When it comes to crowd-pleasing smoked Holiday centerpieces, few things hit harder than a double smoked ham. Add a rich, sticky jalapeno bacon jam on top and you’ve officially taken a classic holiday meal to the next level. This Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam is sweet, smoky, savory, and packed with bold flavor in every slice. It’s perfect for holidays, family gatherings, game day spreads, or anytime you want a protein that looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to pull off.
Looking for more Holiday Ham inspiration on the grill, try my Maple Bourbon Ham, Honey Mustard Ham or my Shredded Ham with a Cherry Dr. Pepper Sauce.
Holiday Ham
There cannot be a holiday gathering without some ham. Baked or smoked, sweet or savory, spiral or whole, the variations and flavors are endless.
Ham comes from the butt or shank of the pig. Most commonly sold precooked, all this holiday protein needs is some flavor.
The beauty of pork is that it’s a very versatile protein and can be adapted to personal preference. While a traditional holiday ham has a sweet glaze with pineapples and cherries on top, there are so many other great and delicious options to choose from.
The Role of Bacon Jam
Bacon jam isn’t just a topping — it’s a flavor bomb. Made with crispy bacon, jalapenos, brown sugar, and a touch of acidity from the balsamic vinegar, it melts into the surface of the ham as it warms, creating a glossy, sticky glaze that clings to every slice.
The smoky bacon reinforces the ham’s flavor, while the sweetness helps caramelize the exterior. As the ham continues to smoke, the jam thickens and darkens, creating a crust that’s irresistible straight off the slicer.
This combination is especially perfect for:
- Holiday meals
- Sandwich leftovers
- Breakfast hash
- Sliders and appetizers
Ingredients needed to make Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam
- Spiral Ham: for this recipe I used a whole bone-in ham spiral cut ham.
- Seasoning: a mix of All Purpose seasoning and a Sweet BBQ rub is the perfect blend for this sweet and savory Ham recipe.
- Bacon: adds smoky, salty depth and a meaty bite to the jam.
- Maple syrup: natural sweetener that creates a sticky jam base.
- Balsamic vinegar: adds tanginess to break through the sweetness of the jam.
- Brown sugar: gives the jam its signature sticky sweetness and helps it thicken as it simmers.
- Jalapeno: brings a bright, clean heat that balances the richness of the cream cheese and bacon.
Prepare the Ham
The beauty of ham is it’s already precooked. All you have to do is heat it up and add flavor. Usually, the store bought hams come with a prepackaged glaze, but making one yourself is so much better and you can adjust the flavor levels to your liking.
I prefer using a spiraled ham. This means, it’s already precut around the bone making it easier to slice and serve once cooked.
Start by removing the ham out of the packaging and place it onto a wire rack. The reason for the wire rack is to allow air to flow under the ham. Place a drip pan under the grates or depending on the type of grill you are using, place the wire rack in a foil pan. This will catch any of the drippings and prevent flare ups.
Start with a seasoning binder. I kept it simple for this recipe and went with yellow mustard. The binder is there just as a binder, you will not taste the mustard.
Rub that all over the outside of the ham and generously season the outside skin and in between the slices with Dad’s All Purpose rub for the classic savory and peppery flavors and an equal amount of Dad’s Sweet BBQ rub that has granulated honey for that natural sweetness.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
The perfect method to smoking Ham
The key to a perfect double smoked ham is low, indirect heat. Since the ham is already cooked, the goal isn’t to rush it — it’s to warm it evenly and allow smoke and flavor to do their thing.
Preheat your grill to 250-275 degrees Fahrenheit for indirect heat. I smoked this Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam on my kettle grill creating an indirect heat set up. But a smoker, gas, pellet grill or even the oven will get the job done.
Total cook time will depend on the size of the ham, but should take about 2.5 hours or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140 degrees and the edges start to crips up.
How to make Bacon Jam
Bacon jam is the star of this Double Smoked Ham recipe. As bacon slowly renders, it creates a rich base that carries the sweetness of caramelized onions and the heat of jalapeños. Cooking the jam low and slow allows the flavors to deepen and thicken into a spoonable, glossy topping.
Jalapenos bring just enough heat to cut through the sweetness of the sugar and compliments the savoriness of the ham. If you prefer less spice, removing the seeds and membranes will tame the heat while keeping that fresh pepper flavor intact.
This jam can be made ahead of time, which makes entertaining even easier. Warm it up just before serving so it melts slightly into the smoked cream cheese. Once you make this warm, meaty delight, you’ll find yourself putting it on EVERYTHING!
Cut up an entire package of bacon. Place them in a cold pan and and turn on the heat to a medium flame. Allow the bacon to slowly cook, occasionally stirring it around to not burn in one place.
