Easy Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Glazed Ham

Elevate your next dinner with this incredibly simple slow cooker honey mustard glazed ham. By using the slow and steady heat of a crockpot, you can achieve a result that is consistently tender, deeply flavorful, and perfectly glazed without any of the stress typically associated with roasting large cuts of meat for hours in the oven.

Cooking a large ham can often feel like a daunting task, but this method streamlines the entire process into just a few minutes of active preparation. By combining the natural richness of the ham with the sweetness of brown sugar, the savory notes of garlic, and the sharp tang of a honey mustard glaze, you create a balanced flavor profile that shines.

This recipe is designed to be approachable for home cooks of all skill levels, providing a reliable way to produce a restaurant-quality centerpiece that is sure to impress family and friends at any gathering.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The slow cooker environment is ideal for cooking large, dense proteins like ham because it maintains a consistent, low temperature over a long period. This gentle heat helps to break down the connective tissues within the meat, ensuring that the final result remains moist and tender rather than drying out, which is a common issue with high-heat oven roasting methods.

Additionally, the enclosed space of the slow cooker acts as a steam chamber, which locks in the moisture and allows the sweet and tangy glaze to penetrate deep into the spiral-cut layers of the ham.

As the sugars in the glaze and the brown sugar caramelize slightly during the cooking process, they create a rich, sticky, and flavorful coating that clings to every slice of the meat.

Notes and substitutions

For the best results, choose a high-quality spiral-cut ham that is already cooked, as this recipe focuses on warming the meat through and applying the glaze. The specific size of the ham can vary, so ensure your slow cooker is large enough to accommodate the cut comfortably.

If the ham is too large for your appliance, you may need to trim the edges slightly, though it is best to select a ham that fits naturally to maintain its structural integrity during the long cooking time.

When selecting ingredients, ensure that your honey mustard glaze is of a consistency that allows it to pour easily over the ham. If you are using a thicker store-bought version, you might consider thinning it with a small amount of apple cider or water to ensure it coats the meat thoroughly.

The garlic powder should be fresh and aromatic to provide the best depth of flavor, and the brown sugar should be firmly packed to ensure the correct level of sweetness.

• honey mustard glaze: A mixture of 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup yellow or Dijon mustard
• brown sugar: Coconut sugar or dark muscovado sugar

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Serving platter