Easy Air Fryer Ham Recipe with Homemade Orange Glaze

This Air Fryer Ham has a simple and delicious homemade orange glaze, it is so easy to whip up and cooks in the air fryer quickly. It is one of the easiest methods for cooking ham perfectly and will make your holidays a breeze!

Cooking ham in the air fryer is a game changer. It is so easy to do, comes out perfectly cooked, and soaks up any glaze you combine it with. This easy air fryer ham recipe results in a tasty, succulent, moist ham that is perfect to serve for the holidays or any family gathering.

I love to cook a simple glazed ham for holidays like Christmas or Easter, especially because we go to church and need something quick to make afterwards. This air fryer ham is made with a fast homemade glaze and cooks up in the air fryer (no oven needed) in under an hour.

That leaves your oven free for all of your favorite sides like sweet potato casserole, roasted potatoes and carrots or homemade biscuits.

You may also want to try this roasted boneless turkey breast which is also a great holiday recipe that cooks up quickly!

Why this ham recipe works so well

• It is much faster, and easier and comes out perfectly juicy and packed with flavor every time. It is pretty much a foolproof method that anyone can make!
• Free up the oven for cooking other things like side dishes and desserts.
• Super tasty ham, every time with little hands-on effort.
• Clean-up is a breeze.

What size ham fits in an air fryer?

I have a 5.8-quart Cosori air fryer so I used a 4-pound ham in this recipe. Most air fryers can fit a 3-5 pound ham, which is a standard size for a half-pre-cooked, spiral ham. I found it pretty easy to do and the cleanup was much faster.

Ingredients and Substitutions

You can make this air fryer ham with a few simple ingredients that you can easily find at most grocery stores.

• Ham – 3-5 pounds, pre-cooked spiral ham – I used a store-bought ham that was about 4 pounds.
• Coconut sugar – You can also use brown sugar. This adds a nice sweetness to the glaze.
• Date syrup – I love date syrup but maple syrup or honey will work as well.
• Butter-plain unsalted butter or ghee.
• Orange juice – freshly squeezed or store-bought is fine. If you are using store-bought then make sure that it is low in sugar and pulp-free, you don’t want your glaze to be too sweet.
• Dijon mustard – for a little zippy flavor to add to the glaze. Yellow mustard also works.
• Cloves – this is optional but adds a nice flavor element to the glaze.
• Salt & Pepper – just a pinch of salt since the ham is already salty and some ground black pepper.

*Be sure to check out the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

How to cook ham in the air fryer – Step By Step Instructions

1. Mix up the orange glaze. Add the glaze ingredients to a pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Once the butter is fully melted, simmer the glaze for a few minutes then remove it from the heat and let it cool.
2. Prepare the ham. Dry the ham with a clean paper towel. Place it onto a large piece of foil and set aside. Brush the ham with the glaze. Brush ⅓ of the glaze all over the ham. Let the ham sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.Tip! Make sure the piece of foil is large enough to cover the entire ham.
3. Cook. Place the ham in the foil into the air fryer. Cover the ham with the foil, close and cook it for 20 minutes. Then reapply another ⅓ of the glaze all over the ham. Close the foil over the ham again and cook it for another 20 minutes at 320° F. Per the recipe card below.
4. Glaze again and finish cooking. Apply the remaining glaze all over the ham. This time do not cover the ham with foil. Increase the air fryer temperature to 360° F and cook the ham for 3-4 more minutes. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure the ham has reached an internal temperature of 140°F.
5. Slice and Serve. Carefully remove the cooked ham from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes then slice, and serve it with your favorite sides.

Pro Tip! Glaze the ham in intervals as noted in the recipe for the best flavor. Applying the glaze a few times during the cooking process allows the ham to absorb all of that amazing flavor as it cooks.

Serving Suggestions for Glazed Air Fryer Ham

Once the ham has fully rested, use a sharp kitchen knife to easily cut it into slices. I love to serve this air fryer ham with peas, corn, mashed potatoes or green beans. Here are a few other ways to serve it:

• Serve it with some roasted potatoes and carrots, peas and carrots, or roasted broccoli.
• Enjoy it with roasted carrots or asparagus.
• Serve it with butternut squash and Brussels sprouts.
• It would go great with potato salad or a sweet potato casserole for a fun family meal or holiday dinner.

Ways to use leftover ham

Leftover ham is such a great protein to use in so many ways. I honestly think it tastes even better the next day. You can easily reheat portions in the air fryer to enjoy for quick lunches or dinner. Here are a few ideas for using your ham leftovers.

• Crustless Ham and Broccoli Quiche
• Add it as a topping on some Deviled Eggs
• Use it as an added topping in a Chopped Italian Salad
• Serve it on a Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
• Use it in omelets, on pizza, in calzones, or even mixed with some pasta and peas.
• Serve it for a holiday brunch with cranberry orange muffins, and sausage and egg bites.

Tips for cooking the best air fryer ham

• Select a ham that will fit in your air fryer. A 3-5 pound ham will fit in most air fryers.
• Dry the ham well with a clean paper towel or cloth before applying the glaze. This will help the glaze stick to the ham better.
• Don’t skip reapplying the glaze. Reapplying the glaze in phases helps give this air fryer ham incredible flavor.
• Make sure to use foil. This creates a nice basket for the ham to cook in and makes cleaning up a breeze. The foil will also help you transfer the ham in and out of the air fryer more easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ham need to sit at room temperature before cooking it?

Allowing the ham to sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes will ensure it will cook more evenly. More than 20 minutes is not necessary.

How long can a cooked ham sit out?

I wouldn’t let it sit out for more than 90 minutes.

How can I make this recipe Whole30?

To make this air fryer ham recipe Whole30, use fresh orange juice or pineapple juice and date syrup and leave out the coconut sugar in the glaze. You will also need to make sure you use sugar-free, uncured ham.

Storing and reheating Cooked ham

Storing. Air fryer cooked ham can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. It can also be stored in a freezer-friendly container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating. Here are a few methods for reheating fully cooked ham.

• Microwave – heat portions in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate until warmed through.
• Air fryer – you can easily reheat ham right in the air fryer at 325 degrees F for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
• Oven – to reheat ham in the oven, place it into an oven-safe dish and add a little broth or water to cover it, which will prevent it from drying out. Cover the pan with foil and reheat it at 325 degrees F for 10-12 minutes per pound.

More easy air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Sausage and Veggies
• Air Fryer Meatloaf
• 10 Minute Air Fryer Cajun Salmon
• Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
• Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Be sure to check out the complete list of air fryer recipes on PMG!

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be watered like a garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” – Isahai 58:11

Did you try this air fryer ham recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!

Print