Ham: BEST Crockpot Ham (Slow Cooker)
Made for Easter 2022
So easy and was absolutely perfect
Ingredients
- fully-cooked bone-in ham, approximately 7 to 8 pounds
- 2 cups pineapple juice
Paste/Glaze
- 2 c. brown sugar
- 1-1/2 Tbls. Dijon mustard
- 1-1/2 Tbls. balsamic vinegar
- 1-1/2 Tbls. honey
Slurry (to thicken the glaze)
- 2 Tbls. cornstarch
- 2 Tbls. cold water
Instructions
Check the end of the ham bone for a plastic cap and, if present, discard.
Pour the pineapple juice in bottom of a large (6 to 9-quart), oval slow cooker.
PASTE/GLAZE: In a medium bowl, using a fork, mix the brown sugar, Dijon, balsamic vinegar, and honey into a paste. Spread brown sugar mixture all over ham and place, flat side down, in slow cooker.
Cover slow cooker with lid and set to LOW. Cook ham for 4 to 6 hours (8 lb. ham took 5 hours; 4-1/2 hrs for 7-1/2 lb. ham) or until the meat is tender and the internal temperature reaches 140°F. If desired, flip and baste the ham halfway through cooking time and again about an hour before the ham is done (not necessary).
Once ham is done, remove to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm and rest for 15 minutes. Skim any fat and strain the juices from the crock pot into a medium-large saucepan (use about 2/3 to 3/4 of the juices; set the remainder aside in case you need to thin the sauce). Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat and bring juices to a simmer.
SLURRY: In a small bowl, use a small whisk or fork to stir the cornstarch into the cold water to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the pot while whisking the ham juices. Allow the mixture to bubble and thicken for a minute or two, stirring constantly.
Slice ham and serve warm, with the sauce on the side or spooned over the top.
NOTE: To determine number of servings, estimate approximately ¾ pound of bone-in ham per person.
A ham that's less than 7 or 8 pounds will probably reach 140° sooner than 4 to 6 hours. The ham is already cooked, so all you are doing is heating it through to a safe temperature and allowing it to absorb the flavors of the glaze.
Overcooking will lead to a tough, dry ham, even in the crock pot! You may also want to halve the other recipe ingredients if cooking a ham that's smaller than 4 pounds.
When thickening your glaze, do not add straight cornstarch to the hot liquid or it will clump, and do not over stir the sauce once the cornstarch has been added or it may not thicken properly. If you desire a thicker sauce, you may make, and stir in a bit more cornstarch slurry.