Spiral ham is a delicious dish that is usually not Carnivore-friendly. However, we can make changes in the spiral ham recipe to make it fully Carnivore-friendly.
Most spiral ham recipes contain brown sugar, honey, pineapple, or glazes that add unnecessary carbohydrates and ingredients. But this spiral ham recipe removes unnecessary ingredients and keeps what matters: high-quality meat, proper cooking techniques, and rich natural flavor.
Using this Carnivore Diet spiral ham recipe, you can make a juicy, tender ham with zero sugar, zero carbs, and maximum nutrition.
Learn More: Carnivore Bacon, Sliced Turkey and Ham Breakfast Sandwich
A spiral ham or a spiral cut ham is a bone-in ham pre-sliced in a spiral around the bone. The spiral ham recipe is popular because it is easy to slice and serve, it is faster to reheat than a whole ham, and it has a great presentation for holidays or meal prep.
However, spiral hams can easily dry out, which is why we need to learn special techniques. Also, regular spiral ham is not Cranivore-friendly and we need to tweak the spiral ham recipe.
Learn More: Carnivore Dinner Ideas: Carnivore Diet Burger with Four Kinds of Meat
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The spiral ham recipe can be Carnivore-friendly if you choose the right ham. Many store-bought spiral hams contain sugar, honey, dextrose, and corn syrup solids.
To choose a Carnivore-friendly spiral ham, avoid “honey baked” or “brown sugar glazed” varieties, and look for:
To make 12-16 servings of this Carnivore Diet spiral ham (based on 6-8 oz. cooked ham per person), you need a total time of about 2 hours and 30 minutes for a 10 lb ham.
It includes 10 minutes for preparation, about 2 hours for cooking, and about 15-20 minutes of rest time.
Let’s get cooking by preparing the ingredients and following the instructions. You can also check these Carnivore Diet Recipes for more Carnivore-friendly meal ideas.
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If you want maximum flavor and moisture, you can make deep fried ham, which needs an oil temperature of 325-350°F (163-177°C), an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C), and 3-3.5 minutes of cook time per pound.
Deep frying maintains the juice and produces an incredibly rich flavor, making this one of the best spiral ham recipe variations for those on a Carnivore Diet.
You can also make a slow cooker spiral ham using the following instructions:
This method is gentle but does not produce the same roasted flavor as oven or frying.
Learn More: Carnivore Diet Burger with Egg Bun and Cheese Bun
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Spiral hams dry out easily because of overcooking, especially without a sugar glaze. To avoid drying out:
Ham provides complete animal protein, B vitamins, zinc, and sodium [1] [2] [3]. Each serving of this spiral cut ham provides:
Calories: 200-250 kcal | Protein: 22-26g | Fat: 10-15g | Carbohydrates: 0g (no glaze)
Learn More: Are Humans Carnivores? What Science Says about Eating Meat?
Using the leftover ham, you can make different yummy Carnivore-friendly dishes, including:
Learn More: Carnivore Diet and Keto Air Fryer Recipes: Double Beef Burger
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Let’s find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Carnivore Diet spiral ham recipe.
The best spiral ham recipe without sugar uses low-temperature cooking, foil coverage, and animal fat instead of glaze. This keeps the ham juicy while remaining Carnivore-friendly.
Yes, spiral ham is Carnivore-friendly as long as it does not contain added sugars or sweet glazes.
Learn More: How to Make Smoked Ribeye Roast for Carnivore and Keto Diets
A spiral cut ham takes 12-15 minutes per pound at 275°F (135°C) when covered and cooked cut-side down.
Deep fried spiral ham is juicier and more flavorful, but oven-baked ham is easier and safer for most home cooks. Both work well on a Carnivore Diet.
Spiral ham should be reheated to 135-140°F (57-60°C), then rested to reach 145°F (63°C). Overcooking will dry it out.
Most spiral hams are fully cooked and only need reheating if you are buying them.
Learn More: 20 Best Carnivore Lunch Ideas Based on Your Goals + Recipes
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