This Air Fryer Ham is juicy, caramelized and brushed with a rich homemade maple bourbon glaze. This boneless ham is perfect for a Christmas or Easter feast or an easy family dinner and is done in under 1 hour.
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This air fryer ham is a holiday hero. While turkey can be a hassle, ham is often fully cooked and only needs a quick reheat—making it way less stressful to prep. This version comes together in under an hour, so you can focus on your guests (or your cocktail 😉), not the oven timer.
It’s also great for saving space and sanity in the kitchen. Since it's wrapped in foil and air-fried, cleanup is a breeze and your oven stays free for all the cozy sides—like my ultra creamy three cheese mac and cheese or mashed sweet potatoes. And the leftovers? Pure gold. Make ham and cheese sliders, add to a breakfast casserole, or fold into a Denver omelet for a next-day win.
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Key Ingredients
- Ham. This recipe uses a pre-cooked, boneless spiral ham. A longer cook time will be required if you have a larger ham.
- Bourbon. If you're new to cooking with Bourbon, check out this Guide to the 15 Best Bourbon Brands for Cooking. Use a sweeter bourbon that's not too expensive (save the expensive bourbon for sipping!). Sweeter bourbons are easier to caramelize and make into syrups.
- Maple syrup. When making a maple glaze, use syrups that are darker or amber grade. These syrups are richer in flavor and typically dark in color. Honey would be a good substitute here.
- Dijon Mustard. Dijon mustard balances the sweetness of this bourbon glaze and gives it a depth of flavor. Use extra Dijon mustard to make Pan Seared Chicken with Dijon Mustard Sauce.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
Glaze Variations
- No bourbon? Use rum, whiskey or even pineapple juice.
- Using a store-bought glaze? No problem—just follow the same method!
- Make it alcohol-free. Use equal parts maple syrup + pineapple juice or orange juice.
One reader swapped in rum and even added carrots to the air fryer for a built-in side dish—and said it was a total hit!
Instructions
To start, allow your ham to come to room temperature for 1 hour. When the hour is almost up, preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F.
Step 1: Wrap the ham in aluminum foil and air fry for 20 minutes.
Step 2: Make the glaze. Combine maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, mustard, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan.
Step 3: Simmer until thickened. Baste the ham with the glaze, making sure to get in between the slices. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes.
Step 4: Baste the ham again with the glaze and cook for a final 5 minutes (uncovered) until caramelized.
Recipe FAQs
With a boneless ham, plan on about ⅓ pound of ham per person. This means a 2-pound boneless ham should comfortably serve 6 people and a 3-pound boneless ham should feel 8-9.
Yes! Swap in pineapple juice or orange juice and honey or maple syrup for a sweet, alcohol-free glaze.
Yes, covering the ham keeps it from drying out and makes cleanup a breeze.
Sarah's Top Tips
- I recommend a smaller boneless pre-cooked ham that is already sliced. This will give you less prep work and is easiest to cook in the air fryer.
- Using a pastry brush makes it significantly easier to brush the maple glaze between each slice and make sure it's evenly distributed.
- Make sure to give the ham time to come to room temperature. This helps the it cook quickly and evenly. Plan accordingly!
- In most of my air fryer recipes, I recommend skipping the foil because it can prohibit air circulation. However, when air frying ham, it is helpful to have the foil on the bottom to catch all the juices and prevent the ham from drying out.
Serving Suggestions
This maple-bourbon air fryer ham pairs perfectly with cozy, comforting sides that let the glaze shine. For a crispy, buttery option, try my Smashed Fingerling Potatoes—they're golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside and are made with minimal ingredients. If you prefer something extra creamy, my Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate classic side, packed with rich garlic flavor and smooth texture.
To round out the meal with something colorful and vibrant, my Parmesan Roasted Carrots bring sweetness, saltiness, and a bit of crunch to the plate.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: Store leftover ham in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer: If the ham was thawed safely (preferably in the refrigerator), it can be refrozen after cooking. Tightly wrap in plastic, then foil, to prevent freezer burn and allow the ham to retain its moisture. Leftover glaze freezes great too!
Defrost in the fridge overnight or on the counter for no more than 4 hours.
Reheating: Reheat ham slices in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes. You can also use the microwave for about 2-3 minutes.
More Air Fryer Recipes You May Like
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below—I’d love to hear how it turned out! THANK YOU!
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Air Fryer Ham with Bourbon Glaze (Juicy & Easy!)
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Ingredients
- 2-3 pound boneless, fully cooked spiral ham
Bourbon Glaze
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Allow the ham to come to room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F. (2-3 pound boneless, fully cooked spiral ham)
- Line the air fryer basket or air fryer baking pan with foil. Lay the ham on top of the foil, cover with more foil and air fry for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze by adding all of the ingredients to a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat and stir until the brown sugar is dissolved and the glaze is well combined and thickened. Set aside. (½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup bourbon, ½ cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt)
- Remove the ham from the air fryer and brush with about ⅓ of the glaze, making sure to get in between the slices. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes and then baste with more glaze. Remove the foil and cook for another 5-8 minutes until caramelized.
- Let the ham rest for a few minutes before serving and serve with the remaining glaze if desired.
Sarah's Tips
- Use a pastry brush to get glaze between slices.
- Let the ham come to room temp before cooking for even heating.
- Wrap in foil to lock in moisture and reduce mess
- Use a meat thermometer—ham is done at 145°F internal temperature.
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days
- Freezer: Wrap cooled ham in plastic wrap + foil, and freeze for up to 3 months
- Reheating: Air fryer or oven at 350°F for 5–6 minutes; microwave for 2–3 minutes
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
- Aluminum Foil
trish hart says
Last night's dinner was a hit! I swapped bourbon for rum, and added some carrots to the air fryer with the ham. Definitely a keeper! Thanks Sarah.