Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham: Your Ultimate Easy Holiday Ham Recipe
Prepare to transform an ordinary ham into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece with this incredibly simple Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham recipe. Using just a handful of staple ingredients and the convenience of your crockpot, you can effortlessly create tender, juicy slices of ham bathed in a rich, sweet, and tangy honey mustard glaze. Perfect for holidays, special family dinners, or simply when you crave comforting, flavorful food, this recipe promises to deliver show-stopping results with minimal effort, making it a favorite for seasoned cooks and beginners alike.
Discover the Magic of Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
There’s something truly special about a perfectly glazed ham. Whether you’re planning an elaborate holiday feast like Easter or Christmas, or simply seeking a comforting, hearty meal for a weekend gathering, this crockpot honey ham recipe is your secret weapon. Its sweet and savory profile, combined with the incredibly tender texture achieved through slow cooking, makes it an irresistible centerpiece for any table.
Our sweet honey mustard glazed ham is renowned for its ability to impress even the most discerning palates, including those famously picky eaters. The harmonious blend of honey’s sweetness and mustard’s piquant kick creates a glaze that caramelizes beautifully, locking in moisture and infusing every bite with mouth-watering flavor. This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience that gathers loved ones around the table.
For more incredible dinner ideas that complement this ham or offer alternative main courses, be sure to explore my other fantastic recipes like the savory Mustard Herb Ham, the convenient and delicious Sheet Pan Parmesan Chicken, and the elegant Roasted Cornish Hens. Each recipe is designed to bring joy and ease to your kitchen!
Why This Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham Will Be Your New Favorite
This particular honey mustard glazed ham recipe stands out for many reasons. It’s more than just a dish; it’s a solution for effortless entertaining and delicious family meals. Here’s why you’ll absolutely adore it:
- Perfect Balance of Sweet and Tangy: The honey provides a rich sweetness that beautifully contrasts with the sharp, zesty kick of Dijon mustard. This dynamic duo creates a complex flavor that is incredibly addictive and complements the ham perfectly.
- Pairs Beautifully with Ham: Ham, by nature, is a savory meat, and this glaze elevates its natural flavors, adding depth without overpowering it. It’s a match made in culinary heaven.
- Effortlessly Easy to Make: The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. With minimal prep time and the magic of your slow cooker, you can achieve gourmet results without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Kid-Approved Flavor: The sweetness of the honey makes this ham incredibly appealing to children, making it a rare dish that pleases both adults and the younger crowd. Say goodbye to mealtime battles!
- A Cherished Holiday Favorite: This glazed ham is destined to become a staple at your holiday celebrations, from Easter brunches to festive Christmas dinners. It embodies comfort and tradition.
- Versatile for Any Time of Year: While perfect for holidays, don’t limit this delicious ham to just special occasions. It’s a fantastic option for a Sunday dinner, a potluck, or any time you want a hearty and flavorful meal.
- Simplified Slow Cooker Recipe: The slow cooker does all the hard work, ensuring the ham cooks evenly and remains incredibly moist and tender. It frees up your oven and your time, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal or simply relax.
Simple Steps to Prepare Your Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
Creating this magnificent honey mustard glazed ham is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these easy steps to ensure a tender, flavorful, and perfectly glazed ham every time:
Step 1: Prepare Your Ham and Slow Cooker
Begin by placing your ham in a slow cooker. For an 8-10 pound ham, you’ll need at least a 6-quart slow cooker, or larger. If your ham is too tall for the lid to fit snugly, don’t hesitate to trim a small section from the bottom or top of the ham to ensure proper coverage. This ensures even cooking and keeps the moisture locked in. If using a spiral-cut ham, consider placing it cut-side down to help retain its juices.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Irresistible Honey Mustard Glaze
In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, ground clove, and ground cinnamon. Whisk these ingredients thoroughly until they are well mixed and form a smooth, luscious glaze. The brown sugar provides a deep, molasses-like sweetness that complements the honey, while the Dijon adds its signature tang. Clove and cinnamon introduce a warm, aromatic spice that makes this glaze truly special. Once combined, generously pour this flavorful honey mustard ham glaze over the ham in the slow cooker, ensuring it’s coated evenly.
