Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (2024)

The Perfect Glazed Ham and the easiest too! It’s juicy and tender with the easiest, tastiest, glaze ever. This tried and true recipe has been a traditional favourite in our family for many, many years.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (1)

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham.

2021 Update.

Several new emails and messages asking about a baked ham for Thanksgiving! It seems not everyone likes turkey, so I’m bringing this recipe forward to the top of our recipe list for those who would like to try it for thanksgiving and especially at the Holidays.

In our family, we would probably do both. The leftover possibilities are plentiful enough around here to cover dinners for a week afterward.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (2)

The easy sticky glaze turns out perfect every time.

I get lots of email from readers looking for pointers on basic recipes that they have never attempted before. One recent email was from a young couple spending their first Christmas away from home.

They were looking for a fool proof recipe for a Christmas Eve ham having never cooked one before. There’s a first time for everything and this ham will be appreciated by beginner and veteran cooks alike.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (3)

I used dark brown sugar in this recipe. In my experience the darker the sugar, the deeper the flavour.

Now Spouse loves ham and if allowed, would chuck the turkey in favour of this sweet and savoury glazed ham at any Christmas celebration. We normally make one a day or two previous to the big day.

We serve the leftovers with our traditional Boxing Day cold plate or just to “pick on” as my mothers family would say.

Glazed Ham update.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (4)

Dijon Mustard and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham original 2007 image.

Since I first published this recipe 10 years ago on this site. This incredibly recipe has been made many thousands of times by blog and social media followers.

It gets rave reviews every time. Many folks tell me that since they discovered this recipe, they have never made glazed ham any other way since. That’s a pretty fine testimonial to its ease and great taste.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (5)

Another favourite way to use some of the leftovers is to use lightly fried slices on Toutons Benedict for a weekend brunch. An absolute favourite for me!

Our Fig and Apple Chutney also makes a great addition to serve with this meal. I have to admit, I even like this combination served cold for lunch the next day with one of our many delicious recipes for .

Fig Apple Chutney on Dijon Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

2020 Update. Which Mustard?

The brand or grain of the dijon mustard is not too important in this recipe. As with many things, I say use what you like or what’s on hand.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (7)

Any type of Dijon mustard, or your favourite kind can be used in this recipe..

I should note that I have heard from many people over the years who have tried this recipe with different mustards. I’ve heard of people using whole grain mustard, spicy mustard, English Mustard and even plain old yellow mustard.

They all still loved the recipe, so that’s why I say use what you like and don’t worry about it. If you like the mustard, you’ll most likely like the end product.

…and don’t forget that leftover ham is my favourite thing to use for what is probably Newfoundland’s favourite hearty soup meal! Pea Soup and Dough Boys!

Originally published December 2007.

What to serve on the side?

You might also like our collection of Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes, which are also great at Christmas or at family dinners year round.

Like this Glazed Ham recipe?

Find many more great Sunday Dinner ideas in ourSlow Cooked Sundays Category.

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (10)

It’s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Pageand follow us on Instagram.Plus you’ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too.

You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter to know immediately when new recipes are added. You’ll get weekly suggestions for great family friendly meals and desserts too!

Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (11)

Yield: 25 or more servings including leftovers.

Dijon Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

The Perfect Glazed Ham and the easiest too! It's juicy and tender with the easiest, tastiest, glaze ever. This tried and true recipe has been a traditional favorite in our family for many, many years.

Ingredients

  • 7-8 pound bone in smoked ham
  • 1 tbsp whole cloves
  • 1 tsp whole star anise, or 1 fennel seeds, optional
  • 2 tbsp peppercorns
  • 1 large onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ cup whole grain Dijon mustard (Or use your favorite mustard, almost any one will work)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, or demerara sugar

Instructions

  1. Add the ham, peppercorns, cloves, star anise, onion and bay leaf to a large stock pot along with the ham, rind side down and cover almost completely with water.
  2. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 1 hour.
  3. After an hour remove the ham from the stock and let it drain on a rack for a few minutes.
  4. Remove the rind and most but not all of the fat underneath the rind. Leave about ⅛ inch of fat on top of the entire ham.
  5. Score the fat with a sharp knife in a square or diamond pattern. Pat the entire surface dry with paper towels.
  6. Place ham in a roasting pan and brush the top and sides of the ham with the mustard.
  7. Sprinkle the mustard with the brown sugar.
  8. Press the sugar gently into the mustard to get good contact with the surface of the ham.
  9. Bake at 375 degrees F for another hour.
  10. Allow ham to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving and serving.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

