Air Fryer Holiday Ham Recipe: Juicy, Easy and Ready in One Hour


Confession time: I used to think holiday ham had to be an all-day affair with a roasting pan and endless basting. And as someone who doesn’t like to spend hours in the kitchen, I didn’t want to test my luck. So this year, I decided to ditch the oven and let my air fryer do the heavy lifting. Suddenly, making a ham became a breeze—quick, juicy and perfectly caramelized without the constant babysitting. If you’re ready to wow your family in one hour without breaking a sweat, this air fryer holiday ham recipe is about to become your new tradition.

The perks of an air fryer holiday ham

Making ham in the air fryer might sound unconventional, and I know someone’s grandma is shaking her head right about now. But trust me—it delivers amazing results. The circulating heat ensures the ham cooks evenly while the glaze gets nicely caramelized. No basting required! Plus, the air fryer’s compact size speeds up the process, so you can have it on the table faster than ever. And let’s not forget you now have more oven real estate to work with for all those must-have side dishes.

Tips for air fryer holiday ham success

Spiral sliced air fryer holiday ham with orange honey glaze
VeselovaElena

If you’ve never cooked a ham in the air fryer before, let alone for a major holiday, don’t stress. Here are some of my tips for success that will leave your guests thinking you spent all day on it:

Pick the perfect ham

For the best results, choose a small, pre-cooked boneless ham or spiral-sliced ham that fits snugly in your air fryer basket. Most air fryers accommodate hams weighing three to five pounds, so double-check those dimensions before buying.

Prep like a pro

First, let your ham come to room temperature before cooking. I like to take it out of the fridge around two hours. Don’t forget to wrap your ham tightly in foil and account for space, as loose foil can be dangerous near heat. If the foil touches the basket, your ham is too big or the foil is too loose.

Glaze more than once

Apply your glaze in layers for maximum flavor. Start with a base coat at the beginning of cooking, then brush on additional layers every five to 10 minutes during the last half of the cook time. This helps the glaze thicken into that sweet, sticky goodness we all love.

Check your temperature

Even though the ham is pre-cooked, you’ll want to warm it to about 140°F for optimal serving. A meat thermometer will be your best friend here to ensure it’s perfectly heated through.

One-hour air fryer holiday ham recipe

Traditional sliced honey glazed air fryer ham on Christmas dinner table
Zulfiska

I love how simple recipe is from Best Recipe Box, which uses a six quart basket-style air fryer. If you want a flavor boost, add the leftover juices from the basket to the remaining glaze and heat in a saucepan until thickened.

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 lb. boneless, fully cooked ham, room temperature
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup orange juice, about 1 orange
  • 2 Tbs. mustard (optional) or apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. cloves (optional)
  • Black pepper, to taste

Directions:

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 10 servings
  1. Combine the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, mustard, cinnamon, clove and black pepper in a sauce pan. Heat and whisk until the brown sugar is dissolved and the glaze is well combined. Set aside.
  2. Remove the netting from the ham. If ham is not pre-sliced, score the ham with shallow ½-inch criss-cross cuts.
  3. Line the air fryer basket wit two pieces of long, overlapping foil sheets. Lay the ham on top of the foil, then brush about a third of the glaze over the ham. Close the foil over the ham and wrap tightly.
  4. Air fry at 340°F for 25 minutes. Open the air fryer basket, carefully open the foil, and then brush the ham with more glaze (reserve some glaze for finishing and serving). Close the foil tightly, and air fry for 25 minutes more.
  5. After 50 minutes, open the foil again and push the foil down around the edges of the ham. Create a boat with the foil so it holds the juices. Brush with a little more glaze and increase heat to 360°F for five minutes, or until it is caramelized to your liking. Let the ham rest for five minutes before serving.

Storing and reheating your air fryer holiday ham

Store your leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Slices can also be frozen for up to two months—just thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating. To reheat, pop slices into the air fryer at 325°F for a few minutes until warmed through. For extra moisture, brush on a little extra glaze before reheating.



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