How to Cook a Spiral Ham

Ham is a favorite for the holidays, but if you’ve never cooked it before, it can be intimidating! This guide on how to cook a spiral ham has all the basics you need to know for a crowd-pleasing main dish.

Easter is coming up and if your family is anything like mine, there’s no question about what the main dish will be: ham! Whether it’s my maple glazed spiral ham or honey baked ham, we always know that a spiral ham is going to be the centerpiece of our meal, served alongside other classics like scalloped potatoes and Easter poke cake.

Spiral ham is easy to cook, but it’s a little bit different than a Thanksgiving turkey or roast.

So, What Is Spiral Ham Anyway?

Before we talk about how to cook spiral ham, let’s go back to the absolute basics. We’re talking Ham 101 here!

A spiral ham is a bone-in ham that has been sliced around the bone in a spiral; this way, the meat stays on the bone, but it’s cut to make it easy to serve—and so that sticky-sweet glaze can seep between the slices, making it extra flavorful.

Nearly all spiral hams come pre-cooked. (Note that there are some exceptions that are only partially cooked, but the packaging should note this.) Because the ham is cooked, you only need to warm it up once you get it home.

Step 1: Make a Tasty Glaze

Although technically you just have to warm a spiral cut ham to eat it, adding a glaze makes it extra delicious and helps keep it moist and juicy. Many spiral hams come with a glaze packet, which makes glazing the ham super easy, but you’ll take it to the next level by making your own. Here’s my favorite glaze for spiral ham:

Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze

• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup brown sugar (or maple syrup)
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard

Whisk the glaze ingredients together, then use a pastry brush to evenly add half of the glaze to the top of the ham. 

Brush the remaining glaze on the spiral ham in the last 20-30 minutes of cooking. Place the ham back in the oven or slow cooker and keep it uncovered. This will allow the glaze to soak into the layers of the spiral ham and also get a little crispy on top. 

Step 2: Cook Your Spiral Ham

The classic way to cook a spiral bone-in ham is to use the oven and cook it until it’s heated through. The best way to do this is to roast the ham in a baking dish or roasting pan at a low temperature, heating it slowly so it stays moist. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full instructions.

How Long Should You Cook Spiral Ham in the Oven?

First, check the size of your ham by looking at the package. How long to cook a spiral ham will vary based on the weight of the ham, but generally speaking, you should cook spiral ham for 13-15 minutes per pound at 325ºF.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham and remove the ham from the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 135ºF. The temperature will continue to rise to 140ºF during the resting period and then it will be ready to slice and serve!

Should a Spiral Ham Be Covered When Baking?

I like to lay a piece of foil over the top of my spiral ham when baking. This helps prevent the ham from drying out as it bakes. Once I put the glaze or topping on my spiral ham in the last few minutes of cooking, I do remove the foil. Baking spiral ham uncovered in the last part of the cooking process lets the ham get slightly crispy on top, but it will not dry out. 

How to Cook Spiral Ham in the Crockpot

Spiral ham is also delicious when cooked in a slow cooker and it’s especially nice if you need the oven freed up for cooking sides! I have a fantastic crockpot ham recipe you can follow, but here’s a quick primer:

1. Place the spiral ham in the slow cooker with the large, flat side down.
2. Add a small amount of liquid to the slow cooker. I usually add about ½ cup of apple juice or water to the bowl. This helps keep the ham moist as it slowly cooks. 
3. Brush the ham with glaze, then cover the bowl of the crockpot and cook on the low setting. 
4. Cook the spiral ham in the crockpot for about 18 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer reaches 135ºF.  A 10-pound spiral ham will cook for about 3 hours in the slow cooker. 

Step 3: Serve

Spiral hams are pre-cut around the bone in the center of the ham. They are made with one continuous cut that goes from one end of the bone to the other. You can easily pull the slices of ham off of the bone using a fork, a serving knife, or even your hands. 

Serve the cooked spiral ham and spoon a little extra glaze onto the plate. You can never have enough sweet glaze to go with the salty ham!

Storing Leftovers

Refrigerator: Wrap leftover ham store it in the fridge for 5-7 days. I like to cut the ham off the bone and keep the slices in an airtight container. This makes it very easy to grab a few pieces and make some ham and Swiss sliders , ham pie, or a leftover ham and cheese quiche. 

Freezer: You can also freeze the cooked spiral ham for up to 2 months. Divide the leftover holiday ham between gallon-sized zippered freezer bags. Anytime you are craving ham for dinner or want to whip up a ham and cheese breakfast casserole, you can take a bag out of the freezer to thaw and it will be ready to use in no time! 

Serving Suggestions

Spiral ham recipes pair well with so many side dishes. I love to serve it with traditional Easter sides like honey-glazed carrots, hot cross buns, and cheesy asparagus casserole. My corn pudding recipe is a family favorite at Eastertime and ham is always delicious with potatoes au gratin.

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