We understand the gravity of a good Christmas ham recipe. As the main event of your festive feast, it needs to please a crowd.
There are many approaches to this Christmas staple, with a variety of glistening ham glaze options to add flavour to your main event. You simply need to choose your favourite and go forth!
While traditionalists may find themselves erring towards our marmalade glaze or honey mustard baked ham recipes, those with bolder palates may find themselves drawn to Victor Liong’s scrumptious char-siu glazed ham.
So, pick your perfect ham and browse below for the best Christmas ham recipes to try in 2025.
The best Christmas ham recipes to make this Christmas 2025
Analiese Gregory’s whiskey-glazed ham with preserved cherries
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Victor Liong’s char siu-glazed leg ham
Whole glazed ham with roasted figs
Fleet’s whisky-and-honey-glazed ham
Gochujang-glazed ham with roast cherries
Golden ale and honey-glazed easy-carve ham
Amaretto and cherry-glazed ham with pistachio and herb crust
Peach and bourbon-glazed ham with fresh peach relish
Oak-smoked ham with quince glaze
Cola-glazed ham, creamy potato and egg salad, and pickled onion
Tony Tan’s pineapple and rum glazed Christmas ham with tomato sambal
Orange-glazed ham with potato and parsley salad
Justin North’s glazed ham in a bag
Baked ham with pineapple and star anise glaze
Glazed ham with pickled watermelon rind
Ham baked in hay with roast carrot and barley salad
Spice-crusted ham with mango salsa
Herb and pine nut-crusted roast ham
Makrut lime, lemongrass and cider glazed ham
How to master an easy glazed ham this Christmas
Christmas ham recipe tips
It is recommended you buy a ham with the bone-in, as these are more flavoursome than leg hams with the bone removed.
As for whether cured or smoked ham is better, this is simply a matter of flavour preference. Neither is strictly ‘better’, and you’ll find most recipes won’t specif a preference for this reason. (Some will venture a recommendation for flavour depth.) If you prefer a smokey-flavoured ham, then find a naturally or traditionally smoked ham. Some hams may add artificial smoke flavouring, so read the label and check the ingredient list for further details.
Finally, opt for fresh Australian pork rather than hams ‘made in Australia’ from frozen imported meat. Look for the distinctive Australian Pork logo or a green and gold kangaroo sticker, or find a reliable local butcher.
A Christmas ham is typically a ham leg with the bone still in. It’s the same ham you would buy year-round, but earns its name based on the time of year it’s eaten (Christmas).
Christmas ham may also be distinguished by its size (often 5-8kg). These large hams may not be stocked in many regular supermarkets year-round. For all other intents and purposes, however, the ham you buy at Christmas is the same whole leg ham you would buy at other times in the year.
In Australia, most Christmas hams are sold pre-cooked—so, no, you don’t need to boil your ham before glazing and baking. If you’re unsure, check the label on your supermarket ham, or ask your butcher or vendor to confirm for you.
On Christmas Day, a Christmas ham is intended to be the ‘hero’ protein of your meal. It’s typically carved and accompanied by a plate of sides, or used as filling for a scrumptious roll.
However, once the day is done, the leftover Christmas ham can be repurposed in new recipes. Shred it over a salad, add it to homemade fried rice, or create delicious gourmet ham sandwiches for days to come. Ham is also the perfect accompaniment to almost any egg dish, whether you’re making a traditional eggs Benedict for breakfast, or need to add extra flavour to a quiche or omelette. (Note: A whole ham can be keep in the fridge from 1-2 weeks.)
For more Christmas ham tips, read about our chef-recommended glazes, the best hams to buy, tips for choosing and how to store your ham.
