Keto Glazed Ham is on the menu with big, thick, juicy slices of succulent ham with a sweet orange-scented maple glaze. To me, the best part of the ham is the sticky sweet glaze. I don't have to miss out with my sugar-free Maple Glaze. It complimented the saltiness of the ham perfectly and gave a golden brown shine after baking.
Baked ham is a classic dish that has been enjoyed by many generations during holiday gatherings. This delicious main course has become a tradition at Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving dinners. It's easy to make and can be seasoned in many different ways to make each meal unique. Whether it's your first time making a baked ham or you're an experienced cook looking for a new recipe, this article will help you create the perfect ham for any special holiday dinner.
When my local grocery store does holiday promotions for a free turkey or ham I always make sure to get one. Either means three or four dinners for my family if we aren't hosting Easter or Christmas that year. Most of the time I do get a ham because it is easy to cut up and freeze in smaller portions.
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And the best part is this has 0 net carbs per serving.
Ingredients
Ham - We chose a bone-in ham that was not spiral cut for this sugar free keto glazed ham recipe. We prefer thicker, juicer slices of ham and have found that spiral-cut hams can dry out easier than shank ham or bone-in ham.
Sugar-Free Sweetener - I use a combination of granular sweeteners along with stevia. There are alternatives mentioned in the recipe card. You can use any sugar-free sweetener you enjoy as long as it can melt.
Butter - I use salted butter in this recipe. The subtle saltiness balances the sweetness of the sweetener in the glaze.
Maple Extract - Maple extract is a great with to get a maple syrup flavor without the carbs
Orange Oil or Orange Extract - You can use either of these. They impart a nice orange flavor. Orange zest would also work.
How to Make Keto Glazed Ham
Step One: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the ham by scoring the skin in diamond shapes with a sharp knife. This will help the glaze penetrate into the meat during baking.
Step Two: Place the ham in a roasting pan with some water at the bottom, cover it loosely with foil, and bake until fully cooked. I bake the ham for about 4-5 hours (this will vary based on the size of the ham). I increase the baking temp when the ham is almost done.
A few times during baking I glaze the keto ham with the sugar-free maple glaze.
How to Make Sugar-Free Glaze
To make the sugar-free maple glaze for the ham I simply melt down my sugar-free sweetener to a liquid in a small saucepan over medium heat and then add maple extract and orange oil to flavor it. This low carb sugar free ham glaze is the star of this recipe.
Variations
Brown Sugar - For a brown sugar flavor just use a brown sugar substitute suitable for keto recipes.
Tangy - If you like your glazes to be tangy just add a splash of apple cider vinegar.
Spices - If you enjoy cloves in ham go ahead and use some to stud your low carb glazed ham. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger to the glaze.
Sugar Free Maple Syrup - It is possible you could just glaze the ham with a prepared keto maple syrup but I have not tested it. They can be pricey and it is easy to make your own glaze.
Common Questions
Is Baked Ham Keto?
Traditional baked ham is keto, low carb, and gluten free. What you need to look our for is the sugary glaze that is often added to it. That is why I wanted to make a sugar free glazed ham recipe to share with you.
What Type of Ham Should I Use?
Ham is one of the most popular and versatile types of meat that can be used in a variety of delicious recipes. When it comes to choosing a type, many different varieties are available. Among the most popular choices include shank, bone-in, and boneless ham. Each type has a unique flavor, texture, and cooking time so it's important to know what type will work best for your recipe.
When it comes to ham, there are two main types - bone-in and shank. While both varieties are delicious, some people believe that one is better than the other. But, which one really reigns supreme? Let's take a closer look at the differences between bone-in ham and shank ham.
Bone-in hams are typically larger and offer more meat than their shank counterparts. They also tend to have a richer flavor due to the presence of bones, which adds depth and complexity to each bite. On the other hand, shank hams are generally leaner and easier to carve due to their smaller size and lack of bones. However, they may not have as much flavor as bone-in hams since they don't contain any bones.
So, is bone-in ham better than a shank ham? It ultimately depends on your personal preference.
What Side Dishes go with Glazed Ham?
Keto Green Bean Casserole - I took the classic and remade it with reduced carbs for a keto diet. It has an easy homemade mushroom sauce and crunchy onion topping.
Keto Mashed Cauliflower - For the extra thick mashed cauliflower in my photos leave out the heavy cream and make sure to drain your cauliflower well.
Garlic Broccoli - This is a wonderful make-ahead dish that can be served at room temperature.
Oven Roasted Asparagus - We love asparagus especially around Easter when it is in season.
Almond Flour Biscuits - A great keto friendly bread accompaniment to your holiday meal.
Caesar Salad - This classic side comes together in just a few minutes with a delicious homemade dressing.
How do I use leftover ham?
It is easy to incorporate any leftover ham into your keto meal plan. You can trim off the sweet glazed edges and use it in anything from a Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole to Keto Quiche or Ham & Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms.
Just make sure to transfer it to the refrigerator soon after your meal ends. You shouldn't let it sit out at room temperature for hours before storing it or you will risk contamination.
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Ingredients
- 1 ham I think mine with a shank half, it was just the free grocery store one from Easter
- ½ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon maple extract
- 4 drops orange oil or ½ teaspoon orange extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250. Put the ham in a large baking dish. I cut the cross marks around both sides so the glaze would seep into the meat.
- Make the glaze. Cook the sweetener and butter over medium heat until melted. Add the maple extract and orange oil. Brush ⅓ glaze on the ham immediately. Put 1 cup water in the bottom of the baking pan and cover the whole thing with foil. Bake for 4 hours.
- Remove from the oven and brush ⅓ of the glaze on. Raise oven temperature to 300. Recover with the foil. Bake for 30 min.
- Remove from the oven and brush the rest of the glaze on. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. Make sure the internal temperature of the ham is at least 140 for a pre-cooked ham. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. We prefer big thick juicy slices to the thin ones from a spiral ham.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published April 22, 2016. Revised and Republished March 31, 2023.
Kelly says
I love the way the maple and orange compliment the ham so well!
Lisa J O'Driscoll says
What an awesome recipe! I love the maple & orange flavors together!
Tiffany J says
Orange Oil.. is that an essential oil? Or something I can find in the ethnic food section? If it is an essential oil, what type is safe for food consumption?
Taryn says
The one I have is an extract. Some EOs are safe for consumption. Just check on the label.
Tiffany Johnson says
Oh ok, thank you. That is helpful! So, just 4 drops of Orange extract?