25

Serving Size

1 serving

Amount Per ServingCalories 214Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 32mgSodium 1440mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 1gSugar 8gProtein 26g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Dijon Mustard & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham. The easiest & best recipe ever! (2024)

FAQs

Do you put the glaze on a ham before you cook it or after you cook it? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

What makes ham taste better? ›

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham on a rack in a large baking pan and add about 1/4- to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F.

Why is mustard used on ham? ›

Mustard: Mustard adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the glaze that balances the sweetness of the brown sugar. It can be dijon, yellow, or whole grain mustard, depending on personal preference.

Should I cover a glazed ham in the oven? ›

Not Covering Your Ham

If you don't cover your ham while cooking it will quickly dry out. Instead: Put some aluminum foil over your ham while it's cooking. It is recommended that the ham is covered for at least half of the cooking process and only removed during the last half when you glaze it.

What can I put on my ham so it doesn't dry out? ›

Spiral cut hams should be covered with aluminum foil to help retain moisture when re heating. You could also place a foil pan with water underneath the ham to create some steam inside the oven to keep everything moist.

What keeps ham moist? ›

Cover it in Foil

The foil traps steam and keeps the meat moist. You don't have to wrap the aluminum foil tightly around the ham because you'll want to be able to check on it later. Instead, simply cover the ham with the foil, tucking it under the lip of the roasting pan.

How to jazz up a precooked ham? ›

Add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of wine or stock to the pan (you don't want the ham swimming in liquid) and throw some aromatics in there—a few whole cloves, some star anise, and cinnamon sticks are all good options. Cover the ham with foil and place in a 250-degree oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 100℉.

Do you cook a ham at 325 or 350? ›

Heat oven to 325ºF. Remove all packaging materials and place ham on its side, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil. Heat approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound until heated through. Remove ham from oven and let stand, covered, 20 minutes before serving.

How do you heat and glaze a fully cooked ham? ›

Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F. Unwrap the ham and apply the glaze; increase the heat to 400F and bake for 15-20 minutes longer until the glaze is burnished.

How long to cook a 3 lb fully cooked ham? ›

Allow 20 minutes per pound when calculating how long to bake a fully cooked ham. For example, if the ham weighs 8 pounds, the cooking time would be 2 hour and 40 minutes. A fully cooked half ham will weigh approximately 3 to 4 pounds. Cooking time for a 3 pound ham would be 1 hour.

Why do people pour co*ke on their ham? ›

Cooking a ham in cola will impart a slight sweetness to the ham, which is foiled by the saltiness of the meat itself. However it is only the outside of the ham that will really pick up the sweetness, it does not penetrate all the way through the ham.

What is brown sugar glaze made of? ›

directions. Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoons dry or prepared mustard, 1/8 tsp cinnamon and 3 tablespoons dry sherry (optional), 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.

When to use brown mustard? ›

Spicy Brown Mustard

Heat level: High. Use: As condiment for big, meaty sandwiches. Amping up the natural heat of mustard seeds, spicy brown mustard is aptly named. It's made with brown mustard seeds, which are soaked in less vinegar than a standard mustard.

Can you add glaze to an already cooked ham? ›

Popular glaze ingredients for smoked ham include brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, and cloves, among others. Glazing can be done during the final stages of cooking or reheating the ham, allowing the sugars in the glaze to caramelize and create a tasty, flavorful crust.

How do you use the dry glaze packet that comes with the ham? ›

Cooking Instructions
  1. Empty packet contents into a small saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons water or orange juice. ...
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. ...
  3. Using a spatula or spoon, spread the glaze over your Niman Ranch Spiral Ham.
  4. Heat ham according to the Ham Preparation Instructions.

What is the best way to cook a ham without drying it out? ›

How do you bake a ham without drying it out? Spiral cut hams should be covered with aluminum foil to help retain moisture when re heating. You could also place a foil pan with water underneath the ham to create some steam inside the oven to keep everything moist.

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