Orange Glazed Spiral Ham

Ham is the centerpiece of many holiday dinners, and this easy Orange Glazed Spiral Ham recipe will quickly become a family favorite! It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet, with bright notes of citrus.

This Orange Glazed Spiral Ham is the perfect dish to serve for a holiday gathering. It’s a main dish that manages to be both easy and impressive. It’s also excellent for pairing with all your favorite holiday sides like mashed potatoes, baked asparagus, mac and cheese, and green bean casserole.

Of course, there's no need to wait for a special occasion to make a delicious glazed spiral ham. It’s simple enough to make for a weekend dinner and then have ham sandwiches on French bread for lunch all week long! This juicy, tender, flavorful orange glazed ham is always a crowd-pleaser!

What is spiral ham?

Spiral ham is a pre-cooked, bone-in ham, which means it’s a much easier ham for the home cook. In addition to being pre-cooked, spiral ham is also pre-cut—its name comes from the fact that it’s cut with a spiral slicer.

Spiral ham is usually sold bone-in and it ranges from 7 to 18 pounds; for this Orange Glazed Spiral Ham, I used a 7 pound ham.

What you’ll need

Aside from the ham and the orange, you probably have everything you need for this spiral ham recipe in your pantry!

• spiral ham - These are fully cooked and are sold with bone-in
• brown sugar – Use dark brown sugar for a more pronounced molasses flavor or light brown sugar for a more subtle flavor.
• orange – Zest it first, then juice it.
• Dijon mustard
• apple cider vinegar
• paprika – The ham will already have a smoky flavor, so I recommend using a standard paprika, not smoked.
• garlic powder
• sea salt

How much ham per person do I need?

The general rule of thumb is to serve ¼ to ⅓ pound of ham for every person. This is industry standard for caterers and event planners.

How to cook spiral ham

If you’ve never cooked spiral ham before, this orange glazed ham recipe is a great one to start with. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 300°F and position an oven rack in the center. Line a roasting pan with foil for easier cleanup.

Start the ham. Place the ham in the roasting pan with the cut side down. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 90 minutes. 

Make the glaze. While the ham is baking, make the super easy orange juice ham glaze. Combine the brown sugar, orange juice and zest, mustard, vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, and salt in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Whisk to combine and cook for a few minutes, then remove from heat and set aside. As the glaze cools, it will thicken. You can use the glaze while it's still warm or cooled to room temperature.

Glaze the ham. Remove the ham from the oven and set the oven temperature to 400°F. Uncover the ham and brush the glaze over the surface to coat. 

Finish baking. Return the ham to the oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the surface caramelizes. Transfer the ham to a serving platter, cover it with foil, and let it rest 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm, garnished with parsley and orange slices.

How to cut a spiral ham

To cut a spiral ham, turn it sideways and insert a boning knife straight into the ham, next to the bone. Carve around the bone to separate the ham, then discard the bone, or save it to make ham and beans or ham and bean soup.

Tips for success

Here’s how to make perfect spiral ham every time:

• Keeping your ham juicy. It’s best to cook spiral ham slowly at a relatively low oven temperature to prevent it from drying out. During the initial 90 minute cooking time, be sure the foil is covering the roasting pan tightly to prevent steam from escaping.
• About the orange glaze. The orange glaze recipe yields ½ cup, but it's enough to use for any size ham. 
• Knowing when it’s ready to serve. Smoked spiral ham is fully cooked and doesn't require a minimum serving temperature. However, a quick-read thermometer is a reliable way to tell if a large ham is uniformly heated by inserting the thermometer near the bone in the center. You're looking for a temperature of around 140ºF.

How to store and reheat leftovers

You can refrigerate leftover spiral ham for 3 to 5 days; wrap it well or place it in an airtight storage container.

The best way to reheat ham without it drying out is to place it in a roasting pan, add water to the bottom, and cover it with foil; bake at 325ºF until a meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 135ºF. Individual ham slices can be warmed up in a skillet or microwave.

I love using leftover spiral ham in recipes! Try it in my ham and pea pasta, old-fashioned ham and bean soup, or black eyed peas and ham.

Can you freeze leftover ham? 

Yes, you can double-wrap leftover ham in plastic wrap, place it in an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze it for up to 2 months. Let the ham thaw in the refrigerator before reheating or using in recipes.