This oven baked ham recipe couldn’t be any easier or more delectable.
Smoked ham is baked under a glaze of brown sugar sweetener, Dijon mustard, and a dash of orange zest for an everyday but holiday-worthy main dish.

Glazed Ham Goodness
- Flavor: Infused with a sweet and tangy glaze, baked ham comes out juicy and tender every time.
- Skill Level: Just bake, glaze, and bake again. It really is that easy!
- Prep note: Make ahead and serve it hot or cold all week long.
- Recommended tools: A meat thermometer is the best way to tell if baked ham is cooked through.
Low-Carb Ham Lineup
Ham: Most hams are pre-cooked (AKA smoked). A bone-in ham will be more flavorful and take less time to cook but won’t yield as many servings.
Glaze: This sugar-free glaze only needs three ingredients.
Tasty Twists
- Aromatic spices like allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, or smoked paprika will add extra festive flavor to the ham.
- Press whole cloves into the scored intersections for a subtle flavor and visual appeal when serving.
- Other mustards, like stone ground or yellow mustard, can work, use what’s on hand.
- If you don’t have orange zest, a dash of orange extract works.
How to Make Low Carb Baked Ham
- Score the ham and bake in water in a covered dish.
- Whisk glaze ingredients (full recipe below) together and brush over the cooked ham.
- Bake uncovered until the glaze is caramelized and browned.
- Rest ham before serving.
Low Carb Ham Hacks
- Score the ham 1/8” across the top so the glaze seeps into the meat.
- Calculate how much ham per person: A boneless ham will yield 1/4 to 1/3 pound of ham per person, and a bone-in ham will yield about 1/3 to 1/2 pound of ham per person.
- Let the ham rest before slicing it. This allows all those sweet and savory juices to recirculate back into the meat, preserving the flavor.
Savvy Serving and Storing
Low-carb baked ham is the perfect main dish when it’s accompanied by cauliflower mash, green beans with bacon, and a tangy salad.
Keep leftover low carb baked ham in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Slices can be layered in sheets of parchment paper and placed in zippered bags and frozen for up to two months.
Enjoy leftover ham in a sandwich with cloud bread, diced up for a zucchini frittata, or chopped up and added to a hearty soup.
More Recipes for Leftovers
Did you make this low carb baked ham recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Low Carb Baked Ham Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds smoked ham (whole ham)
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons Swerve brown sugar or other low carb sweetener
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Score the top of the ham in a diamond pattern, making shallow cuts about ½ inch apart.
- Place the ham in the middle of a 2 quart baking dish. Pour the water in the dish with the ham. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine Swerve brown sugar, Dijon and orange zest in a small bowl.
- When the ham comes out of the oven, brush with the brown sugar glaze. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes more or until glaze is caramelized and starting to brown.
- Let ham rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Keep leftover ham in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze slices in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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