Step 3: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook. For the most tender and juicy results, I highly recommend cooking the ham on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours. If you’re short on time, you can cook it on HIGH for 2-4 hours, though keep a closer eye on it to prevent drying. The ham is perfectly cooked when its internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) when measured with a meat thermometer. This temperature ensures it’s thoroughly heated without becoming overcooked.
Step 4: Rest, Thicken Glaze, and Serve with a Final Brush
Once the ham reaches the desired internal temperature, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and transfer it to a large platter or cutting board. Tent it loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the ham, ensuring every slice is incredibly tender and moist. While the ham rests, pour all the flavorful juices from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Bring the juices to a simmer over medium heat. In a separate small bowl, whisk together a tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry. Slowly pour this cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while whisking continuously. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. This thickened glaze is optional but highly recommended, as it adds a beautiful glossy finish and an extra burst of flavor to your ham. Brush the warm, thickened honey mustard glaze generously onto the rested ham before slicing and serving. Enjoy every delectable bite!
Expert Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
To ensure your honey mustard glazed ham turns out perfectly every time, here are some helpful notes and tips:
- Ham Size and Slow Cooker Fit: This recipe is designed for an 8-10 pound fully cooked ham, which is typically the maximum size a 6-quart slow cooker can accommodate. I’ve personally used a 10-pound ham, and sometimes it can be a bit tall. If your ham prevents the lid from sealing properly, don’t hesitate to trim a couple of inches from the top of the ham. This ensures the lid fits snugly, creating the necessary steamy environment for a moist ham.
- Spiral Cut Ham Option: This recipe works wonderfully with a fully cooked spiral-cut ham as well. The pre-sliced nature of spiral hams allows the glorious honey mustard glaze to penetrate deeper into the meat, infusing every slice with more flavor. If using a spiral cut, consider placing it cut-side down in the slow cooker to keep the ham exceptionally juicy.
- Basting is Optional (but sometimes fun!): There is genuinely no need to baste the ham during the slow cooking process. The sealed environment of the crockpot does an excellent job of keeping the ham moist. However, if you enjoy the process or feel it adds extra flavor, a quick basting doesn’t hurt! Just try to minimize opening the lid too frequently, as it releases heat and moisture, extending the cooking time.
- Low and Slow for Supreme Tenderness: I always prefer to cook ham on LOW. While cooking on high is an option if you’re pressed for time, the “low and slow” method guarantees the most tender, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone results. It allows the flavors to meld beautifully and prevents the ham from drying out.
- The Secret to a Glossy Finish (and Extra Flavor!): As mentioned in the instructions, after removing the ham and letting it rest, collecting the juices from the slow cooker and bringing them to a boil to thicken them is a game-changer. Brushing this glossy, thickened glaze over the ham just before serving not only adds a beautiful sheen but also intensifies the honey mustard flavor, making it truly irresistible. This step is optional, but it significantly enhances the overall taste and presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
It’s a common concern, but typically, this crock pot honey ham recipe turns out incredibly moist and tender! The slow cooker’s moist heat environment is excellent for preventing dryness. However, if you overcook the mustard glazed ham past its ideal internal temperature, it can indeed become dry. The key is to remove it from the slow cooker as soon as it hits 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) internally so it stays perfectly juicy. Equally important is allowing the ham to rest before serving; this gives the juices time to redistribute within the meat. Cutting into it too soon will cause the flavorful juices to escape. Furthermore, the honey mustard ham glaze plays a vital role in locking in moisture, creating a protective barrier and adding flavor, so I strongly recommend not skipping it!
