Air Fryer Maple Glazed Ham
Air fryer ham is an easy way to cook a juicy glazed ham without turning on the oven! This recipe makes salty, smoky boneless ham covered with a sweet, sticky maple glaze. It’s a perfect holiday ham recipe for a smaller Christmas or Easter crowd, and this air fryer ham recipe is easy enough to make any night of the week.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Air fryer
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Holiday meals like Easter and Christmas often call for a big baked ham with pineapple and all the trimmings. But when I’m having a smaller gathering, or if I’m are looking for an extra dish to serve alongside our roast turkey or prime rib, I’ll make this quick and easy glazed ham in the air fryer. Besides, why wait for a special occasion to enjoy a ham dinner?
This air fryer ham recipe uses a pre-cooked boneless ham and drenches it in the most delicious glaze made from maple syrup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. It’s by far the easiest way to cook and serve a juicy glazed ham, whether I’m making dinner on a weeknight or saving space in the oven during the holidays.
Juicy Air Fryer Ham Makes Glazed Ham Easier
- Minimal ingredients. All you need is a boneless ham and three simple pantry ingredients.
- Minimal effort. It takes minutes to make the glaze. Prepare the rest of your meal while the ham cooks to juicy, sweet-sticky perfection in the air fryer.
- Incredibly versatile. Air fryer ham is perfect for a smaller Christmas dinner, Easter ham, or as a supplement a Thanksgiving turkey. I make it often for Sunday dinner, because it’s just that easy.
Recipe Ingredients
Yes, you only need 4 ingredients to make this juicy ham recipe. Here is a quick overview, with some notes and tips. Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full amounts and detailed directions.
- Fully cooked boneless half ham – You’ll need one that is about 3 to 5 pounds. See below for additional information.
- Maple syrup – Please use the real deal, and not pancake syrup, to give your maple glaze the best flavor. Honey is a good substitute if you don’t have maple syrup.
- Dijon mustard – Gives the glaze a nice, tangy heat. You can use yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard if that’s what you have.
- Light brown sugar – Thickens the sweet glaze and helps it caramelize, while the hint of molasses adds a smoky element.
Choosing a Boneless Ham
Most of us know ham as the cut of pork leg that is cured and sometimes smoked. Boneless ham is from the same cut, but with the bones removed. It’s affordable, quick to cook, and easy to slice and serve (in fact, some boneless ham even comes pre-sliced).
While ham itself is naturally gluten-free, brands can add spices and glazes that contain gluten, or processed the ham in an area where there is a cross-contamination risk. Always check the label or brand website for the most updated information to ensure you are getting a 100% gluten-free ham. Some brands you can usually count on at the time of writing this post are:
- Cook’s
- Dietz & Watson (certified gluten-free)
- Smithfield
- Jones Dairy Farm (certified gluten-free)
How to Make Air Fryer Ham
Plug in and preheat your air fryer, and let’s get started on your air fryer glazed ham.
- Make the glaze. In a saucepan, bring maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar to a gentle boil over medium heat. Simmer the glaze for a few minutes so it thickens.
- Prepare the ham. Meanwhile, place your ham in the air fryer basket. Spoon half of the glaze over the ham, and save the rest for later.
- Cook and serve. Air fry at 300°F for 35-40 minutes. Once it’s cooked, remove the ham from the air fryer and spoon the remaining glaze over the top or serve on the side. That’s it!
Tips for Perfect Ham in the Air Fryer
- Line the air fryer. The glaze will caramelize and get sticky, making it hard to clean off the air fryer. So I recommend lining the bottom of the air fryer with parchment paper or foil.
- Sliced or unsliced. I like to use a presliced ham so the glaze can soak in between the slices. If you can’t find one, you can use an unsliced ham or slice it yourself before cooking.
- Don’t dry it out. Since the boneless ham is fully cooked, it just needs to warm through thoroughly. You will want to make sure it reaches 140°F in the middle. Keep the temperature of the air fryer low and check it periodically.
- Bake in the oven. If you want to skip the air fryer, place it in a baking dish with some water. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F until it is hot. Then coat it with the glaze and pop it back in the oven for a few more minutes.
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate. If you have any leftover ham, be sure to wrap it tightly, and you can keep it in the refrigerator for about a week.
- Freezer. You can also wrap it and place it in a plastic freezer storage bag and freeze it for up to two months.
- Reheat. Leftover ham can be enjoyed cold or cut up to use in recipes like the ones below. But you can calso put it in a pan with a little water and cover before reheating in the oven.
- Chop or shred leftover ham to make ham and split pea soup.
- Tuck thinly sliced ham into gluten-free Hawaiian rolls for ham and cheese sliders.
- Make ham and spinach stuffed shells or add chopped ham to a Hawaiian pizza.
- Add ham to egg bites or an easy breakfast strata.
Make It a Meal
Air fryer ham makes a classic holiday ham recipe so effortless, and it’s also fast enough to prepare on busy weeknights for family dinner. Just pair it with the right sides! Here are some of my favorite serving suggestions to go with this maple glazed ham:
- Christmas dinner: Create an easy holiday dinner (that also works for Thanksgiving!) with ham served with scalloped sweet potatoes with apples or cheesy bacon mashed potatoes, along with green beans and mushrooms and cranberry sauce.
- Easter brunch: Create a spread for any spring occasion, even Mother’s Day, with home-cooked ham, gluten-free banana waffles and a breakfast casserole, lightened up with a side of fruit salad.
- Any day of the week: While the ham cooks, whip up an easy side of baked potatoes or cheesy quinoa with buttered carrots and peas or apple broccoli salad.
Air Fryer Ham
Ingredients
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 fully cooked boneless half ham (3 to 5 pounds)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine 1 cup maple syrup, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard. While stirring, bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- For easier cleanup, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil and place 1 fully cooked boneless half ham in the basket of the air fryer. Spoon half of the glaze over the ham, and set the rest aside.
- Set the air fryer temperature to 300°F and cook for 35-40 minutes.
- Remove the ham from your air fryer and spoon the remaining glaze over the top or serve on the side for dipping or drizzling.
Did you make this?
Leave a star rating to help others know that they should make this recipe.
Share a photo and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram!