Here’s a Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham recipe—sweet, tender, and perfectly glazed, with minimal effort. It’s great for holidays, family dinners, or anytime you want a hands-off savory-sweet ham.
🍯 Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked ham (4–6 lbs, bone-in or boneless)
- ½–¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp ground cloves (optional, for warm flavor)
- ½ tsp cinnamon or allspice (optional)
- ½ cup water or apple juice (for slow cooker base)
Instructions
- Prepare Ham
- Remove ham from packaging; score the surface in a diamond pattern (½-inch deep).
- Place ham in slow cooker flat side down.
- Make Glaze
- Mix brown sugar, honey (or maple syrup), mustard, and optional spices into a paste.
- Rub glaze all over the ham, making sure it gets into the scored cuts.
- Add Liquid
- Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of the slow cooker (prevents sticking and adds steam).
- Cook
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours (or HIGH for 2–3 hours), until heated through.
- Optional: Spoon glaze over ham halfway through cooking for extra sweetness.
- Optional Caramelized Finish
- For a crispy glaze: preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Transfer ham to a foil-lined baking sheet and bake 10–15 minutes until caramelized.
- Serve
- Slice and drizzle with juices from the slow cooker.
Tips & Variations
- Spice twist: Add a splash of pineapple juice or orange juice for tropical sweetness.
- Maple-glazed: Use ¼ cup maple syrup instead of honey.
- Simple version: Brown sugar + mustard is enough for a classic flavor.
- Leftovers: Perfect for sandwiches, omelets, or soups.
Serving Ideas
- Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Roasted green beans or glazed carrots
- Dinner rolls or cornbread
If you want, I can give a honey-bourbon slow cooker ham version, a mini ham packet version for parties, or a slow cooker ham with a brown sugar-mustard pineapple glaze.
Do you want me to do that?
