Do you love oven-baked ham but don't have hours to cook? Look no further than this quick and easy air fryer ham steak recipe! With simple ingredients and the convenience of the air fryer, you can have ham steaks with a crispy exterior and a moist, tender interior on the table in no time.
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Jump to:
- Why You'll Love Air Fryer Ham Steaks
- What You'll Need for this Air Fried Ham Steak
- Recommended Equipment
- How to Make Ham Steaks in Air Fryer
- Variations and Substitutions
- Storage and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How to Serve Your Air Fryer Ham Steak
- Expert Tips
- Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love Air Fryer Ham Steaks
Have you had a ham steak before? They're a perfect solution to the ham dilemma I have - when I want a slice of ham that reminds me of the holidays without cooking an entire spiral ham. With this recipe, you can enjoy this amazing comfort food meal the easy way.
The steaks come pre-portioned, so all you need to do is remove them from their packaging, brush with the butter, thyme, and brown sugar glaze, and air fry on both sides for a perfectly juicy ham steak with little bits of caramelized sugar on the edges (the best part).
This ham recipe is quick, it's easy, and it only requires 4 ingredients - couldn't be simpler!
Some other bonuses - cooking a ham steak in the air fryer means super easy cleanup. You'll use parchment paper here to make life easier.
It's also super versatile. You can make this ham for an easy holiday dinner or serve it as a quick dinner on a weeknight. Serve the ham steak with any kind of vegetables and starch (rice, rolls, potatoes) you have on hand.
What You'll Need for this Air Fried Ham Steak
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- Ham Steaks For this recipe, you will want boneless ham steaks that are marked as pre-cooked.
- Butter I used unsalted butter for this recipe as ham is already quite salty.
- Brown Sugar I preferred light brown sugar when testing this recipe, but use whatever you have on hand.
- Thyme Dried thyme or fresh thyme will work well here.
Recommended Equipment
How to Make Ham Steaks in Air Fryer
Step One Gather your ingredients.
Step Two Melt the butter for 30 seconds in a microwave-safe bowl.
Step Three Mix the melted butter with the brown sugar and thyme.
Step Four Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the base of the air fryer.
Step Five Brush one side of the ham steak with half of the brown sugar and butter mixture. Flip the ham steak and brush the other side with the butter and brown sugar mixture.
Step Six Place the ham steak in the air fryer and cook ham steak at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 to 8 minutes. Use tongs to flip the ham and air fry the ham steak on the other side for 7 to 8 more minutes.
Step Seven Remove the ham steak from the air fryer.
Step Eight Serve with your favorite sides.
Variations and Substitutions
- In place of butter and brown sugar, you could try using maple syrup.
- Instead of thyme, use just a pinch of chopped fresh rosemary.
- Make this dish a bit more savory by serving it with some dijon mustard.
- For a sweeter dish, serve your glazed ham with pineapple slices.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge Store leftover ham slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer You can freeze leftovers as well, but the texture may be altered when you defrost the ham. Place leftover ham in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before use.
This is a great option if you want to use the ham for something like soup, where you won't miss the texture the sugar provides right out of the air fryer.
Reheating I recommend reheating in a pan over medium heat until the ham is heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ham steaks are thick ham slices cut from a whole ham roast. You can purchase them at your local grocery store. They come in both boneless and bone-in cuts.
Ham steaks should be cooked at 375 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking them in the air fryer. Using higher temperatures tends to burn the sugar more quickly and more easily.
Yes, most varieties of ham steak are fully cooked. Be sure to check the packaging when purchasing to be sure.
How to Serve Your Air Fryer Ham Steak
These ham steaks are fantastic with a variety of side dishes. Try the suggestions below:
My favorite side with ham is this warm Bavarian potato salad featuring crispy bacon, fresh herbs, sautéed onion, and a bright, rich vinegar-based dressing. It's also wonderful with coleslaw!
This easy roasted asparagus and Brussels sprouts is a versatile and delicious side.
Try them for breakfast with these cornbread muffins, cranberry muffins, or pecan pancakes and some chili scrambled eggs!
I love ham with potatoes, too. Try these wonderfully spicy and lemony Calabrian potatoes or these air fryer fingerling potatoes with a thyme vinaigrette.
