This Air Fryer Ham recipe delivers mouthwatering results in just 45 minutes – perfect for both special occasions and weeknight dinners. The air fryer creates a beautifully caramelized exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
With only 10 minutes of prep time and simple ingredients, you’ll have a showstopping main dish that serves up 65g of protein per portion. The combination of sweet glaze and savory meat makes this recipe an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Glazed Ham
- Fresh Orange Juice (1/3 cup): Use freshly squeezed for the best flavor and natural sweetness
- Brown Sugar (1/3 cup): Adds rich caramel notes and helps create a beautiful glaze
- Maple Syrup (1/4 cup): Pure maple syrup recommended for authentic sweetness
- Apple Cider Vinegar (1 Tbsp): Balances sweetness and adds depth
- Ground Cinnamon (1/2 tsp): Brings warm, aromatic spice notes
- Ham (4 lbs): Boneless, fully cooked ham works best in air fryer
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Glaze: Combine juices, sweeteners, vinegar, and cinnamon in saucepan over medium heat until smoothly blended
- Prep the Ham: Remove netting and create shallow criss-cross cuts for better glaze absorption
- Initial Glazing: Place ham on foil, brush half the glaze, and wrap carefully
- First Air Frying: Cook at 300F for 40 minutes in the air fryer basket
- Final Glazing: Open foil to form a bowl shape, brush remaining glaze on ham
- Caramelization: Optional 5-minute cooking at 375F for a caramelized finish
- Resting Time: Let rest 10 minutes before slicing to retain juices
- Serving: Slice to desired thickness and brush with any remaining glaze
Cooking Techniques
The magic of this ham recipe happens in two stages! First, we create a cozy foil wrap that helps the ham heat evenly and stay juicy. Then, we open up that foil package to let the glaze work its caramelizing magic. If you’re new to air frying ham, don’t worry – the low-and-slow cooking at 300°F keeps everything tender, while that final blast at 375°F creates that lovely sticky-sweet exterior we all love.
Variations
Want to switch things up? Try these tasty twists on the glaze:
- Skip the orange juice and use pineapple juice instead
- Add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard for a tangy kick
- Mix in 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves for a classic holiday flavor
- Replace maple syrup with honey for a different sweetness Just keep the total liquid amounts the same and you’re good to go!
Serving Suggestions
This sweet and sticky ham pairs beautifully with:
- Creamy scalloped potatoes
- Roasted green beans or asparagus
- Warm dinner rolls
- Sweet potato casserole For an easy buffet setup, slice the ham and arrange it on a platter with a small bowl of the warm glaze on the side.
Storage Tips
Got leftovers? Lucky you! Keep your ham fresh by wrapping it tightly in foil or storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For best results, slice only what you plan to eat – keeping the ham whole helps it stay juicy longer. When reheating, add a splash of water or orange juice to keep things moist. Leftover ham makes amazing sandwiches, omelets, and soup!
Easy Air Fryer Ham
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Aluminum Foil
- Small Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Fresh orange juice
- 1/3 cup Brown sugar
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 4 lbs Ham boneless, fully cooked
Instructions
- Combine the orange juice, brown sugar, maple syrup, vinegar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, until brown sugar is dissolved and glaze is combined; set aside.
- Remove any netting from the ham. For an unsliced ham, carefully score the ham with shallow ½-inch criss-cross cuts.
- Set the ham on a large square of aluminum foil, then brush on ½ of the glaze. Wrap the foil around the ham and set it inside the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 300F/148C for 40 minutes. Open the air fryer basket, carefully open the foil, pushing it down to create a small “bowl” for the ham, then brush the ham with another ½ of the glaze.
- Air fry for another 5 minutes at 375F/190C if you’d like it caramelized. (If you prefer no caramelization, remove the ham after the first 40 minutes and allow it to rest before serving.)
- Remove the ham from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 10 minutes, then slice to your desired thickness and serve, brushing any remaining glaze on when serving.
