This quick and easy air fryer ham steak is topped with brown sugar, pineapple and cherries. To make this sweet and savory bone-in ham needs only 5 ingredients and is air fried in 15 minutes.
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How To Make A Bone-In Ham Steak In The Air Fryer
The easiest and fastest way to make a ham is in the air fryer. Choose a whole sliced bone-in ham steak that is smoked and fully cooked. The ham bone really adds flavor and gives that country ham look.
This ham steak air fryer recipe needs no preheating. The savory and salty element is the ham and whole cloves and the sweet is brown sugar, fresh pineapple, and cherries. Yum.
Check out this easy 3 Ingredients Honey Baked Ham With Cloves recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Ham - Bone-in ham steak is preferred but boneless can be substituted.
Cloves- Whole cloves are best. If you do not want to pick them out of the ham you can use a sprinkle of ground cloves.
Pineapple - I used fresh pineapple slices for the recipe. Frozen pineapple chunks or canned pineapple slices can be easily be substituted.
Sugar- Brown sugars add a great flavor and color. Substitute honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or date sugar.
Cherries- Maraschino cherries had a pop of red color and are delicious when roasted. If you are not a fan of maraschino substitute fresh, frozen, or jarred bar cocktail cherries.
Tips and Variations
Use toothpicks to hold down the pineapple and cherries because the air fryer is like a mini convection oven that circulates hot air.
If you want a savory ham steak substitute the sweet elements for mustard, herbs, and warm spices.
Line the pan with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
If you have a small air fryer basket, you can cut the steak into pieces for it to fit easier.
How To Serve Ham Steak
Ham steaks are perfect for Sunday dinners and small holiday celebrations. Serve them alongside traditional sides like green beans, roasted potatoes, biscuits, rolls, mixed vegetables, rice pilaf, or creamed corn.
Try these easy side dish recipes Tiktok Viral Mac and Cheese, Skillet Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potato Crumble Casserole, Cornbread Stuffing Muffins, and Skillet Green Bean Casserole.
Leftovers and Make Ahead
Make ahead this recipe without the brown sugar up to 2 days before and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to air fry it sprinkle the brown sugar.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Step By Step Photos and Directions
- Grab all 5 ingredients, bone-in ham steak, brown sugar, maraschino cherries, pineapple slices, and whole cloves.
2. Rise the ham and dry it off with paper towels. Line the air fryer tray with foil or parchment paper.
3. Add whole cloves and place them all of there the ham steak.
4. Sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
5. Top with pineapple slices, cherries, and brown sugar.
6. With the toothpicks, semi-attach the pineapple and cherries to the ham steak. This prevents them from moving around in the air fryer.
7. Place into air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 until nice and golden brown.
8. Let cool for 5 minutes to remove the toothpicks and whole cloves. Place on a platter and enjoy.
Air Fryer Ham Steak
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Toothpicks
- Foil or Parchment Paper
- Paper Towels
- Fork or Small Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb. Ham Steak Bone-In or Boneless
- 3-4 Pineapple Rings
- 3-4 Maraschino Cherries
- 2-3 tbsp. Brown Sugar
- 1 tps. Whole Cloves or ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves (light sprinkle)
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry ham steak with paper towels.
- Place ham on foil or parchment-lined tray or basket.
- Add whole cloves all over the steak or sprinkle ground cloves.
- Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar.
- Top with pineapples and cherries. With the toothpicks, semi-attach them to the ham steak. This prevents them from moving around in the air fryer.
- Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar.
- Place into air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 until nice and golden brown. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
- With a fork or small tongs remove the toothpicks. Optional step remove the whole cloves.
- Place ham steak on a platter and it's ready to serve. Enjoy.
Tina says
Oh my goodness! I went to honeybaked ham, but the price of their sliced ham went way up. Bought a nice slice of organic ham from the deli at Whole Foods and my Mom, who at 91 is a picky eater, loved it! It tasted just like the way we used to make it in the olden days in the oven. I didn't have brown sugar so substituted honey. At 14 minutes it was perfect. Thank you for sharing and making Mom's day.
Andrea Johnson says
Hi Tina, I'm so happy you to hear Mom loved the recipe and for the honey tip. Thanks so much 🙂