Get ready for the ultimate Dutch Oven Ham that’s juicy, flavorful, and easy to make! This recipe uses simple ingredients and your trusty Dutch oven for a melt-in-your-mouth ham with a sweet and savory glaze.
Quick Look at the Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Dutch Oven Ham
- 🕒 Ready In: About 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours
- 👪 Serves: 8-12
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Fully cooked ham, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: This ham turns out incredibly tender with a sweet, sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the Dutch oven.
Summarize and Save the Recipe
This post is sponsored by Heritage Craft Butchers. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love making ham during the holidays or for a weekend family dinner, and this easy ham recipe always steals the show. With a simple glaze and slow cooking in a Dutch oven, it turns an ordinary ham into a juicy, flavorful, and delicious meal.
If you enjoy easy ham recipes, you will love ham and bean soup and ham macaroni and cheese!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Minimal prep and ingredients make this ham perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
- Family-Friendly: Sweet, savory, and crowd-pleasing flavors that everyone will enjoy at the table.
- Juicy & Tender: Slow cooking locks in moisture for a perfectly cooked ham every single time.
- Versatile: Works for holidays, weeknight dinners, potlucks, or even casual family gatherings. For another versatile recipe, try my braised lamb shanks next!
Ingredients
- Ham: A fully cooked, boneless ham or bone-in (6–8 lbs) works best. Choose one that’s high-quality for the juiciest results.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the glaze caramelize.
- Honey or Maple Syrup: Enhances the glaze and gives a golden finish.
- Juice: Pineapple juice adds tropical sweetness; apple juice gives a subtle fruity flavor.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy Ham: Add a teaspoon of cayenne or chili powder to the glaze for a little heat and extra depth.
- Herb-Infused Ham: Tuck fresh rosemary and thyme under the ham before cooking for a subtle, savory flavor throughout. This would pair well with my skillet sausage stuffing.
- Brown Sugar–Orange Glaze: Swap the juice for orange juice and add a bit of zest for a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Bourbon Glaze: Add 2 tablespoons of bourbon to the glaze for a warm, caramelized finish with depth.
- Clove-Spiced Ham: Add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice for a classic holiday-style flavor.
How to Make Ham in a Dutch Oven
Learning how to cook a ham in a Dutch oven is simple and requires very little hands-on time. Once the ham is nestled into the pot, the oven does most of the work, making it easy to achieve a juicy, flavorful result!
- Step 1: Prepare the Ham. Place the ham in your Dutch oven, fat side up, so it stays moist while it cooks.
- Step 2: Make the Glaze. Stir together the brown sugar, honey, juice, and mustard until smooth.
- Step 3: Slow Cook. Pour the simple ham glaze over the ham, making sure it coats the surface evenly for the best flavor. For slow-cooked ham in a Dutch oven, preheat the oven to 300°F. Cover the Dutch oven and bake the ham for 3–4 hours.
- Step 4: Finish Cooking. Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes and spoon the glaze over the ham several times. For extra caramelized edges, broil for 3–5 minutes before serving. Pair the ham with a classic side like skillet scalloped potatoes.
Expert Tips
- Choose the Right Dutch Oven: Use an enameled Dutch oven when cooking a ham in the oven so the glaze doesn’t strip the seasoning on your cast iron pot or react with the pot.
- Rest Before Slicing: Let the ham rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute and stay inside the meat.
- Baste for Better Flavor: Spoon the glaze over the ham several times during cooking for a shiny, flavorful finish.
- Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a lighter ham glaze, slightly reduce the sugar for a less sweet overall flavor.
- Store or Freeze Leftovers: Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze sliced portions for easy meals later.
Serving Suggestions
- This easy ham is perfect for a weekend family dinner, paired with skillet-fried potatoes and roasted asparagus.
- Serve at a holiday dinner with herb butter turkey and homemade cranberry sauce for the ultimate feast!
- Slice the leftover ham for easy lunch sandwiches throughout the week and serve them with my simple coleslaw recipe for a fresh, crunchy side.
Dutch Oven Ham Recipe FAQs
Yes! Cook the ham and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before serving. Reheat gently in the oven, spooning extra glaze over top.
The best way is to heat it in the oven at 275°F–300°F, covered with foil to lock in moisture. Spoon a little of the ham glaze over the top for extra flavor and juiciness.
Absolutely! This easy ham glaze works well on bone-in or boneless hams, ham steaks, pork loin, or even roasted chicken. Just brush it on towards the end of cooking for a sweet, flavorful finish.
Remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking and baste with the glaze. Broil for 3–5 minutes for extra crisp edges.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you tried this Dutch Oven Ham or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Dutch Oven Ham Recipe
Equipment
- 7 qt Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 8 pounds ham fully cooked, boneless
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 cup pineapple juice or apple juice for a different flavor
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- Fresh herbs like thyme optional
Instructions
- Place the ham in your Dutch oven.
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, honey (or maple syrup), juice, and mustard.
- Pour the mixture over the ham, making sure it coats well.
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 3–4 hours.
- For a caramelized finish, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes and spoon glaze over the ham.
- Optional: Broil for 3–5 minutes for extra crisp edges.
- Let the ham rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Serve with the glaze drizzled on top.
Notes
- Baste the ham every 30–45 minutes for maximum flavor.
- Cover the Dutch oven to ensure the ham stays moist while cooking in the oven.
- Don’t skip resting, it keeps the dutch oven ham juicy.
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Barrett says
I followed the instructions exactly and was rewarded with the most succulent ham I've ever made. The indirect heat of the cast iron creates a perfect environment that cooks the meat evenly while keeping every slice juicy and flavorful.
Cassandra says
Using the Dutch oven for a ham was a total game-changer for my Sunday roast. The meat was remarkably tender, and the way the glaze thickened into a rich syrup at the bottom of the pot was absolutely delicious.
Gideon says
This recipe is foolproof and perfect for anyone who wants a spectacular main dish without spending all day in the kitchen. The heat distribution was spot on, resulting in a tender, fall-off-the-bone texture that made for the best leftovers the next day.
Fiona says
I loved how the heavy lid of the Dutch oven locked in all the juices, preventing the ham from drying out like it usually does in a standard roasting pan. The infusion of cloves and pineapple gave it a classic, nostalgic flavor that my entire family raved about.
Silas says
The honey and brown sugar glaze caramelized beautifully in the Dutch oven, creating a sweet and savory crust that kept the meat incredibly moist. It was the centerpiece of our holiday dinner and required much less effort than I expected for such a gourmet result.