Pork, Bacon & Sausage
Air Fryer Ham with Honey Dijon Glaze
Glazed air fryer ham: a fully cooked 2–3 lb boneless ham at 320°F for about 12–15 minutes per pound, wrapped in foil, then glazed. Plus ham steaks and spiral ham slices.
Quick answer
Heat a fully cooked boneless ham of 2–3 lb in the air fryer at 320°F160°C for about 12–15 minutes per pound, wrapped in foil, until the center reaches 140°F60°C. Then open the foil, brush on the glaze and cook at 375°F190°C for another 5–8 minutes, until it's bubbling and caramelized. A 3 lb ham takes about 45 minutes in total. Ham steaks take 6–8 minutes at 380°F195°C.
- Time
- 12–15 min per lb, then glaze
- Flip
- No
- Done when
- 140°F60°C in the center
Honey Dijon Glazed Air Fryer Ham air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully cooked boneless ham, 2 lb | 320°F160°C | 25–30 min | In foil, then glaze 5–8 min at 375°F |
| Fully cooked boneless ham, 3 lb | 320°F160°C | 36–45 min | In foil, then glaze 5–8 min at 375°F |
| Small spiral ham or ham portion, 3–4 lb | 300°F150°C | 12–15 min per lb | Cut side down, tightly wrapped |
| Ham steak, ½ inch | 380°F195°C | 6–8 min | Flip halfway, glaze for the last 2 min |
| Spiral ham slices | 320°F160°C | 4–6 min | Wrapped in foil |
| Diced ham, for crisping | 400°F205°C | 5–7 min | Shake halfway |
| Reheating leftover ham | 320°F160°C | 4–6 min | Wrapped in foil, to 165°F |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
A glazed ham doesn’t have to take over your oven. A small boneless ham fits in most air fryer baskets and heats through in about 45 minutes, then gets a sticky honey Dijon glaze in the last few minutes. It’s perfect for a smaller Christmas or Easter dinner, and the air fryer is also the fastest way to cook ham steaks and reheat spiral ham slices.
How to cook ham in the air fryer
- Choose a fully cooked boneless ham of 2–3 lb that fits your basket with room to spare.
- Wrap it in foil and heat at 320°F160°C for about 12–15 minutes per pound.
- Check for 140°F60°C in the center.
- Open the foil, glaze, and cook at 375°F190°C for 5–8 minutes.
- Rest for 10 minutes, then slice.
Which ham to buy
Most hams sold for the holidays are fully cooked, so you’re only reheating and glazing them. Check the label:
- Fully cooked (most boneless and spiral hams): heat to 140°F60°C.
- Cook before eating or fresh ham: must reach 145°F63°C and takes much longer. It’s better in the oven.
For the air fryer, a boneless ham of 2–3 lb is the easiest choice. It’s compact, heats evenly and slices neatly.
Ham steaks and spiral ham slices
- Ham steaks (½ inch): 380°F195°C for 6–8 minutes, flipped halfway, with a little glaze or maple syrup for the last 2 minutes. They’re a quick weeknight dinner, or a Christmas breakfast with frozen biscuits.
- Spiral ham slices: wrap a stack in foil and heat at 320°F160°C for 4–6 minutes. This is the best way to serve a big spiral ham over several days without drying it out.
- Diced ham: crisp at 400°F205°C for 5–7 minutes, shaking halfway, for omelets, fried rice or salads.
For Christmas dinner
A 3 lb ham serves about 10, and the oven stays free for the sides. While the ham rests, make maple sweet potatoes in the air fryer. See our air fryer side dishes guide for a timing plan. For other holiday mains, try a pork loin roast or roast beef.
Tips for the best glazed ham
- Score the fat so the glaze can sink in.
- Keep it covered until the last few minutes, so the ham stays juicy.
- Glaze in two coats for a thicker, shinier finish.
- Watch the glaze closely. Sugar burns quickly in an air fryer.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate leftover ham for 3–5 days, or freeze it for up to 2 months. Reheat slices wrapped in foil at 320°F160°C for 4–6 minutes, until they reach 165°F74°C. See our reheating guide for other leftovers.
Honey Dijon Glazed Air Fryer Ham
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 hr
- Air fryer
- 320°F160°C
- Makes
- 10 servings
- Calories
- 190 per serving, with glaze
Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked boneless ham (about 3 lb)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or cinnamon
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Wrap. Pat the ham dry. If it has a fat layer, score it in a shallow diamond pattern. Wrap the ham loosely in a large sheet of foil, folding the edges up so the juices can't leak, and set it in the basket.
- Heat. Air fry at 320°F160°C for 35–45 minutes, until the center reaches 140°F60°C. Start checking at 30 minutes.
- Make the glaze. While the ham heats, stir together the brown sugar, honey, Dijon, melted butter and cloves.
- Glaze. Open the foil and fold it down around the sides of the ham, keeping the top uncovered. Brush on half the glaze. Turn the air fryer up to 375°F190°C and cook for 3–4 minutes. Brush on the rest of the glaze and cook another 2–4 minutes, until it's bubbling and caramelized at the edges.
- Rest and slice. Rest the ham for 10 minutes, then slice it and spoon the juices from the foil over the top.
Notes
- Most store-bought hams are fully cooked, but check the label. A ham labeled "cook before eating" or a fresh ham needs to reach 145°F63°C and takes longer, so it's better in the oven.
- Keep the foil folded down around the ham while you glaze, so it can't blow into the heating element.
- Watch the glaze closely. Sugar can go from caramelized to burnt in a minute or two.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook a ham in the air fryer?
Heat a fully cooked boneless ham at 320°F160°C for about 12–15 minutes per pound, wrapped in foil: 25–30 minutes for 2 lb and 36–45 minutes for 3 lb. Then glaze it at 375°F190°C for 5–8 minutes. It's ready when the center reaches 140°F60°C.
What temperature should ham be when it's done?
A fully cooked ham only needs reheating, to 140°F60°C in the center. Leftover ham, or ham that was repackaged at the store, should be reheated to 165°F74°C. A ham labeled "cook before eating" and fresh (uncured) ham must reach 145°F63°C, with a 3-minute rest.
Can you cook a spiral ham in the air fryer?
Only a small one. A typical half spiral ham weighs 7–10 lb and won't fit most baskets. A spiral ham portion of 3–4 lb fits a larger air fryer. Wrap it tightly in foil, cut side down, and heat it at 300°F150°C for about 12–15 minutes per pound. Low heat keeps the thin slices from drying out. For a big spiral ham, heat slices as you need them: 4–6 minutes at 320°F160°C, wrapped in foil.
How do you cook ham steaks in the air fryer?
Cook ½-inch ham steaks at 380°F195°C for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway. Brush them with a little glaze or maple syrup for the last 2 minutes. Ham steaks are already cooked, so you're only heating them through and browning the edges.
Do you need to wrap ham in foil in the air fryer?
Yes, for a whole ham. Foil keeps the outside from drying out while the center heats through. Open it for the last few minutes to glaze and caramelize the top. Always keep the foil under and around the ham, so it's weighed down and can't blow into the heating element.
Can you make an Easter or Christmas ham in the air fryer?
Yes, if you choose a ham that fits. A 2–3 lb boneless ham serves 8–12 people and frees up the oven for sides. For a bigger crowd, heat the large ham in the oven and use the air fryer for the sides.
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