Grilling Ham on a Charcoal Grill: A Step-by-Step Guide

Juicy smoky grilled ham is a star attraction at any cookout. While you may be an expert at charcoal-grilling burgers and chicken tackling a large cut of meat like a ham may seem daunting. But have no fear! Grilling a ham on a charcoal grill is easy with these simple steps.

Ingredients

1 bone-in cooked ham (4-8 lbs)
Charcoal
Chimney starter
Water pan
Herbs, spices, brown sugar, honey for seasoning

Instructions

Set Up Grill for Indirect Cooking

To grill a ham, you’ll need to use the indirect cooking method. This uses a 2-zone fire to cook the ham next to the coals, not directly over them.

Fill chimney starter with charcoal and light.
When coals are ready, pour them into a pile on one side of grill.
Place disposable foil pan on empty side and fill with water. This will act as a drip pan.

Prepare the Ham

Unwrap ham and remove any netting or heavy external skin.
Score the ham by making diagonal cuts in a diamond pattern about 1/4 inch deep.
Rub ham all over with your favorite seasoning blend. Get creative with spices, herbs, brown sugar, honey, mustard.
Optional: Stud ham with whole cloves for an aromatic flavor.

Grill the Ham

Place ham over drip pan, away from coals.
Put lid on grill, adjust vents to maintain 325°F temperature.
Grill for 15-20 minutes per pound, until internal temperature reaches 140°F.
Replenish coals as needed to maintain heat.
During last 30 minutes of grilling, glaze ham with your favorite sweet glaze. Apply every 10-15 minutes.

Rest and Serve

When ham reaches 140°F, remove from grill.
Loosely tent with foil and let rest 15 minutes.
Carve into slices and serve warm.

Tips for Juicy, Flavorful Ham

Choose a cured, fully cooked ham. Do not use fresh pork.
Opt for a bone-in ham for the most flavor and moisture.
Use indirect heat and grill slowly over several hours.
Keep grill vents open to maintain temperature around 325°F.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness. Do not overcook.
Let ham rest before slicing for juicier results.

With minimal prep and a kettle grill you can make competition-worthy ham worthy of any barbecue feast. The smoky charcoal flavor takes this classic to new heights. Grill up a ham this weekend and get ready for rave reviews!

Frequency of Entities

ham 33charcoal 8grill 12coals 6indirect 3smoke 2temperature 3glaze 2juicy 2flavor 2

how to cook a ham on a charcoal grill

Step 1: Prepare the Grill

Start by setting up your charcoal grill for indirect heat. Fill the chimney starter with charcoal briquettes and ignite them. Once there is a layer of gray ash on top of the briquettes, carefully pour them onto one side of the grill. This will make a fire with two areas. If you put a water-filled drip pan on the other side of the grill, it will catch any drips and help keep the grill moist.

Step 3: Grill the Ham

Place the ham on the grill grate, directly over the drip pan. Adding wood chunks or chips that have been soaked in water will give the food a smoky flavor. Cover the grill with the lid, ensuring that the vents are partially open to allow for proper airflow.

Keep a close eye on the temperature. Cook the ham at a consistent temperature of around 325°F (162°C) until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Check the temperature of the ham’s thickest part with a meat thermometer, making sure not to touch the bone.

Smoked Pre-Cooked Ham On The Weber Kettle

FAQ

How to cook a fully cooked ham on a charcoal grill?

Add more coals as necessary. Since hams are already smoked, additional smoke wood is not essential, but you can add some if you like. Let your ham grill-roast for roughly 15 minutes per pound. Because the ham is already fully cooked, you just need to bring it up to temperature.

How do you keep a ham moist on the grill?

Use Indirect Heat With a spiral-cut ham, keep the slices packed together as much as possible and protect the ham from direct heat. To keep the end from drying out, place the ham cut-side down on a sheet of aluminum foil. This will help hold in the moisture while exposing the skin to the heat and flavor of the grill.

How to cook a ham on a Weber charcoal grill?

Place the ham, cut side down, in a large disposable foil pan. Pour the glaze around the ham and into the pan. Cover the ham snugly with aluminum foil, crimping the foil around the rim of the pan. Cook the ham over indirect medium-low heat, with the lid closed, for 1½ hours.

How long does it take to barbecue a ham?

Grill ham on the preheated grill until heated through, about 2 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove ham from the grill and let rest for 30 minutes before slicing.