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GET IT NOWI Want To Drink The Glaze From This Ham Steak Recipe
My husband does the grocery shopping (always a fun time with my list labeling things “pretty for pictures” 😂), and one week when I asked for a chunk of ham for my chef salad, he came home with ham steak instead. They would’ve worked just fine for the salad, but I couldn’t resist turning them into a ham steak recipe! I added a sweet glaze that took it over the top. Here’s what makes it special:
- Sweet, savory, and buttery glaze – While you can certainly fry up ham steak recipes plain, I coated mine in a sweet, tangy maple glaze with a hint of Dijon. You’ll want to drizzle it on everything — I practically wanted to drink it!
- Quick and easy – You need just 7 simple pantry ingredients, and the whole thing takes less than 15 minutes.
- Versatile for any meal – Make them for breakfast with your eggs. Serve them with side salad for lunch. Whip up a quick dinner with air fryer vegetables. Host a small holiday gathering when you don’t have enough people for a whole baked ham. There’s no bad time for glazed ham steaks!
My kids love ham, so it was the perfect quick dinner for us. If your family likes it too and they’re a fan of sweet, sticky glazes, make these ham steaks with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my ham steaks recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Ham Steaks – You can usually find them near the packaged meats at the grocery store, or just ask the butcher. I’ve only seen boneless ham steaks in my area, but bone-in work, too and will be a bit more flavorful. They can range from 1/4 inch to 1 inch thick, and are usually precooked. Any thickness will work with my recipe. If you have extras, chop them up and toss into my ham salad.
- Maple Syrup – The main ingredient in the sweet glaze! I use my natural Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Maple Syrup, but regular maple syrup works fine.
- Butter – Searing the ham steak in unsalted butter adds a rich flavor and acts as a base for the sauce. Ghee would make the best dairy-sensitive substitute (not dairy-free, but no lactose). I don’t recommend olive or avocado oil, as the glaze might be oily.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Just a splash to balance out the sweetness. You can also use lemon juice.
- Dijon Mustard – For flavor and a subtle kick. Yellow mustard is more acidic, so if that’s all you’ve got, you may want to reduce the amount of ACV.
- Spices – Garlic powder and black pepper. You don’t need salt, because ham steak is already salty.
How To Cook Ham Steak
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Mix the maple glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Sear the ham steak. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the ham steaks in a single layer. Sear for a few minutes on each side, until golden and caramelized.
- Thicken the sauce. Pour the maple mixture over the ham — it’ll bubble right away. Simmer until the glaze thickens, flipping occasionally. Drizzle each ham steak with a couple tablespoons of sauce from the pan for serving!
My Recipe Tips
- Check if your ham steak is precooked. They usually are, but if yours is not, make sure it’s fully cooked (at least 160 degrees F) before adding the glaze. You can lower the heat if the outside browns before the inside is cooked through.
- Cut larger ham steaks in half. Mine were 4 ounces each, but if yours are large (8 ounces), I recommend cutting them in half for easier flipping and serving.
- Pat dry before cooking. I recommend this for all proteins — it helps with browning and caramelization, plus keeps the inside juicy.
- Grab your largest skillet, cast iron if possible. I use this skillet. It’s large enough to fry all 4 ham steaks in a single layer, plus it’s cast iron for the nicest browning and fastest cooking. You’ll have to cook in batches if they don’t all fit.
- Watch the heat when simmering the glaze. If it’s too low, your sauce won’t thicken very well. On the other hand, I find that too high heat can make the glaze a little bitter.
- My ham steak recipe makes plenty of extra glaze, so it’s easy to double it. Use the extra glaze to drizzle on top if you only make a single batch. Otherwise, cook a second batch of steaks in the same pan — the glaze is enough for both!
Ham Steak (With Maple Glaze)
My easy ham steak recipe with a sweet maple glaze comes together in less than 15 minutes. Your family will love this quick dinner!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Pat the ham steaks dry with paper towels.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper.
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In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the ham steaks in a single layer. Sear for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown on both sides.
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Pour the maple mixture over the ham steaks. It should start to bubble right away. Simmer for about 2 minutes, flipping the ham steaks occasionally, until the glaze thickens.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 4-ounce ham steak
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you cook ham steaks perfectly, get nice browning, and how I double this recipe.
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I like to chop them up to toss into breakfast casseroles, egg muffin cups, fluffy omelettes, and even buckwheat crepes.
- Reheat: Just pop it in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, or warm in the microwave.
- Freeze: Cooked ham steak will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze before cooking (without the glaze) for up to 6 months.
- Note on nutrition info: I calculated it with my sugar-free maple syrup. If you use regular maple syrup, the carbs and sugar will be higher.
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I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Ham Steak
Serving Ideas
This definitely feels like comfort food, so I like to serve it with other comforting dishes. Here are some of my favorite ham steak dinner ideas:
- Potatoes – My favorite option because you can serve the ham over them to catch all that glaze! Try my creamy mashed sweet potatoes, crispy roasted sweet potatoes, or for a lighter starchy option, roasted turnips.
- Veggies – Honey roasted carrots are my favorite (or try them with the same sweet glaze as the ham!), but roasted green beans or broccolini are wonderful for some greens.
- Casseroles – For all the comfort food factor, try my broccoli cheese casserole or butternut squash casserole.
- Breakfast or brunch – Okay, it’s not dinner, but I think ham steak is great for this, too! Although I’m usually team crispy bacon here, a slice of ham with fluffy egg bites, baked eggs, or sweet potato hash is so satisfying.
6 Comments
Vicky James
0Nice to have small recipe for those of us alone. Ty so much. Need the sf maple syrup though.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0You’re very welcome, Vicky!
Tiffany
0I was looking for something a little different for dinner last night that we can all enjoy as a family with minimal substitutions. I had some ham in the fridge so figured I’d give this one a try. I was not sure if my children would like this, but it ended up being a huge hit!! I made some seasoned rice for my husband and boys, and I had seasoned cauliflower rice. Everyone asked for seconds! Definitely saved this one to make again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so happy you and your family liked this recipe, Tiffany! Hope you make it again soon.
Mary
0I just made this ham tonight and it is delicious. I had it with creamy mashed cauliflower, tomatoes, a little onion and some leftover asparagus. I will make this for myself regularly and have a small casual dinner party for 6 next week and this is going to be the star of the menu. Thanks so much for the recipe. And yes, the asparagus got some maple glaze too. Yum!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked it, Mary! That sounds like such a tasty meal. I hope everyone at your party loves it, too!