Making Ham in a Crock-Pot is an easy and convenient way to prepare a tender, flavorful ham that’s perfect for dinner, holidays, or a special occasion. The slow cooking process helps infuse the ham with delicious flavors, and the result is a moist, juicy ham with a fantastic glaze.
Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for making Ham in a Crock-Pot:
Ingredients:
- 1 (6-8 lb) bone-in or boneless ham (fully cooked, spiral-sliced or unsliced)
- 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
- 1/2 cup Dijon mustard (or yellow mustard)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or orange juice)
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a warm flavor)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional, for a spiced touch)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, to thicken the glaze)
- 2 tablespoons water (if using cornstarch)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Ham:
- If your ham is spiral-sliced, you can leave it as is, or if you have a whole ham, score the surface with shallow cuts (about 1/4-inch deep) in a criss-cross pattern. This helps the glaze seep into the ham and adds flavor.
- Place the ham in the Crock-Pot, flat side down if it’s spiral-sliced, or with the fat side up for a whole ham.
2. Make the Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice (if using), cinnamon, and ground cloves. This will create a flavorful, sweet and tangy glaze for the ham.
- Pour the glaze over the ham, making sure to coat it evenly. If your ham is spiral-sliced, you can gently pull apart some of the slices to let the glaze get between them.
3. Cook the Ham:
- Cover the Crock-Pot with the lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours. Since the ham is pre-cooked, you’re essentially warming it through and allowing the flavors to infuse.
- If the ham is a whole ham (not spiral-sliced), be sure to spoon some of the glaze over the ham every hour to keep it moist.
4. Optional: Thicken the Glaze:
- If you want to thicken the glaze to create a more syrupy consistency, remove the ham from the Crock-Pot once it’s done cooking and set it aside to rest.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Then, pour the liquid from the Crock-Pot into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the cornstarch slurry and cook for 2-3 minutes until it thickens.
- Drizzle the thickened glaze over the ham before serving.
5. Serve the Ham:
- Slice the ham and serve it with the remaining glaze. You can serve it alongside mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or your favorite side dishes for a complete meal.
Tips and Variations:
- For a sweeter glaze: Add more brown sugar or honey to the glaze mixture.
- For a citrus twist: Use orange juice instead of apple cider vinegar for a fruity flavor.
- Add pineapple: For a tropical twist, add a few rings of canned pineapple to the Crock-Pot along with the ham, or use pineapple juice in the glaze. You can even score the ham and insert some pineapple slices between the cuts.
- Use a bone-in ham: If using a bone-in ham, the bone will help keep the meat moist and add flavor.
This Crock-Pot Ham is incredibly easy to prepare and results in a tender, flavorful ham that’s perfect for any occasion. Plus, it frees up your oven for other dishes, making it especially great for holidays like Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving. Would you be making this for a holiday, or just as a delicious family dinner?