Recipe: Pineapple Glazed Ham Steaks

These pineapple glazed ham steaks are as simple and delicious as they come. Just 5 minutes of prep, and a total time of 15 minutes in the oven, and voila, a delicious ham steak dinner fit for a holiday or a weeknight dinner.  

Pineapple is paired with ham so often because when you’re making ham steaks, something sweet helps to neutralize ham’s saltiness. Pineapple will add the perfect amount of sweetness to your ham steaks. 

Related Recipe: Shrimp and Cilantro Lime Rice Bowls

How to Make the Pineapple Glaze

The ham steaks pineapple glaze is made up of simple, whole ingredients with just a touch of brown sugar. Below is a breakdown of the ingredients with directions and substitution ideas.

Brown sugar 

Most ham steak glazes call for ¼ cup or more of brown sugar. This recipe only requires one tablespoon making it much healthier. We know watching your sugar intake is important. 

Pineapple and Pineapple Juice

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I love to use fresh pineapple but you can use canned. And pineapple juice is the core ingredient for the recipe. We also recommend adding orange juice to the glaze. 

Clove

You could try adding clove to this recipe.  Clove is an intensely aromatic spice that has a subtly sweet flavor that lends plenty of warmth to any dish. Pairing well with other rich, slightly sweet flavors, cloves also have a slight note of bitterness that counterbalances the sweetness.

Mustard  

Dijon mustard is an all-purpose mustard that is often used to add a flavorful kick to sauces, gravies, and salad dressings. 

What to Serve with Pineapple Ham

Cauliflower Potatoes Au-Gratin

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Grilled Lemon Asparagus Feta

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

What is ham steak made of?

If you’ve never made this recipe, you might be wondering what exactly a ham steak is. Ham steak is just a thick slice cut from a whole roast of ham, either with the bone already removed or bone-in. Bone-in cuts will cost less but they won’t look as neat in serving.

Ham steak is perfect for when you don’t have enough people to justify making an entire roast of ham, but still have a craving for it.

How do I make my ham steak less salty?

Regardless of when and how you choose to use a ham steak, because they are cured, they may be too salty for some people.

The simplest way to remove some of the salt is to soak the steak in water for 5 to 10 minutes to extract some of the salt from the meat.

How much ham do I need per person?

A good rule of thumb is to assume about ¾ lb. per person for a bone-in ham recipe, so an 8 lb. ham will feed about 10-11 people.

What can you do with pineapple ham steaks leftovers?

Pineapple ham steak and the leftovers can be enjoyed in next-day sandwiches, in hearty soups, or in weeknight casseroles. This is a great recipe to throw into your weekly meal planning for some variety and the total time investment is low.

What is a good substitute for pineapple in this recipe?

We realize some people are allergic to pineapple. If that’s the case, you could experiment with several different fruit alternatives in this recipe.

For example, mango, orange, or peach pair well with ham. Many people successfully use orange or lime juice in this recipe to add a perfect touch of acidity and sweetness.

Is there a substitute for brown sugar in this recipe?

Honey or maple syrup are common swaps. Another idea is to try agave. Agave nectar or agave syrup is a healthy sweetener that can be a great substitute when making pineapple ham steaks.

To substitute agave for brown sugar use a 3/4 ratio. Use 3/4 cup of agave nectar for every cup of brown sugar.

How to Cook Ham Steaks with Pineapple