Description
This Crockpot Ham with Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze is a perfect slow-cooked dish that combines sweet and tangy flavors. The bone-in ham is rubbed with a brown sugar and mustard mixture, cooked gently in pineapple juice until tender, then topped with a luscious pineapple and brown sugar glaze. Ideal for holiday meals or family dinners, this recipe promises a juicy, flavorful ham with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Rub
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 6-8 lb bone-in ham
- 1 cup pineapple juice
Glaze
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- ½ cup reserved ham juices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Rub: In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon ground mustard thoroughly to create a sweet and tangy paste for the ham.
- Prepare the Ham: Unwrap the 6-8 lb bone-in ham and place it into a 6-quart slow cooker. Trim the ham if necessary to ensure it fits comfortably. Rub the brown sugar and mustard mixture all over the surface of the ham, coating evenly for flavor penetration.
- Add Pineapple Juice and Cook: Pour 1 cup of pineapple juice into the slow cooker around the ham. Cover with the lid and cook on the low setting for about 4 hours, or until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F, ensuring it is fully cooked and tender.
- Prepare the Glaze Base: While the ham cooks, whisk together 1 cup pineapple juice and 1 tablespoon corn starch in a medium saucepan to create the base for the glaze.
- Incorporate Ham Juices: Strain the juices collected in the crockpot during cooking to remove solids. Add ½ cup of these reserved ham juices to the saucepan with the pineapple juice mixture. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it begins to simmer.
- Thicken and Sweeten the Glaze: Cook the mixture while stirring until it thickens to a glaze consistency. Taste the glaze and add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to balance the flavor to your preference. Adjust the thickness if needed by mixing water and corn starch and adding it gradually; if the glaze is too salty, dilute with extra water.
- Apply the Glaze and Serve: Once the ham is cooked and the glaze is ready, brush or drizzle the glaze over the ham before slicing and serving. The result is a moist, flavorful ham with a beautifully glossy, sweet pineapple-brown sugar finish.
Notes
- Ensure the ham is fully thawed before slow cooking for even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham to avoid under or overcooking.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar in the glaze for sweetness according to taste.
- Reserve the juices carefully after cooking to avoid losing any flavorful liquid used in the glaze.
- Leftover glaze can be refrigerated and used as a sauce for other dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: crockpot ham, slow cooker ham, pineapple ham glaze, holiday ham recipe, brown sugar ham, easy ham recipe
