I love ham for Christmas, Easter, and even when it’s not a holiday. What I don’t love is having to buy a whole spiral sliced ham if you’re not having tons of company. I’m stuck eating leftovers for months! Thankfully, you can make air fryer ham steak in less than 15 minutes and it’s perfectly sized for a smaller crowd.
Why Make Ham Steak in the Air Fryer
Starting with fully cooked ham steaks gives you a hearty meal that’s perfect for small holiday gatherings, but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. The air fryer makes ham steaks hot, juicy, and perfectly caramelized on the edges in 15 minutes or less!
Since these thick slices are a lot less food than a traditional sliced ham, you’ll have far less to find other uses for. That’s not to say you can’t make some extra and save it for some tasty sandwiches throughout the week though!
I also love that you can swap up flavorings to suit your tastes or mood. Coat with barbecue sauce or mustard for a savory take. Add pineapple and even a maraschino cherry for Virginia style. Make it sweet with honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup (or any combination thereof)!
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Air Fryer Ham Steak With Pineapple Ingredients
- Ham steak (Smithfield recommends 3 oz per person, but adjust to your tastes)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar (optional, see notes)
- 1 Tsp hot sauce (optional)
- 4 Pineapple rings (also optional, see notes)
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Any kind of fully cooked ham steaks work. You can use bone in as well as boneless. Typical flavor offerings include smoked, honey cured, and brown sugar (so choose according to tastes and desired seasonings)
- My ham is about 12 ounces, so you can adjust accordingly if yours is larger or smaller
- Brown sugar may be swapped for equal amounts of honey or maple syrup, or omitted entirely if preferred
- For a savory variation, use Dijon mustard, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce instead of the sugar
- If you don’t want any spice (but to be clear this is not a spicy recipe as-is), you can skip the hot sauce. Alternatively, sub ½ tsp black pepper or sriracha instead
- The pineapple is completely optional, so feel free to leave it off if you’re not a fan. If you use canned, make sure to get it packed in juice instead of syrup, and drain well
- You can use your air fryer to just heat up plain ham steak as well – don’t feel compelled to add anything else if you don’t want to!
How to Cook Ham Steak in Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (or 375°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings)
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and hot sauce to make a paste
- Pat the ham dry. Then, spread half of the paste on one side of the steak
- Place ham steak in preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (cut to fit if needed)
- Cook for 5 minutes on air fryer setting at 380°F
- Remove basket from air fryer. Flip ham steak over. Apply the other half of the sugar paste (I recommend a basting brush or spoon since it will be hot). Place the pineapple slices on top of the sugar
- Return basket to air fryer and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes at 380°F, or until ham steaks are browned and the internal temperature reaches 145°F
- Serve with your favorite sides for a complete meal!
What to Serve With Ham Steak
- Mashed potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Green beans
- Peas
- Corn pudding
- Scalloped or au gratin potatoes
- Mac and cheese
- Deviled eggs
- Scrambled eggs
- Dinner rolls
Try some of my easy ham steak side dish recipes, such as Air Fryer Deviled Eggs, Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon (and maple!), Air Fryer Corn Casserole, Air Fryer Frozen Peas with prosciutto and parmesan, Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, or these crispy Air Fryer Frozen Mac and Cheese Bites (with bacon)!
Recipe FAQs
What Temperature Should Ham Steaks Be Cooked At?
Ham steaks should be cooked at a temperature of 380°F if they are glazed. For plain ham steaks, cook at an air fryer temperature of 400°F.
For non air-fryer cooking methods, the USDA recommends heating ham at a temperature no lower than 325°F.
Is Ham Steak Already Cooked?
Yes, most commercially sold ham steak is already cooked. It should say ready to eat, fully cooked, smoked, or cured on the label.
As such, you’re really just reheating your ham steak.
How Do You Tell if Ham Steak is Fully Cooked?
Your ham steak is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
If you were cooking from a raw state, make sure to rest it for a few minutes before slicing in.
How Long to Cook Sliced Ham in the Air Fryer
On average, you cook sliced ham for between 8 and 12 minutes in the air fryer, flipping halfway through. Total time will depend on the thickness of your ham slices, and the power level of your air fryer.
Start with the lower end of the range, and then add additional time in shorter increments, checking in to prevent overcooking.
