Sweet and spicy honey mustard ham glaze recipe

This ham glaze recipe hits all the right notes. It has just a touch of heat, a bit of bite from the mustard, and the sweetness from brown sugar and honey. The perfect glazed ham – sweet, sticky, caramelized edges that give way to juicy slices of ham packed with flavor. 

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my corn casserole and my slow cooker lentil soup with ham. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my dinner recipes in one place.

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Sweet and spicy mustard ham glaze recipe

Spiral sliced hams are fully cooked, making them ideal for large gatherings. All you have to do is layer on a flavorful glaze and heat it in the oven. A few minutes of hands on time is all you need for a juicy and delicious holiday ham.

What you need to know

Mustard and ham are good friends and everyone who’s ever been to a deli counter knows that honey and brown sugar go with ham. The saltiness of the ham balances the sweetness of the glaze. Once you let the glaze caramelize in the oven for a bit, the flavors intensify, making this glaze incredibly tasty.

This just barely spicy mustard ham glaze is my go-to for holiday hams, but it also pairs well with a pork roast or chicken thighs.

Ham glaze recipe ingredients

These six ingredients are all you need to make the most delicious honey chipotle ham glaze recipe you’ve ever had. Most of the glazes I’ve had are a bit too sweet, but this one gets just a little bit of smoky heat from the chipotle sauce, while the garlic and whole grain mustard give this glaze tons of flavor.

• Honey + brown sugar – This sweet combination will give the ham that deliciously sticky sweet coating.
• Chipotle pepper adobo sauce – A bit of sauce from the chipotles en adobo will bring smoky heat to the glaze.
• Garlic – Measure with your heart. Add as much or as little garlic as you like.
• Butter – A bit of butter makes this glaze rich and glossy.
• Whole grain mustard – Coarse mustard is tangy and full of flavor.
  • Substitution: Dijon mustard is a great swap, but know that it has a bit more bite than whole grain mustard.

How to make

Here’s a quick summary of how to make this ham glaze recipe. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe. 

1. Prep – Preheat oven to 325°F / 160°C. Add all of the ingredients for the glaze to a sauce pot and stir to combine.
2. Boil – Bring the ingredients for the glaze to a boil.
3. Brush – When the ham is heated through, remove the foil and crank up your oven. Brush HALF of the glaze onto the ham, making sure to get a little in between the slices.
4. Repeat – After 10 minutes, repeat with the remaining glaze until it is caramelized. *The ham glaze recipe contains honey and brown sugar, which could burn if too close to the heating element for an extended time. Keep an eye on your ham once you’ve glazed it to make sure it doesn’t burn.

How to cut a spiral ham

The easiest way to slice your ham is to lay it on its side. You will see natural breaks in the ham slices (lines of fat), and you’ll cut along those breaks. There are 3 sections, which I’ve outlined below, and a bone that runs down the center.

If you have a boning knife, now is the time to use it. As the name suggests, it makes maneuvering around bone much easier, due to its thin, flexible blade. A Chef’s knife has a thicker, sturdier blade that does not bend.

1. First, I take off the top section, the section with the layer of fat on top, because it is the largest.
2. Then slice off the next largest section, cutting along the bone.
3. The smallest section, and the large chunk of ham attached to the bone that is not sliced, are last.
4. Finally, place it all in a baking dish to serve or store. Don’t toss the bone – use it to cook a pot of soup or beans!

Spiral ham FAQ’s

Ham glaze recipe variations and substitutions

• Spicy – Add in a chopped chipotle pepper from the can to give it an extra spicy, smoky kick.
• Dairy-free – Omit butter and replace with olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.

Serving suggestions

Serve this chipotle brown sugar ham with a few of our favorite sides:

• 5 ingredient easy corn casserole
• Melting Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs
• Sautéed Broccolini
• Hubbard squash bisque
• Roasted Honeynut squash with maple pecans

Reserve that ham bone for a pot of beans or for my favorite Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham. It’s the perfect use for your ham bone and some of that leftover ham!

Helpful tools and equipment

• A roasting pan with a rack will hold your ham perfectly .
• To make the glaze, I recommend using a non-stick saucepan for ease of cleaning.

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Originally published 11/11/21, most recent update 3/25/26.