Description
This Crockpot Ham with Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze is a deliciously sweet and savory slow-cooked ham recipe perfect for gatherings and holiday meals. The ham is rubbed with a brown sugar and mustard mixture, then slowly cooked in pineapple juice for a tender, flavorful dish. The pineapple brown sugar glaze is cooked on the stovetop to a luscious thickness, complementing the ham with a tangy-sweet finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Rub
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 6-8 lb bone-in ham
- 1 cup pineapple juice (for cooking)
Glaze
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup reserved ham juices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (plus additional to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Brown Sugar Rub: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon ground mustard. Mix thoroughly to create a sweet and tangy rub for the ham.
- Place and Rub the Ham: Unwrap the 6-8 lb bone-in ham and place it in a 6-quart slow cooker. Trim the ham if necessary to fit. Rub the prepared brown sugar mixture evenly all over the ham to infuse flavor.
- Add Pineapple Juice and Cook: Pour 1 cup pineapple juice into the slow cooker around the ham. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F, ensuring the ham is heated through and tender.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the ham cooks, whisk together 1 cup pineapple juice and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a medium saucepan, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Mix Ham Juices and Simmer: Strain the juices from the crockpot after cooking, reserving ½ cup. Add the reserved ham juices to the pineapple juice mixture in the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat.
- Thicken and Sweeten the Glaze: Cook the mixture until it thickens into a glaze consistency. Taste and add 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar as desired for sweetness. If the glaze is too salty, dilute with a couple of tablespoons of water. To thicken the glaze further, stir together additional water and cornstarch and incorporate gradually until desired thickness is achieved.
- Glaze the Ham and Serve: Once the ham is cooked and the glaze is ready, brush the glaze generously over the ham before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for safety and doneness.
- Adjust the sweetness of the glaze to your preference by varying the amount of brown sugar.
- If your ham is larger than 8 lbs, increase cooking time accordingly.
- Reserve ham juices carefully to avoid sediment when making the glaze.
- Leftover ham and glaze can be refrigerated and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: crockpot ham, slow cooker ham, pineapple ham glaze, brown sugar ham, holiday ham recipe
