Easiest Ham Recipe for a Crowd — It Never Fails
The Main Event Has Arrived — And It’s Wearing Pineapple Juice
The easiest ham recipe for a crowd is the one I’ve been making for years, and it has never once let me down. Every single Easter, this ham is the centerpiece of my table. Three ingredients. Tight foil. About ten minutes per pound. That’s it. This year I made a nearly 13-pound spiral ham for 30 people at Easter lunch, and every single slice was juicy, tender, and absolutely perfect.
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Watch me make this easiest ham recipe from start to finish — or scroll down for the full printable recipe card.
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Easiest Ham Recipe for a Crowd — It Never Fails
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Ingredients
- 1 spiral ham any size — this works on all of them
- 2 cups pineapple juice orange juice works as a second choice
- 12-15 whole cloves
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- Place ham in a sturdy baking dish — shallow is fine, but it needs to hold the juices.
- Pour pineapple juice all over the ham, getting it into the crevices of a spiral ham.
- Press whole cloves into the outside of the ham.
- Cover very tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 325°F for approximately 10 minutes per pound.
- Remove cloves before serving.
Nutrition
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Notes
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Tap the stars above to rate it! This helps other families find it.Why This Easiest Ham Recipe Works
The secret to this easiest ham recipe is pineapple juice and patience. The pineapple juice does double duty — it adds a gentle sweetness and keeps the meat incredibly moist while it warms through. I save my pineapple juice whenever I make Pineapple Casserole the day before, so nothing goes to waste. The whole cloves go in around the outside of the ham, and as it bakes they perfume the whole kitchen with the most incredible holiday smell. Then you cover it tightly with foil — and I mean tightly — and let the oven do all the work.
This works on any ham. Spiral cut, bone-in, boneless — it doesn’t matter. Spiral ham is what I reach for most often because the slices are already done for you, which is a huge help when you’re feeding a crowd. According to the USDA, spiral-cut cooked hams should be reheated at 325°F to an internal temperature of 140°F — about 10 minutes per pound is the guideline, which is exactly what I follow.
This is the recipe I reach for every Easter, every Christmas, every time I need a main dish that feels special without requiring me to spend the whole day in the kitchen. When you’re feeding a crowd, you need something reliable. The easiest ham recipe has earned its place at my table — and I think it will earn a place at yours too.
A Few Things That Make Easiest Ham Recipe Even Easier
- Pour the pineapple juice all over. Don’t just pour it in the bottom of the pan — tip the ham and get pineapple juice into every crevice, especially if it’s spiral cut. Those slices will soak it right up.
- Press the cloves in firmly. You want them to stay put while it bakes. Stick them all around the outside — they’re easy to spot and pull out with a fork before serving.
- Cover it tight. This is non-negotiable. The foil traps all that steam and juice and keeps your ham from drying out. Use heavy duty Reynolds Wrap and seal the edges down well.
- Plan 10 minutes per pound. My nearly 13-pound ham went in at 325°F for about 130 minutes. Start checking the internal temperature around the 2-hour mark so you don’t overshoot it.
- Use a sturdy pan that holds the juices. Disposable foil pans are my go-to for holiday cooking and potlucks — no dish to haul home. Just make sure the pan is deep enough to catch every drop of pineapple juice.
Easiest Ham Recipe FAQ — The Questions I Get Every Time
What temperature and how long do I cook the easiest ham recipe?
Bake at 325°F for about 10 minutes per pound, covered tightly with foil the entire time. A nearly 13-pound spiral ham takes around 130 minutes. The ham comes fully cooked, so you’re just warming it through to an internal temperature of 140°F — start checking with a meat thermometer about 30 minutes before the end of your time estimate so you don’t overshoot it.
Can I make the easiest ham recipe without pineapple juice?
You can, but I wouldn’t. The pineapple juice is the entire trick. If you absolutely don’t have any, orange juice is the closest substitute and works in a pinch — the sweetness and acidity keep the meat moist the same way pineapple juice does. I save the juice from canned pineapple any time I make Pineapple Casserole, but a single can of Dole pineapple juice from the grocery store works perfectly.
Can I make this ham ahead of time?
Yes — this is one of my favorite reasons to make this ham for holidays. Bake it the day before, slice it, and store it covered in the fridge with a little of the pan juices spooned over the top. The next day, cover with foil and warm it at 300°F for about 20 minutes. The pineapple juice keeps everything tender even on day two.
Do I have to use whole cloves?
The cloves are what perfume the whole kitchen and give the ham that classic holiday smell, so I never skip them. But if you genuinely don’t have any, you can substitute a half teaspoon of ground cloves stirred into the pineapple juice before you pour it over the ham. The flavor will be similar but you’ll miss the gorgeous studded presentation.
What size ham should I buy for the easiest ham recipe?
Plan for about half a pound per person if your ham is bone-in, or about a third of a pound per person if it’s boneless. For 12 to 15 people, an 8-pound spiral ham is plenty. For my Easter crowd of 30, I went with a nearly 13-pound ham and we still had leftovers for sandwiches the next day. When in doubt, size up — ham leftovers are a gift, not a problem.
Can I cook the ham in a slow cooker?
You can — but only if your slow cooker is big enough to hold the ham AND get the lid all the way closed. A 6-quart slow cooker fits a 7 to 8 pound ham. Pour the pineapple juice over, stud with cloves, set on low for 4 to 5 hours, and you’re done. The pineapple juice keeps it just as juicy as the oven method.
What do I serve with the easiest ham recipe?
Holiday classics are my go-to lineup — creamy baked mashed potatoes, pineapple casserole (using the leftover juice from the can!), green beans almondine, and a basket of rolls. For Easter specifically, deviled eggs and a fruit salad round out the table. The ham is the centerpiece, but the sides are what your family will fight over.
🛒 Complete Shopping List
Everything you need to make the easiest ham recipe for a crowd — click any item to shop on Amazon. You’ll most likely grab the spiral ham fresh at your grocery store, but I’ve linked one below in case that’s easier for you.
Ingredients
Equipment
More Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Main Dishes You’ll Love
- Poppy Seed Chicken — the casserole I’m literally not allowed to skip at a potluck. Creamy, crunchy, and gone in minutes.
- Carne Guisada Tacos — the crockpot dinner that feeds a crowd with almost zero effort. Rich, tender beef that’s ready when you are.
- 4 Ingredient No-Peek Chicken and Rice — Jason’s mom’s recipe. Four ingredients, one pan, zero peeking — and the whole family asks for it every week.
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Easiest Ham Recipe — About Stephanie’s Recipes
Stephanie Longstreth is the home cook, mom, and storyteller behind StephanieCooksForACrowd.com. She cooks for a family of seven in Florida — five kids, two cats, and one husband who appreciates a good meal. Four of her children came home through adoption, and family stories are woven into everything she makes and shares. Find her crowd-friendly recipes, weekly meal plans, and real family life on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest @stephaniecooksforacrowd.