Perfect Boneless Air Fryer Ham with Irresistible Pineapple Glaze: Your Go-To Recipe for Easy, Flavorful Ham
Imagine a perfectly cooked ham: tender and juicy on the inside, with a gloriously crispy, caramelized glaze on the outside. Now imagine achieving this culinary masterpiece with minimal effort, saving precious oven space, and in a fraction of the time. This is precisely what our boneless air fryer ham recipe delivers! Whether you’re preparing a small holiday feast, a cozy dinner for two, or simply craving a delicious and high-protein meal, cooking ham in an air fryer is a game-changer. Forget long baking times and dried-out meat; this method ensures a succulent ham with an irresistible homemade pineapple glaze that will have everyone asking for seconds.
If you’re looking for a quick and efficient way to prepare a savory boneless ham, look no further. This method is ideal for those with limited kitchen space or anyone needing to cook for just a few people. It’s just one of the many easy air fryer recipes we love sharing here on The Typical Mom blog. We’ve explored various cooking methods, from our popular Instant Pot ham, which also features a similar delightful glaze, to traditional oven-baked ham. While oven baking is wonderful when time allows, the air fryer offers unparalleled convenience and incredible results for smaller cuts.
This air fryer ham isn’t just for special occasions like Christmas or Easter. Its high protein content and excellent suitability for next-day dishes make it a fantastic choice any time of the year. Don’t worry about making too much, as we have fantastic ideas for using up leftovers! Our popular leftover ham recipe ensures there’s absolutely no waste. After successfully air frying nearly everything else, perfecting a ham recipe for this versatile appliance was a must, and we’re thrilled to share our definitive guide with you.
Cooking Ham in Your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
For those who own a Ninja Foodi, these instructions are perfectly adaptable. When using your Ninja Foodi for this recipe, simply remember to utilize the attached lid with the ‘Air Crisp’ function. The Ninja Foodi’s air crisp technology is fantastic for achieving that desired crispy exterior on your ham. If you’re always on the lookout for great Ninja Foodi recipes, this one will quickly become a favorite. For quick reference, we also offer a free air fryer cook times chart that you can keep on your fridge, detailing temperatures and times for various meats, including ham, and other beloved dishes.
Essential Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Ham and Glaze
Crafting the perfect air fryer ham begins with selecting the right ingredients. Our simple yet flavorful pineapple glaze elevates the ham, ensuring it remains incredibly moist while developing a deliciously sweet and savory crust.
The Boneless Ham
- Boneless Ham: Start with a pre-cooked, boneless ham, typically weighing around 3-3.5 lbs. If your ham isn’t spiral-cut, you’ll want to carefully slice it about three-quarters of the way down, making sure the slices remain attached at the bottom. This scoring allows the glaze to penetrate deep into the meat, infusing every bite with flavor and helping it stay moist. If your ham is already spiral-cut, you can skip this preparation step.
The Irresistible Pineapple Glaze
Our easy, 3-ingredient ham glaze is truly the star of this recipe, providing moisture, sweetness, and a tangy kick. You’ll need just a few staple ingredients:
- Butter: Melted butter forms the base of our glaze, adding richness and ensuring the ham remains succulent throughout the cooking process. It’s crucial for preventing dryness and enhancing flavor.
- Honey: This natural sweetener provides that classic ham glaze sweetness and helps achieve a beautiful caramelized finish. For an alternative, you can use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Brown Sugar: Another key sweetener, brown sugar contributes to the glaze’s deep, molasses-like flavor and rich color. While we haven’t tested it extensively, a sugar-free alternative like Splenda brown sugar blend could likely be used if preferred.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a wonderful tang and savory depth that balances the sweetness of the honey and brown sugar. It also helps to thicken the glaze slightly. While other mustards can be used, we recommend Dijon for its balanced flavor profile.
- Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic, or the convenient pre-minced variety, adds an aromatic and pungent kick that complements the ham beautifully. Don’t underestimate its ability to elevate the overall taste!
- Water or Broth: A small amount of liquid, such as water or chicken/vegetable broth, is essential for adjusting the glaze’s consistency. You can also use pineapple juice for an extra layer of fruity flavor, enhancing the overall tropical profile of the glaze. We prefer a slightly thicker glaze, but feel free to adjust to your personal preference.
Equipment Needed
Beyond your air fryer, you will need a 7.5-inch springform pan. Line it with non-stick spray and cover it with foil. This helps to contain the ham and the delicious glaze during cooking, ensuring even heating and easy cleanup.
Tips for Selecting Your Air Fryer Ham
When choosing your ham, remember that air fryers have size limitations. The ham shown in our pictures is a standard store-brand, pre-cooked, and hickory-smoked variety. This type of ham works perfectly because it only needs to be reheated to a safe internal temperature, and its smaller size fits comfortably in most air fryer baskets. If you opt for a less processed or different variety, ensure it is still on the smaller side to fit your air fryer. A typical 3-3.5 lb ham will take approximately 40 minutes to warm through completely.
Air Fryer Boneless Ham Cook Time and Temperature
The total cooking time for a sliced 3-3.5 lb boneless ham in the air fryer is typically around 40-45 minutes. This duration can vary slightly based on your ham’s exact thickness and your specific air fryer model. The key to preventing your ham from drying out is consistent basting with the flavorful glaze, or at the very least, a little water. This ensures a moist interior and a beautiful, caramelized exterior.
It’s important to remember that most hams purchased from the grocery store are pre-cooked or smoked. Therefore, the goal isn’t to “cook” the ham from raw, but rather to safely reheat it to a comfortable serving temperature. The safe internal temperature for pre-cooked ham is 140°F (60°C). Always use a reliable meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham to ensure it reaches this temperature before serving. This simple step guarantees both safety and optimal enjoyment.
