Ham Steaks in Madeira Sauce is a classic, comforting dish that beautifully balances sweet, savory, and rich flavors. This recipe takes thick-cut ham steaks—already flavorful on their own—and elevates them with a luscious sauce made from Madeira wine, butter, and aromatics. The result is a restaurant-worthy entrée that feels both cozy and refined.
Madeira wine, a fortified wine from Portugal, is the star ingredient in the sauce. Slightly sweet with a deep, nutty richness, it pairs wonderfully with the saltiness of ham. When simmered down with shallots, garlic, and a touch of broth or cream, the wine transforms into a velvety sauce that clings beautifully to the meat.
The dish begins with browning the ham steaks in butter or oil, just enough to enhance their color and flavor. After removing the steaks, finely chopped shallots and garlic are sautéed in the same pan, allowing all the delicious browned bits to be lifted into the sauce. Madeira is added and simmered to reduce and concentrate its flavor, followed by broth and a touch of cream or Dijon mustard, if desired, for added complexity.
Return the ham steaks to the pan and let them gently warm through in the sauce, allowing the flavors to marry. The final dish is glossy and aromatic, with a balance of salty, sweet, and savory notes that complement each bite of the ham.
Serve Ham Steaks in Madeira Sauce over mashed potatoes, rice, or even buttered noodles to soak up the sauce. Add a side of green beans or roasted carrots for a complete, comforting meal.
Elegant enough for a dinner party but simple enough for a weekday meal, this dish offers classic European flavors with minimal effort—proving once again that great ingredients and simple techniques often deliver the most satisfying results.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ham steak bone-in, about 1-inch thick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 cup Madeira wine or substitute with another sweet wine
- 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
- 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ham steak and cook until browned on both sides, about 3-4 minutes each side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter and whisk in the flour until golden brown to create a roux.
- Slowly add the Madeira wine and chicken broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Return the ham steak to the skillet and simmer in the sauce for an additional 10-12 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Serve the ham steak with the sauce poured over the top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
I dunno, this seems too complicated for me. I prefer my ham straight from the oven.
I get why it seems complicated, but it’s really just a few steps. You might surprise yourself if you try it!
What’s Madeira wine? Is there an alternative? Never heard of it before.
This recipe is amazing! I love the flavor of the Madeira sauce with the ham.
Great recipe but why not just use pork chops? Seems the same thing!
It’s good, but I think I cooked the ham too long. It got dry. Next time I’ll pay more attention.
So easy to make! Made it for dinner last night and everyone loved it! Definitely a keeper.
Ham and sweet wine? That sounds weird. I thought it was gonna be too sweet, but it turned out good. Who knew?
Ham Steaks? I thought they were just regular ham slices? What’s the difference?
I dunno, they both seem the same to me. Just slice your ham thicker if ya want steak, right?
Ham steaks are thicker and usually bone-in, unlike regular slices that are just cut from the ham. They taste way better too!
This one turned out superb! I even added some mushrooms to the sauce. Yum!
Mushrooms? That’s weird. I don’t think they go with ham. But if you liked it, good for you.
That sounds delicious! I’ve never thought of adding mushrooms, but it makes sense. I’ll try that next time.
Easy and delicious! Made it for my family and they devoured it! Thanks for sharing!
Made it last week, but my husband said it was too sweet… 😕 Maybe I did something wrong?
Sounds great! Can’t wait to try it myself. Glad your family loved it!
5 stars for sure! The sauce was just perfect with the ham. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this is the best ham I’ve ever had! So juicy and flavorful.
I tried it but my sauce was too thick. What did I do wrong?
Sounds like you might have added too much flour or cooked the roux too long! Try using less next time and whisking more. Good luck!
Wow, delicious! Can’t believe such simple ingredients could taste so fancy. I felt like a chef!
Couldn’t find Madeira so I used regular cooking wine + a tiny bit of sugar. Not the same vibe, but honestly it still tasted pretty decent. Ham was the star.
I tried making this but I think I overcooked the ham. It was kinda dry. Maybe an extra minute less on the frying. The sauce was ok tho.
5 stars! So easy and tastes gourmet! Served it with mashed potatoes, perfect dinner.
I followed the recipe but it came out too salty. Maybe it was the broth? I’m not sure if I’ll try it again.
The roux was a bit tricky, but once I got it, the sauce was great! Thanks for the recipe.
This is my new go-to recipe!! So good and hearty. Just made it for my family and they all loved it. 👍
Really? Made with wine? I thought this was a family recipe, not a fancy restaurant dish! 🤔
Sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it myself. Family meals are the best! 🍽️
Ham in wine??? Who thought of that? Not really for me… I prefer plain ham.
This was delish! The Madeira sauce gave it such a nice twist. Definitely making again!
So glad you liked it! The Madeira sauce really is a game-changer. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out next time!
Nah, didn’t like it. My ham was dry, and the sauce didn’t help much. Disappointed.
I’m sorry to hear that! Cooking ham can be easy to mess up. Did you let it rest before slicing? That might help keep it juicy next time! 😊
I tried it, but the sauce was too thick and I couldn’t taste the ham! Maybe I did it wrong?
Ham and wine? Not my thing. I prefer my steak without the frills.
I was worried about lumps, but whisking the whole time really saved me. Browning the ham first was key too. Family asked for seconds, which never happens with plain ham steak.
Okay but you need to be careful the ham doesn’t get tough if you cook it too long. Friend said hers was like rubber.
Is there a gluten-free version? I’m allergic to flour.
yum!!! i love ham steaks so this is a fav for me. super easy and tasty. keep it up!
Thanks! I love how simple it is too. Would suggest trying it with pineapple next time! 🍍
Nice recipe but I didn’t have any Madeira so used grape juice. It still turned out okay, but kinda sweet.