Quick Serve over buns and with provolone cheese for the best 30 minute dinner.
Ham barbecue, also known as ham BBQ, makes for an easy, tasty sandwich filling or topping. The savory chopped ham is cooked in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce for a flavor combo that’s hard to beat
While store-bought ham BBQ sauce exists, making your own from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and tweak the flavors to your liking. It’s also more affordable than buying prepared ham barbecue.
Follow this guide to learn how to make ham BBQ, from the sauce to the sandwiches Let’s dive into tips, tricks and recipes to take your ham barbecue to new heights of smoky, sweet deliciousness!
Ingredients for Ham Barbecue
Ham barbecue consists of just a few main ingredients:
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Chopped or Chipped Ham – Use deli ham chipped into small pieces or get chopped ham. Look for higher quality ham with less water for the best texture.
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Barbecue Sauce – Make your own or use a store-bought sauce as the base. Sweet and tangy flavors pair best with ham.
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Buns – Soft buns or rolls hold the saucy ham mix. Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns work nicely.
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Extras – Consider extras like cheese slices, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes or fried onions to dress up your sandwiches.
How to Make Ham Barbecue Sauce
The sauce brings ham BBQ to life. Follow this easy recipe:
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In a saucepan, mix 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard and 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika.
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Whisk in 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and simmer over medium heat 5 minutes until thickened slightly.
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For tangy flavor, add hot sauce, a splash of lemon juice or more vinegar to taste.
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For sweeter sauce, increase brown sugar or stir in honey, maple syrup or molasses.
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Season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper if desired.
This basic sauce recipe allows for plenty of customization so you can create your ideal ham BBQ sauce flavor.
Tips for Cooking Ham for Barbecue
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For the best consistency, use higher quality deli ham with less water content. Avoid ham slices that are very thin and watery.
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Have the ham chipped or shaved into small pieces so it absorbs the sauce well.
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Cook the ham over medium heat just until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Avoid overcooking or it may become dry.
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For convenience, prepare ham BBQ in a slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours until heated through.
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Stir ham BBQ sauce frequently as it simmers so the sugars don’t burn.
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Taste and adjust sauce seasonings once ham is added. More tang, sweetness, salt or spice may be needed.
How to Assemble Ham Barbecue Sandwiches
Building the perfect ham barbecue sandwich is easy:
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Spread both sides of rolls or buns with butter or mayo. This adds moisture and flavor.
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Pile saucy ham BBQ mix generously onto bun bottoms.
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Top with cheese slices, pickles, lettuce, tomato, fried onions or other desired toppings.
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Add bun tops and press down lightly to secure contents.
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For portable sandwiches, wrap individually in foil or wax paper.
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Serve ham BBQ sandwiches with classic sides like potato chips, pasta salad, coleslaw or baked beans.
Storing and Freezing Ham Barbecue
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Store leftover ham barbecue sauce in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 week.
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Prepared ham BBQ will keep refrigerated 3-4 days. Reheat gently before serving.
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For longer storage, freeze ham barbecue up to 2-3 months. Thaw in fridge before using.
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Portion ham BBQ into individual servings before freezing for quick thawing and use.
Different Types of Ham Barbecue Recipes
While the classic version uses sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, ham BBQ can take many tasty forms:
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Chipped Ham BBQ – The traditional Pittsburgh-style uses Isaly’s brand chipped ham and barbecue sauce.
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Pulled BBQ Ham – Made by braising a ham roast low and slow until fall-apart tender and shredded.
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Hawaiian Ham BBQ – Features pineapple juice and crushed pineapple in the sauce along with aromatics like ginger and garlic.
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Cola Ham BBQ – Uses cola as the sauce base with spices and brown sugar blended in. The cola flavor pairs perfectly with ham.
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Maple Bourbon Ham BBQ – Real maple syrup and bourbon add incredible depth and sweetness to the sauce.
Don’t limit yourself to just classic ham barbecue sauce. Get creative and try unique flavor twists – the possibilities are endless!
FAQs About Making Ham Barbecue
Get answers to some common questions about preparing fantastic ham BBQ:
What’s the best type of ham to use?
High quality deli ham works best, preferably with less water content. Avoid cheap, paper-thin sliced ham.
Can you use leftover baked ham?
Yes, baked whole ham makes delicious barbecue! Chop or shred into small pieces before mixing with sauce.
What goes well with ham barbecue?
Classic sides include potato chips, coleslaw, pasta salad, baked beans and mac and cheese. Fried pickles, creamy potato salad and cornbread also pair wonderfully.
How long does ham barbecue last?
Store leftover ham BBQ sauce 1 week in the fridge. Prepared ham barbecue will keep refrigerated 3-4 days. Freeze ham BBQ up to 2-3 months.
What’s the traditional Pittsburgh ham BBQ?
It’s made with Isaly’s brand chipped ham mixed with their sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. The chipped chopped ham texture is signature.
Can you use a slow cooker for ham BBQ?
Definitely! Slow cookers are ideal for making ham barbecue. Cook ham BBQ on low 2-3 hours until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Take Your Ham Barbecue to the Next Level
Elevate your ham barbecue sandwiches with these easy tips:
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Toast the buns for crispy edges and warm flavor. Brioche buns are especially delicious.
