Easy Christmas Ham Recipe With Crushed Pineapple
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Here’s why my easy Christmas ham with a delicious pineapple glaze is the right choice for your holiday table… It keeps the flavor big, the prep simple, and the stress low, exactly how Christmas cooking should feel!
Walking up to the ham case during the holidays can feel like a pop quiz nobody studied for: bone-in, boneless, spiral-cut, smoked, cured… Whew! It’s enough to make anyone second-guess the whole menu.
Here’s the simple truth: the best Christmas ham is the one that fits your table and keeps your cooking stress low.
My suggestion? Reach for a ham labeled “fully cooked” or “pre-cooked.” That way, you’re simply reheating and glazing — not starting from scratch. Bonus points if it’s spiral-cut (more on that later in this post), because Christmas dinner should be joyful, flavorful, and meant to be shared, not complicated!
This easy Christmas ham with pineapple is crafted the Southern soul food way: big on flavor, light on stress, and designed for today’s kitchens while honoring the holiday traditions passed down through generations, from Shaunda Necole & The Soul Food Pot®.
What’s the best ham to cook for Christmas?
Traditionally, Christmas hams were cooked bone-in, prized for their deep flavor and juicy, slow-roasted finish. That old-school method still delivers, but let me share a little modern holiday magic that today’s cooks can truly appreciate…
🥄 Shaunda says: Most grocery store hams now come fully cooked, bone-removed, and spiral-sliced, which means less prep, easier carving, and way less time tied to the oven. You still get that classic Christmas ham flavor, just faster, simpler, and with a serving situation that lets you enjoy the holiday instead of babysitting the stove!
Is spiral-sliced ham better than regular ham?
For most home cooks, a fully cooked spiral-cut ham is the holiday MVP. It’s already cooked, beautifully sliced, and justneeds to be gently warmed and glazed. Perfect for an easy Christmas ham recipe that still feels special.
Bone-in hams deliver that deeper flavor and timeless holiday presentation, while boneless hams make carving and serving effortless — especially when you’re feeding a crowd that wants easy, grab-and-go slices.
✨ Shaunda’s Soul Food Sense: tips, truths & traditions
The real beauty of a pre-cooked ham is that you get the best of both worlds: the hard work of traditional bone-in roasting is already done, so all that’s left is warming, glazing, and letting the flavor shine!
What liquid keeps ham moist?
Pineapple juice! In my easy, soulfully flavorful Christmas ham recipe, pineapple juice is the secret to keeping the ham juicy while adding that sweet-tangy balance that holiday hams are known for. Instead of the tedious task of pinning pineapple rings all over the ham, I use a diced pineapple glaze that soaks into every slice for more flavor, less fuss!
And let’s talk “flava!”… This glaze is seasoned with classic Southern soul food ham spices, then finished with rosemary for an aromatic, holiday-worthy infusion that smells just as good as it tastes. Moist, flavorful, and effortless. Exactly how Christmas cooking should be.
How long does it take to heat a pre-cooked ham?
A pre-cooked ham takes about an hour and a half to heat through in the oven, making it an easy, low-stress Christmas centerpiece that leaves plenty of time for sides, sweets, and family time!
- Preheat and prep – Set the ham in a roasting pan and preheat the oven.
- Make the pineapple glaze – Whisk pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, brown sugar, warm spices, and vanilla until smooth.
- Glaze and bake – Spoon half the glaze between the spiral slices and over the ham, then bake. Add the remaining glaze and bake again until glossy and heated through.
- Finish with flair (optional) – Garnish with seasonal fruits for a festive, Southern charm presentation worthy of the holiday table!
Can pineapple glaze be made ahead?
Yes, absolutely! This pineapple glaze can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator, which means one less thing to worry about on Christmas Day.
Preparing it in advance actually lets the flavors deepen — that sweet pineapple, warm spices, and soul food seasoning come together even better with a little rest. When it’s time to cook, just reheat gently, give it a quick stir, and let it work its magic over the ham!
Storing and reheating Christmas ham
Store leftover Christmas ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep it juicy and flavorful.
When reheating, warm it gently in the oven or microwave with a spoonful of pineapple glaze or a splash of pineapple juice to bring that moisture right back. Because good ham deserves a second (and third) encore!
❤️ Serve it like a Southerner… What to serve with Christmas ham
When Christmas ham hits the table, it deserves some soulful company! My three go-to soul food sides are candied yams, baked mac and cheese, and cornbread dressing, a sweet, creamy, and savory trio that turns your holiday plate into pure Christmas comfort.
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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- 9×13 roasting pan
Ingredients
- 6 pound ham pre-cooked, pre-spiraled, 4-6 pound ham
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup crushed pineapple canned pineapple or freshly crushed
- 3 cups light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4-6 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Start by placing the ham in a roasting pan and set it aside. Then, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Prepare the ham’s glaze by whisking together pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla extract, and cornstarch in a bowl.
- Using half of the glaze, gently separate the spiraled slices of the ham. Then, use a large serving spoon to pour the pineapple glaze over the ham and in between the slices.
- Bake the ham in the preheated oven for one hour.
- After one hour, take the ham out of the oven and pour the remaining half of the glaze over it. Place fresh rosemary sprigs on top and around the sides of the ham. Bake for an additional 30 minutes.
- For an optional finishing touch, garnish the completed ham like a festive centerpiece. Surround it with a medley of seasonal fruits, such as quartered pomegranates, figs, clementines, oranges, cranberries, fresh rosemary, and crisp apples, to create a beautiful Southern charm platter!
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Nutrition
❤️ Why trust this recipe?
Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.
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This recipe is celebrated on Christmas Turkey or Christmas Ham? Let’s Settle This (With Love!), and by multiple national media outlets that recognize Southern and African American culinary traditions.
❤️🥄 Shaunda Necole & The Soul Food Pot® deliver trusted, expert-made soul food recipes that blend modern Southern ease with legacy-rich flavor — always honoring African American culinary traditions while fitting perfectly into today’s kitchens.