Air Fryer Spiral Ham with Honey Brown Sugar Glaze (Juicy & Fully Cooked)

Sweet & Savory Spiral Ham in the Air Fryer

This air fryer spiral ham with an irresistible honey brown sugar glaze is a fast, stress-free way to serve a holiday-style main dish without using the oven all day. Most spiral hams are fully cooked, so you’re mainly reheating it to juicy perfection—then finishing with a glossy, caramelized glaze.

If you love easy air fryer wins, this is another reason why I love my air fryer. Have you checked out these other amazing air fryer recipes? Dinner is quicker when I use my air fryer—sometimes I can cut the cooking time in half like with these air fryer brussels sprouts with bacon.

Follow along in this video as I show you how to make this tasty ham in the air fryer!

What is the perfect size of ham for the air fryer?

All you need for this recipe is a 3–4 pound pre-cooked, pre-sliced spiral ham. I used a 3.5 pound ham and actually had to cut a little bit off because it wouldn’t all fit in the air fryer. Just be mindful of the size of your air fryer basket or tray when you choose your ham at the grocery store.

This recipe is FAST—it takes about half the time compared to the oven. First, score diagonal lines into the top of your ham to help the glaze seep in. Next, either:

• Place 2 generous pieces of foil in the air fryer basket, set the ham in the middle, and wrap it tightly, or
• Place the ham inside an air fryer silicone pot and cover the top with foil.

Either way, keep the ham covered so it doesn’t dry out or burn during the warm-up. Warm the ham for 10 minutes at 350°F/175°C.

How to Make the Best Brown Sugar Glaze for Your Ham

You are going to love this glaze because it’s sweet, savory, and turns glossy as it cools—perfect for brushing over spiral ham. For the glaze, you need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

While your ham is warming, prepare your glaze by browning the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. After the butter has melted and turned a golden brown, stir in the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir until the sugar has dissolved (about 2 minutes).

Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for an extra 1–2 minutes, or until the glaze becomes fragrant and begins to simmer. Once it simmers, remove it from the heat. As it cools, it will thicken to a honey-like consistency.

How to make Spiral Ham in the Air Fryer Fast

Once the ham is done warming, open the foil and brush or spoon about 1/3 of the glaze over the ham. Re-close the foil and continue cooking for 20 minutes at 350°F/175°C.

Next, remove the foil to create a slightly caramelized outer layer. Brush or spoon another 1/3 of the glaze over the ham and cook for 5 minutes at 350°F/175°C, checking occasionally to prevent edges from burning.

Is Spiral Ham Fully Cooked?

Most spiral hams are fully cooked and only need to be reheated. The air fryer warms the ham quickly while keeping it juicy. For best results, heat until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (use a meat thermometer and check the thickest part, not touching bone).

The Best Ham with Brown Sugar Honey Glaze

Once the edges are cooked to your crispy perfection, enjoy the ham with the remaining glaze. You may need to gently warm the glaze again for a minute or two to thin it out, since it can thicken as it cools (thanks, honey!).

Serve this ham with a side of potatoes, corn, or carrots—any classic comfort sides work here. It’s perfect for small holiday gatherings and family dinners (and the leftovers are the best part!).

Air Fryer Spiral Ham FAQ

Can you cook a spiral ham in the air fryer?

Yes! A small spiral ham (about 3–4 pounds) fits in most basket or oven-style air fryers. Since spiral ham is typically fully cooked, you’re reheating it fast and finishing it with a caramelized glaze.

Do you cover ham in the air fryer?

Yes. Covering the ham with foil helps prevent the glaze from burning and keeps the ham moist. Remove the foil near the end so the glaze can caramelize.

How long does it take to heat spiral ham in the air fryer?

A 3–4 lb spiral ham typically takes about 35–40 minutes at 350°F, depending on your air fryer and how snugly it’s wrapped. Always confirm doneness by checking for an internal temp of 140°F.

Leftovers & Reheating

Leftover air fryer spiral ham reheats beautifully. Wrap slices in foil and reheat at 325°F for 3–5 minutes, just until warmed through. This keeps the ham tender without drying it out.

For safe leftover storage and reheating tips, check the food safety guidance from FoodSafety.gov.

Final Thoughts

Every time I make this ham I’m impressed with how fast and easy it is—and that glaze is always a showstopper. A 3.5 pound ham feeds my family of 7 (including teen boys!) with leftovers. We love using the leftovers for sandwiches the next day. Another reason this recipe is a keeper!

I hope you and your family fall in love with this amazing spiral ham and sweet-and-savory honey brown sugar glaze. Let me know how it went for you in the comments below!

Try one of my favorite fast and easy air fryer dinners:

• Crispy and Delicious Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan- Ready in 20 minutes!
• Air Fryer Juicy Roast Beef and Tender Vegetables
• Flavorful Sausage, Potato, and Onion in the Air Fryer

More easy recipes you’ll love:

• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Slow Cooker Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Carrots

Sweet and Savory Air Fryer Ham with Honey Brown Sugar Glaze

Enjoy ham anytime of the year in your air fryer with this savory brown sugar honey glaze

4.91 / 5 ( 10 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Serves: 6

Adjust Servings: 6

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 3-4 lb ham pre-sliced, pre-cooked

For glaze:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 cloves garlic minced

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Place 2 generous pieces of tinfoil in the air fryer.
• Place pre sliced ham in the middle of the tinfoil and tightly close the tinfoil around the ham.
• Warm the ham for 10 minutes at 350°F/175°C.
• While the ham is warming, create the glaze. Brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, until it begins to turn golden brown and aromatic. Swirl it around in the pan occasionally to help it brown evenly.
• Stir in the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for a minute or two until it becomes fragrant and just begins to simmer. Right as it begins to simmer, remove from heat and set aside. As it cools, it will become the consistency of a thick honey.
• Once the ham is done warming, open the tinfoil and brush or spoon 1/3 of the glaze over the ham. Reclose the tinfoil and continue cooking in the air fryer for another 20 minutes at 350°F/175°C.
• Open and fold down the tinfoil for this last cook time to create a slightly crispy outer layer. Brush or spoon another 1/3 of the glaze over the ham and cook in the air fryer for another 5 minutes at the same temperature, checking occasionally to prevent burning edges.
• The last ⅓ of the glaze can be used while serving the ham. It may need to be gently warmed for a few minutes again to thin out the glaze for serving since honey tends to thicken as it cools.

Nutrition

Calories: 919kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 54g | Sodium: 2763mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 59g

Recipe Adapted From: Best Recipe Box