Absolutely, yes! My preference is always to cook this crockpot honey ham very slowly on the LOW setting. This method gently heats the ham, ensuring it remains incredibly tender and juicy throughout the cooking process. Cooking it too fast on a high setting can sometimes lead to a slightly drier texture. However, I understand that sometimes time is of the essence, and cooking on HIGH for a shorter duration is still a viable option, and the ham will still be quite delicious – just be vigilant with your meat thermometer!
Storing leftover honey mustard glazed ham is easy! First, allow the mustard glazed ham to cool down completely to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container, preferably with some of the remaining glaze or juices from the slow cooker, which will help keep it moist. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Leftover ham is incredibly versatile and makes AWESOME sandwiches, delicious ham and cheese melts, or can be added to omelets and soups!
For this slow cooker recipe, look for a fully cooked, bone-in or boneless ham. A pre-cooked ham is ideal because it only needs to be reheated to a safe internal temperature, which is exactly what the slow cooker does beautifully. If you choose a bone-in ham, it often provides more flavor and can be quite impressive for presentation. A boneless ham is easier to slice. Both work wonderfully with this honey mustard glaze.
Yes, absolutely! One of the great time-saving aspects of this recipe is that you can prepare the honey mustard glaze up to 2-3 days in advance. Simply combine all the glaze ingredients (brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, ground clove, and ground cinnamon) in a bowl, whisk until smooth, and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, just pull it out, give it a quick whisk, and pour it over your ham. This makes holiday meal prep even easier!
Delicious Sides to Serve with Your Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
A show-stopping ham deserves equally delicious accompaniments. Here are some of my favorite side dishes that perfectly complement the sweet and tangy flavors of this Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham:
- Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots: The sweetness of honey and savory garlic notes in these roasted carrots echo the flavors of the ham, creating a harmonious and vibrant pairing.
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon Glaze: Earthy sweet potatoes with a warm cinnamon glaze offer a comforting and slightly sweet contrast, making them an ideal partner for the ham.
- Wilted Spinach Bacon Salad: A fresh salad with a warm dressing, crisp bacon, and tender spinach provides a lovely textural and flavor contrast, cutting through the richness of the ham.
- Broccoli, Bacon, and Grape Salad: This refreshing salad offers a delightful crunch from broccoli, savory notes from bacon, and a burst of sweetness from grapes, creating a dynamic side.
- Easy Parmesan Risotto: Creamy, cheesy risotto is a luxurious and comforting choice that provides a wonderful base for the flavorful ham.
- Rosemary Parmesan Bread: A fragrant, savory bread with hints of rosemary and Parmesan is perfect for soaking up any extra glaze or juices, adding another layer of aromatic goodness to your meal.
This Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings warmth and joy to any occasion. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, you’ll find yourself reaching for this reliable recipe again and again. Enjoy the tender, flavorful slices and the beautiful golden glaze that makes this ham truly unforgettable!
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Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 8-10 pound (3.6-4.5kg) fully cooked ham
- ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar, light or dark
- ½ cup (120ml) honey
- ¼ cup (70g) Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Place the ham in a 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker.
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In a small bowl combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the ham. Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours and HIGH for 2-4 hours or until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
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Remove ham from slow cooker, cover loosely and allow to rest. Meanwhile, pour juices into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Mix a small amount of cornstarch with water and pour in a thin stream into the boiling sauce while whisking to thicken. Brush over ham and serve sliced ham with glaze. (This is optional but really tasty!)
Notes
- STORAGE: Store in an airtight container in its juices in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- This recipe uses an 8-10 pound ham which is as big as you can go with a 6 quart slow cooker. I used a 10 pound ham and it was a little bit too tall so I trimmed a couple of inches from the top of the ham so the lid could fit.
- This recipe will also work with a fully cooked spiral cut ham.
- There is no need to baste the ham during the cooking but if it makes you feel better it doesn’t hurt!
- I prefer to cook ham on LOW to ensure tender, juicy ham.