A classic baked ham recipe is one everybody should have in their repertoire. This one is simple, delicious, always works and will keep everyone happy.

Baked ham is a wonderfully versatile meat. It is great with your usual roast dinner sides. I like it with a leek and potato gratin and some simply griddled tender stem broccoli. Or you can have it with fried egg and chips (if you haven’t tried this combination, it’s a British classic and you must give it a go).

The leftovers are fantastic in pies, sandwiches, omelettes, risottos, pastas…the list is endless.

Many people have ham at Christmas, but it is great all year round. Enjoy this simple recipe next time you fancy roasting a joint of meat!

Ingredients, Substitutions and Variations

Gammon joint – before ham is cooked, it’s called gammon – so you’ll be looking for a joint of gammon at your butchers. Get a medium one.
Onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme – these ingredients flavour your cooking liquor. You can omit a few of them, but using all of them will guarantee the most flavour.
Olive oil– when it’s time to bake your ham, you’ll simply drizzle with olive oil to start with. Use a good olive oil if you can.
Honey and mustard – these make a simple, delicious glaze for your ham later in the baking process: you can leave them off if you like, but they bring such a beautiful balance to the salty ham.

Why This Baked Ham Works Every Time

There are a lot of ways to cook a ham, but this is the one I come back to again and again. The glaze caramelises beautifully, the meat stays juicy, and it fills the kitchen with that unbeatable roast dinner smell. It’s easy enough for a weeknight, but still feels like a treat for Sunday or Christmas. If you’ve ever been nervous about drying out a ham, this recipe will make you a convert.

Top Tips:

Don’t add salt Ham is salty, so you don’t need to add any extra throughout the cooking process.
Get ahead Ham is great served cold, so cook ahead and keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Switch it up Try switching the water in the cooking liquor for ginger beer – it’s seriously delicious!

What to Serve with Roast Ham

I love this ham with roast potatoes, buttery greens, and a spoonful of mustard on the side. If I’m feeling festive, I’ll add some red cabbage or baked apples. For a simpler roast dinner, mash and peas work perfectly too.

And don’t forget the gravy – a quick one made from the ham juices and a bit of stock ties it all together.