5 Easy Ham Recipes for Entertaining and Family Meals

These 5 easy ham recipes are perfect for entertaining, holidays, and casual family dinners—simple to make and full of flavor!

Ham for the holidays is a classic that never fails to impress! These 5 Amazing Holiday Ham Recipes are perfect for serving brunch, lunch, or dinner on a holiday buffet and make terrific leftovers. Each one is easy to make, delicious, and guaranteed to be the star of your table.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission. (Privacy Policy)

In my family, we have several holiday traditions, and one of the must-make dishes is ham. And, whether I’m planning a get-together with friends at home, need a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, or just want something extra delicious for a family dinner, ham is always a good idea. I’ve gathered five of my go-to ham recipes that are easy to prepare and packed with flavor.

This recipe is even easier with the right equipment! Discover my top slow cooker recommendations and make your cooking effortless.

What’s The Best Type Of Ham To Buy For These Recipes?

I usually go with a spiral-cut, bone-in ham—it’s full of flavor and easy to serve. Bone-in hams stay juicier while cooking, but boneless works just fine if you want something easier to slice.

How Much Ham Do I Need Per Person?

Plan on about ¾ pound per person if it’s bone-in, or ½ pound for boneless. A little extra never hurts—leftovers are the best part!

5 Easy Delicious Ham Recipes

Brown Sugar Mustard Baked Ham

Get ready to fall in love with this scrumptious brown sugar mustard baked ham! Trust me, after just 15 minutes of prep, you’ll have a mouthwatering dish featuring a heavenly combo of whole grain and Dijon mustard, along with the delightful sweetness of Coca Cola.

Honey Baked Ham cooked in a sweet glaze is a copycat recipe that's easy to make and over the top delicious.

Copycat Honey Baked Ham Recipe

Honey Baked Ham with a sweet, caramelized glaze is the star of the show on any holiday table! There's no need to spend extra time and money ordering this popular main dish when you can make this delicious, impressive copycat baked ham recipe at home.

Crock Pot Sweet & Savory Ham is cooked in the slow cooker with pineapple juice, apricot preserves and whole gain mustard. It's the perfect dish to serve on any holiday and great for covered dish supper, picnics and makes wonderful sandwiches!

Crock Pot Sweet and Savory Ham

With only three ingredients and your crockpot, you can turn a ham into something truly amazing! It’s sweet from an easy-to-make glaze and tender from being cooked low and slow. This Easter, give yourself a break and make this ham in the slow cooker for a show-stopping dish everyone is sure to love.

Easy to make orange pepper jelly glazed ham for the holidays.

Orange and Pepper Jelly Glazed Ham

Baked ham slathered with a sticky, sweet, and savory glaze will be the center of attention on your holiday table! Turn any meal into a celebration with this easy recipe for Orange and Red Pepper Jelly Glazed Ham, and watch the rave reviews come in.

Citrus Molasses Glazed Ham

Rich, thick molasses punched up with bright, orange juice is turned into an extraordinary glaze on ham. Once you taste this Citrus Molasses Glazed Ham, it will become your “go-to” recipe and you’ll never have to wait in line for your holiday main dish again.

Tools To Help Make These Recipes

Using the correct kitchen tools for a recipe makes life easy and cooking more enjoyable. These items are ones that I use to make cooking, baking, and glazing a ham easy.

How To Store And Save Leftovers

Ham is great for leftovers and can even be frozen to enjoy months after you cook it. The key is to make sure to store it properly. Here are a few helpful tips:

  • Allow the ham to cool completely, then cut it into small pieces for easy storage.
  • Store the ham in an airtight container, ziplock bag, or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Don’t forget to label it with the recipe name and date.
  • Store the ham in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
  • You can freeze the ham for up to 3 months by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or foil.

The Best Recipes For Leftover Ham

Ham Salad in a bowl with a spoon and pickles and crackers

Southern Ham Salad

Scalloped Potatoes And Ham

More ways to use leftover ham:

Frequently Asked Questions About Ham

What kind of ham is best for baking?

