Tasty Air Fryer Spiral Ham

Finding a way to cook spiral ham that’s both easy and delicious can feel like a real puzzle, especially when you’re trying to avoid heating up your whole kitchen with the oven. Traditional methods often take hours and can leave you feeling overwhelmed, particularly during busy holiday seasons when you’re already juggling multiple dishes.

Thankfully, this air fryer spiral ham solves all those problems: it cooks faster than the oven method, keeps your kitchen cool, and still delivers that perfect balance of crispy edges and tender, juicy meat that everyone loves.

What Kind of Ham Should I Use?

For this air fryer recipe, you’ll want to use a pre-cooked boneless spiral ham, which you can find in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. The spiral cut is key here because it allows the glaze to get into all those nooks and crannies, giving you more flavor in every bite. Most spiral hams come already glazed, but don’t worry – adding your own brown sugar glaze will just make it even better. If you can only find a bone-in spiral ham, that’ll work too, just adjust your cooking time since it will take a bit longer to heat through.

Options for Substitutions

This air fryer ham recipe is pretty straightforward, but here are some swaps you can make:

• Boneless spiral ham: You can use a bone-in spiral ham, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time and make sure it fits in your air fryer. A regular pre-cooked ham works too – just score it yourself in a diamond pattern.
• Brown sugar: Maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar work great as alternatives. If using liquid sweeteners like maple syrup, reduce the pineapple juice by half to keep the glaze from getting too runny.
• Pineapple juice: Orange juice, apple juice, or even ginger ale can step in here. Each will give you a slightly different flavor profile but still that sweet, fruity taste.
• Ground cloves: If cloves are too strong for your taste, try ground nutmeg or allspice instead. You can also leave them out completely – the ham will still taste great.
• Kosher salt: Regular table salt works fine, just use a pinch less since it’s more concentrated than kosher salt.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when air frying spiral ham is not covering it with foil during the first part of cooking, which can cause the outside to dry out and become tough before the inside is properly heated through.

Another common error is applying the glaze too early – wait until the last 10-15 minutes of cooking to brush on your brown sugar mixture, otherwise it will burn and turn bitter in the high heat of the air fryer.

Make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, aiming for 140°F in the thickest part, and don’t forget to let the ham rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute throughout the meat.

For even better results, score the surface lightly before cooking and baste with the pan juices halfway through to keep everything moist and flavorful.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Spiral Ham?

This sweet and savory ham pairs beautifully with classic sides like creamy mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, or green beans. The brown sugar and pineapple glaze on the ham works really well with tangy sides like cranberry sauce or a fresh salad with vinaigrette dressing to balance out the sweetness. For a complete meal, consider adding some dinner rolls or cornbread for soaking up any extra glaze, and maybe some roasted sweet potatoes that complement those warm spices of cinnamon and cloves. Mac and cheese is another crowd-pleaser that goes great with ham, especially if you’re feeding a family.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Your leftover spiral ham will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4-5 days when wrapped tightly in foil or stored in an airtight container. I like to slice it up right after dinner so it’s ready for sandwiches and quick meals throughout the week.

Freeze: Ham freezes really well for up to 2 months! Wrap individual portions or slices in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. This makes it super easy to grab just what you need for a quick meal.

Warm Up: To enjoy your leftover ham, you can eat it cold straight from the fridge or gently warm it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. For larger portions, wrap in damp paper towels and heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	30-40 minutes
Total Time	40-55 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1800-2000
• Protein: 210-230 g
• Fat: 80-90 g
• Carbohydrates: 50-60 g

Ingredients

For the ham:

• 3 lb boneless spiral ham (ensure it’s pre-cooked for convenience)

For the glaze:

• 2 tbsp pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed for accurate measurement)
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Step 1: Wrap and Preheat the Ham

• 3 lb boneless spiral-cut ham

Remove the 3 lb boneless spiral-cut ham from any packaging.

Wrap the ham completely in foil paper and place it in the air fryer basket.

Step 2: Initial Air Fry

• 3 lb boneless spiral-cut ham (wrapped in foil from Step 1)

Air fry the wrapped ham at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

This warms the ham through and prepares it for glazing.

Step 3: Prepare the Glaze

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

While the ham is cooking, prepare the glaze.

In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the brown sugar, pineapple juice, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and kosher salt.

Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, and immediately remove from heat.

I like to keep an eye on the glaze to avoid overboiling—it just needs to be syrupy.

Step 4: Brush with Glaze and Continue Cooking

• 3 lb boneless spiral-cut ham (from Step 2)
• Half of the prepared glaze from Step 3

After the initial 15 minutes of cooking, carefully open the foil.

Brush half of the prepared glaze (from Step 3) over the ham, making sure to get between the slices.

Reseal the ham with the foil and place it back in the air fryer.

Cook for an additional 15 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5: Finish with Remaining Glaze and Optional Charring

• 3 lb boneless spiral-cut ham (from Step 4)
• Remaining glaze from Step 3

Once the cooking time is up, carefully remove the foil from the ham and pour the remaining glaze (from Step 3) evenly over the top.

For those who prefer a little char on the ham edges, you can continue to cook the ham uncovered at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for an additional 3-5 minutes.

I like to watch closely during this step to ensure the glaze caramelizes without burning.