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Create the perfect balance of sweet and savory with my Gorgeous Pineapple Ham recipe! Featuring a homemade brown sugar and pineapple ham glaze, this is the best ham for a festive Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas feast or simply craving a classic ham dinner. It’s a showstopper guaranteed to impress your guests!
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Ham with Pineapple
When hams go on sale, I’m known to stock up on them even outside of the holidays. My family and I love ham for dinner, so needless to say I’ve cooked up plenty of ham recipes over the years!
One of my all-time favorites is this Pineapple Ham Recipe. I guarantee once you try it, you will want to make this dish every year. It’s sweet, savory, tangy, and, best of all, easy to prepare.
The ingredients are simple, the prep is easy, and the flavor is out of this world. Serve it up for a weeknight dinner or the holidays and keep the leftovers to make my amazing leftover ham recipes, and you’ll have delicious meals for days!
Ham and Pineapple Ingredients
- Spiral sliced ham
- Canned pineapple rings
- Pineapple ham glaze
- Pineapple juice
Ham Pineapple Glaze Ingredients
- Fresh pineapple
- Pineapple juice
- Cinnamon powder
- Cloves
- Brown sugar
- Butter
Pineapple Ham Recipe Instructions
Pineapple Ham Glaze Recipe
- In a small skillet, add freshly chopped pineapple and pineapple juice over medium heat. Mix together well.
- Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir to combine and continue cooking until your glaze begins to lightly boil.
- Turn down the heat to a low and cook for another 10 minutes, or until thickened.
- Finish off the glaze by adding butter and mix well until fully melted.
- Use glaze immediately on a ham or store it in the refrigerator.
For full instructions and storing tips, see my Pineapple Glaze for Ham.
Pineapple Ham Instructions
- While the glaze cools, place pineapple rings along the bottom of a roasting pan. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Add a roasting rack on top of the pan, then place spiral ham on top of the rack.
- Score the ham with ¼-inch deep cuts along the top to help it soak up the glaze.
- Brush the ham generously with pineapple glaze, including between the slices.
- Cover the ham completely with pineapple rings, using toothpicks to keep them in place.
- Pour the remaining pineapple juice into the bottom of the pan with the pineapple rings (do not pour it over the ham itself).
- Cover with foil and bake for 15-18 minutes per pound of ham.
- Remove from the oven, remove the foil and toothpicks, and set the rings aside.
- Allow the ham to rest for 15 minutes, then glaze it again. Slice and serve, then enjoy!
Baked Ham with Pineapple Tips
- For extra sweetness, add maraschino cherries to the center of each pineapple ring before baking. My family loves ham with pineapple and cherries!
- To make the meal prep easy, you can prepare the glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just microwave it for a few seconds so it thins out and is easy to pour over the ham.
- Only use canned pineapple for the pineapple rings placed on the ham. This is important: fresh pineapple will break down the texture of the ham and make it mushy.
- Save the pineapple rings and the juices from the bottom of the pan to serve with the ham. They’re sweet and delicious!
Pineapple Ham FAQs
Pineapple will only change the texture of ham if you use fresh pineapple. Make sure to use canned pineapple rings when baking ham, or the acidity of the fresh pineapple will break the meat down too much and make it mushy. Fresh pineapple is fine for the glaze, however, as it’s cooked down.
Place canned pineapple slices on the ham right before baking it. Secure them in place with toothpicks so they remain in place while baking.
How to Store Baked Ham with Pineapple
To store leftover pineapple ham properly and ensure it stays safe to eat, follow these steps:
- Cooling: Allow the cooked pineapple ham to cool down to room temperature for about 2 hours after it’s been cooked and served.
- Slicing: If you have a whole ham, slice the portion you plan to store. It’s easier to store and reheat smaller portions.
- Packaging: Wrap the pineapple ham tightly in plastic wrap, or aluminum foil, or use an airtight container. Make sure there’s minimal exposure to air to prevent drying out or freezer burn.
- Labeling: Label the packaging with the date so you can keep track of how long it’s been in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Refrigeration: If you plan to consume the ham within a few days, store it in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. It should stay good for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: If you want to keep the ham for a longer period, store it in the freezer. It can stay safe in the freezer for 1-2 months. For longer storage, consider vacuum-sealing it.
- Thawing: When you’re ready to use the frozen ham, thaw it in the refrigerator. It’s important to thaw it slowly to maintain its quality and safety. Depending on the size, it may take 24-48 hours to thaw completely.
- Reheating: Reheat the pineapple ham in the oven at a low temperature (around 275°F or 135°C) to prevent drying.
- You can also use a microwave, but be cautious not to overheat, which can lead to moisture loss.
Remember to use your best judgment when determining the safety and quality of stored ham. If it looks or smells off, it’s better to discard it. Proper storage and handling can help preserve the flavor and texture of your delicious pineapple ham.
What to Do with Leftover Ham
Here is a full list of my favorite leftover ham recipes! And, if you love pineapple recipes, try my Pineapple Casserole!
Best Ham Recipes
Check out my favorite Side Dishes for Ham!
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Recipe
Pineapple Ham
Equipment
- toothpicks
- Basting brush
Ingredients
Pineapple Ham Glaze
- 1 cup Pineapple fresh finely chopped
- 1 cup Pineapple juice
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 4-5 Cloves
- ½ cup Brown sugar packed
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
Pineapple Ham
- 9 lb Spiral cut ham
- 1 can Pineapple rings in 100% juice
- Pineapple ham glaze
- 2 cups Pineapple juice
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
Making Pineapple Glaze for Ham
- Chop fresh pineapple finely and add it to a small pot over medium heat along with 1 cup pineapple juice. Mix well.1 cup Pineapple juice, 1 cup Pineapple fresh
- Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir to combine and allow it to reach a light boil.½ teaspoon Cinnamon, 4-5 Cloves, ½ cup Brown sugar packed
- Turn the heat down until it simmers, and let it cook for 10 minutes until thickened.
- Add 1 Tablespoon butter and mix until melted, then remove from the heat.1 Tablespoon Butter
Roasting Ham with Pineapple
- While the glaze cools, place pineapple rings along the bottom of a roasting pan. Preheat the oven to 325°F.1 can Pineapple rings in 100% juice
- Add a roasting rack on top of the pan, then place spiral ham on top of the rack.9 lb Spiral cut ham
- Score the ham with ¼-inch deep cuts along the top to help it soak up the glaze.
- Brush the ham generously with pineapple glaze, including between the slices.Pineapple ham glaze
- Cover the ham completely with pineapple rings, using toothpicks to keep them in place.
- Pour the remaining pineapple juice into the bottom of the pan with the pineapple rings (do not pour it over the ham itself).2 cups Pineapple juice
- Cover with foil and bake for 15-18 minutes per pound of ham.
- Remove from the oven, remove the foil and toothpicks, and set the rings aside.
- Allow the ham to rest for 15 minutes, then glaze it again.
- Slice and serve, then enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For a little extra sweetness, you can add maraschino cherries to the center of each pineapple ring before baking. My family loves ham with pineapple and cherries!
- To make the meal prep easy, you can prepare the glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just microwave it for a few seconds so it thins out and is easy to pour over the ham.
- Only use canned pineapple for the pineapple rings placed on the ham. This is important: fresh pineapple will break down the texture of the ham and make it mushy.
- Save the pineapple rings and the juices from the bottom of the pan to serve with the ham. They’re sweet and delicious!
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