• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipes
    • Dinners
    • Breakfast
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Game Day Appetizers
  • Valentine's Day
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

Bake It With Love

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Dinners
    • Breakfast
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Game Day Appetizers
  • Valentine's Day
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Join Us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
      • Dinners
      • Breakfast
      • Side Dishes
      • Desserts
    • Game Day Appetizers
    • Valentine's Day
    • About
      • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
  • Join Us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 3 Comments

    Ham Loaf

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text divider of ham loaf on a white plate.

    Ham loaf may not be the most appetizing name, but my juicy ham loaf with tasty brown sugar Dijon glaze is totally delicious! The tangy-sweet Dijon glaze will get you hooked, and you'll be putting ham loaf on your list of favorite weekly dinners!

    Square image of ham loaf on a white plate.
    This retro-inspired ham loaf recipe is still an amazingly tasty family dinner!

    Try a new take on meatloaf with this sweet and savory ham loaf the whole family will love!

    I feel like ham loaf is one of those recipes that every grandma used to whip up when the whole family was going to sit down for dinner. It’s not difficult to put together, it slices beautifully, and it goes with all the typical weekday dinner side dishes.

    Ham loaf has been around forever but it’s not getting the recognition it deserves. Ham loaf and meatloaf may look similar, but ham loaf has a totally different flavor than meatloaf!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
    • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
    • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
    • 🐷 More Great Ham Recipes!
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    The key to a good ham loaf is to use a mix of ground pork and ham. So, if you often have holiday ham leftovers this is a great recipe to keep in your back pocket!

    ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!

    It's tasty! A perfectly baked ham loaf will be right up there with your favorite comfort foods!

    It slices perfectly! Meal prep it, make it a sandwich, serve it to your friends, it's an easy meal to dish out.

    The whole family will love it! If you haven't tried it, try it with your family. You will all love this savory ham loaf and it will quickly become a new family favorite!

    🥘 Ingredients

    Most of these ingredients are pretty common, you likely have them in your fridge or pantry. If you have leftover ham from the holidays or a few ham steaks in the fridge, you can dice them up and use them!

    Ham loaf ingredient photo.

    Ham Loaf

    • 1 tablespoon Butter - Salted or unsalted and melted in the pan. You will use this to sautee the onions and give them some extra flavor.
    • ¼ cup Onion - I use white onion, diced small. You want your onion diced as small as possible so it mixes well into the meat.
    • 3 cups Ham - Be sure to use ham that is finely diced, or better yet, throw diced ham into a food processor and pulse it a few times to grind it up.
    • 1 pound Ground Pork - Ham is very salty and has a light smoky flavor, the ground pork helps to mellow it out so it's not overwhelming.
    • 1 large Egg - The glue that holds your ham loaf together.
    • ⅔ cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs - Breadcrumbs bind with the eggs to keep the loaf together!
    • ½ cup Milk - Milk adds moisture to the ham loaf and keeps it from drying out.
    • ⅛ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper - Just a little pepper for taste, no salt. The ham is salty enough- you won't need it.
    Ham loaf glaze ingredient photo.

    Brown Sugar Dijon Glaze

    • ¼ packed cup Light Brown Sugar - It provides the sweetness for the glaze and helps it caramelize while baking!
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard - When mixed with the sugar it creates the perfect sweet-tangy combo.
    • 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar - It helps to balance all the flavors.
    • Pineapple Rings and Maraschino Cherries (Optional) - A little something to put on top that is both cute and tasty!

    *Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*

    🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions

    These simple steps are going to come together in an absolutely tasty family dinner that everyone will love! Plus, it's a really easy recipe to make for a no-fail meal!

