I love making air fryer glazed ham slices in my air fryer for a quick meal that still feels special!
Just mix brown sugar, honey, mustard and orange juice for your glaze, then wrap ham slices in foil and air fry at 320°F for about 15 minutes.
Brush with glaze, cook more, then finish unwrapped for that perfect caramelization.
The air fryer gives you that sticky, sweet coating without the hassle of a whole ham.
Stick around to discover my favorite flavor twists!
Ingredients
Meal prepping can help you save time and money in your weekly grocery shopping.
Recommended Tools
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- Air Fryer:
The star appliance that cooks your ham slices to perfection with less oil and mess than traditional methods.
- Aluminum Foil:
Essential for wrapping the ham slices during cooking to retain moisture and prevent drying out.
- Small Saucepan:
Perfect for warming and combining your glaze ingredients before brushing onto the ham.
- Basting Brush:
Allows you to evenly apply the delicious honey-mustard or brown sugar glaze over your ham slices.
- Instant-Read Thermometer:
Takes the guesswork out of cooking by ensuring your ham reaches the perfect 140-145°F internal temperature.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons:
Helps you precisely measure the honey, brown sugar, mustard and orange juice for a perfectly balanced glazeAdditionally, using an Air Fryer can help achieve a crispy texture similar to frying, while using less oil.
- Air Fryer:
Instructions for Air Fryer Glazed Ham Slices
Let’s get cooking with these super simple steps for your mouthwatering glazed ham slices!
1. First, preheat your air fryer to 320°F. This temperature is perfect for gently heating your ham without drying it out.
2. While that’s warming up, let’s make that amazing glaze! In a small saucepan, mix ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons of mustard (Dijon or regular yellow—your choice!), ¼ cup orange juice, and if you’re feeling fancy, add ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon cloves.
Warm this mixture over low heat until everything is well combined and slightly thickened. Your kitchen will smell heavenly!
3. Take your 2-3 pounds of boneless cooked ham slices and wrap them snugly in aluminum foil. Place this foil package in your preheated air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes.
4. Now for the magic! Carefully open the foil (watch out for hot steam!) and brush half of your glaze over the ham. Rewrap the foil and pop it back in for another 15 minutes to let those flavors meld together.
5. For the final touch, unwrap the ham again and brush on the remaining glaze. This time, leave the foil open and cook for 5-10 minutes until the glaze gets all sticky and caramelized.
Keep an eye on it—that sugar can burn quickly!
6. Give your glazed ham a few minutes to rest before serving. This helps the juices redistribute for maximum flavor and tenderness.
Don’t forget to check that your ham reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F with an instant-read thermometer. Safety first, deliciousness second!
Pro Tips
For a quicker cleanup and more even heating, create a foil “sling” with extended sides when wrapping your ham slices, allowing you to easily lift the entire ham out of the air fryer basket when it’s time to apply glaze or check temperature.
Substitutions & Variations
These delicious air fryer glazed ham slices can be customized with various flavors herbs and cooking techniques to match your preferences or what you have on hand.
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- Maple Bourbon Glaze: Replace honey with maple syrup and add 2 tablespoons of bourbon to the glaze mixture for a rich smoky flavor profile.
- Pineapple Teriyaki: Substitute orange juice with pineapple juice and add 2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce to create a sweet tangy Asian-inspired ham.
- Spicy Peach: Use peach preserves instead of brown sugar and add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for a sweet heat combination.
- Balsamic Fig: Replace half the honey with fig jam and add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to create a sophisticated flavor with Italian influences.
- Apple Cider Reduction: Substitute orange juice with apple cider and add 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice for a fall-inspired ham perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Herb-Crusted: Add 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped rosemary thyme and sage to the glaze and press crushed crackers onto the glazed surface before the final cook for a textured herb crust.
Leftovers & Storage Tips
Three fantastic things about glazed ham slices are their incredible versatility as leftovers, extended shelf life when stored properly, and amazing flavor that often improves overnight.
Store your leftover ham in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for 2 months!
I love chopping leftovers for omelets, sandwiches, or salads.
Don’t waste that flavorful glaze – save it to drizzle over reheated portions!
Ready in 35 Minutes
Air Fryer Glazed Ham Slices
Juicy ham slices with a sweet and tangy glaze, perfectly caramelized in the air fryer.
- 2-3 lbs boneless cooked ham slices
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp mustard (Dijon or yellow)
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp cloves (optional)
- Preheat air fryer to 320°F.
- Mix brown sugar, honey, mustard, orange juice, and spices in a saucepan; warm until combined.
- Place ham slices wrapped in foil in the air fryer; cook 15 minutes.
- Unwrap, brush glaze over ham, rewrap, cook 15 minutes.
- Unwrap, brush remaining glaze, cook 5-10 minutes uncovered until caramelized.
- Rest before serving.
