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    Home » Recipes » Pork » Smoked Ham

    Smoked Ham

    Published: Sep 12, 2023 Modified: Sep 20, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    My Smoked Ham recipe is truly incredible. I’m excited to show you how to smoke a ham with just 5 minutes of prep and only 3 hours in the smoker. You can have the most amazing smoked ham complete with a delectable brown sugar bourbon glaze.

    I’m going to show you how to smoke a ham perfectly. The ingredients are simple, the recipe is easy, and ham in the smoker is delicious!

    slicing a smoked ham with a large knife
    Jump to:
    • Smoking a Ham
    • Smoking Ham Ingredients
    • How to Smoke a Ham
    • Smoked Ham Recipe Tips
    • Smoked Ham FAQs
    • What Kind of Ham Should I Smoke
    • Best Ham Recipes
    • How to Use Leftover Ham
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Smoking a Ham

    If you know anything about me, you know ham is one of my favorite dishes to prepare for my family. Making an incredibly flavorful ham is easy, from cooking it in the oven to the Instant Pot, Air Fryer, and of course – the smoker!

    Smoked ham has to be one of my top favorite ways to prepare ham. The flavor you get from smoking ham is incomparable, especially with the right glaze. My maple brown sugar bourbon glaze is the perfect pairing!

    slices of smoked ham on a blue plate

    Smoking Ham Ingredients

    • boneless ham
    • brown sugar
    • maple syrup
    • Bourbon

    To make my bourbon ham glaze, you will need brown sugar, maple syrup, and, of course, bourbon! The flavor of this glaze is incredible. It adds so much to smoked ham. I recommend using a higher-quality bourbon as it will give the glaze a better flavor than a cheaper bourbon would.

    Use extra glaze to brush each slice of ham after cutting it for an extra burst of flavor!

    How to Smoke a Ham

    1. Preheat your smoker to 250°F and place a rack on a baking sheet. Remove any string or packaging from your ham, then place it on the rack.
      Ham on baking sheet with rack
    2. Add the ham to the smoker and cook for 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F as read by a meat thermometer.
      Ham placed in smoker and cooking
    3. About 15 minutes before the ham is finished cooking, add the sugar, syrup, and bourbon to a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
      Glaze ingredients cooking in pan
    4. Immediately pour the glaze over the smoked ham and use a basting brush to coat the entire ham thoroughly.
       pouring glaze over ham
    5. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
      slicing ham on a cutting board

    Smoked Ham Recipe Tips

    • A pellet smoker is a great choice for this recipe; try this Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker.
    • I used Traeger brand hickory pellets as it’s one of the best options for pork. However, you can use pecan or even apple pellets for the best flavor results.
    • If your ham comes with skin on it, you’ll want to remove it. This is because the smoke will not penetrate the ham through the skin. The skin will absorb all the smoke instead.
    • If you have a bigger ham, smaller ham, bone-in ham, etc. it doesn’t matter. It may take longer or less time to cook your ham, based on the type you have. However, the only thing that matters is that the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees, no matter the type of ham you have. In other words, even if you don’t have the same kind of ham I used, follow all the steps as normal, make sure the internal temperature reaches the appropriate level, and you’re set to go.
    • I like using the extra glaze to brush each slice of ham after it’s cut, just to get an extra burst of flavor to the inside portion of the ham. This is simply a preference and is totally up to you.
    • I used the name brand, Jim Beam bourbon, but you can use whatever brand you prefer. I would not suggest going for the cheaper stuff as it doesn’t taste as good in the glaze.

    The best part about this recipe for smoked ham is how little prep time and cooking time it takes. Smoking a ham only requires about 5 minutes of prep and cooks in just 3 hours. If you love making smoked recipes, you know how short that is for the incredible flavor a smoked dish gives you!

    If you love smoking, you must try my smoked pork butt and smoked turkey too!

    Smoked Ham FAQs

    How long does it take to cook a smoked ham?

    For a 4-pound ham, it takes 3 hours to smoke the ham to an internal temperature of 145°F. For larger or smaller hams, it will take more or less time. The internal temperature should reach 145°F on a meat thermometer before removing it from the smoker.

    Can you glaze a smoked ham?

    You should glaze a smoke ham for the best results. After removing it from the smoker, immediately pour the glaze over the ham and brush it in between each slice for the most flavor.

    When smoking a ham, do you cover it?

    You do not need to cover the ham inside of the smoker; however, the lid to the smoker should of course be closed.

