Ham Dinner
A comforting foil-pack ham dinner featuring sweet pears, sweet potatoes, and a flavorful mustard-brown sugar glaze, perfect for easy family meals or outdoor cooking.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut the cooked ham slices in half.
- Make 6 packets from heavy-duty foil.
- Place a ham slice in the center of each foil packet.
- Add mustard, a sprinkle of brown sugar, pear halves, and sweet potato halves to each packet.
- Dot each with butter.
- Seal the foil packets and place on a cookie sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider marinating the ham slices in the mustard and brown sugar mixture for a few hours before assembling the packets. You can substitute maple syrup for the brown sugar for a different sweetness profile, or use Dijon mustard for a spicier kick. If you prefer fresh produce, roasted sweet potatoes and fresh pears can also work well in this dish.
Serving Suggestions
This ham dinner pairs beautifully with a side of steamed green beans or a fresh garden salad for a balanced meal. For a heartier option, serve with mashed potatoes or cornbread. You can also explore other American recipes for inspiration, like Cheesy Bacon Roll-Ups, which would complement the flavors nicely.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover ham dinner in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place the foil packets in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave the contents in a bowl, covered with a damp paper towel, for a quicker option.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Ham Dinner contains roughly 266 calories, with 2g protein, 37g carbohydrates, and 13g fat. It is a good source of dietary fiber (10% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use uncooked ham for this recipe?
It's best to use cooked ham slices since they are already tender and flavorful. Using uncooked ham may require longer cooking times and could result in unevenly cooked meat. If you only have uncooked ham, consider pre-cooking it before assembling the foil packets.
What can I do if I don't have heavy-duty foil?
If you don’t have heavy-duty foil, you can use regular aluminum foil, but be sure to double-layer it to prevent leaks. Alternatively, you could use parchment paper, but remember to adjust the cooking time, as it might not seal as well as foil.
Can I add other vegetables to the packets?
Absolutely! Feel free to add your favorite vegetables like carrots or broccoli for extra nutrition. Just make sure they are cut to a similar size as the sweet potatoes to ensure even cooking. Keep in mind that different vegetables may require slight adjustments in cooking time.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).