Irresistible Slow Cooker Ham with Brown Sugar Honey Glaze Recipe

Have you ever dreamed of a melt-in-your-mouth slow cooker ham that transforms your dinner table?

This brown sugar honey glaze creates magic with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Simple ingredients combine to produce a succulent centerpiece that keeps everyone asking for seconds.

Tender meat infused with sweet and caramelized notes promises a memorable meal.

The slow cooking method ensures juicy perfection without constant monitoring.

Rich aromas will fill your kitchen, making anticipation build with each passing hour.

You’ll want to savor every delectable bite of this impressive yet effortless dish.

Slow Cooker Ham with Brown Sugar Honey Glaze That Shines

• Transform traditional ham preparation into an effortless slow cooker method that requires minimal hands-on time, perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious results without complex techniques.
• Develop a mouthwatering brown sugar honey glaze that combines sweet, tangy, and warm spices, elevating the ham’s taste with minimal ingredients and maximum impact.
• Prepare a crowd-pleasing main dish that works brilliantly for holiday gatherings, family dinners, or special weekend meals, impressing guests with minimal cooking expertise required.
• Utilize slow cooking technique to guarantee incredibly tender, juicy ham that stays succulent throughout the cooking process, preventing the common problem of dry, tough meat.

Ingredient List for Slow Cooker Glazed Ham

• Ham: Tender center of the dish, a delicious main protein that provides rich and hearty flavor. Choose a fully cooked ham with good marbling for best results.

• Brown Sugar, Honey: Sweet base that caramelizes and creates a rich, glossy coating for the ham. Dark brown sugar offers deeper flavor complexity.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy depth and helps balance the sweetness of the glaze. Smooth variety works best for even distribution.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides brightness and helps cut through the richness of the ham. Helps balance overall flavor profile.

• Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves: Warm spices that enhance the sweet glaze and add traditional holiday flavor. Use freshly ground spices for maximum aroma.

• Cornstarch: Helps create a thicker, more glossy glaze if desired. Ensures smooth texture and better coating on the ham.

Instructions for Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham

Step 1: Prep the Centerpiece

Position the fully cooked ham into your slow cooker. Select a bone-in ham for maximum flavor. Carefully create diamond-shaped cuts across the ham’s surface without slicing too deeply. These strategic cuts will help the glaze penetrate deeply into the meat, ensuring a mouthwatering result.

Step 2: Craft the Magical Glaze

• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Dijon mustard
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring consistently until the sugar melts completely and the mixture transforms into a glossy, slightly thickened liquid. For an extra-rich consistency, whisk in a tablespoon of cornstarch and cook for an additional two minutes.

Step 3: Coat with Deliciousness

Generously pour the glaze over the ham, ensuring every inch gets a beautiful coating. Set aside a small portion of glaze for the final serving touch.

Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat. Allow the ham to cook for 4 to 6 hours. During the final hour, baste the ham every 20-30 minutes with the reserved glaze. This technique creates a gorgeous caramelized exterior while keeping the meat incredibly juicy.

Step 5: Present and Enjoy

Remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it rest briefly. Slice the ham with care, drizzling the remaining glaze over the top for an extra flavor explosion. Serve hot and watch your guests’ eyes light up with delight.

Tips for Tender, Flavorful Slow Cooker Ham

• Maximize Ham Flavor: Score the surface deeply to help the glaze penetrate every delicious layer of meat.
• Glaze Perfection: Whisk cornstarch into the glaze to create a thicker, more luxurious coating that clings beautifully to the ham.
• Prevent Dryness: Baste the ham regularly during the last cooking hour to keep the meat incredibly moist and infused with sweet-savory goodness.
• Boost Serving Presentation: Reserve extra glaze to drizzle over sliced ham for a stunning final touch that adds both visual appeal and intense flavor.
• Customize Your Ham: Experiment with different spice combinations like adding a pinch of cayenne for heat or swap apple cider vinegar with orange juice for a unique twist.

Store and Reheat Glazed Ham the Right Way

• Store leftover ham in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed ham will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap sliced ham tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen ham maintains quality for up to 2 months.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham slices in a baking dish, add a splash of water or broth to prevent drying. Cover with foil and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
• Place ham slices on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, checking temperature to avoid overcooking.

Serve This Glazed Ham with These Classics

• Riesling or Gewürztraminer wines perfectly balance the ham’s sweet and savory glaze, cutting through the richness with their crisp, slightly sweet profiles.
• Roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips create delightful textural contrast, while their earthy flavors harmonize beautifully with the caramelized honey-brown sugar glaze.
• Homemade cranberry sauce or pickled mustard seeds provide bright, acidic notes that refresh the palate and complement the ham’s deep, rich flavors.
• Hard apple cider or sparkling rosé add effervescence and fruity undertones that enhance the ham’s sweet and smoky glaze, creating a memorable dining experience.

Flavor Variations for Slow Cooker Glazed Ham

• Maple Glazed Variation: Replace honey with pure maple syrup for a rich, woodsy flavor profile that complements the ham’s natural sweetness.
• Spicy Chipotle Variation: Add chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the glaze for a smoky, spicy kick that transforms the traditional sweet recipe into a bold, zesty dish.
• Citrus-Infused Variation: Incorporate orange zest and fresh orange juice into the glaze, creating a bright, tangy alternative that cuts through the ham’s richness.
• Herb-Crusted Variation: Sprinkle dried rosemary and thyme into the glaze, introducing an aromatic herb element that elevates the ham’s traditional flavor profile.

Slow Cooker Ham With Brown Sugar Honey Glaze Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent slow cooker ham with brown sugar honey glaze brings holiday magic to family tables with minimal effort. Juicy, tender meat glazed with sweet caramelized goodness invites you to savor each delectable bite of this classic comfort dish.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (6–8 pounds / 2.7–3.6 kilograms)

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup pineapple juice (or orange juice)
• ¼ cup Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Garnish:

• Fresh parsley (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Nestle the fully cooked ham into the slow cooker, selecting either bone-in or boneless. Create an intricate crosshatch pattern across the surface without cutting too deeply, allowing the glaze to penetrate and infuse the meat with rich flavors.
2. Craft the glaze by combining brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves in a saucepan. Gently heat the mixture, stirring periodically until the sugar dissolves and the liquid transforms into a slightly thickened syrup. For a more robust consistency, incorporate a small amount of cornstarch and continue cooking briefly.
3. Generously cascade the prepared glaze over the ham, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Set aside a portion of the glaze for later embellishment during serving.
4. Secure the slow cooker lid and initiate low-temperature cooking for approximately 4-6 hours. During the final hour, periodically bathe the ham with additional glaze every 20-30 minutes, promoting a caramelized exterior and maintaining internal moisture.
5. Once cooking concludes, carefully extract the ham and allow it a brief resting period. Slice the meat and present with the reserved glaze drizzled atop, amplifying the dish’s succulent profile.

Notes

• Customize glaze intensity by adjusting brown sugar and honey ratios for more or less sweetness depending on personal preference.
• Select smaller ham cuts for faster cooking and more precise glaze absorption if serving fewer people.
• Consider using a liner in the slow cooker for easier cleanup and preventing stuck-on glaze residue.
• Enhance flavor depth by adding a splash of bourbon or orange juice to the glaze for subtle complexity.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 hours (on Low)
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 1500 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg