PSA! YOU CAN MAKE AMAZING BROWN SUGAR GLAZED HAM IN YOUR SLOW COOKER
Whether you're cooking for Easter, Christmas, or just Saturday night family meal, you can make your main dish—that classic glazed ham—right in your slow cooker! This leaves plenty of room in your oven for sides. Below, all your ham-related questions answered.
What kind of ham should I get?
We suggest a spiral-cut, naturally smoked ham for this recipe. That means the ham is already fully cooked, so at the bare minimum, all you need to do is heat it up! We add a tasty honey mustard glaze to take it to the next level—it'll taste totally homemade, promise. Plus, you'll get that delicious smoky flavour you just can't achieve in your kitchen. We also suggest going the bone-in route, as hams with the bone removed are typically less flavourful. Just remember to get yours spiral-cut, it'll make slicing the ham a THOUSAND times easier.
How long does it take to cook a ham in a slow-cooker?
A spiral cut ham will take about an hour per pound on low in a slow cooker to heat through. The ideal serving temperature is around 50ºC, which you can easily check by inserting a meat thermometer directly into the thickest part of the ham. Any hotter than that and you run the risk of a dry ham. Keep basting throughout the cooking time to make sure your ham is nice and juicy.
How big should my ham be?
It's safe to assume each of your guests will eat somewhere between 225g and 350g of ham each, so do the math! Just remember, it's better have too much than not enough.
What sides should I serve with my ham?
Whatever you like! I'm partial to this Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato recipe. Or maybe some Roasted Vegetables?
Since glazed hams are typically on the sweeter side, we tend to lean towards dry red wines like pinot noir, merlot, or shiraz. If you're looking for a wine that plays nice with smoky flavours, try a dry riesling or a pinot gris. As always, consult your local wine store guy or gal! They'll know exactly what you need.
Yields: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 6 hours 15 mins
Ingredients
- 200 g
packed brown sugar
- 100 g
honey
- 250 mL
apple cider
- 60 g
Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp.
smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp.
garlic powder
salt
freshly ground black pepper
- 1
(1.8 - 2.7 kg) spiral cut ham
Directions
- Combine sugar, honey, cider, mustard, paprika and garlic powder in a medium sauce pan and season with salt and pepper. Whisk ingredients together and bring to a simmer. Cook until reduced slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
- Place ham in slow cooker and separate slices slightly. Pour glaze over ham and place lid on slow cooker. Basting every hour, cook on low for 4-6 hours depending on size of the ham. Serve with the glaze on the side.