Looking for a delicious brown sugar pineapple ham recipe? This one is guaranteed to please! This recipe layers pineapple slices between spirals of tender ham, a glossy, golden glaze of brown sugar and natural pineapple juices. It's perfect for holiday dinners and festive celebrations.
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This pineapple ham recipe is not only mouthwateringly delicious but also easy to prepare, which is perfect during the busy holiday season. Whether you're planning a festive meal or looking for a special weekend dinner, this pineapple glazed ham is sure to be the star of the show.
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What You'll Love About This Recipe
- Flavorful: The rich, caramelized glaze of brown sugar combined with the tanginess of pineapple creates a delightful contrast to the salty ham.
- Moist and Tender: The pineapple juice helps keep the ham moist during cooking, ensuring a succulent texture.
- Easy to Prepare: With minimal prep and simple ingredients, this recipe is stress-free and straightforward.
- Visually Impressive: Makes a beautiful centerpiece for any dining occasion, guaranteed to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Bone-in Spiral Ham (pre-cooked): Look for a ham that is well-marbled and has a firm texture. The bone in the ham will help keep it moist and add flavor as it cooks.
Pineapple Slices (with juice): Choose pineapple slices that are bright in color and packed in juice rather than syrup, to avoid excess sweetness.
Brown Sugar: Opt for a good quality brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor which complements the ham beautifully.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Start by Preheating the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures your oven reaches the right temperature for cooking, helping the ham cook evenly and thoroughly.
Prepare the Ham: Once your oven is warming up, it's time to prepare the ham. Remove all the packaging and place the ham in an oven safe casserole dish.
Add the Pineapple: Next, tuck the pineapple slices snugly between the cuts in the spiral ham. Pour the remaining juice from the can over the ham. This not only adds a burst of flavor but also keeps the meat moist throughout the cooking process, preventing it from drying out.
Apply the Glaze: Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over both the ham and the pineapple slices. If you have a sweet tooth, don't hesitate to add a bit more sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
Cover and Cook: Now, cover the ham with aluminum foil to trap in the moisture, and place it in your preheated oven. Cook for about 1.5 hours. The aluminum foil plays a vital role here; it keeps the moisture close to the ham, ensuring it cooks in its own flavorful juices.
Basting is Key: Every 20 to 30 minutes, open the oven and baste the ham with the juices that have collected in the bottom of the dish. This is a chef’s trick to guarantee your ham stays moist and packs a punch of flavor with every bite.
Ready to Serve: After the cooking time is up, check if the ham is heated through and the glaze has turned bubbly. Then, carefully remove it from the oven, slice, and serve it hot alongside the beautifully caramelized pineapple slices. Remember, the first slice is your reward for a job well done!
Hint: Allowing the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes after removing it from the oven helps redistribute the juices throughout the meat, making it juicier and more flavorful when sliced.
Substitutions
Maple Syrup for Brown Sugar: For a different kind of sweetness, maple syrup can be a great substitute for brown sugar.
Orange Juice for Pineapple Juice: If you're out of pineapple juice, orange juice can provide a similarly tangy flavor profile that complements the ham well.
Variations
Want to try some variations on this recipe? Here are some of our favorite ideas.
- Spiced Pineapple Ham: Add cloves, cinnamon, or nutmeg to the brown sugar for a spiced version that’s perfect for the winter holidays.
- Cherry-Pineapple Ham: Mix in some cherry juice with the pineapple juice for a deeper, fruitier flavor.
Storage
Have leftover ham? Here are our tips to keep it tasting delicious for as long as possible.
Refrigerator: Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: You can freeze the cooked ham for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in foil or a freezer-safe wrap to prevent freezer burn.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven covered at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until just warmed through. This prevents the ham from drying out.
Top tip
Basting is crucial when cooking ham, especially with recipes using a glaze like this Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham. It enhances both moisture and flavor. It prevents the outer layers from drying out and ensures each slice is succulent and packed full of flavor. This simple technique with make a huge difference in your ham.
FAQ
Yes, you can use a boneless ham, but keep in mind that a bone-in ham tends to be juicier and more flavorful due to the bone marrow infusing flavor during the cooking process.
Yes, cooking times may need to be adjusted. A good rule of thumb is to cook the ham about 15-20 minutes per pound, checking that it is heated through.
Absolutely! Fresh pineapple can be used. Just ensure you slice it thin and add a bit of extra juice (or water with a touch of sugar) to compensate for the lack of canning juice.
If the ham appears to be drying out, increase the frequency of basting. Also, ensure it’s tightly covered with foil to keep the moisture in.
Yes, this recipe can be adapted for a slow cooker. Simply place all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
Yes, you can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar, or introduce spices like cloves or cinnamon to enhance the savory notes.
Recipe
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Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
Ingredients
- 1 ham bone-in, spiral, pre-cooked
- 1 can pineapple slices with juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Remove packaging from pre-cooked ham and place in an oven-safe casserole dish.
- Place pineapple slices between ham slices and pour the juice from the can over the ham.
- Evenly rub brown sugar over pineapple and ham, adjusting the amount to taste.
- Cover ham with aluminum foil and bake for 1.5 hours; cooking time may vary by ham size.
- Periodically check and baste the ham with collected juices to maintain moisture and flavor.
- If available, mix provided glaze package with a few tablespoons of pineapple juice and apply to ham.
- Slice and serve ham with pineapple slices.
Notes
Sonia Melendez Alicea says
I'm trying for Thursday first time. Will let you know then