This Chipotle Orange Baked Ham Glaze is a fantastic way to keep that ham moist while baking and develops a wonderful, caramelized crust that is just mouthwatering. Orange, cinnamon, clove and chipotle powder all add to this ham glaze to make that holiday dinner memorable. Plus the sauce is made in 10 minutes!
I like to use a pre-cooked spiral ham that I pick up at Honey Baked. Having the bone in keeps things moist, whether it’s a cut of beef, chicken or pork, if you have the option of bone in, do it. Another great thing about using one of these is that it keeps you out of the kitchen and with your guests. Isn’t that why we all get together?
Simply let the ham come to room temperature, maybe an hour or so on the counter covered. This way it will cook evenly instead of a cold block of ham going in the oven where the outside will warm up and the inside won’t.
While it comes to room temp, make the Orange Sauce that I use on my Southern Pulled Pork sandwiches. I spice it up with some added dijon, chipotle powder and a pinch of red chili flakes, but feel free to play around with the amounts if you like to keep the kick down a bit. I like a good bite and with the sweet citrus and spices, it’s a great combination.
Now that the sauce is made we unwrap the ham and baste it all over with half the sauce. Get in all those nooks and crannies, too! Wrap it back up in enough aluminum foil to seal it and place on a roasting rack over 2-3 cups of water in a roasting pan.
Remember this ham is already pre-cooked, so we are simply making sure it’s warm throughout. Seal and cover it in the foil after glazing and cook it in the oven for 2 hours.
After that we turn the temp up higher and it gets basted once more so the outside caramelizes for a crunchy exterior and in the oven it goes again uncovered for 15 minutes. The Chipotle Orange Baked Ham Glaze aroma is OFF THE HOOK.
At this point the internal temperature should be 110°F and needs rest for at least 15 minutes covered. Then serve it up to happy friends and family.
Need ideas what to do if there are any leftovers? I’ve got you covered! Check out this Pineapple Ham and Cheese Hand Pies recipe, or my Crustless Spinach Quiche with Ham, or use it in this Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup. Enjoy!
Chipotle Orange Baked Ham Glaze
Ingredients
- 8-10 lb spiral cut ham
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- Remove covered ham from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature 2 hours.
- In a saucepan over high heat whisk together the orange juice, zest, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, ground clove, red pepper flakes, chipotle powder and dijon mustard. Turn heat to medium and cook until thickened. Stir often. The sauce will be a thick amber. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Unwrap the ham and baste it all over with half the sauce. Get in all those nooks and crannies with the brush. Wrap it back up in enough aluminum foil to seal it and place on a roasting rack over 2-3 cups of water in a roasting pan.
- Bake ham for 1.5-2 hours, or until the center registers 110°F, about 12 minutes per pound.
- Remove ham from oven and turn oven temperature to 400°F.
- Bast once more so the outside caramelizes for a crunchy exterior and in the oven it goes again uncovered for 15 minutes. Serve with any remaining sauce.
Made this Ham for Christmas dinner, Best.Ham.Ever! The only thing I changed was I used chili powder instead of chipotle powder since I didn’t have any on hand. Thanks to this recipe, I have a new Christmas dinner tradition!
Hi Nick!
Thank you for stopping by to let me know! I love that you enjoyed it!
Or, slather an uncircumcised ham with spicy mustard, wrap it top to bottom in bread dough sealed, and bake it at 400F in the oven. Crack open the bread crock, discard and eat ham.
Oh my that sounds good!
Hello Kevin, I’m making the honey chipotle ham glaze. Can I substitute chipotle adobo sauce for the powdered chipotle? If so, how much?. Just discovered your site and am eager to try more of your recipes. Thanks, Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth! I went ahead and moved your comment for this recipe from my About page to the recipe itself in case other readers had the same question. I would use 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce myself to substitute for the chipotle powder. I know it may seem like a lot compared to the 1/2 tsp of powdered chipotle powder, but use what you think would be best. It’s the flavor here with a little heat and I think between the orange juice and sugar it would offset the sweetness. I haven’t tried it, but that would be a… Read more »
Okay Kevin, I’m going to totally turn this recipe on its head so tell me what you think… I have to make my ham in the slow cooker tomorrow because I need the room in my oven for other things AND I didn’t buy a spiral cut ham since they kind of dry out in the slow cooker (at least for me). I still want the flavors of this recipe so do you think I could modify this to cook in the slow cooker and then maybe make extra glaze to brush over at the end and then place in… Read more »
You always say the sweetest things Sally. Thanks so much. I think your idea is spot on myself. And trust me, make extra sauce, this stuff is so good!
Have a wonderful holiday dinner and hello to the family!
My dear Kevin!! This ham looks and sounds amazing!! I mean look at that glaze! just perfect. Hugs!!
Hi Gaila! It’s been a while. It has been SO CRAZY BUSY here. Apologies for not stopping by. Always nice to read you comments and see your smiling face. Cheers to a fantastic holiday.
That sounds like a delicious combination of flavors. You caught me at the right time! I’m planning to make a ham Easter.
Hey there Jeff, I hope this makes it to your guys Easter table! Enjoy!
This glaze sounds incredible – sticky, spicy goodness! We’re not really ham eaters, but I could totally see this glaze on other cuts of pork or even chicken!
I do a ham once or twice a year and make the most of it! Thanks Marissa. 🙂
5 star rating, no question. The recipe sounds so good, and your pictures are just amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Cecilia, you are really going to enjoy this one! 🙂
This looks perfect for Easter! I’m always trying to change up the glaze I make from year to year Kevin! I’ll need to give your recipe a try! I know anything coming from your kitchen is going to be awesome!
Awe, thanks so much MaryAnn. I love a dinner that provides a few residual meals the following days, too. The bits and pieces on the edges are basically meat candy! 🙂
Holy smokes, Kevin!!! Seriously, I don’t even eat ham but THIS ham looks amazing! That caramelized crust looks just perfect! The husband has been trying to convince me to make him ham this year.. and he promised me he would eat the entire thing himself If I made it. I’m thinking if I made this beauty, he would ABSOLUTELY eat the whole dang thang! I mean, WOW. You knocked this out of the park buddy!!!! Pinned! Cheers!
Thanks Chey, it was and still gave a few delicious meals! The leftovers (and upcoming recipe) were great. I think Boy deserves this, too. 😉
Oh, this glaze sounds incredible! I can only imagine how good your house smelled when this one was in the oven. And I bet this one made for some pretty epic ham sammiches, too! 🙂
We made sammiches and another recipe I’ll be posting soon. The edges seemed almost like candy as I picked at it to slice a piece off the next day. So good! 🙂
OMG! Yes! That glaze, Kevin!! What?! How freakin’ delicious does that sound (and look). You know I am loving the chipotle touch!!
I love ham hot or cold and if it’s cold, then it’s with Dijon mustard for dunkin’. Pinning this deliciousness and hopefully it’ll make it soon to our table. Definitely perfect for Easter! Happy Monday, my friend. Have a great week!
Citrus and spicy all slathered over that beautiful ham…. it really is a win win and the leftovers are pretty special too. Thanks Dawn!