    • Process image 1 ham in food processor.
      1
    • Process image 2 ham ground up in food processor.
      2
    • Process image 5 ingredients in bowl.
      3
    • Process image 7 ham loaf formed.
      4
    1. Prep. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
    2. Saute onions. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small skillet or frying pan over medium heat, then saute the diced onion for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of tenderness. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.
    3. Grind ham. Place 3 cups cubed ham into a food processor and pulse until broken up and ground, but not turning into a paste consistency. Transfer the ham into a large mixing bowl.
    4. Mix. Add the remaining ingredients ( 1 pound ground pork, 1 large egg, seasoned ⅔ cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup milk, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, sauteed onions) and mix until well combined.
    5. Bake the ham loaf. Transfer the ham loaf mixture to your prepared baking sheet or pan and form into a loaf shape, roughly 8x4-inches in size. Place in the middle of the center rack in your oven and bake for 1 hour at 350°F (175°C) or until the internal temperature of the ham loaf reaches 160°F (71°C).
    6. Glaze. Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl (¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar) until smooth. Coat the ham loaf with the glaze and top with optional pineapple rings and maraschino cherries then return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes.
    7. Serve! Remove the cooked ham loaf from your oven and tent a sheet of aluminum foil over it loosely. Allow the ham loaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
    • Process image 8 glaze ingredients in bowl.
      5
    • Process image 9 glaze ingredients mixed in bowl.
      6
    • Process image 11 ham loaf out of oven and glaze added.
      7
    • Process image 12 ham loaf out of oven and cherries and pineapple rings added.
      8

    This savory, sweet ham loaf is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner! Serve it up with your favorite meatloaf sides!

    We often serve this hearty ham dish with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and a couple of veggies like this easy air fryer asparagus or roasted brussel sprouts. Enjoy!

    💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

    • When grinding your ham in the food processor just give it a few good pulses until it is looks similar to ground beef, don't overdo it or it will turn into mushy paste!
    • Allowing the ham loaf to rest before slicing is important, if you slice it right out of the oven it may fall apart!
    • If you want to make individual loafs, use mini loaf pans! This recipe should make about 4 mini loafs.

    🥡 Storing & Reheating

    Refrigerate leftovers by placing them in a shallow, airtight dish or Tupperware. Your refrigerated ham loaf will keep for up to 3-4 days.

    Ham loaf freezes well! You can freeze your ham loaf after baking or before baking! If you are freezing the raw ham loaf, I recommend waiting until the day you bake it to apply the glaze.

    Freeze your ham loaf by wrapping it tightly in foil and placing it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. If the ham loaf is already baked, I find it's easier to reheat if you slice it into individual servings and wrap those in foil before freezing!

    Frozen ham loaf will keep for 3-4 months in the freezer.

    Reheating Ham Loaf

    Thaw frozen ham loaf in the fridge overnight. The easiest way to reheat already baked ham loaf is to slice individual servings and heat them in the microwave for about 1½-2 minutes.

    If the ham loaf was frozen raw, bake it as instructed above once it has thawed.

    Tall image of a sliced ham loaf.

    🐷 More Great Ham Recipes!


    • Leftover Ham Casserole With Broccoli And Cheese
    • Cheesy Leftover Ham Pasta
    • Creamy Ham And Pea Pasta
    • Air Fryer Grilled Ham And Cheese
    • Ham And Cheese Omelet Roll

    ❓ FAQ

    Can I substitute the ground pork for ground beef?

    You totally can. In that case, it's more of a ham and beef meatloaf, but it will still be delicious, and it can be cooked the same!

    Can I use a ketchup-based sauce as I do on my meatloaf?

    If you have a signature meatloaf sauce it would probably be very tasty on a ham loaf as well!

    Can I add some extra veggies?

    Sure, as long as they are finely chopped. Be sure not to add too much or the loaf may fall apart. Red or green bell pepper diced up very small would add some color and help you get those extra veggies in!

