If you're looking for a no-fuss holiday ham recipe this Southern Ham with Coke is as easy as it gets! The classic Southern combination of Coca Cola and brown sugar creates a sweet, sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully as the ham bakes. Easy prep and a melt-in-your-mouth result means this recipe will fairly evaporate off the table. Y'all, this is the Southern holiday tradition you didn’t know you needed!
First published November 4, 2023. Last updated November 18, 2024 for more tips, editorial improvments, and better user experience.
Table of Contents
- I highly recommend !
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat Southern baked ham
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose Coca Cola glazed ham
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- Southern Ham with Coca Cola Glaze
- 💬 Comments
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🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- This is sweet, spicy, and salty all at once - even better than the famous ham you'd have to stand in line for!
- It's fabulous for Christmas or Easter but easy enough to make for Sunday dinner any time of the year.
- Basting is the key to moist, flavorful ham. It's effortless and takes just a few seconds each time.
Around here we thrive off of our cozy holiday traditions—and that means using classic recipes that get made every year for generations.
The whole family will love this Southern baked ham recipe, and you'll love that it's a fool-proof way to bring everyone together around the table. Keep reading for all the tips and tricks to make it perfectly.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- If you don't love a spicy kick, substitute the spicy brown mustard with your favorite milder Dijon mustard or plain yellow mustard. Or, cut back on the chipotle powder.
- Dr Pepper, root beer, and Pepsi are good alternatives to Coca-Cola in this recipe.
- Garnishing with pineapple rings or pineapple slices gives Southern baked ham a sweet, tangy bite.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Mix together the brown sugar, mustard, cornstarch, and chipotle with a whisk.
Brush the mixture over the ham, making sure to get in between slices.
Pour the Coca-Cola over the ham.
Bake for one hour, then uncover the ham and baste it with the pan juices every thirty minutes until it's finished.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
If you have a kitchen torch you can run the flame over the ham after it comes out of the oven to caramelize the glaze even more. Be careful not to burn it.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat Southern baked ham
Bone-in
I recommend tightly wrapping leftover ham with plastic wrap then aluminum foil. This method will allow you to keep the ham in the fridge for five to seven days.
Off the bone
If you want to slice the leftovers off the ham bone, store the pieces in an airtight container. Refrigerated, they'll keep for about five days or in the freezer for about three months.
Reheat
To reheat leftovers, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Place bone-in ham face-down in a baking dish and add about a cup of water to the bottom of the pan.
Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake at 325 degrees F until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. You can easily reheat individual slices in the microwave, too.
Marye's Tip o' the day
The Coca-Cola glaze in this recipe works best with spiral-cut, fully-cooked ham. If yours isn't cut, slice the top into a diamond pattern yourself.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Check the packaging. Be sure you don't bring home an uncooked ham by accident.
- I prefer to use dark brown sugar for this recipe but light brown with work, too.
- Baste the ham all over using a turkey baster. If you don't have one, a ladle will do the trick, too. A brush is a good last resort.
- Be careful when basting. It's easy to get distracted and accidentally grab the pan—keep your potholders close because it stays hot!
- The brown sugar cola glaze gets really sticky, so I like to line the roasting pan with heavy-duty foil. It makes cleanup much easier.
- One of my favorite parts of Southern baked ham is the leftovers! The possibilities are endless. Whip up ham hash the next morning, make ham sandwiches or ham salad for lunch, and enjoy a gooey ham tetrazzini for dinner. See? Endless!
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Butchers will slice a cured, bone-in ham using a round, spiral pattern. It's a way to slice ham while keeping it attached to the bone, allowing for better flavor and a show-stopping presentation!
This depends on the size. Precooked ham generally takes about 10 minutes per pound in a 350-degree F oven. Most full hams you'll buy in the grocery store weigh anywhere from 10-15 pounds.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Mix the brown sugar, mustard, cornstarch, and chipotle and pat it over the ham the night before. Cover and refrigerate. When you're ready to cook it just start with step #6 in the instructions.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
You can’t go wrong with Old Fashioned Baked Mac and Cheese for a festive Christmas dinner or other special occasion.
Easy Vienna rolls make any dinner special and you can use leftovers for sandwich rolls.
Go all out and finish the meal off with Spice Cake with Cream Cheese. It's warm and cozy and will give you a cheery holiday feeling—even if you're enjoying the leftovers in January!
Any of these classic Easter side dishes will go with this delicious ham recipe!
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose Coca Cola glazed ham
- Try making this deviled ham sandwich spread.
- Ham, cheese, and spiced apple sliders are so good for snacks.
- Add chopped ham to potatoes.
- Add to bean soups, like this black bean soup.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
There is nothing that screams Happy Holidays louder in the South than a good ham! This Coca Cola glaze is absolutely delish - you'll be obsessed.
Be sure to check out the best Thanksgiving side dishes to serve with this!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Southern Baked Ham with Coke
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 spiral cut ham, pre-cooked, bone-in
- 12 ounces Coca-Cola
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ - 1 teaspoon ground chipotle , optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Line a large roasting pan with foil.
- Place the ham in the pan.
- Whisk the brown sugar, mustard, cornstarch, and chipotle, if using, in a small bowl.
- Gently rub the brown sugar mixture over the ham and down in between the slices.
- Pour the Coke over the ham.
- Cover the ham loosely with foil and bake for 1 hour.
- Take the ham out of the oven and remove the foil.
- Baste the ham with the pan juices. You can use a spoon, a baster, or a brush.
- Leave uncovered and place back in the oven.
- Cook for 30 more minutes.
- Baste with the glaze and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
- Baste with the glaze and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
-
- Spiral sliced ham works best for this recipe.
- Be sure you don't bring home an uncooked ham by accident.
-
- Baste the ham all over using a turkey baster. If you don't have one, a ladle will do the trick, too. A brush is a good last resort.
-
- Be careful when basting. It's easy to get distracted and accidentally grab the pan—keep your potholders close because it stays hot!
-
- The brown sugar cola glaze gets really sticky, so I like to line the roasting pan with heavy-duty foil. It makes cleanup much easier.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Don't lose this recipe!
Southern Ham with Coca Cola Glaze
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Christine says
This ham was sweet & delish ! Our Easter spiral ham with the Coca Cola glaze looked great too ! Followed cooking directions perfectly .. adjusted the spice to yellow mild mustard and skipped the chipotle for our younger guests taste ..
I highly reccomend !