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Cooking a ham steak on the stove couldn’t be easier! In just 15 minutes, you can have a juicy, savory ham steak pan-fried to perfection and topped with a delicious brown sugar glaze. It’s the perfect meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and so simple to make in a single skillet!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 15 minutes with simple pantry staples.
- Perfect for One: A single ham steak provides rich, smoky flavor without the hassle of a large roast or extra leftovers.
- Sweet & Savory: The brown sugar glaze adds just the right touch of sweetness.
I love how easy it is to cook a glazed ham steak on the stove—it comes together fast and tastes incredible. A ham steak is simply a thick slice from a whole ham, giving you all the flavor without the hassle of a large roast. With a quick sear and a simple glaze, you have a hearty, satisfying meal in minutes.
If you have a little ham leftover, use it in these recipes:
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this brown sugar glazed ham steak recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Ham steak: Use a fully cooked, 8-ounce ham steak, typically found near the bacon in the meat section. Check for labels like “fully cooked,” “cured,” or “hickory smoked.” Uncooked ham steaks won’t work for this recipe.
- Butter: Searing the ham in 1 tablespoon of butter enhances its flavor.
- Cinnamon and brown sugar: These ingredients create a sweet, spiced glaze. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness, while cinnamon brings warmth, making the ham steak even more flavorful.
Recipe Variations
This ham steak recipe is easy to customize—try one of these variations to change up the flavor:
- Spicy Glaze: Swap the brown sugar and cinnamon for a mix of hot sauce and maple syrup for a sweet heat.
- Mustard Glaze: Stir a spoonful of Dijon mustard into the glaze for a tangy twist.
- Pineapple-Topped: Cook the ham with pineapple slices for a sweet, tangy flavor.
How To Cook Ham Steak On A Stove
These photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to cook ham steak. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ham steak and cook for 4 minutes.
- Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet, then stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the glaze over the ham steak and serve.
Expert Tips
- Read the Recipe First: Check the ingredient notes and steps before you start to ensure the best results.
- Room Temperature Ham: Let the ham sit out for 15 minutes before cooking for even heating.
- Preheat the Skillet: A hot pan gives the ham a better sear.
- Glaze is Optional: Skip the brown sugar glaze if you prefer a plain ham steak.
- Freeze for Later: Ham steaks freeze well for up to 3 months—stock up when they’re on sale.
What To Serve With Ham Steak
Pair your ham steak with a delicious side to make it a complete meal. Here are a few great options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for one labeled “fully cooked,” “cured,” or “hickory smoked.” Avoid raw or uncooked ham steaks unless you plan to cook them thoroughly.
Yes, you can cook the ham steak on its own for a simple, savory dish. You can also brush it with a little maple syrup or honey for a lighter glaze.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes on each side, or warm it in the microwave in short intervals to avoid drying it out.
The glaze likely cooked too long or over too high heat. The butter should melt, and the brown sugar should dissolve into a smooth glaze in 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Keep the heat at medium and watch closely to prevent it from hardening.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this glazed ham steak or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
How To Cook A Ham Steak
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter -divided
- 1 (8-ounce) boneless, fully cooked ham steak
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Melt ½ tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ham steak and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet, then stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the glaze over the ham steak and serve.
Notes
- Read the Recipe First: Check the ingredient notes and steps before you start to ensure the best results.
- Room Temperature Ham: Let the ham sit out for 15 minutes before cooking for even heating.
- Preheat the Skillet: A hot pan gives the ham a better sear.
- Glaze is Optional: Skip the brown sugar glaze if you prefer a plain ham steak.
- Freeze for Later: Ham steaks freeze well for up to 3 months—stock up when they’re on sale.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Perfect for my husband when I’m not that hungry…canned sweet potatoes in oven, corn and a salad. Perfect!
My glaze hardened as well. Most likely because I over cooked it. The brown sugar wouldn’t melt though. I couldn’t imagine putting a grainy sauce on the ham. What did I do wrong please?
This should not happen and as you can see from our video and from photos, the butter melts, and the brown sugar dissolves. This process can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the level of heat. If the glaze hardens, it is likely because the heat was too high or the sauce was cooked for too long.
I made the ham steak and the corn bread with honey butter. It is one of my favorites!
We really enjoyed the flavor…but like Linda’s my sauce caramelized and turned hard like candy…I could spoon the butter part of the sauce over the ham…but the brown sugar mixture turned into lumps…those lumps were tasty…thanks for sharing your recipe[s]…
I’m so glad you both enjoyed the ham, Teresa. If the ham glaze hardens, it was likely cooked too long. Please take a look at our ham steak video, we show the step-by-step process for making the ham glaze.
This is nice but I really like a glaze I found a few year’s ago that is a heaping spoonful of cherry preserves loosened up with some balsamic vinegar and heated through and poured on top.
Can’t wait to try some of the recipes.
Hi love you recipes, I use many of them since I live alone
I like the ham steaks but I find them a bit salty after freezing them???
I also to pour a small amount of
Maple pancake syrup on the ham steak and cook it those few minutes on low heat.
Why did my glaze get hard like candy but harder. Do you not cook at medium heat? I even stirred constantly.for the 2 minutes.
It sounds like the glaze may have simmered for too long.
I see you have green beans on the plate (a perfect side). What is the other side in the picture (possibly sauteed mushrooms would be my guess)? The plate looks fantastic!
Kathy, fried apples are on the plate along with the green beans. It’s a delicious addition. Here is the link to the fried apples recipe – https://onedishkitchen.com/fried-apples-recipe/
Hello Joanie,
Your recipes are just the thing for me. I’m 80 years old, a widow and I don’t need much and your site has been perfect for me. Have saved a lot with your recipes and just downloaded the ham steak for one. One can make a number of meals with this, omlets, slider sandwiches, salads etc.
deviled eggs will be fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing all your wonderful recipes with all of us who need so much help now-a-days.
God bless you and take care and stay safe in our times.
Phyllis Smith
Great idea. Next on my list to try!