Baked Ham with Honey Garlic Glaze

Want a delicious holiday main dish that doesn’t require a lot of fuss? This baked ham with honey garlic glaze is a wonderful choice! A fully cooked smoked ham is warmed in the oven and brushed with a flavorful glaze made from honey, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and plenty of garlic. As the ham heats through, the glaze becomes glossy and lightly caramelized, while the garlic softens and mellows. Serve it with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or your favorite holiday sides for an easy Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

by Christina Cherrier

Christina Cherrier

Christina Cherrier is a recipe developer and editor for Eatwell101 since 2011. She specializes in savory recipes, quick dinner options, and holiday menus. She is a professionally trained cook and worked as a consultant in the hospitality industry.

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Updated Nov 4, 2026

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Ingredients list for the Baked Honey Glazed Ham Recipe

• 1 fully cooked, ready-to-eat smoked ham, bone-in (4 lb / approximately 1.8 kg)
• 4 whole heads of garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
• 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Salt, only if needed
• Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Directions

1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Place the fully cooked ham in a roasting pan or large oven-safe skillet, preferably cut-side down if applicable.

2. Prepare the garlic. Separate the garlic cloves and place them in a saucepan of boiling water. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water. Peel the cloves once they’re cool enough to handle.

3. Brown the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the peeled garlic cloves and cook gently for a few minutes until lightly golden, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Transfer the garlic to a plate.

4. Make the honey garlic glaze. In the same skillet, combine the water, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately 5 minutes. Return the garlic to the skillet and simmer for another 2 minutes, until fragrant. Set aside.

5. Prepare the ham. If the ham is not spiral-sliced, lightly score the surface in a diamond pattern, cutting through the outer fat without slicing deeply into the meat. Brush with a little of the honey garlic glaze, reserving the rest for later.

6. Warm the ham. Add a small splash of water to the bottom of the roasting pan and cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 325°F (165°C), following the package’s reheating instructions and checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.

7. Glaze and finish. When the ham is nearly heated through, remove the foil. Brush generously with the remaining honey garlic glaze and arrange the golden garlic cloves around the ham. Return to the oven, uncovered, for approximately 10–15 minutes, watching closely until the glaze becomes glossy and lightly caramelized.

8. Check and rest. For a fully cooked ham packaged in a USDA-inspected facility, the center should reach 140°F (60°C). For a previously repackaged cooked ham or leftovers, reheat to 165°F (74°C). Let the ham rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

9. Serve. Transfer the ham to a serving platter with the glazed garlic cloves. Slice and serve warm, spooning over the remaining hot glaze or pan juices. Enjoy! ❤️

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Tips for the Best Honey Garlic Baked Ham

• Choose a fully cooked ham. This recipe is designed for a ready-to-eat smoked ham that only needs reheating, not a raw or cook-before-eating ham.
• Keep the ham covered while reheating. Aluminum foil helps prevent the meat from drying out before the glaze is added.
• Glaze near the end. Honey can brown quickly, so save most of the glaze for the final minutes in the oven.
• Don’t oversalt. Smoked ham is already seasoned, and you may not need any additional salt.
• Watch the garlic. Blanching and gently browning the cloves gives them a mellow flavor, but they can burn if the heat is too high.
• Use a meat thermometer. Follow the package instructions and check the appropriate reheating temperature for your ham.
• Save some glaze for serving. The honey, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic make a delicious sauce for the sliced ham.
• Let the ham rest before carving. About 10 minutes makes it easier to slice neatly.

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com