Here’s a simple, sweet, and tender Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham recipe—perfect for holidays or an easy weeknight meal 🍖🍯
🍖 Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham (6–8 servings)
Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked ham (about 4–6 lbs), bone-in or boneless
- ½–¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
- ¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)
- ½ cup water, apple juice, or pineapple juice
- Optional: pineapple slices or maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the ham:
- Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern (optional, helps glaze penetrate).
- Place ham in the slow cooker, flat side down.
- Make the glaze:
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, mustard, and ground cloves (if using).
- Rub half of the mixture over the ham.
- Add liquid:
- Pour water, apple juice, or pineapple juice into the bottom of the slow cooker (keeps ham moist).
- Cook:
- Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours (or high 2–3 hours) until heated through and glaze is caramelized.
- Optional: halfway through cooking, brush remaining glaze over ham.
- Finish & serve:
- Remove ham from slow cooker, let rest 10–15 min.
- Slice and serve with pan juices or extra glaze.
🔄 Variations
- Maple Brown Sugar Ham: Substitute half of the brown sugar with maple syrup.
- Pineapple Glazed Ham: Layer pineapple slices on top before cooking.
- Spiced Ham: Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the glaze for a warm, festive flavor.
- Honey Mustard Ham: Replace mustard with a honey-mustard mix for extra sweetness.
💡 Tips
- Use fully cooked ham—slow cooker mainly reheats and caramelizes.
- Keep ham moist by adding enough liquid to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Let the ham rest before slicing so juices redistribute.
I can also give a sticky, ultra-caramelized version that uses both brown sugar and honey for a glaze that almost crisps like an oven-baked ham, even in the slow cooker. Do you want that version?