Select a ham that’s fully cooked, bone-in ham with a good layer of fat. This will help keep the meat moist, tender, and juicy during cooking.

How long does a ham need to cook?

Bake the ham for about 15–18 minutes per pound at 325 °F, basting every 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham, which should reach 140 °F.

Do hams need to be based while cooking?

Basting a ham keeps it moist while baking. It’s easy to do with a basting bulb or large spoon.

What’s the best way to serve ham?

Once the ham is baked, make sure to let it rest for 15-30 minutes before slicing. Using a shape knife, remove any unwanted fat. Place the ham flat side down on a cutting board and cut the ham into slices until you reach the bone.

What To Serve With Holiday Ham

Southern Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Casserole has become a classic, southern dish, and for good reason. It's sweet, savory, and has a buttery topping that makes it totally addictive!

Southern style green beans and perfectly cooked chopped up bacon all sitting inside of a square serving dish sitting on a blue and white kitchen towel.

Southern Style Green Beans

Get ready to dive into the heart of comfort food with this simple Southern Green Beans recipe. Tender, flavorful, and steeped in tradition, green beans Southern style are a down-home delight you won't want to miss! Fresh green beans cooked with bacon and just the right amount of seasoning is the perfect side dish for any meal.

Cornbread pudding with cheese served with a spoon for the holidays.

Classic Cornbread Pudding With Cheese

If you’re looking for the perfect blend of cornbread and creamy, custardy goodness, this Southern Cornbread Pudding is your answer. Rich with two types of corn, this dish has a touch of sweetness, a bit of savory, and a soft, fluffy texture that makes it an irresistible side for any weeknight or holiday dinner.

Classic Waldorf Salad (Crunchy And Fresh)

This Classic Waldorf Salad combines crisp apples, juicy grapes, crunchy celery, and toasted walnuts in a smooth, creamy dressing perfect for serving any time of the year. Whether you're making it for lunch, as a side dish, sharing it at a potluck, or during the holidays, this traditional recipe is always a favorite.

Sweet Potatoes cooked perfectly in the Air Fryer then seasoned with salt and cinnamon sugar along with butter is an amazing easy to make side dish.

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes cooked to perfection in the Air Fryer is a side dish that takes very little effort to make yet yields amazing results! They're tender and creamy on the inside with crispy skin on the outside for sweet potatoes that you'll be craving time and time again.

Best Creamed Spinach Recipe: Fresh and Easy

Creamed Spinach is a quick, comforting, and absolutely delicious homemade side dish. It's easy to make with simple ingredients, whether pulling together a last-minute weeknight meal or hosting unexpected guests. This recipe brings out the classic, rich flavors of creamed spinach in a lighter, fresher way and is perfect for adding a little extra flair to any meal!

Grape Salad in a white bowl with a handle.

Grape Salad

Delicious Grape Salad is amazingly fresh, sweet, and creamy with a crunchy topping that’s irresistible! Served as a side dish or a dessert, this easy-to-make recipe is always a favorite at the holidays, potluck suppers, or when you’re entertaining.

Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

Candied yams are a classic holiday side dish that's an outstanding addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, but they are also terrific to serve year-round. Sweet potatoes cooked with brown sugar, butter, and warm spices are the star of the show and downright irresistible!

Perfectly cooked brussel sprouts in the basket of an air fryer.

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are out of this world delicious! With just four simple ingredients and the magic of the air fryer, this easy to make recipe will be your new favorite way to cook this yummy veggie.

Bowl of Pimento Cheese Grits topped with red pimento, pepper and slicked green onions.

Easy Pimento Cheese Grits

Two Southern classics are combined to make creamy, luscious Pimento Cheese Grits, and the result is outstanding! This recipe is simple, versatile, and perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a must for any holiday brunch.

5 Days of Southern Summer Comfort Food!

My go-to summer recipes!

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Clicky