Baked Ham with Pineapple Sauce

This Ham with Pineapple Sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Tender, juicy ham is slathered in a warm, sticky, sweet pineapple sauce to create a totally irresistible holiday entree.

Ingredients · Servings 16

1 (4-6 pound) boneless fully cooked ham (*)
1 1/2 cups undrained crushed pineapple
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup water (divided)
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
7 teaspoons cornstarch ((that's 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon))

Method · 2 h 20 min

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place ham in either a roasting pan, or on a cooling rack that's been placed on top of a rimmed baking sheet, then cover the ham tightly with foil.
Bake in preheated oven for 1-2 hours, or until the center of the ham has reached 140 degrees F.
Allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Stir together pineapple (with juices), brown sugar, 1/4 cup water, soy sauce, ketchup, and mustard in a medium sized saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high/high heat, stirring occasionally.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup water until smooth.
Slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry and bring the mixture back to a boil.
Boil 2 minutes, or until thickened your liking, stirring constantly.
Serve with baked, sliced ham and enjoy!

Why you’ll love this

Easy. We’re taking a very delicious short-cut by using fully-cooked boneless ham. Whipping up a very simple pineapple sauce is all that’s left to do! Bonus: while I think this ham can be served all year round, it’s especially great during the holidays, because this is SO easy, you have more time to focus on your sides and desserts!

Delicious. If you love sweet and salty, then you’ll be absolutely head-over-heels for this holiday ham.

Versatile. This recipe is special enough to be served for your Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) dinner, but easy enough to be served as an easy weeknight meal.

Ham – use a boneless fully cooked (most grocery store hams are cooked) ham to keep this recipe quick and easy. If using a cooked ham, it just needs to be warmed to 140 degrees F. If using a “cook before eating” ham, you’ll need to cook it to 160 degrees F. Ham with a bone may also be used, but you may need additional cook time.

Water – there really isn’t a substitute here. I suppose you could use broth to make the sauce more flavorful, but I think it would be too salty when served with the ham.

Brown Sugar – I like dark brown sugar for the richest flavor, but light brown sugar, granulated sugar, honey, or even maple syrup will work.

Soy Sauce – feel free to use low-sodium, if necessary. A gluten-free alternative such as coconut aminos or tamari may also be used.

Ketchup – use your favorite brand! I like a classic Heinz, because it’s sweet and tangy, but using a variety without sugar may also be used. Try BBQ sauce for a bit of a smoky/spicy twist.

Ground Mustard – a squirt of Dijon or yellow mustard may be used in a pinch if you don’t have ground mustard on hand.

Pineapple – you’ll need 1 1/2 cups undrained crushed pineapple from the can. Be sure you’re using pineapples in juice, not heavy syrup. You’ll need about 1 (20 oz) can. I don’t recommend using fresh, because 1. it’s probably not in season when you’re making this recipe and 2. you really want the crushed pineapple texture plus the extra juice.

Cornstarch – there isn’t a substitute, this is used to thicken the sauce. You might be able to use flour, but you’ll need about 3 times the amount and I worry it would negatively impact the texture.

Best ham to use

Cured, smoked or baked boneless or bone-in hams will work, just avoid using pre-sliced/spiral-cut hams, because they’re more likely to dry out.

If using “fresh” or “uncooked” ham, that’s fine, you’ll just need the internal temperature to reach 160 degrees F instead of 140 degrees F.

How to make

This sweet and salty holiday dinner takes just 20 minutes to prep!

Bake ham at 325 degrees F until the center of the ham has reached 140 degrees F.

In a saucepan, whisk together, cup water, brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, and pineapple, then simmer before whisking in a cornstarch slurry.

Boil until desired thicken is reached, then serve with cooked ham, and enjoy!

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham?

I find the easiest and quickest way to cook a pre-cooked ham is in the oven. I like placing the ham on a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet or in a roasting pan.

How long to bake ham

Ham should bake at 325 degrees F until the very center of the ham is 140 degrees F. This will take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on the size of the ham.

How much ham do i need?

You’ll need about 1/3 pound – 1/2 pound of ham per person.

What to serve with ham with pineapple sauce

This ham with pineapple sauce recipe is perfect for Christmas (or any weeknight really) dinner! Here are some of my favorite holiday sides to serve alongside it.

How store

Leftover ham will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. I don’t recommend freezing the sauce. Because pineapple is so high in water, I think the sauce will become overly icy.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then bake to warm.