25 Ham Recipes We Swear By For Easter Dinner (& Beyond)

When it comes to Easter dinner, we highly suggest you go, well, ham. It's a standby for a reason; picking up a pre-cooked spiral ham is super easy, but we can all admit— it looks SO impressive when you pull a homemade one out of the oven. Trust us, whether you want to go classic with our copycat Honey Baked ham or try something new with our Dr. Pepper pineapple glazed ham, you'll be wishing Easter could be a whole week long so you can try all of these recipes. Not in the mood for a whole ham? Worry not: We've also included plenty of ham-based appetizers and casseroles perfect from Easter brunch to lunch.

When it comes to glazed ham, there are infinite ways to glaze it. Since most pre-cooked hams at the grocery store are already pretty salty, we opt for sweeter glazes, like in our cherry bourbon glazed ham or our brown sugar pineapple ham. As the ham cooks, the sugars in the glaze caramelize and create an irresistible crust that you and your family will be fighting over. Whatever route you choose, we definitely think the glaze for your ham should include a sweet ingredient, something acidic (like vinegar), plus flavor boosters (like bourbon), but feel free to change it up.

Looking for something a little less labor-intensive? Try a ham steak, like we did in our sheet pan Easter dinner or our maple glazed ham steaks—they still feel festive and special, but you won't be stuck with leftovers for days. You could also incorporate store-bought or homemade ham into your Easter sides, from breakfast to dinner. Check out our scalloped potatoes & ham, our Croque Monsieur breakfast casserole, our ham & cheese tortellini, or our ham & potato soup for ideas, then get creative. Ham's savory sweetness goes well with nearly anything!

And don't forget those condiments. Put out a spread of something spicy (like mustard), something creamy (like garlic aioli or spicy chipotle mayo), and something sweet (like cranberry sauce or your favorite fruity chutney or jam). We always like some pickled red onions or jalapeños on the side too for some crunch and pucker to cut the saltiness of the ham.

Unsure of which ham to buy? We tried all the best mail-order hams, from BBQ and applewood smoked to classic honey hams, to help you pick out the best for you and your crowd. Speaking of a crowd, not sure how big a ham you'll need this year? Check out our guide for how much ham you'll need per person too.