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📋 Recipe

    Square image of ham loaf on a white plate.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
    Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
    5 from 28 reviews

    Ham Loaf (with Tasty Brown Sugar Dijon Glaze)

    Ham loaf may not be the most appetizing name, but my ham loaf with tasty brown sugar Dijon glaze is totally delicious! The tangy-sweet Dijon glaze will get you hooked and you'll be putting ham loaf on your list of favorite weekly dinners!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 493kcal
    Prep 15 minutes
    Cooking 1 hour 15 minutes
    Resting Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

    Ingredients
     

    Ham Loaf

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ¼ cup onion (white or yellow onion, finely diced)
    • 3 cups ham (cubed and ground or very finely diced cooked ham)
    • 1 lb ground pork
    • 1 large egg
    • ⅔ cup seasoned breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned, Garlic & Herb, or seasoned Panko breadcrumbs)
    • ½ cup milk
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Brown Sugar Dijon Glaze

    • ¼ cup light brown sugar (packed)
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • pineapple rings & maraschino cherries (optional toppings)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
    • Melt the butter in a small skillet or frying pan over medium heat, then saute the diced onion for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of tenderness. Remove from heat when done and allow to cool.
      ¼ cup onion, 1 tablespoon butter
    • Place cubed ham into a food processor and pulse until broken up and ground, but not turning into a paste consistency. Transfer the ham into a large mixing bowl.
      3 cups ham
    • Add the remaining ingredients (ground pork, egg, seasoned breadcrumbs, milk, ground black pepper, and sauteed onion) and mix until well combined.
      1 lb ground pork, 1 large egg, ⅔ cup seasoned breadcrumbs, ½ cup milk, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • Transfer the ham loaf mixture to your prepared baking sheet or pan and form into a loaf shape, approximately 8x4-inches in size. Place the loaf into your oven in the middle of the center rack and bake for 1 hour at 350°F (175°C) or until the internal temperature of the ham loaf reaches 160°F (71°C).
    • Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl (light brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar) until smooth. Coat the ham loaf with the glaze and top with optional pineapple rings and maraschino cherries then return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes.
      ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, pineapple rings & maraschino cherries
    • Remove the cooked ham loaf from your oven and tent a sheet of aluminum foil over the loaf loosely. Allow the ham loaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 493kcal (25%) | Carbohydrates: 19g (6%) | Protein: 32g (64%) | Fat: 31g (48%) | Saturated Fat: 12g (75%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 134mg (45%) | Sodium: 1120mg (49%) | Potassium: 510mg (15%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 11g (12%) | Vitamin A: 178IU (4%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 79mg (8%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    brown sugar glazed, Ham Loaf, leftover ham recipes
    Course Dinner Recipes, Main Course, Pork Dishes
    Cuisine American

    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/
    « What To Serve With Steak
    Chocolate Chip Mug Cake »

    Share This Recipe!

    • Share
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    • Print

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Doreen says

      November 13, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      Made it today! Delicious

      Reply
    2. Kalah Byman says

      May 22, 2022 at 12:03 pm

      Your recipe calls for ground pork but has pork sausage shown in the illustration. They are not the same and wondering which it is you intended.

      Reply
      • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

        May 22, 2022 at 1:28 pm

        Yes, I apologize for that it is mislabeled, and is supposed to be ground pork, not pork sausage. I will update the photo. Thanks for asking.

        Reply

    Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Author bio photo with cake.

    Hi there, I'm Angela! I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. I love sharing recipes that are new, fun, and creative as well as great classic recipes just like my Grandma used to make!

    More about me →

    Game Day Appetizers

    • Mild Buffalo Sauce
    • Traditional Easter Dinner Menu
    • Salad Recipes
    • Winter Potluck Recipes
    • Dill Pickle Dip
    • Super Bowl Snacks
    • Homemade Baked Mac N Cheese Bites
    • Sour Cream Chip Dip

    Valentine's Day

    • Red Velvet Blossoms
    • Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
    • Heart Shaped Dessert Ideas For Valentine's Day
    • Strawberry Dump Cake
    • Valentine's Day Desserts
    • Chocolate Valentine's Day Desserts
    • Family Dinner Ideas For Valentine's Day
    • Valentine's Day Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    As seen on image block.

    DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no added cost to you.

    CroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseMalayPortugueseRussianSwedishTurkish

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Angela
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Home
    • Accessibility Statement

    Recipes

    • Dinners
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Condiments
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot

    Read

    • Collections
    • Baking Basics
    • Conversions
    • Food That Starts With
    • Substitutions
    • Food Info
    • Web Stories

    Copyright © 2022 Bake It With Love