Can I Add Glaze Or Seasoning To Ham Steaks?
Yes, you can add a glaze or seasoning to the ham steak before or during the cooking process.
Popular glazes include honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup, which can create a sweet and savory flavor when caramelized in the air fryer.
Is Ham Steak Suitable For Breakfast Or Dinner?
Ham steak is versatile and can be served for both breakfast and dinner, and the air fryer makes it quick and convenient enough for either.
For breakfast, it pairs well with eggs, toast, or pancakes, while for dinner, it can be served alongside vegetables, potatoes, or a salad.
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Air Fryer Ham Steak
- If you’re not using anything sweet, you can cook your ham steaks at 400°F instead, which cuts total cooking time down to around 8 minutes. The higher temperature will burn sugars, though
- Feel free to cut your ham steaks to fit in your air fryer basket. Halves or quarters work great, and even give you extra edges to caramelize!
- Ham steaks have a lot of salt already in them, so you shouldn’t need to add any more. However, always give things a taste and adjust if needed!
- My Smithfield ham steaks were perfectly browned after 12 minutes in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. However, other air fryers and brands of ham steaks may vary slightly
Ham Steak Storage and Reheating Tips
- Store any leftover ham steaks in an airtight container or zippered bag in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. You can also wrap well and freeze for 1-2 months
- To reheat leftover ham steak in the air fryer, heat at 350°F for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Times can vary between air fryers and based on the size and thickness of the piece you are reheating, so adjust as needed for your particular situation
- Ham Croquettes in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Final Thoughts
It’s so easy to make air fryer ham steak that you won’t just want to save it for Easter and Christmas. Add it to the weekly dinner rotation, because this fast main dish is ready in less than 15 minutes!
You can also make ham steaks for breakfast, alongside some scrambled eggs and toast for a hearty meal to start the day.
Feel free to save the leftovers to enjoy in a sandwich, or one of my other great air fryer ham recipes!
Air Fryer Ham Steak with Pineapple and Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 12 Ounce ham steak (size is approximate)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tsp hot sauce
- 4 Slices pineapple rings (juice drained if canned)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (or 375°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings)
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and hot sauce to make a paste2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tsp hot sauce
- Pat the ham dry. Then, spread half of the paste on one side of the steak12 Ounce ham steak
- Place ham steak in preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (cut to fit if needed)
- Cook for 5 minutes on air fryer setting at 380°F
- Remove basket from air fryer. Flip ham steak over. Apply the other half of the sugar paste (I recommend a basting brush or spoon since it will be hot). Place the pineapple slices on top of the sugar4 Slices pineapple rings
- Return basket to air fryer and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes at 380°F, or until ham steaks are desired level of brown and the internal temperature reaches 145°F
- Serve with your favorite sides for a complete meal!
Notes
- Any kind of ham steaks work. You can use bone in as well as boneless. Typical flavor offerings include smoked, honey cured, and brown sugar (so choose according to tastes and desired seasonings). Smithfield recommends 3 oz per person, but adjust to your tastes
- Brown sugar may be swapped for equal amounts of honey or maple syrup, or omitted entirely if preferred
- For a savory variation, use Dijon mustard, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce instead of the sugar
- If you don’t want any spice (but to be clear this is not a spicy recipe as-is), you can skip the hot sauce. Alternatively, sub ½ tsp black pepper or sriracha instead
- The pineapple is completely optional, so feel free to leave it off if you’re not a fan. If you use canned, make sure to get it packed in juice instead of syrup
- You can use your air fryer to just heat up plain ham steak as well – don’t feel compelled to add anything else if you don’t want to!
- If you’re not using anything sweet, you can cook your ham steaks at 400°F instead, which cuts total cooking time down to around 8 minutes. The higher temp will burn sugars, though, which is why the recipe is lower
- Feel free to cut your ham steaks to fit in your air fryer basket. Halves or quarters work great, and even give you extra edges to caramelize!
- Ham steaks have a lot of salt already in them, so you shouldn’t need to add any more. However, always give things a taste and adjust if needed!
- My Smithfield ham steaks were perfectly browned after 12 minutes in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. However, other air fryers and brands of ham steaks may vary slightly
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, sauces and substitutions, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
