Turn a simple and affordable ham roast into a delicious and easy dinner with this sweet and savory maple brown sugar glaze! A quick weeknight meal or a hearty breakfast or brunch is ready for the table in just 15 minutes. don’t forget the eggs
What Cut is Ham Steak?
Ham steaks are an affordable cut of pork that can easily be found in the meat aisle of almost any grocery store and behind the deli counter, but you may not know what to do with them! ?
Luckily, this easy ham steak recipe turns meat into a delicious restaurant-quality meal in less than 20 minutes. You’ll love the contrast of deep-fried smoked and salty pork, finished with a buttery-sweet glaze!
A ham roast is simply a thick slice of ham cut from a whole ham roast. It’s a great choice when you need ham for a small family meal or to add flavor to a recipe (such as a casserole, soup or quiche) but don’t want to splurge on a whole ham roast. Ham roast is also convenient to freeze and keep on hand for a quick thawed dinner without the need to buy more.
You can find bone-in ham steaks, but I usually buy the boneless version. Look for individually wrapped ham steaks in the meat section (near the deli meats, bacon or pork products) or ask the clerk behind the deli counter to cut you a thick steak from the largest steak.
Do Ham Steaks Need to be Cooked?
Most ham steaks are smoked and fully cooked, making them easy to heat up and eat. They are also a lean source of protein, most of which is 97% fat. For this recipe, you pan-fry the meat so it’s browned and crispy on top and served hot. But it’s not raw meat!
Ingredients for Ham Steaks with Brown Sugar Glaze
This is just a quick overview of the simple ingredients you’ll need for our favorite ham steak recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
How Long do Ham Steaks Take to Cook?
Top with your favorite frosting, if desired. Cook the steak in a preheated pan over medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes per side for ham steaks or about 8 minutes per side for thick ham steaks.
This simple meal takes about 5 minutes to make and another 10 minutes in the pan. You don’t even have to turn on the oven and you end up with very few dishes to wash! Let’s begin…
Brown the ham fillet. Brown ham in large skillet with butter; brown meat on both sides. It only takes 3-4 minutes per side. You know the ham is ready when it’s golden and crispy.
Since the meat is already well cooked, you just want to add a little extra flavor at this stage. Then transfer the ham to a plate and cover it with aluminum foil to keep it warm while you make the glaze.
Make the ham steak glaze. In the same pan, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, cook and stir until it thickens a little (about 2-3 minutes). Pour the glaze over the ham steak just before serving.
What to Serve with Ham Steak
This sweet and smoky ham is a delicious addition to breakfast when served with biscuits or toast, breakfast casseroles, cheesy hash brown casserole, muffins, eggs and fruit.
For a quick and easy ham steak dinner, here are some side dishes that go well with the brown sugar ham steak recipe:
Ham Steak Recipe Variations
- A ham roast serves about 2 people, but you can easily adapt the ingredients to feed a larger family. For example, if you are serving 4 people, you can fry 2 steaks and double the ingredients for a double glaze.
- Ham steak can also be grilled on an indoor or outdoor grill. I recommend buttering the steak before putting it on the grill (for flavor and browning, and also to prevent sticking). If desired, make the glaze in a serving pan.
- Season the glaze by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Sweet heat!
For a bright and tangy addition to the frosting, add a little apple cider vinegar at the end. A little ground clove adds heat and goes well with ham.
