Grandma's Mustard Sauce for Holiday Ham

Take your holiday ham to the next level with this old-fashioned mustard sauce from Grandma. This warm mustard sauce for ham is a lip-smacking mix of tangy and sweet, and it comes together on the stovetop in just a few minutes.

Grandma’s Mustard Sauce – Our “Ham Sauce” Recipe

While I worked as head chef at a camp and conference center for two years, I had the privilege of learning some amazing tips and tricks (and recipes!) from trained red seal chefs.

I learned that chefs take a lot of pride in their sauces and get them just right. The right sauce paired with the right dish can take something from ordinary to extraordinary!

My grandma wasn’t a red seal chef, but I never tasted anything she made that I didn’t like (except lamb… but I don’t think that was her fault! ;)). I found this recipe in her recipe box and tried it out one day when we were first married. Now we never have ham without it!

Gather the ingredients for the mustard sauce for ham

Refer to the printable recipe card below for specific measurements.

• White vinegar – Adds the tangy bite that balances the sweetness and gives the sauce its classic sharpness.
• White sugar – Sweetens the sauce and mellows the vinegar and mustard for that old-fashioned sweet-and-tangy flavor.
• Dry mustard powder – The star of the sauce, adding warmth and depth without overpowering the ham.
• Eggs – Help thicken the sauce and give it a smooth, velvety texture when cooked.

Step-by-step instructions for this tangy mustard sauce

Serve the mustard sauce warm alongside ham slices for a delicious treat, or cover and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.

Why you’ll love this mustard sauce recipe:

• It’s quick! You can make it in just a few minutes on the stovetop.
• It can be made ahead. If you’re planning a big holiday dinner, you can make this sauce in advance and refrigerate it. Before the meal, just pop it in the microwave to reheat.
• Perfect for ham dinner and leftover ham sandwiches. This warm mustard sauce is delicious with a holiday ham dinner and tastes great on leftover ham sandwiches, too.
• This simple mustard sauce is made without honey – I love a good honey mustard sauce, but this recipe doesn’t use any honey.

Other uses for this simple mustard sauce recipe

Now that you’ve mastered warm mustard sauce for ham, it’s time to let your creativity shine. While this sauce is perfect on ham slices, it works in lots of other dishes, too. Here are a few ideas:

• Warm mustard sauce makes a great dipping sauce for chicken tenders, crispy fries, or even roasted vegetables.
• Use mustard sauce as a marinade for grilled chicken or pork. Marinate the meat for at least an hour, grill it to perfection, and drizzle a little more sauce on top for an extra punch of flavor.
• Mustard sauce is a great condiment for ham sandwiches! Here’s how I make mine: toast your favorite bread, spread on some mustard sauce, then layer on sliced ham and cheddar cheese. Microwave for 15 seconds to let the cheese just start to melt. Yum!!

Other sauce recipes:

• Evaporated milk chocolate sauce – (The BEST hot fudge sauce!)
• Cheese sauce for baked potatoes works great for a baked potato bar.
• This quick and easy meatloaf recipe has a super yummy sauce baked right on top!
• Non-alcoholic hard sauce is perfect for steamed Christmas pudding.

Other holiday dinner recipes

If you’re using this recipe for a holiday dinner, here are some other holiday dinner recipes you might enjoy:

• Cheesy scalloped potatoes with cream of mushroom soup (a yummy shortcut recipe!)
• This old-fashioned potato salad recipe with egg is a crowd pleaser.
• This peach pretzel salad recipe is a twist on the popular strawberry pretzel salad, and it looks so pretty on a holiday table.