Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham
A glazed ham is the easiest centrepiece for a holiday table, and the slow cooker makes it easier still. The ham warms gently in a honey, brown sugar and orange glaze, so it stays moist and your oven is free for potatoes, sides and pie.
Updated
- Prep Time
- 10 mins
- Cook Time
- 4 hrs 30 mins
- Rest
- 15 mins
- Total Time
- 4 hrs 55 mins
- Servings
- 16 servings
Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham at a glance
To make honey glazed ham in a slow cooker, set a 3-3.5 kg fully cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham cut-side down in a 6-7 L slow cooker. Pour over a glaze of honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, orange juice and spices and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, until the centre reaches 60°C (140°F). Boil the juices down into a thick glaze and brush it over.
- Total time
- 4 hrs 55 mins
- Calories
- 300 per serving
- Protein
- 31 g
- Yield
- 16 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Method
- Slow cooking
Ingredients
Glaze
Equipment
Oval slow cooker (6-7 L) · Small saucepan · Instant-read thermometer · Pastry brush
Quick Directions
- 1
Prepare the ham
Unwrap the ham, throw away any glaze packet and pat it dry.
- 2
Make the glaze
Warm the honey, brown sugar, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon and cloves in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves.
- 3
Slow cook
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, until an instant-read thermometer pushed into the thickest part, away from the bone, reads 60°C (140°F).
- 4
Thicken the glaze
Lift the ham onto a platter and tent it loosely with foil.
- 5
Glaze and serve
Brush the glaze generously over the ham and between the slices.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to make the perfect slow cooker honey glazed ham.
- 1
Prepare the ham
Unwrap the ham, throw away any glaze packet and pat it dry. Set it cut-side down in the slow cooker. If the lid will not close, trim a slice or two from the base so it sits flat.
- 2
Make the glaze
Warm the honey, brown sugar, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon and cloves in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves. Spoon it over the ham, working some between the slices, and let the rest run down into the pot.
- 3
Slow cook
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, until an instant-read thermometer pushed into the thickest part, away from the bone, reads 60°C (140°F). Start checking at 4 hours; spiral-cut ham dries out quickly once it passes that point.
- 4
Thicken the glaze
Lift the ham onto a platter and tent it loosely with foil. Pour the juices from the slow cooker into the saucepan and boil, stirring often, for 8-10 minutes, until syrupy and thick enough to coat a spoon. For a quicker, thicker glaze, stir in the cornstarch mixture and boil for 1 minute more.
- 5
Glaze and serve
Brush the glaze generously over the ham and between the slices. For a caramelized finish, set the ham in a roasting pan and broil (oven grill) for 3-5 minutes, watching closely so the sugar does not burn. Rest for 15 minutes in total, then carve and serve with the extra glaze.
Recipe Tips
- Buy a ham labelled fully cooked or ready to eat. An uncooked (fresh) ham needs a different, longer method.
- A 3-3.5 kg bone-in ham fits most 6-7 L oval slow cookers. Check the fit a day or two before you plan to cook.
- If you avoid gluten, check the ham and mustard labels for a gluten-free claim, since some brands use wheat- or barley-based ingredients.
Variations
- Swap the orange juice for pineapple juice and pin pineapple rings to the ham with toothpicks.
- Use maple syrup instead of honey for a maple glazed ham.
- Stir 2 tbsp bourbon or dark rum into the glaze for a deeper flavour.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 300 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbs | 20 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Saturated fat | 3 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 1950 mg |
Estimated from the listed ingredients; values vary by brand.
Related Recipes
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge
- Refrigerate leftover ham within 2 hours and keep it covered for up to 4 days.
- Freezer
- Freeze sliced ham in airtight bags for up to 2 months.
- Reheat
- Reheat leftover slices, covered, with a splash of water or orange juice in a 160°C (325°F) oven until they reach 74°C (165°F).
Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham FAQs
Do you need to cook a fully cooked ham?
A fully cooked ham is safe to eat cold. To serve it hot, heat it until the centre reaches 60°C (140°F), which is the government food safety guidance for a fully cooked ham from a sealed package. Leftover or store-repackaged ham should be reheated to 74°C (165°F).
How long does a ham take in the slow cooker?
A 3-3.5 kg fully cooked, bone-in ham takes 4-5 hours on LOW. Size and slow cooker models vary, so start checking with a thermometer at the 4-hour mark.
Can I cook ham on HIGH in the slow cooker?
We don't recommend it. HIGH heats the outside much faster than the centre, so the thin spiral slices dry out before the middle is warm. LOW heats the ham gently and evenly.
How much ham do I need per person?
Allow about 200 g of bone-in ham per person, or more if you want leftovers. A 3-3.5 kg ham serves about 16 people.