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Ham Steak
If you’re only looking to prepare a single serving or a quick lunch, cooking a ham steak in the air fryer is incredibly fast and convenient. We’ve previously shared various methods for cooking ham steak. For the air fryer, we recommend preheating your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cooking the ham steak for about 4 minutes. While it cooks, whip up a small portion of the pineapple glaze detailed below. Drizzle the warm glaze over your perfectly cooked ham steak and enjoy a delightful meal in minutes. Please note that nutritional information will vary based on the fat content of the ham steak you select.
Air Fryer Ham Recipe
By Justine
This recipe explains how long to cook a boneless ham in an air fryer. It’s an easy way to save oven space or prepare a small piece for 2-4 people, ensuring a crispy outside and tender, moist inside.
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 47 mins Servings: 12
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 7 inch springform pan
Ingredients
Ham Glaze
- 3 – 3.5 lb boneless ham, precooked, sliced
Ham Glaze
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup water, broth or pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1.5 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup honey
Instructions
- Slice the whole ham three-quarters of the way down, ensuring the slices remain attached at the bottom to prevent it from falling apart. If your ham is spiral-cut, you can skip this step.
- In a large mixing cup or bowl, melt the butter. Add all other glaze ingredients (water/broth/pineapple juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, honey) and whisk them together until well combined.
- Lightly spray the inside of a 7.5-inch springform pan with non-stick spray. Place the ham inside the pan. Pour half of the prepared glaze mixture over the ham, ensuring it seeps in between the slices. (Optional: You can add a few tablespoons of crushed pineapple to the glaze at this stage for extra flavor).
- Cover the top of the pan tightly with foil and carefully place it inside your air fryer basket.
- Cook the ham at 300°F (150°C) for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, carefully remove the foil, pour half of the remaining glaze over the top of the ham, and then recover with foil. Continue to cook for another 20 minutes.
- After the second 20-minute interval, remove the foil completely. Increase the air fryer temperature to 360°F (180°C) and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour the very last of the remaining glaze over the top of the ham. Continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes to allow the top to brown and caramelize beautifully. Once the timer is up, leave the air fryer basket closed for an extra 5 minutes to allow the ham’s internal temperature to stabilize and continue warming.
- Carefully remove the ham from the air fryer. Slice it and serve immediately, spooning any accumulated sauce from the bottom of the pan over each serving. Please note: Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the thickness of your specific ham and the model of your air fryer. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the ham reaches 140°F (60°C).
Video
Watch our step-by-step video guide on how to cook this delicious boneless air fryer ham with pineapple glaze for visual instructions.
Nutrition
Serving: 2oz, Calories: 710kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 53g, Fat: 45g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 162mg, Sodium: 2975mg, Potassium: 722mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 118IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Reheating Ham Slices in the Air Fryer
Mastering this honey-glazed ham in your air fryer is just the beginning. If you find yourself with delicious leftover slices, the air fryer is also your best friend for reheating! To keep the ham moist and flavorful, place the slices in a small piece of foil with a touch of extra glaze or a splash of broth. Create a loosely sealed packet. Heat them in the air fryer at 360°F (180°C) for just a few minutes, typically 3-5, or until they are warmed through to your liking. This method prevents drying out and helps maintain that wonderful tenderness.
Creative Uses for Leftover Ham
One of the best parts about cooking a delicious ham is the opportunity for incredible leftovers. We always plan to have extra! Throughout the week, those savory slices can be transformed into a variety of delectable dishes. A personal favorite is our Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup, where a few handfuls of diced ham add amazing depth and heartiness. Beyond soup, consider dicing it for omelets, adding it to a cheesy pasta bake, topping a salad, or crafting quick and tasty ham and cheese sandwiches. The possibilities are endless, ensuring every last bit of your air fryer ham is enjoyed.
What Other Meats Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
The air fryer’s versatility extends far beyond ham, proving it truly can cook almost everything! We’ve successfully prepared a wide array of proteins, each coming out perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. From juicy air fryer steak and tender pork loin in an air fryer, to crispy air-fried shrimp and perfectly cooked frozen chicken breasts – the results are consistently excellent. This appliance has revolutionized our approach to quick and healthy meals. You might have a few common questions as you prepare to make this fantastic air fryer ham for your next meal or gathering:
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Frying Ham
Absolutely! The main consideration for cooking any type of ham in an air fryer, including country ham, is its size. The ham must fit comfortably within your air fryer basket without touching the heating element or overcrowding the space. For reference, a 5.7-quart air fryer typically accommodates a whole pre-cooked hickory-smoked ham without issues. Always measure your ham and air fryer basket before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
We believe air frying is one of the best ways to cook a pre-cooked ham, especially for smaller cuts. This method excels at warming the interior thoroughly while simultaneously creating deliciously crispy and caramelized edges on every slice. Our detailed, step-by-step instructions ensure you achieve perfect results, making it an excellent choice for cooking a small boneless ham any time of the year, not just during holidays.
Preventing a pre-cooked ham from drying out in the air fryer is all about maintaining moisture and careful temperature management. The key lies in consistent basting with a rich, flavorful glaze – like our Dijon mustard and butter-based pineapple glaze – throughout the cooking process. Additionally, cooking the ham at a slightly lower temperature for a longer duration allows the very center to warm slowly and evenly without dehydrating the outer layers. Using foil for a portion of the cooking time also helps lock in moisture, ensuring your ham remains incredibly tender and juicy.
