This coca cola ham is a spiral cut ham coated in a coke and brown sugar glaze, then baked to perfection. A 3 ingredient recipe that’s perfect for a special occasion!
This coke glazed ham is so incredibly delicious and it only takes 5 minutes to prepare it for the oven. A unique way to do ham that’s great for Easter, Christmas or for any meal where you’re looking to feed a crowd.
I first experienced coca cola ham about 20 years ago when a local deli used to sell coke glazed ham sandwiches. That deli went out of business, but my love for the ham never faded! The soda gives the ham a sweet yet complex flavor that can’t be replicated by anything else. Best of all, this ham only has a few ingredients and is basically fool proof to make.
How to make coca cola ham
For this recipe, you’ll need a spiral cut ham, brown sugar, and a can of coca cola. That’s it! I recommend getting the highest quality ham you can find since this recipe is so simple; every ingredient really counts! Same goes for the coke, look for coca cola made with real sugar if you can find it, and definitely do NOT use diet coke here.
First you’re going to rub your ham all over with brown sugar, make sure to get it in between the slices. After that, the coke gets poured over the top.
The final step is to cover with foil and bake! I uncover the ham during the last part of the bake time so that the slices get browned and caramelized. You’ll want to baste the ham occasionally to make sure the glaze gets into every nook and cranny.
How long to bake a ham?
A fully cooked ham needs to bake for 10 minutes a pound at 350 degrees F. I use a 10 pound ham for this recipe, but you can use a larger or smaller ham; simply adjust the baking time accordingly.
You’ll be left with a lot of glaze at the bottom of the pan. Pour it over your ham before serving for maximum flavor. One thing I like to do is pour the glaze into a pot, bring it to a simmer and add a bit of cornstarch to thicken it up so that the glaze really clings to the ham slices. This is an optional step, but that extra 5 minutes of work really yields an amazing end result.
This coca cola ham is the perfect holiday entree, I often serve it for Easter. And of course, one of the best parts of holiday ham is the leftovers, here are 40 ways to use your leftover ham!
More holiday meal recipes
- Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
- Herb Roasted Turkey
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Bundles
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Coca Cola Ham
Ingredients
- 1 10 lb spiral cut ham
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 can Coca Cola do not use diet
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch optional
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray and place the ham in the pan.
- Rub the brown sugar all over the ham, making sure to get it in between the slices.
- Pour the can of Coca Cola over the ham.
- Cover the ham and bake for 90 minutes, basting every 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more or until until ham is browned and caramelized.
- Remove the ham from the pan and place on a serving platter. Spoon the glaze from the bottom of the pan over the ham. See optional step below if you prefer a thicker glaze (I recommend taking the extra 5 minutes to do this!)
- To thicken the glaze: pour the ham glaze from the bottom of the roasting pan into a small pot and bring to a simmer. Whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the pot, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until glaze is thickened.
Steve Clifton says
I actually made this recipe. I followed the extra five minute step. (I altered it just a bit and added 1/3 cup of grey poupon mustard and a dash of black pepper and a fresh orange squeeze ) sorry but I love mustard and horse radish!) oh my!! your recipe with my favorite additional acquired taste was the best spiral ham I ever had! Thank You!
Sara says
Thank you so much for reporting back, so glad you enjoyed it!
Debbie says
What a beautiful ham! Love this for the holiday. The bone and left overs make the best pea soup!
Amy says
I have been looking for a good ham recipe. I am all about simple – and I think this is about as simple as it can get!
Angelic SInova says
That Coca Cola ham looks AMAZING! It’s so funny because growing up I always really hated the taste of ham but for some reason I sort of like it now. It’s the strangest thing.
Carol Cassara says
I love that it only takes 3 ingredients to make this festive recipe! Ham is always perfect for special occasions and I would love to give this one recipe a try!
Heather says
I don’t eat meat anymore, but using Coca-Cola to cook with is pretty genius. It sounds like it’s really yummy!
Jenn says
Oh my goodness, this looks and sounds delicious. We cook a ham at least three times a year. Yum!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
This recipe looks and sounds so delicious! I love adding Coca Cola to my savory recipes. This is such a delicious recipe that I know my family will love.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
I do a ham like this, but in the slow cooker. Cola makes for a great tasting ham. I’ll have to try it in the oven next time.
Penny says
I can see how this recipe is a real winner! Isn’t it amazing how the simple things are sometimes the best things?
Karen Morse says
I’ve never tried cooking ham with coca cola before. That’s really interesting and something that I’d love to try. I like cooking ham because it’s perfect for dinner parties and gatherings and it looks like I just found a recipe that I can try for the next time!
Tomi c says
I love cooking with Coca-Cola. I have a friend that makes this Coca Cola cake and OMG it’s so delicious and I have a recipe for Coca Cola BBQ ribs. I bet it adds the perfect glaze on this ham and I may just have to borrow your recipe for our family Easter dinner get together.
Kita Bryant says
My husband would have loved this one. He was a real ham eater.
Debra Hawkins says
What a fun and gorgeous way to cook a ham! I am always looking a new way to cook Sunday dinner and this sounds amazing!
Danielle M Andresen says
That looks amazing! With Easter coming up a good ham is a must! I will have to try this.
Kristine Nicole Alessandra says
This would be perfect for our Easter family get together! My family will enjoy this coca cola ham and I am sure my cousins would be asking me for the recipe. I will make sure you get all the credits. 🙂
Natalie says
I had no idea you can cook with Coco Cola! I will have to sharing this tip with my mom, bet she would love this.
Amber Myers says
Heck yes! This is my kind of ham. I think I’ll try this out for Easter. Sometimes my ham comes out dry, and I hate that.
candy says
I just fixed a ham last week and sometimes we have used coke cola on the ham. Usually don’t have soda in the house. I remember this being an old recipe.
robin rue says
I haven’t had a ham in years, but I love the way you made this with Coke. I might have to try it this year for Easter.