipe originally published in Feb. 2018 and has been updated in Mar. 2020 with additional information.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 8 lb bone-in spiral sliced half ham
- 2 Tbsp butter, melted
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- pinch of allspice
Instructions
- Trim ham if needed, then place in slow cooker. Combine melted butter and honey, then massage over ham, getting in between the slices a little. Cover and cook on LOW 4-5 hours.
- At the end of the cooking time, preheat broiler to HIGH, and line a roasting pan with heavy duty aluminum foil.
- Combine sugar, seasoned salt, onion powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, paprika and allspice in a small bowl. Pat half of the sugar mixture over the top of the ham.
- Broil for several minutes, until bubbly and caramelized, then remove from oven.
- To a small saucepan, add remaining sugar mixture. Add 3 Tbsp of either water or ham juices from bottom of the slow cooker. A combination of water/ham juice and bourbon is a nice alternative! Stir, and heat to a boil. Boil for about a minute, then remove from heat.
- Brush or pour glaze over the ham, then broil again for a minute or two (careful... don't let it burn!). Remove from oven and let ham rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm or cold and enjoy!
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Chef Tips
- Preheat oven to 275 F degrees. Adjust oven rack to the lower third position. Line a roasting pan or large dutch oven with a long strip of foil (heavy duty works best).
- Position ham flat side down in center of pan.
- Brush with honey/butter mixture, if possible, getting some in between the slices.
- Bring sides of the foil up over the ham and cover loosely. If needed, add a sheet of foil over the top.
- Bake approximately 12-15 minutes per pound. An 8 lb ham will take approximately 1 hour 30-40 minutes.
- Continue with steps 2-7 as directed.
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Jean says
This is the best ham I have ever made…..it is better than a honey baked ham LOVE IT THANKS FOR SHARING 😍😍😍😍
Ashley D says
Hi! Question… if my oven doesn’t have the broil option and I don’t have a kitchen torch, is there another alternative that will come out just as good?? Thank you!
The Chunky Chef says
Those two are really the only way you can get that crackly crust that comes from caramelizing the sugar, unfortunately. Little handheld kitchen torches are relatively inexpensive though, if you wanted to pick one up 🙂
Merle Stewart-Holmes says
My family raved about this picture perfect and delicious ham! This recipe is a keeper 💥
Tiffany says
Amazing! Turned out perfectly for Easter. It definitely elevated my $15 ham to something tasting awfully expensive. No need to spend the big bucks with this recipe on hand. The crockpot gives a little room to fudge time for sides and frees up the oven.
Carollyn C. says
This.recipe was a copy cat of Honey Baked Ham. My family and guests loved it and took some home. The ham turned out juicy with a baked sugar glaze that was crunchy. Absolutely the best Easter Ham I have ever made. I will use this recipe from now on. Loved it!
ELIZABETH ODOM says
AAAAA++++++++
Christi B. says
Delicious! I warmed our 7.5lb ham in the crockpot for 3 hours and followed the glaze instructions. Next time I’ll try the room temperature instead. This is such a money saver! I only paid $8 for our ham at the grocery store.
Lucy says
Amazing ham! Thank you for sharing with us all. I was reading through the comments and saw where someone asked about it being done in the pressure cooker. The answer is yes! I wrap my ham in heavy duty foil, add the butter/honey mixture, wrap the ham up. To make the removing process easier, make a handle for the ham to pull it out with. I cook mine for 2 minutes per pound and add 10-15 minutes to account for the foil. Add about a cup of water to the bottom of the pressure cooker as well. Once done, I use a torch for the topping and it turns out great. You can still do the oven to broil, but having a torch, does the trick as well!
The Chunky Chef says
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! And thank you for sharing your Instant Pot directions; that will be very helpful to fellow readers (as well as myself) 🙂
Hilary S. says
Good call on the kitchen torch! Mine doesn’t turn out quite as crispy as I’d like the coating to be, so I really appreciate that suggestion. I’m going to give it a try and see what happens.
Lora G says
This was a really yummy ham. Have now made several times. Cut the crockpot time down to 2 hours though to not dry out ham.
Hilary S says
Thank you, Chunky Chef! This is a great recipe!! My family adores this recipe…it has become my go-to recipe for ham! Super easy yet sooooo delicious!! I love that most of the cooking is done in a crockpot. If you’re debating whether to make it, stop…do it…you will not be sorry!!
Erika English says
When putting ham in slow cooker, is it flat side down?
The Chunky Chef says
I do mine on it’s side, but however it’ll fit in the slow cooker will work 🙂
Neil Shah says
so, I have a 10lb ham. on the time should I add another hour and a half or shorter?
The Chunky Chef says
You’ll want to likely warm it a bit longer, but you may have trouble fitting that size ham in your slow cooker. If you plan on warming it through in the oven, you’re aiming for around 12-15 minutes per pound 🙂
Rachel says
This is the only ham recipe I make. Absolutely delicious!!
Faye says
Do you serve this warm or cold? Honey baked ham is served cold.
The Chunky Chef says
It can be served warm or cold, depending on your preference.
Crystal says
What do you use for the seasoned salt?
The Chunky Chef says
I use Lawry’s: https://amzn.to/3ITeYny
Katie says
Hello! Do you buy a smoked ham if you want to do your own honey glaze or do you get a honey ham and just do your own additional glaze? Just wondering as most of the grocery store hams I’m coming across seem to be honey hams.
The Chunky Chef says
Yes, this recipe uses a pre-cooked/smoked spiral ham. In my part of the country, the spiral hams come with a packet of glaze, but we just discard that and use this recipe instead.
Michelle says
Great recipe! This is my go to recipe for a delish ham. My family loves it! Thank you.
Maggie says
Can I do a boneless spiral half ham with this recipe?
The Chunky Chef says
I’m sure you could, although it likely won’t take as long to warm through since there’s no bone 🙂
Ansley says
Best ham, hands down. Tastes just like Honey Baked Ham at a fraction of the cost. I’ve made this multiple times, the whole family loves it! Thank you for sharing with us!
Erin says
Can this recipe be used on a boneless smoked half ham. my partner did not understand the assignment…lol!
The Chunky Chef says
Lol we’ve all been there 🙂 Yes, you can use boneless, although it won’t take as long to warm up.