Here’s a delicious slow cooker hot honey ham recipe—sweet, spicy, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Perfect for a holiday or weeknight dinner.
Slow Cooker Hot Honey Ham
Ingredients
- 4–6 lb fully cooked ham (bone-in or boneless)
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2–3 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste; sriracha works well)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup water or apple juice (for slow cooker liquid)
Optional garnish:
- Pineapple slices, cherries, or fresh herbs
Instructions
1. Prep the ham
- If using a bone-in ham, score the surface in a diamond pattern so glaze penetrates better.
- Place ham in the slow cooker, cut-side down.
2. Make the glaze
- In a small bowl, mix honey, brown sugar, hot sauce, mustard, paprika, and pepper.
- Pour over ham, spreading evenly.
3. Add liquid
- Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of the slow cooker (not over the top of the ham, to avoid washing off glaze).
4. Cook
- Cover and cook on LOW 4–6 hours (or HIGH 2–3 hours), until heated through and tender.
- Baste ham with juices/glaze once or twice if possible.
5. Finish (optional)
- For a caramelized top, preheat broiler and place ham under it 3–5 minutes after removing from slow cooker. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
6. Serve
- Slice and drizzle with extra juices from slow cooker.
Tips
- Adjust heat: Add more or less hot sauce depending on your spice preference.
- Extra sticky glaze: Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1–2 tbsp water and stir into leftover juices to thicken for serving.
- Leftovers: Store in the slow cooker juices in the fridge for 3–4 days; great for sandwiches.
I can also give you a “spicy maple bourbon” version that’s richer and more caramelized for holidays if you want a fancier twist. Do you want me to do that?
