Our 3-ingredient ham glaze combines brown sugar, orange juice, and dijon mustard into an irresistible flavor for any ham dinner. Ready in seconds, you can add this glaze to any type of ham right before roasting it.

Brown Sugar Ham Glaze (3-ingredient ham glaze) being basted onto a ham — Brown Sugar Ham Glaze (3-ingredient ham glaze)

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Let’s be real here.

The holidays may be the most wonderful time of the year.

But they are also the most expensive time of the year.

Especially if you have kids.

There’s no need to run to order a Honey Baked Ham for your holiday meal with our easy 3-ingredient ham glaze.

It’s so easy to make with just a few ingredients you likely have in your fridge already and then a ham.

So you’ll save yourself a small fortune and the hassle of going to yet another busy store by making this at home!

Ingredients and Kitchen Supplies

Brown sugar ham glaze (3 ingredient ham glaze) ingredients: Brown sugar, orange juice, and dijon mustard with a sliced ham — Ingredients for 3 Ingredient Ham Glaze: Brown Sugar, Orange Juice, and Dijon Mustard

Here’s what you need for a 3-ingredient ham glaze:

Brown Sugar – You can use light or brown sugar. You may also be able to use brown sugar substitutes, but we have not tested these.
Orange Juice – When make it, we use pulp free for a smooth glaze without any bumps or pieces of orange.
Dijon mustard – We tend to use Grey Poupon, but you could use your preferred brand.

You do not need any fancy equipment to make brown sugar ham glaze. You should have the following on hand:

How to Make 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze

These instructions are for a roughly 5 pound ham.

If you make a bigger ham, you may want to increase the amount of glaze you make or cook time.

1. Make the glaze.

Whisk the orange juice, dijon and brown sugar together

In a small sauce pan or frying pan, whisk together the brown sugar, orange juice, and dijon mustard over medium low heat.

Let it cook until the brown sugar dissolves.

Let the 3 ingredient ham glaze come to a simmer — Let the brown sugar ham glaze come to a simmer

This only takes about 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Prepare and bake your ham.

If you do not use a spiral cut ham, use a knife to cut it into thin slices.

Only cut about 3/4’s of the way down.

Once ready, place the ham in a baking dish.

Brush the 3-ingredient ham glaze onto the ham, making sure to spread some into the spiral or homemade cuts..

Bake the ham at 350 for about 35-40 minutes or until the internal termperature reaches 140 degrees.

3. Let rest and serve.

Remove the ham from the oven when it reaches 140 degrees.

Allow it to rest for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Slice and serve with your favorite sides.

What Type of Ham Should I Use?

a ham with 3 ingredient ham glaze brushed on — Brown Sugar Ham Glaze (3-ingredient ham glaze)

This brown sugar ham glaze works with any type of ham you get.

Ham comes in a few different varieties, including spiral, bone in, and no bone.

The big differences between the different styles comes down to ease of carving and serving.

A spiral cut ham is the easiest cut and serve and comes pre-cut into thin layers in a spiral pattern.

A whole ham requires you to cut it yourself.

Spiral ham often comes with a bone in, but you can get a whole ham with no bone or bone in.

Spiral ham also tends to have added seasonings, like smokey flavors or other glazes.

You can still use this glaze even if your ham already has a glaze added – it just adds more flavor.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is adjusting your cooking time.

We based our cooking time on a 5 pound ham we hand-sliced prior glazing and baking.

You will need to adjust times – mainly adding to it – for bone in or larger hams.

The key is for the ham to reach 140 degrees internal temperature.

Storing Leftovers

Once you prepare the glaze, place in an air tight container and store for up to 5 days in the fridge.

You may want to reheat it before using as a glaze to help it spread easier.

To store ham once prepared, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or place in a air tight container.

It should stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days.

You can also freeze ham or the 3-ingredient ham glaze by itself.

Transfer either to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.

To reheat, you can let it thaw over night in the fridge before reheating the ham or brown sugar glaze in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions

Serve 3-ingredient ham glaze ham with your favorite side dishes.

It can make a yummy holiday dinner on Christmas or Easter.

It is also a tasty choice for any night you want to prepare a larger dinner for family or friends.

Some sides you might want to try include:

You can make the brown sugar ham glaze ahead of your planned dinner.

Tips and Tricks

This 3-ingredient ham glaze is made for a roughly 5 pound ham. If you make a larger ham, you can double or triple the recipe based on your needs.
You do not have to cut a non-spiral ham if you don’t want to. We just find it helps to spread the flavor into more areas of the ham.
If you are using a ham that hasn’t been cooked at all, it will likely need to cook longer. Add the glaze during the last half an hour or so of cook time so it does not burn.
You can store the brown sugar ham glaze in the fridge or freezer prior to using. Freezing it is helpful if you want to make a ham for Christmas and again for Easter.
You can add more flavors to the glaze if you like. Recommended spices include ground cloves, ground all spice, or even cinammon.
Trying to save space in your oven? Use this glaze on our Instant Pot Ham recipe.

Leftover Ideas for Glazed Ham

Here are some ideas for what to do with leftover glazed ham:

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