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Mix some barbecue sauce into mayo or ranch for a creamy ham BBQ spread.
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Add tangy pickles and crunchy slaw for contrasting textures.
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Fry some onion rings and put them on top for irresistible crunch.
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Brush buns with butter, honey or maple syrup before toasting for sweetness.
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Make ham barbecue pizza using ham BBQ, cheese and barbecue drizzle over flatbread or naan.
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Serve sandwiches with zesty homemade chips or sweet potato fries.
With irresistible sweet and savory flavor, ham barbecue makes a quick and satisfying meal or appetizer for a crowd. Follow these tips and whip up mouthwatering ham BBQ anytime!
Easy One Pan Dinner – BBQ Ham Sandwich Recipe
I really want everyone to make this recipe, but I mean it in the nicest way possible. These BBQ Ham Sandwiches are seriously one of the best things I’ve made in a while.
My family loves ham so I knew these quick sandwiches would be a hit. One skillet pan is all you need for this recipe. Mix up a simple semi-homemade BBQ sauce and let the sliced deli ham simmer in it. Thicken up the sauce before serving and you’re ready to eat.
We prefer these served ‘sloppy Joe style’ inside hamburger buns and with some provolone cheese. Yummy!
- Half-Homemade BBQ Sauce: Water, Ketchup, and Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce – This is the one I always use, but you can use any kind of BBQ sauce here. Brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. For extra heat, use dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard. Garlic PowderOnion Powder.
- Honey ham, 1 1/2 pounds, thinly sliced. Ask the deli counter to cut it thin. It costs more, but this fresh-cut deli ham is well worth it for this recipe. Promise. It can be a honey ham, a brown sugar ham, or anything else. Water Cornstarch—This makes the sauce thicker before you serve it.
How To Make Quick Ham Sandwiches with Deli Ham
Making these ham sandwiches is actually very easy. Learn how to make them with all my helpful tips and a detailed recipe card below.
- In a small bowl whisk together the BBQ sauce ingredients. Apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, ketchup, and water are some of the things that are in this list.
- Cut the ham into thin slices before putting them in a large skillet pan with a lid. Add the BBQ sauce on top and cook over medium-high heat, stirring the sauce around the ham a lot, until it’s bubbly and just starting to boil.
- Once it starts to boil, turn down the heat to medium or medium-low, put the lid on top, and let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Take off the lid and stir it a few times while it’s cooking. When the ham is done, the BBQ sauce should be a darker color and not quite caramelized. It should also be a little thicker.
- Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Then, slowly pour the mixture into the pan while stirring it all the time. Keep stirring until the sauce gets thick. This should only take 1-2 minutes.
- With tongs, put the ham on a Hamburger bun and top it with non-smoked provolone cheese.
- Yes, you can make these sandwiches spicy. The recipe isn’t spicy at all; it’s more smokey and sweet. If you want some spice then here are some options. You can use red pepper chili flakes, cayenne red pepper, or chili powder. Instead of yellow mustard, use spicy brown mustard or dijon mustard. Use spicy ketchup, jalapeño ketchup, or sriracha ketchup. I have seen all the various at the goer store. Add some hot sauce into the bbq sauce mixture.
- How to Serve BBQ Ham Sandwiches: My family likes these best on a hamburger bun with a slice of cheese, like a sloppy Joe. I think it’s worth the extra work to toast the buns, but if you’re in a hurry, they’re still tasty on regular hamburger buns. You can use any cheese you like! I like to serve these sandwiches with non-smoked provolone cheese, but mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and cheddar should also work. Any roll or type of bread will also work. To make a smaller slider sandwich, use slider buns. For a larger sandwich, use crusty baguette rolls or even sliced French bread. To toast the buns, put butter on both sides of each one. Broil for a few minutes until toasted brown. Put one slice of cheese on the bottom bun if you want to use it, and then put the pan back in the oven on broil until the cheese melts. Take tongs and place some BBQ ham on top of the cheese. Then put the other bun on top.
Here are some tips I’ve learned that will help you make this recipe successfully in your own kitchen ♥
- Try using fresh sliced deli ham. It costs a little more than buying a container of deli ham, but I promise it is worth it. Using deli ham that has just been sliced gives the meat a fresh taste and lets you cut the pieces thinner, which is good while the meat simmers. The thinner ham pieces get really soft and tender, and the BBQ sauce gives every piece a lot of flavor. Ask for “1 1/2 pounds of thinly sliced honey ham” at the deli counter. In most delis, you can order by number, so sliced at a 1 also works.
- Simmer Time : Don’t rush this. The time it takes to simmer is what makes the ham so tender, flavorful, and almost velvety smooth. While it’s cooking, the ham will almost get a “crust” on it, which is a good thing. Also, make sure you cover the pan while it’s simmering. This lets the flavor really soak into the ham and keeps things hotter.
- Toasted Hamburger Buns: For serving, I really think you should toast the hamburger buns. Place on a baking sheet and butter both sides. Add some cheese to the bottom bun and broil for one more minute, until the cheese melts. Put the ham and cheese on the piece of bun using tongs. Top with the other bun and enjoy.