Asian-Influenced Char Siu Ham (Using Pre-Sliced Gift Hams)

Transform your leftover spiral ham into an irresistible masterpiece with this Asian-inspired Char Siu Ham recipe—a glossy, sticky, sweet glazed ham bursting with bold Chinese BBQ flavor. This easy Char Siu spiral ham uses a blended hoisin-based glaze packed with garlic, five-spice, and soy sauce, creating restaurant-quality caramelization without burning the sugars. Perfect for anyone searching for leftover ham ideas, holiday ham upgrades, spiral ham recipes, or Chinese Char Siu at home, this dish delivers deep flavor, vibrant color, and unbelievable tenderness. Serve it on bao buns, over white rice, or eat it on its own. Includes a full Char Siu whole ham variation, plus sandwich-ready instructions for chopping and tossing the ham for maximum saucy, flavorful bites. This is the ultimate fusion ham recipe for home cooks who want a show-stopping, mouth-watering upgrade to the classic baked ham.

Every holiday season, we all end up with those pre-sliced spiral hams—usually dry, salty, and not exciting to cook with. After extensive testing, I’ve found the absolute best way to use them: turn them into Chinese-inspired Char Siu Ham.

The sweetness perfectly balances the saltiness, the glaze caramelizes beautifully, and letting the ham soak before baking infuses every slice with flavor.

I personally love serving this Char Siu Ham on homemade bao buns with a fresh cucumber salad, while my wife prefers it right over steamed white rice. It’s also fantastic on its own.

Note: If you have a whole unsliced ham, a full recipe variation is provided at the bottom.

Ingredients

For the Ham

1 pre-sliced spiral ham (5–8 lbs)
1 cup water (for roasting pan)

Char Siu Glaze (Blended Smooth for Best Texture)

1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing) or dry sherry
3 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
4 tbsp minced garlic
2 tsp grated ginger
12–15 drops red food coloring (traditional Char Siu color)

Instructions

Prep the Ham

Place the pre-sliced ham cut-side down on a roasting rack.
Add 1 cup water beneath the rack to keep the ham moist during cooking.

Make the Glaze

Add all glaze ingredients to a blender.
Blend until smooth, glossy, and fully combined.

First Coat + Flavor Soak

Pour two-thirds of the glaze over the ham.
Use a brush or your hands to work the glaze between every slice.

Let the ham sit 30 minutes to 2 hours to absorb flavor.

Low-Temperature Bake (Avoids Sugar Burn)

Cover the ham tightly with foil.
Bake at 300°F for 60 minutes.

Second Coat

Remove the foil and brush on the remaining glaze, again working between slices.

Controlled Caramelization

Increase the oven to 375°F.
Bake uncovered for 20–30 minutes, basting halfway through.

Optional: Broil on LOW for 1–2 minutes only, watching closely.

Rest & Serve

Let rest a few minutes before serving, but it is best hot.

Serving Suggestions

Bao buns with cucumber salad
Over steamed white rice
On its own
In rice bowls or noodle bowls

For Char Siu Bao, Rice, or Sandwiches

Cut the slices from the bone and chop into bite-size pieces.
Toss everything together in a bowl so the glaze, charred edges, and juicy pieces distribute evenly.
Serve on buns, bao, sliders, wraps, or in bowls.

Optional Flavor Variations

Spicy Char Siu Ham

Add 1–2 tbsp chili crisp or sambal.

Pineapple Char Siu Ham

Add 1/4 cup pineapple juice and roast with diced pineapple.

Maple Char Siu Ham

Swap some sugar for maple syrup and add 1 tbsp rice vinegar.

Char Siu Ham (Whole Unsliced Ham Version)

(Mentioned earlier—this section is for those using a full ham.)

Score & Marinate

Score the fat cap in a crosshatch pattern
Blend all glaze ingredients
Reserve 1 cup glaze for finishing
Coat the ham thoroughly
Marinate 6–24 hours in the refrigerator

Bake

Bake covered at 300°F for 12–15 minutes per pound
Uncover and brush with reserved glaze

Caramelize

Raise oven to 375°F and bake 25–35 minutes
Optional LOW broil for 1–2 minutes