Air Fryer Christmas Ham Recipe
This Air Fryer Christmas Ham recipe (made with smoked turkey ham) gives you a glossy, flavorful holiday centerpiece with far less fuss and fewer calories than a traditional roast. A two-stage cook — gentle warming followed by a short high-heat caramelizing finish — keeps the meat juicy while creating a beautifully glazed crust. It’s perfect for smaller gatherings or anyone who wants festive results without hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1.0 –1.5 kg smoked turkey ham or smoked turkey roast
- 3 tbsp brown sugar or 1½ tbsp brown sugar + 1½ tbsp sugar-free syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or sugar-free maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon optional
- ¼ tsp ground cloves or allspice optional
- Zest of ½ orange
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Orange or lemon slices and fresh herbs for garnish optional
Instructions
- Prep ham: Remove ham from packaging, pat dry, and score surface in a shallow diamond pattern (or set spiral-cut slices slightly apart).
- Make glaze: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest. Warm over low heat, whisking until glossy (2–3 minutes). Reserve 1 tbsp glaze for finishing.
- Preheat air fryer: Preheat to 160°C / 320°F for 5 minutes.
- First-stage cook: Place ham in air fryer, scored side up. Brush a thin layer of glaze. Cook at 160°C / 320°F for 25 minutes for ~1.0 kg ham (increase to 30–35 minutes for 1.2–1.5 kg). Brush glaze again halfway through.
- Finish & caramelize: Brush a generous layer of glaze. Increase air fryer to 200°C / 400°F and cook 3–5 minutes to caramelize the glaze — watch to avoid burning.
- Check temperature: Insert instant-read thermometer into the thickest part. Target internal temp: 74°C / 165°F (for turkey). If not reached, return to 160°C / 320°F in 5-minute increments until it is.
- Rest: Tent with foil and rest 10 minutes.
- Slice & serve: Slice, garnish with citrus slices and herbs, and drizzle reserved glaze if desired.