This would also be just wonderful with garlicky sautéed cruciferous crunch, a mix of cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale that's cooked with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of vinegar.
You can also use your leftover ham steak for a ham and cheese sandwich or chopped and added to a side salad!
Expert Tips
- If you're making ham steaks for multiple people, you can keep your finished steaks warm on a plate or sheet tray in an oven set at its lowest temperature (usually about 170 degrees F).
- Be cautious when removing the air fryer basket. The butter and brown sugar glaze can sizzle or pop while cooking. If you're extra cautious (like me) you might want to wear an apron and/or eye protection.
- Different air fryers can have varying sizes and temperatures, so check your ham on the early side of the recommended cook time.
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Ham Steaks
Ingredients
- 1 ham steak 8 ounces
- ½ tablespoon butter unsalted
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Mix the melted butter with the brown sugar and thyme.
- Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the base of the air fryer.
- Brush one side of the ham steak with half of the brown sugar and butter mixture.
- Flip the ham steak and brush the other side with the butter and brown sugar mixture.
- Place the ham steak in the air fryer and cook ham steak at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Use tongs to flip the ham and air fry the ham steak on the other side for 7 to 8 more minutes.
- Remove the ham steak from the air fryer and serve.
Video
Notes
- If you're making ham steaks for multiple people, you can keep your finished steaks warm on a plate in the oven at its lowest temperature (usually about 170 degrees F).
- You can click on the number next to "serving" in the air fryer heading to scale this recipe up for however many people you're serving.
- Be cautious when removing the air fryer basket. The butter and brown sugar glaze can sizzle and/or pop while cooking. If you're extra cautious (like me) you might want to wear an apron and/or eye protection.
- Air fryers are can be different sizes and temperatures, so check your ham on the early side of the recommended cook time to ensure the sugar doesn't burn.
- Fridge Store leftover ham slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer You can freeze leftovers as well, but the texture may be altered when you defrost the ham. Place leftover ham in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before use.
- Reheating I recommend reheating in a pan over medium heat until the ham is heated through.
Karen says
WOW, WOW, WOW! I was amazed tonigt by how your recipe and the use of an air fryer to cook ham slices completely transformed the flavor and and definition of a ham steak. DELICIOUS doesn't do it justice. This is now my always-and-forever way to make ham steaks. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!
Genevieve says
I am so glad you enjoyed this, Karen! Thank you so much for this kind review. 🙂
Ksenia says
This was WAY better to make in the air fryer than a pan! My husband loves all things pork and this was right up his alley, but I felt good about it being healthy
Genevieve says
Our guys sound similar. 🙂 So happy you both enjoyed!
Jennifer says
I love this quick and easy ham steak! I cut it up and share it out for breakfast and it's such a nice meaty and flavorful - not to mention easy - way to make it! Yum!
Genevieve says
I'm so happy to hear it! Thanks, Jennifer!
Sue says
This was the best breakfast side ever! I love ham but rarely think of getting the steaks. That changes now! I especially love using the air fryer for the easy clean up. Win win!
Genevieve says
Thanks Sue! So glad you enjoyed it.
Sharon says
This was a great air fryer meal! We served it up with some creamy mashed potatoes and it felt like a holiday dish. Thanks!
Genevieve says
That's wonderful, thanks Sharon!
Shelby says
This ham steak plus potato salad made such a classic, comfort-style dinner the other night! So easy to whip up and truly delicious.
Genevieve says
Thank you so much, Shelby!
Lindsey says
I'd never even thought about air frying ham but I had some leftover ham and this was the perfect way to serve it and make it feel fresh and new! The brown sugar butter mix was delicious! A++!
Genevieve says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it, Lindsey!
Elizabeth S says
This was so good. The perfect addition to our morning pancakes. Will make again.
Genevieve says
Ooh, what a good idea! I'll have to make it that way next. Thanks Elizabeth!
Michelle says
Happy to come across this recipe -- gave it a test run before Easter and it turned out great! Thanks for your tip about the glaze sizzling -- I wore eye goggles!! Hehe!
Genevieve says
Haha, I did too. Thanks Michelle!
Madison says
Thanks for this recipe! It was perfect for a fun weekend dinner. The flavor in the ham steak was amazing with the nice crispy effect from the air fryer. Will make again!
Genevieve says
Wonderful, thanks so much, Madison!