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
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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Generously cascade the prepared glaze over the ham, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Set aside a portion of the glaze for later embellishment during serving.
- 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.
- 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