Sweet & Tangy Air Fryer Lime and Honey Ham Steaks (for two)

 
 

  

If you’re looking for a quick, flavorful dinner that feels special without any fuss, these Air Fryer Lime & Honey Ham Steaks are about to become a new favorite. Sweet, tangy, and beautifully caramelized, this small‑batch recipe transforms simple ham steaks into a bright, zesty meal with just a handful of ingredients. The air fryer does all the work—creating perfectly glazed edges and tender, juicy meat in minutes— the flavors of lime and honey bringing a sunny burst of flavor to every bite.

Perfect for busy weeknights, cooking for two, or those times you want something satisfying without turning on the oven, this easy air fryer recipe proves that delicious doesn’t have to be complicated.

 

Since we are going to my sister's for a chicken dinner on Easter Sunday I wanted to make a small Easter Ham Dinner here at home for Eileen and I on Good Friday. I thought some ham steaks would work perfectly.  I had seen a recipe online for cooking the ham steaks in the air fryer which looked really delicious. Not only that, but it looked relatively healthy as well. It also looked relatively easy to cut the recipe down to feed only two people without a lot of waste.

Cooking them in the air fryer meant that they were cooked very quickly!  I was surprised at just how quickly they were done. 10 minutes maximum. I cooked all of the sides ahead of time and had them ready to go before I put the ham steaks into the air fryer.

The glaze which was use was composed of sweet, rich honey and tangy lime, both the juice and the zest.  There was also some fresh garlic in the glaze for additional flavor.

I have to say we were both really pleased with the end results.  The cross-hatching in the steaks meant that the flavors of the glaze were able to penetrate the meat and also keep the meat juicy without drying out.  I found that is also made them very attractive.

If you are looking for a quick and simple way to have a ham dinner for two people for your Easter celebrations, you really can't go wrong with this one! Quick, easy and really delicious!

 

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE

AIR FRYER LIME & HONEY HAM STEAKS

There is nothing too out of the ordinary here. Simple ingredients put together in the most delicious way!!

• two thick individual sized ham steaks (see notes)
• 1 tsp finely grated lime zest (plus additional to garnish)
• 1 TBS fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 3 TBS liquid honey
• 2 tsp sunflower oil
• Crushed chili flakes (optional)

 

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS

• Thick ham steaks were not really available when I went to the shops to get some so I just bought a small dinner ham which I cut into two 1/2 inch thick steaks. I will use the remainder of the ham to make sandwiches or a casserole.
• Use fresh limes. I actually ended up buying limes twice. I had bought some earlier in the week but when I got home I couldn't find them, so I must have left them in the store.  I ended up having to go back and get more.
• I used the organic bottled minced garlic, about half a teaspoon.
• I used local Nova Scotia organic liquid clover honey.
• I chose not to use the chili flakes.

 

HOW TO MAKE

AIR FRYER LIME & HONEY HAM STEAKS

These were really quick and easy to make in the air fryer.  They came out moist and delicious with a sweet and tangy glaze.

1. Whisk the honey, lime zest, lime juice, oil and garlic together in a bowl to combine well together. Set aside. (If you wish you can gently heat this mixture for about 30 seconds in the microwave. I did not find this necessary.)
2. Take your ham steaks and, using a sharp knife, score them in a diamond pattern on both sides, making very shallow cuts. (No more than 1/4 inch deep at half inch intervals.) 
3. Brush the ham steaks generously on both sides with the glaze mixture, making sure you get it into the cuts. Place them in the basket of the air fryer. (I lined the bottom of my air fryer with some foil to make clean up a bit easier. I didn't want honey sticking on and burning.)
4. Air fry at 375*F/190*C for 5 minutes. Brush with the glaze and flip over. Brush the other side with the glaze.  (Really work the glaze into the cuts both times.)
5. Air fryer at 375*F/190*C for a further 5 minutes. Brush with the remainder of the glaze.
6. Leave to rest for two minutes. Sprinkle some additional lime zest over top and some crushed chili flakes if desired. (I did not use the chili flakes.)
7. Serve immediately with your favorite sides. (See below for serving suggestions.)

 

HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Make sure that the ham steaks you purchase are at least 1/2 inch thick and that they are labeled as being cooked already, or ready to eat. If they are not you will need additional time to cook them through to an interior temperature of 140*F/60*C.
2. Scoring the surface of the ham steaks in a cross/hatch diamond pattern helps the flavors of the glaze to penetrate the meat better. No need to go really deep. Shallow cuts are best.
3. Glaze your ham steaks in stages. This helps to ensure that the honey caramelizes perfectly and will give you a lovely golden finish. 

WHAT TO SERVE 

WITH 

AIR FRYER LIME & HONEY HAM STEAKS

We enjoyed these delicious ham steaks with some fabulous scalloped potatoes or potatoes gratin as they are also known. You can use a packages mix to make these or make them from scratch. Today we used a packaged mix.

I also cooked an assortment of vegetables to serve on the side.  Hot buttered corn and some steamed carrots.  We also had some bread which I had purchased to try. It was something new,  Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread.  We got it at Giant Tiger and it was delicious.

In all truth any potato and vegetable would work very well with these ham steaks as would macaroni and cheese.

 

HOW TO 

PREVENT YOUR HAM STEAKS

FROM DRYING OUT IN THE AIR FRYER

Most ham steaks you buy will already be cooked, so you are basically just reheating them not cooking them. When you bear this in mind it makes the process a lot easier. They really don't take much time at all. 

• Use a high temperature and relatively short cook time. (In this case, 375*F/190*C for only 5-minutes per side for ham steaks that are 1/2 inch thick.)
• Use a glaze as a protective barrier. This will help to seal in the juices of the ham as it works to glaze the ham.
• Use your meat thermometer and test the ham to see that the interior temperature is 140*F/60*C.  As soon as your ham reaches that temperature remove it from the air fryer.
• Allow the ham steaks to have a resting period as you would any cut of meat. This gives the juices some time to be reabsorbed into the meat prior to serving.

 

A FEW OTHER 

HAM STEAK RECIPES TO ENJOY

Here are a few more recipes for cooking ham steaks that you might also enjoy. Simple and delicious.

PINEAPPLE GLAZED HAM STEAKS - Everything you love about a holiday ham—sweet, tangy, lightly spiced, and beautifully caramelized—scaled down into the perfect small‑batch meal. Tender slices of ham are browned in butter, then simmered in a glossy glaze made from brown sugar, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, and crushed pineapple, creating a sauce that’s fruity, savory, and irresistibly sticky. A few maraschino cherries add a nostalgic pop of color and sweetness, turning this simple skillet dish into something that feels wonderfully celebratory. The perfect size for only one or two people.

HAM STEAKS SHEET PAN DINNER - This is the kind of comforting, no‑fuss meal that makes weeknights feel wonderfully easy. A full, bone‑in ham steak is nestled onto a tray with tender red potatoes, sweet butternut squash, and crisp green beans, all tossed in olive oil and seasoning. Everything roasts together until the edges caramelize and the vegetables turn golden and soft. The real magic comes from the glaze: a warm, sweet‑savory mix of honey, grainy mustard, Dijon, rosemary, and garlic that melts over the ham as it bakes, creating a glossy, flavor‑packed finish. In just 20–25 minutes, you have a complete dinner—beautifully balanced, hearty, and deeply satisfying.

   

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Yield: Two Servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Air Fryer Lime & Honey Ham Steaks (for two)

Quite simply delicious. These fabulously tasty ham steaks cook in minutes in the air fryer. Salty, tangy, and sweet. Excellent flavor.

Ingredients

• two thick individual sized ham steaks (see notes)
• 1 tsp finely grated lime zest (plus additional to garnish)
• 1 TBS fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 3 TBS liquid honey
• 2 tsp sunflower oil
• Crushed chili flakes (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk the honey, lime zest, lime juice, oil and garlic together in a bowl to combine well together. Set aside.
2. Take your ham steaks and, using a sharp knife, score them in a diamond pattern on both sides, making very shallow cuts. (No more than 1/4 inch deep.)
3. Brush the ham steaks generously on both sides with the glaze mixture, making sure you get it into the cuts. Place them in the basket of the air fryer.
4. Air fry at 375*F/190*C for 5 minutes. Brush with the glaze and flip over. Brush the other side with the glaze.
5. Air fryer at 375*F/190*C for a further 5 minutes. Brush with the remainder of the glaze.
6. Leave to rest for two minutes. Sprinkle some additional lime zest over top and some crushed chili flakes if desired.
7. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.

Notes

I could not find thick ham steaks where I live and so I bought a small dinner ham and cut it into 1/2 inch thick slices to use as ham steaks. This worked beautifully.

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