Easy Baked Ham With Pineapple

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/9/22
Easy Baked Ham With Pineapple

The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 95 mins
Total: 107 mins
Servings: 8 to 12 servings

Canned ham is a versatile and convenient ingredient to use when needing an easy meal that can feed many. The fully cooked vacuum-sealed ham can later be seasoned and baked again with all sorts of spices and add-on ingredients, like veggies, root vegetables, or fruits. Our classic combination of savory and smoky ham and sweet pineapple rings makes a beautiful center dish that is delicious, budget friendly, and easy to make.

Although canned ham has less flavor and texture than fresh ham, it offers a major advantage in its shelf stability. Having a canned ham in your pantry can allow you to cook a filling last-minute meal. In general, a large canned ham in the familiar pear shape can be stored in the pantry for up to two years. But read labels carefully as some brands must be stored in the refrigerator. Note that canned ham is not the same as canned Spam, a type of processed pork meat that also comes in a can, although in a smaller size than regular canned ham.

Serve the pineapple ham with roasted or mashed potatoes and a salad for an incredibly filling and hearty meal that you can sit down to and enjoy without breaking a sweat in the kitchen. Before you start, be sure to have kitchen twine and toothpicks at hand.

Ingredients

  • 1 (3-pound) canned ham

  • 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple rings in syrup

  • 1/2 cup chili sauce

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cold water

Steps to Make It

Prepare and Bake the Ham

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for easy baked ham with pineapple recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  2. Preheat oven to 325 F,  With the help of a very sharp knife, cut ham into 1/2-inch-thick slices, cutting almost to the bottom but not all the way through.

    Ham sliced but not all the way through

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  3. Tie ham around outside perimeter with a piece of kitchen twine to keep slices in place.

    Ham sliced plus kitchen twine

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  4. Drain can of pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup of syrup.

    Drained pineapple in a colander

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  5. In a bowl, combine pineapple syrup with chili sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. Reserve.

    Pineapple syrup with chili sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  6. Place ham on a rack in a roasting or baking pan.

    Place ham on a rack in a roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  7. Arrange pineapple slices around ham, securing them with toothpicks.

    Arrange pineapple slices around ham, securing them with toothpicks

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  8. Pour reserved sweet-savory sauce over all ham.

    Sauce on top of the ham in the roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  9. Bake ham in preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours, frequently basting with sauce.

    Ham cooking in a roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  10. Once cooking time has ended, place ham on a serving platter, remove twine, and rearrange pineapple slices around it.

    Ham and pineapple slices on a platter

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  11. Cover ham loosely with foil to keep warm.

    Ham covered with aluminum foil

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Make the Sauce

  1. Pour pan juices into a 2-cup measuring cup and add enough hot water, if necessary, to make 1 1/4 cups total of liquid. Transfer to a small saucepan.

    Sauce ingredients in a pan

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  2. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cold water, blending it until smooth.

    Combine cornstarch and cold water in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  3. Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan with pan juices and cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened and bubbly.

    Cornstarch combined with the sauce in the pan

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  4. Drizzle some of the sauce over ham and pineapple.

    Easy baked ham with pineapple and sauce on a platter

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  5. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

    Easy baked ham with pineapple, sauce served on the side

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Quick Pineapple Ham

If you're pressed for time, follow one of our suggestions to serve a tasty ham in less than 45 minutes:

  • Cut the ham into thin slices.
  • Spray a baking pan with olive oil and arrange the ham slices in a single layer.
  • Top with the pineapples and sauce and bake in a 375 F oven until hot and glazed, approximately 45 minutes.


Alternatively:

  • Grill or pan-fry the ham slices until hot and crispy.
  • Make the sauce in a separate pan.
  • Drizzle with the sauce and top with chopped pineapple rings.

How can I repurpose leftover ham?

Store leftover ham covered in the refrigerator and enjoy it over the next three to five days. If you don't have the opportunity to consume it right away, freeze it for up to two months. Here are a few ideas on how to use the leftover ham in other tasty dishes:

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
199 Calories
6g Fat
11g Carbs
26g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 199
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Sodium 1273mg 55%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 475mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)