    What Kind of Ham Should I Smoke

    It does not matter what type of ham you use, whether it’s boneless, bone-in, bigger, or smaller. However, if your ham comes with skin on it, you will want to remove it as the skin will prevent the ham from absorbing the smoke. You want the smoke to penetrate the inside of the ham, so remove the skin before cooking it.

    It may take longer to cook if it’s a larger ham, or less if it’s smaller; make sure the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees as read by a meat thermometer.

    smoked ham with bourbon glaze ingredients on a white surface with a knife

    Best Ham Recipes

    • Air Fryer Ham
    • Instant Pot Ham
    • Pineapple Ham with Pineapple Glaze for Ham
    • Honey Glazed Ham

    Serve smoked ham with traditional BBQ side dishes, or as part of a holiday meal including our side dishes for ham. It pairs very well with Christmas side dishes and Easter side dishes!

    sliced ham on a cutting board

    How to Use Leftover Ham

    • Glazed Ham Steaks
    • Ham Bone Soup
    • Ham and Cheese Sliders
    • Ham Stock
    • Ham and Potatoes Casserole

    Try more of my Leftover Ham Recipes and see all my Best Ham Recipes!

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    📋 Recipe

    smoked ham on a cutting board sliced

    Smoked Ham

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to smoke ham for the most delicious smoked ham dinner with maple brown sugar and bourbon glaze! It's easy and delicious!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 about ½ pound each
    Calories 461 kcal

    Equipment

    • Baking sheet
    • Cooling Rack (needs to fit the baking sheet)
    • Meat thermometer
    • Basting brush

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 pound Boneless Ham
    • ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
    • ¼ Cup Maple Syrup
    • ¼ Cup Bourbon
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees and place a rack on a baking sheet. Remove any string or packaging from the ham and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
      4 pound Boneless Ham
      Ham on baking sheet with rack
    • Place in the smoker and allow to cook for 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
      Ham placed in smoker and cooking
    • About 15 minutes before the ham is done, place the sugar, syrup, and bourbon in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for about 10 minutes.
      ¾ Cup Brown Sugar, ¼ Cup Maple Syrup, ¼ Cup Bourbon
      Glaze ingredients cooking in pan
    • Immediately pour over the smoked ham and use a basting brush to coat the entire ham thoroughly.
      pouring glaze over ham
    • Slice and enjoy!
      sliced ham on a cutting board

    Notes

    • I used Traeger brand hickory pellets as it’s one of the best options for pork. However, you can use pecan or even apple pellets for the best flavor results.
    • If your ham came with skin on it, you’ll want to remove it. This is because the smoke will not penetrate the ham through the skin. The skin will absorb all the smoke instead.
    • If you have a bigger ham, smaller ham, bone-in ham, etc. it doesn’t matter. It may take longer or less time to cook your ham, based on the type you have. However, the only thing that matters is that the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees, no matter the type of ham you have. In other words, even if you don’t have the same kind of ham we used, follow all the steps as normal and just make sure that internal temperature reaches the appropriate level, and you’re set to go.
    • I like using the extra glaze to brush each slice of ham after it’s cut, just to get an extra burst of flavor to the inside portion of the ham. This is simply a preference and totally up to you.
    • I used the name brand, Jim Beam bourbon, but you can use what brand you prefer. I would not suggest going for the cheaper stuff as it doesn’t taste as good.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 461kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 43gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 166mgSodium: 2626mgPotassium: 688mgSugar: 26gVitamin C: 53mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword how to smoke a ham, smoked ham, smoked ham recipe, smoking a ham
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise Stetler says

      June 29, 2023 at 9:50 pm

      Do I have to use a glaze if I’m using the smoked ham in split pea soup?

      Reply
      • Isabel Laessig says

        July 07, 2023 at 5:41 pm

        Hi Denise! No, you don’t have to glaze it if you don’t want to! It should turn out just fine. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Jodi Andrews says

      September 13, 2023 at 6:15 am

      Hi. Can you make this one day ahead of your big gathering? and if yes, what would be the best way to reheat so it doesn’t dry out?
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Isabel Laessig says

        September 18, 2023 at 11:28 am

        Hi, Jodi! You could definitely prepare this the day before. I would reheat in the oven at 250°F for 2 hours, loosely tented with foil. Use a roasting pan with a rack and add some liquid to the bottom of the roasting pan, like vegetable or chicken broth (as seen here: https://sundaysuppermovement.com/honey-glazed-ham-recipe/). The slow cook time and liquid will help keep the ham moist. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp so you can be sure it’s heated through and doesn’t need more time.

        Reply

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