Description
This Crockpot Ham with Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze is an easy and flavorful slow cooker recipe where a bone-in ham is cooked to perfection and glazed with a sweet and tangy pineapple brown sugar sauce. Perfect for holiday dinners or special family meals, this recipe delivers tender, juicy ham infused with the tropical sweetness of pineapple and a hint of mustard spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Seasoning
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 6-8 lb bone-in ham
- 1 cup pineapple juice (for slow cooker)
Glaze
- 1 cup pineapple juice (for glaze)
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- ½ cup reserved ham juices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the brown sugar mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon ground mustard until well mixed.
- Prepare the ham: Unwrap the 6-8 lb bone-in ham and place it in a 6-quart slow cooker, trimming if necessary to fit. Rub the brown sugar and mustard mixture all over the surface of the ham evenly.
- Cook the ham: Pour 1 cup of pineapple juice into the slow cooker around the ham. Cover with the lid and cook on low heat for 4 hours or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F, ensuring it is fully heated through and tender.
- Start the glaze: While the ham cooks, whisk together 1 cup pineapple juice and 1 tablespoon corn starch in a medium saucepan until smooth.
- Add reserved juices: Strain the cooking juices from the crockpot and reserve ½ cup of these. Add the reserved juices to the saucepan with the pineapple juice mixture and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Thicken the glaze: Continue cooking the glaze, stirring frequently, until it thickens to a syrupy consistency. Taste the glaze and add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to balance out the flavors as desired.
- Adjust the glaze consistency: If the glaze is too salty, add a couple of tablespoons of water to dilute. To thicken further, mix additional corn starch with water and stir into the glaze until the desired thickness is reached.
- Serve: Once ham is fully cooked, remove from slow cooker, slice, and serve drizzled with the warm pineapple brown sugar glaze.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the ham reaches 140°F for safety and optimal tenderness.
- Adjust the sweetness of the glaze according to your taste by adding more or less brown sugar as preferred.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, gradually add a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water) while simmering.
- Leftover cooked ham juice can be stored and used as a flavorful base for soups or gravies.
- This recipe uses a slow cooker as the primary cooking method, which ensures even heating and moist results without needing to monitor the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: crockpot ham recipe, pineapple brown sugar glaze, slow cooker ham, holiday ham, easy ham recipe, sweet ham glaze
