10+ Ham Recipes to Make Your Mealtime Delicious and Easy

Ham’s one of those ingredients that just works for almost anything. Whether you want to keep things simple or go all out, there’s a bunch of ways to make ham the star of your meal.

Ham recipes offer easy and tasty options for any time of day.

You’ll find dishes that work for quick lunches, comforting dinners, or even snacks. Cooking with ham lets you whip up something satisfying and flavorful without much fuss.

Ingredients

• Ham (cooked or leftover)
• Basic seasonings (salt, pepper)
• Optional herbs and spices

Cooking Instructions

1. Pick your ham recipe.
2. Prep your ingredients (slice, dice, or glaze).
3. Follow your recipe’s cooking steps.
4. Serve and enjoy.

1) Simple Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

A simple baked ham is honestly hard to beat. This recipe skips the usual scoring or studding with cloves and just keeps things easy.

You’ll use a moist heat method that keeps the ham juicy. The brown sugar glaze adds a sweet, caramelized finish.

Just brush the glaze over the ham before baking. The outside gets sticky and packed with flavor.

Baking at a moderate temp lets the glaze set while the ham stays tender. You’ll have a delicious ham ready for any meal with hardly any hassle.

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked ham (5 to 6 pounds)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup mustard (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Place ham in a roasting pan with a splash of water.
3. Mix brown sugar, honey, and mustard for the glaze.
4. Brush glaze onto the ham.
5. Bake for about 1.5 to 2 hours, brushing on more glaze every 20 minutes.
6. Let the ham rest before slicing.

This brown sugar glaze recipe is adapted from a basic baked ham method.

2) Honey Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham

A honey brown sugar glaze is about as classic as it gets. It’s simple but gives your ham a nice balance of flavors, mixing sweet honey and brown sugar with a little tang.

Try adding Dijon mustard or a splash of apple cider vinegar if you want a bit more depth. This glaze caramelizes well in the oven, making the ham look and taste amazing.

Brush the glaze on during the last 30 minutes of cooking. That way, the sugars don’t burn and the flavor really soaks in.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Mix brown sugar, honey, mustard, and vinegar in a bowl.
3. Put ham in a roasting pan and brush on half the glaze.
4. Bake covered for about 1½ hours, basting with glaze every 20 minutes.
5. In the last 30 minutes, brush on the rest of the glaze uncovered.
6. Let the ham rest 10 minutes before slicing.

For a detailed glaze recipe, see this Honey Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham.

3) Cozy Ham and Potato Soup

Ham and potato soup is one of those cozy meals you’ll crave on a chilly day. It’s creamy, loaded with tender potatoes, and has smoky chunks of ham throughout.

If you’ve got a ham bone or shank, toss it in for extra flavor. The soup cooks slow until the potatoes are soft and the broth gets thick and creamy.

You can toss in veggies like onions and carrots for more flavor. It’s a super easy way to use up leftover ham, and you don’t need to fuss much.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked ham, chopped
• 4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 ham bone or ham shank (optional)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk or cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, sauté onion and carrots until soft.
2. Add potatoes, ham, and broth. Toss in the ham bone if you have it.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer 30-40 minutes.
4. Remove the ham bone and stir in milk or cream.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Cook a few more minutes until creamy.
6. Serve warm.

For more details, check out this ham and potato soup recipe.

4) Deep-Dish Hash Brown Ham and Cheese Quiche

This quiche is hearty and a bit different. You press shredded hash browns into your pan to make a crispy base.

Add diced ham and a mix of cheeses like Gruyere and Swiss for a rich flavor. Pour a creamy egg mixture over the top.

Bake it slowly so the crust stays crisp and the filling sets. It works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—no rules here.

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded hash browns
• 4 ounces diced ham
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheese
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Press hash browns into a greased deep-dish pie pan for the crust. Bake 20 minutes until crispy.
3. Spread ham, cheese, and chives over the crust.
4. Whisk eggs, half-and-half, salt, and pepper. Pour over ham and cheese.
5. Bake 30-35 minutes until set and golden on top.
6. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing.

Find more details on making this quiche here.

5) Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

If you want something warm and comforting, cheesy ham and potato soup is a solid pick. It’s loaded with tender potatoes, ham, and plenty of melted cheese.

You can make it with simple ingredients you probably already have. The soup is creamy and filling, but not too heavy.

Just cook the potatoes, ham, and veggies together, then stir in the cheese to melt right into the broth. Leftover ham or a ham steak both work fine here.

Toss in fresh or frozen veggies like peas, carrots, or celery for extra flavor and texture.

Ingredients

• 8 red potatoes, cubed
• ½ onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 (8-ounce) cooked diced ham
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, combine potatoes, onion, carrots, ham, and chicken broth.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
3. Stir in frozen peas and cook 5 more minutes.
4. Add shredded cheddar and stir until melted.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

For more, check this Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup recipe.