Once the bacon is crispy, remove the bits from the pan, leaving the grease behind. Drop in a diced jalapeno and shallot and saute for 5 minutes until they start getting translucent.
Add in brown sugar, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Mix everything together and let it simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes, allowing the glaze to thicken and get tacky.
Add in the bacon bits and do one more mix incorporating the crunchy bacon with the sweet glaze.
If you are a fan of sweet ham glazes, check out my Orange Marmalade Ham. It’s sweet, sticky with perfectly crispy skin edges.
The Final Glaze
Once the Double Smoked Ham reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s finally time to top it with the Bacon Jam. Pour from the top down covering the entire ham.
Leave it on the grill for another 3-5 minutes for the skin to get tacky with the jam. Remove from the grill and it’s time to serve.
Perfect for Holidays, Parties, and Leftovers
This Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam is incredibly versatile. Serve it as the main protein with classic sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, or mac and cheese, or slice it thin for sandwiches the next day.
Leftovers shine in:
- Breakfast scrambles
- Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches
- Sliders with melted cheese
- Chopped ham fried rice
The bacon jam continues to add flavor even after reheating, making this ham just as good — if not better — the next day.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a show-stopping centerpiece that delivers bold flavor without complicated steps, Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam is it. The combination of slow smoke, tender ham, and rich bacon jam creates a dish that feels special but stays approachable — exactly the kind of recipe that brings people back for seconds.
Whether you’re firing up the smoker for the holidays or just want an unforgettable weekend cook, this ham proves that sometimes the best recipes come from taking a classic and giving it a smoky twist.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the ideal serving temperature for Ham? Remember that a store bought ham is already cooked. It can come in a spiral cut meaning it’s been pre-sliced or whole. You can enjoy it cold or if you are warming it up and adding a sauce or glaze, the ideal temperature is 145-150 degrees.
How to keep a ham moist while smoking? Smoking ham lasts anywhere from 2-4 hours. The best way to keep the ham moist during this long smoking process is to place it in a roasting pan with liquid on the bottom. For best results, use any type of juice as the liquid agent.
Can I make this recipe in the oven? All my recipes can be replicated in the oven, stove top or gas grill. You do not need a big green egg or weber grill to replicate any of my recipes.
If you tried this Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
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Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam
This Double Smoked Ham with Bacon Jam is the ultimate Sweet, Savory, and Smoky Showstopper. It’s perfect for holidays or family dinners.
Course dinner, holiday meal, Main Course
Cuisine American, southern, bbq
Keyword double smoked ham with bacon jam, smoked, savory, holiday ham, sweet and savory ham, bacon jam, kettle grill.
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Servings 8 People
Calories 2773kcal
Ham Ingredients
- 1 Precooked spiraled ham
- 1 tbsp Mustard
- 2 tbsp All purpose seasoning
- 2 tbsp Sweet BBQ seasoning
Bacon Jam Ingredients
- 1 lb Bacon
- 1 Jalapeno
- 1 Shallot
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
- 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup
Remove the ham out of the packaging and place it onto a wire rack.
Spread yellow mustard over the outside of the Ham as the binder and season with the all purpose and sweet bbq rubs.
Preheat your grill to 250-275 degrees for indirect heat. Total cook time will depend on the size of the ham, but should take about 2.5 hours or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140 degrees.
While the ham is on the grill make the bacon jam. Cut the bacon into small pieces and dice the jalapeno and shallot.
Place the bacon in a cold pan and and turn on the heat to a medium. Allow the bacon to slowly cook, occasionally stirring it around to not burn in one place.
Once the bacon is crispy, remove from the pan, leaving the grease behind. Drop in the diced jalapeno and shallot and saute for 5 minutes until they start getting translucent.
Add in brown sugar, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Mix everything together and let it simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes, allowing the glaze to thicken and get tacky.
Add in the bacon bits and do one more mix incorporating the crunchy bacon with the sweet glaze.
Once the ham reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit internally, pour the bacon jam from the top down. Make sure to cover the entire ham include in between the slices.
Keep the double smoked ham with bacon jam on for another 5 minutes or until it reaches 150 degrees. Slice and serve.
For more heat, use 2 jalapenos and add it some hot sauce to the glaze.
Spritz the ham with apple cider vinegar about an hour in to the cook to prevent it from drying.
Another secret to keeping ham juicy is pouring apple juice in the tray or foil pan below the ham. Calories: 2773kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 224g | Fat: 190g | Saturated Fat: 67g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 22g | Monounsaturated Fat: 89g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 656mg | Sodium: 12265mg | Potassium: 3087mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 12mg
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