This Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham is the kind of showstopper centerpiece that looks like you spent all day in the kitchen – but comes together with surprisingly little effort! A sweet and tangy honey mustard glaze caramelizes beautifully over a juicy spiral chicken ham, making every single slice absolutely irresistible. Whether you’re putting this on the table for a holiday gathering, a Sunday family dinner, or just a special weeknight treat, this one is going to have everyone coming back for seconds!
A Crowd-Pleasing Glazed Ham Recipe
I am a huge fan of recipes that deliver big, bold flavor without requiring you to be in the kitchen all day. This Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham checks every single box for me. The glaze is the real star here – a gorgeous combination of honey, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and a hint of apple cider vinegar that gets thick and sticky and caramelized in the oven. It seeps down into all those beautiful spiral cuts and the flavor is just unreal.
What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. Serve it alongside some Classic Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Green Beans, and some Butter Swim Biscuits and you have a whole, nourishing meal that the entire family will devour. And the leftovers? Absolutely fantastic. Ham sandwiches the next day are something I actually look forward to!
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a spiral chicken ham?
A spiral chicken ham is a pre-cooked, pre-sliced ham made from chicken rather than pork. It has the same classic spiral cut as a traditional ham, which means the glaze gets down into every single slice and the meat is incredibly easy to serve. Since it is already fully cooked, you are really just heating it through and building that gorgeous glaze on top.
Do I have to use Dijon mustard?
Dijon is my personal favorite here because it has that sharp, tangy bite that really balances out the sweetness from the honey and brown sugar. That said, you can absolutely use whole grain mustard for a more rustic, textured glaze, or even a spicy brown mustard if you want a little more kick. Yellow mustard will work in a pinch but the flavor will be milder.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! You can mix the glaze up to 3 days in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. On the day you are ready to cook, just let the ham sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before it goes into the oven. This helps it heat more evenly throughout.
Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Place the ham cut-side down in your slow cooker, pour half the glaze over it, and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Then brush on the remaining glaze and pop it under the broiler for 3-4 minutes to get that gorgeous caramelized finish. It comes out incredibly tender!
How do I keep the ham from drying out?
The biggest trick here is to tent the ham with foil for most of the baking time and only uncover it during the last 20-25 minutes when you are adding the final glaze layers. This keeps all that moisture locked in while still giving you that beautiful caramelized exterior.
How do I store leftover Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham?
Allow leftovers to cool fully, then transfer to an airtight container or wrap tightly in foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This also freezes beautifully! Wrap individual slices well to protect against freezer burn and they will keep for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a low oven covered with foil.
Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below for the Full Recipe)
- spiral chicken ham – look for a fully pre-cooked spiral chicken ham at your grocery store or deli section. Since it is already cooked through, you are really just warming it up and building that incredible glaze.
- Dijon mustard – this is the backbone of the glaze. It adds that sharp, tangy depth that makes the whole thing come together so well.
- honey – balances out the mustard and gives the glaze that gorgeous sticky sweetness. Local honey works great here!
- light brown sugar – when it hits the heat of the oven it gets thick, caramelized, and absolutely irresistible. Make sure you pack it into the measuring cup.
- apple cider vinegar – just a small amount cuts through the richness and keeps the glaze from being overly sweet. It really ties it all together.
- garlic powder – adds a subtle savory note to the glaze that keeps it balanced.
- ground black pepper – a little bit of heat to round everything out.
- unsalted butter – stirred into the glaze at the end and it makes the whole thing luxuriously smooth and glossy.
- fresh rosemary or thyme – optional, but if you have it on hand, tucking a few sprigs around the ham before baking adds a really beautiful, aromatic, wholesome element.
How to Make Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Place the spiral chicken ham cut-side down into a large roasting pan or a 9×13-inch baking dish. If you have fresh rosemary or thyme, tuck those sprigs around the base of the ham now. Pour about ¼ cup of water or chicken broth into the bottom of the pan – this just helps create a little steam and keeps everything nice and moist.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. While the ham is in the oven, make your glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the Dijon mustard, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir and let it come to a gentle simmer for about 3-4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and everything is combined. Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted and smooth.
About 25 minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil. Brush a generous layer of the glaze all over the ham, making sure to get it down into those spiral cuts. Return to the oven uncovered. After 10 minutes, pull it out and brush on another layer of glaze. Return to the oven for the remaining 15 minutes. The glaze should look thick, caramelized, and deeply golden.
Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This is really important – don’t skip this step! Resting allows all those juices to redistribute. Brush on any remaining glaze from the pan over the top just before serving for maximum flavor!
Pro Tips for Making Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham
- Don’t rush the glaze. Let it simmer long enough for the sugar to fully dissolve. If you see any lumps, just keep stirring over medium heat and they will go away.
- Use a meat thermometer. Since the ham is already pre-cooked, you just need to get it to 140°F internally. Going much higher than that risks drying it out.
- Get glaze into the cuts. Use a pastry brush and really work that glaze down into the spiral cuts. That’s where all the flavor lives!
- Don’t skip the rest. Letting the ham rest for 10 minutes after coming out of the oven makes a huge difference in how moist and juicy every slice turns out.
- Broil for extra caramelization. If you want an even deeper, stickier glaze, pop it under the broiler on high for 2-3 minutes at the very end. Just keep a close eye on it – it can go from perfectly caramelized to burned very quickly!
What to Serve with Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham
This ham is a natural centerpiece so you really just need some simple, comforting sides to round out the meal. My absolute favorites to serve alongside this are Classic Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Maple Glazed Carrots, Italian Green Beans, and some warm, fluffy Butter Swim Biscuits. A simple side salad is also a great way to add something fresh and nutritious to the table. Honestly, you can’t go wrong!
How to Store Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham
Allow the ham to cool fully before storing. Transfer to an airtight container or wrap tightly in aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place slices on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and warm in a 300°F oven for about 10-15 minutes. Or you can reheat individual slices in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out. This freezes beautifully as well – wrap individual portions well to protect against freezer burn and freeze for up to 2 months.
Tasty Mustard Glazed Spiral Chicken Ham
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Place the spiral chicken ham cut-side down in a large roasting pan or 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour ¼ cup of water or low-sodium chicken broth into the bottom of the pan. Tuck fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs around the ham if using.
- Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for approximately 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F on a meat thermometer.
- While the ham bakes, make the glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the Dijon mustard, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until fully melted and incorporated.
- About 25 minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil. Brush a generous layer of the mustard glaze all over the ham, working it down into the spiral cuts.
- Return to the oven uncovered. After 10 minutes, brush on a second layer of glaze. Bake for the remaining 15 minutes until the glaze is caramelized, thick, and deeply golden.
- Remove from oven and let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Brush any remaining glaze from the pan over the top just before serving.
