Coca Cola Ham
Coca Cola Ham: A classic Coca Cola and Ham recipe, with a glistening Coca-Cola Ham Glaze. This unique Baked Ham is a very southern preparation born in the heart of Georgia.
Coca Cola and Ham
The idea of ham cooked in Coke may seem foreign to you. Yet if you live in the South, it’s a beloved way to prepare a baked ham.
Today I hope to convince you to pop open a can of cola before your next ham hits the oven rack!
We put Coke in cakes, brownies, puddings, and sauces. We use it to glaze ribs and flavor meatballs.
Yet my favorite Coca-Cola recipe is classic Coca-Cola Baked Ham.
Ham cooked in Coke creates a savory-sweet ham glaze that caramelizes the edges of a spiral-cut ham, yet keeps the slices moist and tender!
Coca Cola Ham Recipe Ingredients
You can use just a ham and a can of Coca-Cola to make Baked Ham In Coke, or you can add all sorts of ingredients to doctor it up.
I like to dress my Coca-Cola Ham with 5 simple ingredients:
- Coca-Cola – The base of the ham glaze
- Light brown sugar – To intensify the sweetness of the glaze.
- Dijon mustard – To offer savory balance to the glaze.
- Cornstarch – To slightly thicken the glaze as it bakes.
- Cayenne pepper – For just a hint of spice!
How To Make Coca-Cola Ham
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet or large roasting pan with aluminum foil. Place the ham in the pan.
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, cornstarch, and cayenne pepper.
Rub the brown sugar mixture over the ham and down in between the slices.
Pour the cola over the ham. Cover the ham loosely with foil. Bake for 1 hour.
Take the ham out of the oven. Remove the foil. Spoon or brush the pan juices up over the ham. Place ham back in the oven and bake for another 30 minutes, uncovered.
Brush the ham with glaze a second time. Bake another 30 minutes, uncovered.
When ready to serve, brush the glaze over the ham one last time and enjoy!
Get the Full (Printable) Coca Cola and Ham Recipe + Video Below!
Serving Suggestions
Baked Ham with Coca-Cola Glaze is a wonderful centerpiece for your holiday table. You can serve this ham on Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, or whenever you have a large gathering and need to feed a crowd! Cola-glazed ham should be served with all of your favorite Southern holiday sides. Try some of my own personal favorites:
- Southern Potato Salad
- Crispy Roasted Potatoes
- Broccoli Salad
- Mac & Cheese
- Collard Greens
- Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Mashed Potatoes
- Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
- Tomato Pie
- Coconut Cream Pie
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake (Bars)
Then, use your fabulous leftovers to create the best ham sandwiches you’ve ever eaten!
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of you are probably thinking, why would I cook a ham in soda? It may seem odd, but it adds the perfect amount of sweetness and caramelization to the ham while still keeping it moist!
I don’t recommend using Diet Coke in this Coca-Cola baked ham recipe. You need the sugar that is present in regular Coke to really caramelize the ham and add lots of flavor!
You can use any variety of ham for Coca-Cola Baked Ham. You can use bone-in ham, boneless ham, spiral-cut ham, or smoked whole ham. I prefer using a spiral-cut ham so I can put the spices in between each slice! It is nice to have a bone-in ham, so that you can use the leftover bone in ham and bean soup once the ham is gone.
To store leftover ham, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days! Reheat it or use it cold on sandwiches and in soups!
Looking for More Amazing Holiday Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Southern Corn Spoon Bread
- Whole Roasted Chicken
- Yeast Dinner Rolls
- Brown Sugar Ham
- Smoked Spatchcock Turkey
Coca-Cola and Ham Recipe + Video
Ingredients
- 8-10 spiral cut ham
- 12 ounce Coca-Cola (or your favorite cola)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet (or roasting pan) with foil. Place the ham in the pan.
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, cornstarch, and cayenne pepper.
- Rub the brown sugar mixture over the ham and down between the slices.
- Pour the cola over the ham. Cover the ham loosely with foil. Bake for 1 hour.
- Take the ham out of the oven. Remove the foil. Spoon or brush the pan juices up over the ham. Place it back in the oven and bake another 30 minutes, uncovered.
- Brush the ham with glaze a second time. Bake another 30 minutes, uncovered.
- When ready to serve, brush the glaze over the ham one last time.
I’ve always made a coke ham which is good, but I decided to try your recipe which is slightly different, and OMG it is so good! This is the best ham I’ve ever made or eaten! I made it exactly as your recipe reads, and it is perfect!
Can I use a whole ham or Half ham rather than a spiral ham
Can I use Diet Coke?
Hi Donna,
I don’t see why not. Let me know how it turns out! :)
I was delicious.
Hello! First let me say, I can NOT cook! Lol. My boyfriends 10-year-old son and I just followed your recipe. We did not have cayenne pepper or dijon mustard but substituted regular mustard. He was drooling over it and checking it regularly! It tastes AMAZING and my house smells the same. The ham is also feeding a neighbor! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Great quarantine food! 😊
Wow, the food looks so delicious and so wonderful, I really love eating such things.
Wow talk about a unique recipe. Curious to see how this will taste!
Just what everyone’s Easter dinner needs! A show stopping ham.
This ham looks Easter worthy! I can not wait to try it! Yummy!
Why comment, and give five stars, if you have not made the recipe yet???
This glaze has the perfect combination of sweet, spicy and tangy ingredients! Delicious!
Yum! I was baking with Coke this week too, but Coca-Cola cake. What do you think about these new Coke flavors they have going on?