Description
A savory and sweet slow cooker ham recipe glazed with a luscious pineapple brown sugar sauce. This hearty dish features a bone-in ham slowly cooked to perfection in pineapple juice and a brown sugar-mustard rub, then finished with a thickened pineapple glaze for a perfect balance of flavors ideal for family dinners or holiday celebrations.
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 corn starch
- ½ cup reserved ham juices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the brown sugar mustard rub: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon ground mustard until well mixed, forming a flavorful rub for the ham.
- Prepare the ham: Unwrap the 6-8 lb bone-in ham and place it inside a 6-quart slow cooker. Trim the ham if necessary to fit. Rub the brown sugar and mustard mixture all over the surface of the ham to season it thoroughly.
- Cook the ham: Pour 1 cup pineapple juice directly into the slow cooker with the ham. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for approximately 4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F, ensuring it is warmed through and flavorful.
- Prepare the glaze mixture: While the ham cooks, whisk together 1 cup pineapple juice and 1 tablespoon corn starch in a medium saucepan until the corn starch is dissolved, preparing it for thickening.
- Make the glaze: Strain the juices collected in the slow cooker and measure out ½ cup of these reserved ham juices. Add this into the saucepan with the pineapple juice and corn starch mixture. Bring the saucepan to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the glaze thickens to a syrupy consistency.
- Adjust the glaze seasoning: Taste the thickened glaze. Add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar, or more as desired, to balance the sweetness. If the glaze is too salty, dilute with a few tablespoons of water. For thicker glaze, mix additional cornstarch and water to a slurry and incorporate gradually while simmering.
- Serve: Once the ham is done and the glaze is ready, slice the ham and drizzle with the freshly prepared pineapple brown sugar glaze for a beautifully glazed presentation and rich flavor.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F for safe and perfect warming.
- The glaze can be adjusted in sweetness or thickness by adding more brown sugar or cornstarch slurry as needed.
- Leftover glaze can be refrigerated and used as a sauce for other dishes.
- This recipe works best with bone-in hams weighing between 6 to 8 pounds.
- For best results, allow the ham to rest for a few minutes after cooking before slicing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker ham, crockpot ham, pineapple glaze ham, brown sugar ham, holiday ham recipe, easy ham recipe
