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Looking for a quick and easy dinner? This ham steak recipe is ready in 10 minutes and delivers a juicy, caramelized glaze with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Whether using a cast-iron skillet or grill, this easy ham steak recipe will become a go-to for busy weeknights!
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Ham Steak Recipe
Do you ever get holiday food cravings in the middle of the year? I know I do. I'm a big fan of ham, and have prepared it just about every way possible - with pineapple, grilled, smoked, oven-roasted, in the air fryer, and even in the Instant Pot - and as easy as my recipes for ham are, sometimes all I want is a delicious, cozy ham steak.
Ham steak recipes don't get any better than this! Paired with a flavorful spiced ham steak glaze and cooked just long enough to develop a crisp crust, my ham steak is super tasty and ready in only 10 minutes.
Let me show you how to cook a ham steak - with expert tips, answers to frequently asked questions, storage instructions, and serving suggestions!
Tools to Make Ham Steak
- A small mixing bowl for mixing the glaze.
- You will need a skillet for cooking ham steaks on the stove. I also included oven instructions below the recipe card.
- A basting brush, spoon, or soft spatula for glazing the ham steaks.
Ham Steak Recipe Ingredients
- Ham Steaks: You can purchase fully cooked ham steaks from your local grocery store, or you can use leftover thick slices of ham.
- Butter: Unsalted or salted butter both work. Just be careful not to over-salt the ham steaks if all you have is salted butter.
- Rosemary: I'm using fresh rosemary, but you can also use dried rosemary. Just be sure to use less, as dried herbs are more powerful than fresh.
- Ham Steak Glaze: My ham steak glaze combines light brown sugar, garlic powder, ground cloves, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. You can use dark brown sugar if you want, but keep in mind it will have more of a molasses flavor. Dijon mustard can be replaced with stone ground mustard or brown mustard if necessary, but avoid using plain yellow mustard. Apple cider vinegar works best for ham steak glaze, but you can also use white wine vinegar.
For detailed instructions with step-by-step photos, answers to FAQ, expert tips, storage instructions, and serving suggestions, scroll under the recipe card below! And please, leave a comment and review. I love to hear from you, and your feedback helps my site grow so I can continue to share recipes with you!
Ham Steak Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Ham Slices
- 1 package Ham steaks
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 teaspoon Rosemary - chopped
Ham Slice Glaze
- ¼ cup Light brown sugar - packed
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground cloves in a small bowl, and mix together well.¼ cup Light brown sugar,½ teaspoon Garlic powder,⅛ teaspoon Ground cloves,1 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar,1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard,1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce,1 teaspoon Rosemary
- Heat up a skillet over medium heat, then add in the butter. Once it's melted, add the ham steaks and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until browned.1 package Ham steaks,1 Tablespoon Butter
- Spoon half the glaze over the steaks, spreading it evenly.
- Flip the steaks and repeat glazing the other side. Then cook for 3-5 minutes, until the glaze is sticky and thick.
- Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Looking for an even more flavorful glaze? Add a half teaspoon of cinnamon, and swap the Dijon mustard out for Honeycup or another favorite.
- Ham gets tough when it's overcooked, so be aware of how thick your steaks are and only cook them until they're cooked through and just browned.
- If there's any leftover glaze, save it, and pour it over the steaks at the end!
- Looking for oven cooking instructions? I've included how to cook these steaks in the oven too in case the stove top is busy with sides.
Video
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Isabel! I've been sharing my recipes online, in cookbooks, and in TV specials since 2012. The most important thing to me is Sunday supper with my family, and inspiring togetherness with my recipes!
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How to Cook Ham Steak
Step 1: Combine the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground cloves in a small bowl, and mix together well.
Step 2: Heat up a large skillet over medium heat, then melt butter. Once it's melted, add the ham steaks and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until browned.
Step 3: Spoon half the sweet glaze over the steaks, spreading it evenly. I use a basting brush for this step, but you can also use a soft spatula or the back of your spoon.
Step 4: Flip the steaks, and repeat glazing the other side. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until the glaze is sticky and thick. 
Step 5: The best part - serve, and enjoy!
Brown Sugar Ham Steak Expert Tips
- Looking for an even more flavorful glaze? Add a half teaspoon of cinnamon, and swap a teaspoon of Dijon mustard out for Honeycup or another favorite.
- Ham gets tough when it's overcooked, so be aware of how thick your steaks are and only cook them until they're cooked through and just browned.
- If there's any leftover glaze, save it, and pour it over the steaks at the end!
- Looking for oven cooking instructions? I've included how to cook these steaks in the oven too in case the stove top is busy with sides.
- My Bourbon Ham Glaze is also delicious if you want to mix things up.
- If you want a sweet citrus glaze, you can add ¼ cup of pineapple juice or orange juice.
Juicy Ham Steaks FAQ
Yes! Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, brushing with glaze halfway through.
Ham steaks are typically smoked, and thus will be fully cooked right out of the packaging. They are safe to eat from the fridge, but will have a much better flavor and texture once glazed and heated through!
Ham should be glazed partway through cooking it, and then again at the end of the cooking time! This goes for ham steaks too, which should be browned before being glazed, and then get a final layer of glaze once fully cooked.
What to Serve with Ham Steak
Storing Ham Steak
- Allow ham steaks to cool down to room temperature first, then place them in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure there are no exposed parts, or they could dry out.
- It's a good practice to label the container with the date when you stored the ham steak. This helps you keep track of its freshness. Ham steak is generally good for 3-4 days.
- Store the ham steak in the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back of the bottom shelf. This will help it stay fresh longer.
Reheating Ham Steak Recipes
- Microwave:
- Place the ham steak on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam to escape.
- Heat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals at medium power (50% power) to prevent overcooking. Check and rotate the ham steak between intervals until it's heated through.
- Oven:
- Preheat your oven to around 325°F (163°C).
- Place the ham steak on an oven-safe dish or tray.
- Cover the dish or tray with aluminum foil to prevent drying.
- Heat it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature.
- Stovetop:
- Heat a non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium-low heat.
- Add a small amount of oil or butter to the pan to prevent sticking.
- Place the ham steak in the pan and cook for a few minutes on each side until it's heated through.
If you like this recipe, you will also like:
- Instant Pot Ham – A sweet, caramelized ham dinner
- Grilled Pork Chops – Another easy, flavorful meat recipe
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – A juicy and tender pork dish"*
Side Dishes for Ham
I highly recommend my Smoked Ham, Easy Pineapple Whole Ham Roast, or Honey Baked Ham Copycat Recipe for more delicious ways to enjoy ham!
Kathy says
Now, my biggest concern is that my pain is smaller than the whole ham steak. And it's bone in. Do I cut out the bone 1st? Can I use it and half the steak for soup or just pitch it???
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Kathy! We also cooked a bone-in ham steak. It's totally fine if you just halve it and cook it separately if your pan is too small. No need to cut out the bone. Enjoy!