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Learn all of the secrets to grilling ham following my easy recipe for Grilled Ham! Seasoned with a homemade ham rub and grilled to perfection, this recipe is easy enough for beginners and will make your ham the star of the meal. It's so tasty, everyone will want seconds!
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Ham on the Grill
If there is one dish you need to try, it's my easy ham on the grill recipe! The first time I tried grilling ham for my family, they were completely blown away by how flavorful and tender it was. Now without a doubt, each holiday, my grilled ham recipe is demanded by everyone (even the picky eaters)!
With just a few simple steps, you can transform a classic ham into a grilled masterpiece that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Whether it's a weekend family dinner or a special holiday dinner, this ham on the grill method is sure to impress!
Cook your ham low and slow on the grill until it's glistening with my easy, sticky-sweet homemade ham rub. Once it's heated through, you're ready to carve and serve!
Grilled Ham Ingredients
- Bone-in spiral pork ham: For portion size, a handy tip is ⅓ of a pound per person for parties and ½ pound per person if it's the main meal. When picking a ham with a bone, get a bit bigger one to make up for the bone's weight. And if you end up with extra ham, that's great! Leftovers are the best part!
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar combines with the other seasoning ingredients to create the ham rub. It's perfect for caramelizing the outside of the ham.
- Garlic powder: Adds a garlicky flavor without the use of fresh garlic, excellent for complementing the sweet taste of the brown sugar.
- Salt: I recommend using kosher salt or Maldon sea salt flakes (my favorite).
- Black pepper: You can use pre-ground black pepper, but freshly ground black pepper is always extra tasty!
- Green onions: These add a sharp pop of onion flavor that goes so well with the sweet brown sugar and pungent garlic powder.
How to Grill Ham on a Gas Grill
- In a shallow bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This will be your ham rub!
- Place your ham inside of your disposable tin pan. Using only half of your rub, generously coat your ham in the rub on all sides.
- Let's preheat the grill! Turn the outer burners on your grill to medium heat and leave the middle burner off. Allow your grill to reach 250℉. Place the ham on the grill over the indirect heat, covering it with tin foil. Cook for about 3 hours.
- Carefully remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining rub on the ham. Grill for an additional 30 minutes (the grill time depends on the size of your ham). Remove your ham from the grill, and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes. Your ham should reach 140°F as read by an instant read meat thermometer. Slice your ham, garnish with sliced green onions, and enjoy!
How to Grill Ham on a Charcoal Grill
- In a bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This will be your ham rub! Place your ham inside of your disposable foil pan.
- Using only half of your rub, generously coat your ham in the rub on all sides. Cover your ham with aluminum foil.
- Arrange charcoal on one side of the grill for indirect heat. Light the charcoal and let it burn until it's covered with a thin layer of ash. Once the coals are ready, adjust the grill vents to control the temperature. You're aiming for a medium-low heat, around 250°F.
- Place the ham on the grill grates away from the direct heat of the coals. Cover the grill, the lid will keep the heat consistent. Cook until the internal temperature of your ham reaches 140°F.
- Slice your ham, garnish with sliced green onions, and enjoy!
Grilled Ham Recipe Tips
- Picking the Perfect Ham: For grilling, a bone-in ham adds more flavor and helps the meat stay moist! I like to choose a spiral, bone-in ham.
- Grill on Indirect Heat: Grilling ham over indirect heat allows it to cook evenly without burning the outside of the ham. This is tried-and-true method to grilling ham!
- Keep the Lid Closed: Resist the urge to constantly check the ham. Keeping the grill lid closed helps it reach a consistent temperature throughout.
- Resting Time: This is crucial! Letting your ham rest after grilling allows the juices to redistribute, making every slice moist and flavorful.
- Monitor Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your ham reaches a safe eating temperature. Your ham should reach 140°F.
- Experiment with Different Glazes: In addition to a dry rub, consider brushing on a glaze with a brush during the last few minutes of grilling for extra taste. Some of my favorites are a bourbon glaze, pineapple glaze, or a honey glaze!
Storing Leftover Ham
- Refrigerator: Allow your ham to cool to room temperature for no more than two hours. Slice the leftover ham into slices or chunks for future use. Place the ham in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the ham for up to 2 months in the freezer. When ready to use, thaw frozen ham in the refrigerator overnight.
You can also make ham steaks from a grilled ham! After grilling and allowing to rest, slice your ham into thick slices to create ham steaks. These steaks can be quickly seared or reheated on the grill.
Reheating Grilled Ham
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F. Place the leftover ham slices or chunks in an oven-safe dish with a splash of water, or leftover ham juices. Cover the dish with foil and cook until the ham is heated throughout, about 10 minutes.
- Microwave: Place the leftover ham slices or chunks in a microwave-safe dish with a splash of water, or leftover ham juices. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and microwave for 1-minute intervals, until heated through.
Grilling Ham FAQ
To cook a pre-cooked ham on the grill it will typically take 15-20 minutes per pound, so for a 10-pound ham, expect it to take about 3 hours to reach 140°F. A raw ham needs to cook through to an internal temperature of 160°F. It generally takes 18-25 minutes per pound on indirect heat. A 10-pound raw ham might take 3-4 hours on the grill.
For grilling, I recommend using a bone-in, spiral cut ham. However, you can absolutely grill a boneless ham. You'll need to adjust the timing based on the size of your ham and to account for the lack of a bone, as boneless ham takes less time to cook through.
Ways to Use Leftover Ham
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Grilled Ham
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 pound bone-in spiral ham
- 1 cup brown sugar - packed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt - or sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 green onions - chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This is your ham rub.1 cup brown sugar,1 teaspoon garlic powder,1 teaspoon kosher salt,1 teaspoon black pepper
- Place your ham inside of a disposable tin pan.10 pound bone-in spiral ham
- Using only half of your rub, generously coat your ham in the seasoning on all sides.
- Preheat the grill by turning on the outer burners to medium heat. Leave the middle burner off. Allow your grill to reach 250℉.
- Place the ham on the grill over the indirect heat, covering it with tin foil. Cook for about 3 hours.
- Carefully remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining rub on the ham. Grill for another 30 minutes or so (the grill time depends on the size of your ham).
- Remove your ham from the grill, and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice your ham, garnish with sliced green onions, and enjoy!2 green onions
Notes
-
- Picking the Perfect Ham: For grilling, a bone-in ham adds more flavor and helps the meat stay moist! I like to choose a spiral, bone-in ham.
-
- Grill on Indirect Heat: Grilling ham over indirect heat allows it to cook evenly without burning the outside of the ham. This is tried-and-true method to grilling ham!
-
- Keep the Lid Closed: Resist the urge to constantly check the ham, as keeping the grill lid closed allows for a consistent temperature.
-
- Resting Time: This is crucial, letting your ham rest after grilling allows the juices to redistribute, making every slice moist and flavorful.
-
- Monitor Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your ham reaches a safe eating temperature. Your ham should reach 140°F.
-
- Experiment with Different Glazes: In addition to a dry rub, consider brushing on a glaze with a brush during the last few minutes of grilling for extra taste. Some of my favorites are a bourbon glaze, pineapple glaze, or a honey glaze!
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