6) Maple-Glazed Ham Steak

A maple-glazed ham steak is honestly one of the easiest ways to get a tasty meal on the table fast. That sweet glaze with salty ham just hits the spot.

Brush the ham steak with a mix of maple syrup, vinegar, and mustard. Cook it in a skillet until the glaze caramelizes and the ham is warmed through.

This is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. You’ll have it ready in less than 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 ham steak (about 1 to 1.5 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix maple syrup, mustard, and vinegar in a bowl.
2. Brush one side of the ham steak with the glaze.
3. Place glazed side down in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Cook 4-5 minutes, then brush the other side with glaze.
5. Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes until glazed and heated through.
6. Serve warm.

More details in the Maple Glazed Ham Steak Recipe.

7) Ham and Cheese Slab Quiche

This ham and cheese slab quiche is super easy and packed with flavor. You get ham, cheese, and a touch of Dijon mustard all baked together.

It’s great for any meal, and the slab shape makes it easy to cut into squares—handy for serving a crowd. Use bread or pastry for the base, whatever you’ve got on hand.

Honestly, it’s best warm, but leftovers cold are still pretty good.

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet of pie crust or bread slices
• 1 cup diced ham
• 1 cup shredded cheese (Swiss or Cheddar)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup cream
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Press pie crust into a slab pan, or layer bread in the pan.
3. Spread diced ham and cheese over the crust.
4. Whisk eggs, cream, mustard, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour the egg mixture over ham and cheese.
6. Bake 35-40 minutes until set and golden.
7. Let cool a bit before cutting into squares.

8) Leftover Ham Casserole

Leftover ham casserole is just a good way to use what’s in your fridge. Mix ham with potatoes, cheese, and whatever veggies you have for a warm, filling dish.

You can add broccoli, rice, or noodles if that’s what you’ve got. The cheese sauce pulls everything together and makes it creamy.

Give it a try—easy, cozy, and your whole family will probably dig in.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked ham, chopped
• 3 cups cooked potatoes, diced
• 1 cup broccoli florets (optional)
• 1 cup cooked rice or noodles (optional)
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

3. Stir in the flour and let it cook for about a minute.

4. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring until the sauce thickens up.

5. Take the pan off the heat and mix in half the cheese.

6. In a baking dish, toss together the ham, potatoes, broccoli, and rice or noodles.

7. Pour the cheese sauce over everything and give it a good stir.

8. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.

9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and golden.

For more ideas, check out this ham casserole with broccoli and rice recipe.

9) Ham with Pineapple-Orange Dijon Glaze

Here’s a ham that really pops—sweet, tangy, and a little bit fancy. The glaze mixes pineapple juice, orange juice, and Dijon mustard for a bright, zesty kick.

It’s got a glossy finish and a flavor that stands out.

I usually grab a bone-in, precooked ham for this one. Just brush the glaze on and bake until it’s warmed through.

The glaze caramelizes on top and gives the ham a shiny, tasty crust.

You can serve extra glaze on the side if you want even more flavor.

It works well for holidays or just when you want a meal that feels a bit special but isn’t a hassle.

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in precooked ham
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/3 cup pineapple juice
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern.

3. In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, pineapple juice, orange juice, honey, orange zest, and Dijon mustard.

4. Place the ham in a baking pan and brush the glaze all over.

5. Bake for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, basting every 20 minutes or so.

6. Pull it out once it’s heated through and the glaze looks caramelized. Let it rest before slicing.

Need more details? Here’s the Ham With Pineapple-Orange Dijon Glaze Recipe.

10) Cheesy Country Ham Grit Balls

Looking for a fun twist on Southern comfort food? Cheesy country ham grit balls might be your answer.

They’re creamy grits mixed with smoky country ham and melty cheese, all rolled up and fried until crispy.

These little bites work great as snacks or party appetizers.

The outside gets golden and crunchy, while the inside stays soft and cheesy.

If you want to kick things up, serve them with a spicy mayo.

Honestly, they’re pretty quick—about 45 minutes start to finish.

Go for good-quality country ham and smoked cheese for the best flavor.

Want a visual? You can watch how to make cheesy grit balls on Food Network.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked grits
• 1/2 cup diced country ham
• 1 cup shredded smoked cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• Oil for frying
• Spicy mayo (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss grits, ham, cheese, and eggs together in a bowl.

2. Shape that mixture into little balls—try to keep them all about the same size.

3. Roll each ball in flour. Dip them in beaten egg, then coat with bread crumbs.

4. Heat oil up to 350°F (175°C).

5. Fry the grit balls in the hot oil. Let them cook until they’re golden brown, usually around 3-4 minutes.

6. Set them on paper towels so the extra oil drains off. Serve with spicy mayo if you’re into that.

Got curious? Check out Kardea Brown’s Cheesy Country Ham Grit Balls for more details.