Root Beer-Glazed Ham

I’ve made this root beer-glazed ham for years, and nobody has ever guessed my secret ingredient. While a traditional brown sugar glazed ham will never go out of style, you’ll be amazed at how a bit of humble root beer can take the flavor of this holiday favorite (and these other root beer recipes) to the next level.

Root beer works well as a glaze for old-fashioned baked ham for many reasons, the most obvious being its high sugar content, which caramelizes the glaze in the oven to create the perfect sticky-sweet coating. Root beer is also often made with complementary (albeit artificial) flavors that pair well with ham and brown sugar. Traditionally, the best root beer was made with sassafras and sarsaparilla, but today many recipes rely on additional flavorings derived from vanilla, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and licorice. Finally, root beer contains phosphoric acid, citric acid and carbon dioxide, which, if you want to apply a little food science, act as tenderizers to yield a juicier, more tender ham.

You’d think the root beer and brown sugar would be enough, but this recipe takes it a step further to pack in even more layers of flavor. The glaze is finished with a touch of ketchup, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, crushed red pepper flakes and ground cloves, which work together to add zip, tang and spice to the recipe.

Root Beer-Glazed Ham Ingredients

• Fully cooked spiral-sliced ham
• Root beer
• Brown sugar
• Ketchup
• White wine vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Ground cloves

Directions

Step 1: Bake the ham

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.

Add water to the pan. Cover and bake the ham until a thermometer reads 140º, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Step 2: Prepare the glaze

In a large saucepan, combine the root beer, brown sugar, ketchup, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes and cloves.

Bring the glaze to a boil, and cook it until it’s reduced by half, about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Baste the ham, and continue to cook

Remove the ham from the oven and increase the temperature to 425°. Brush the ham with some of the glaze. Bake the ham until the glaze is slightly caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes longer, brushing it occasionally with remaining glaze.

How to Store Root Beer-Glazed Ham

Store any leftover root beer ham in airtight food storage containers in the refrigerator; it will keep for three to four days. For longer storage, freeze it in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating it.

To reheat root beer-glazed ham, microwave individual portions in a covered, microwave-safe container until the ham is steaming. Alternatively, warm it on the stovetop in a covered skillet or in a 350° oven in a covered roasting pan until it’s heated through. As you reheat the ham, add a splash of water, chicken broth or root beer to help prevent it from drying out.

If you’re not in a rush, we also love to reheat ham in the slow cooker. Place slices of ham into your slow cooker with 1 to 2 cups of water or additional root beer.

Root Beer-Glazed Ham Tips

Should the root beer be room temperature or cold?

While you can start with root beer at any temperature to make the glaze, it’s best to use the glaze while it’s still warm or at room temperature. A cold glaze will not tenderize the meat in the same way, and will mute the aromas of the root beer, making the ham less flavorful. Therefore, if you choose to make the glaze ahead and refrigerate it, warm it at least to room temperature before basting the ham.

How can you use leftover root beer ham?

Have leftovers? There are so many leftover ham recipes to choose from, and you can always toss extra root beer-glazed ham into a quiche, casserole or soup.

What other soda can be used for a ham glaze?

If you don’t like root beer, you can still reap the sweet, tenderizing benefits by using another soda in your ham glaze. Dr. Pepper has a similar flavor profile with a hint of cherry that would taste great with ham. Coca-Cola, Sprite, 7-Up and ginger ale can also be used to cook ham, like in this crockpot ham recipe.

What can you serve with root beer-glazed ham?

Serve this root beer-glazed ham with a side of traditional mashed potatoes, green bean amandine, southern pineapple casserole or other holiday side dishes your family enjoys. A batch of homemade yeast rolls and a garden salad make wonderful starters too.