Slow Cooker Peach Bourbon Glazed Ham

Elevate your dinner routine with this incredibly simple slow cooker peach bourbon ham. By combining just a few pantry staples, you create a rich, sticky, and sophisticated glaze that perfectly complements the natural saltiness of the pork.

This method is the ultimate solution for stress-free entertaining, allowing the slow cooker to handle all the heavy lifting while you focus on enjoying your evening with friends and family. It is a reliable, crowd-pleasing dish that delivers consistent results every single time.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the way the slow cooker environment creates a self-basting effect. As the ham warms, the peach preserves melt into the bourbon and brown sugar, forming a thick, aromatic reduction that permeates every slice of the meat.

Because the ham is already cooked, the slow cooker acts as a gentle heater that infuses flavor without drying out the delicate protein, resulting in a moist and tender final dish that feels special enough for holidays but remains easy enough for a busy weeknight.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The slow cooker maintains a consistent, low-heat environment that is ideal for warming a pre-cooked ham. This prevents the edges from becoming tough or chewy, which can happen with high-heat oven roasting. The lid traps the steam and aromatics, ensuring that the bourbon and peach flavors are distributed evenly throughout the entire roast.

Using a thick fruit preserve creates a stable glaze that clings to the ham rather than running off into the bottom of the pot. As the sugar and bourbon reduce during the cooking time, they thicken into a syrup that coats the meat perfectly, providing a balanced profile of sweetness, tang, and depth that enhances the natural savory notes of the pork.

Notes and substitutions

When selecting a spiral-cut ham, ensure it fits comfortably within your slow cooker bowl. If the ham is too tall, you can trim a small portion from the bottom to allow the lid to seat properly, which is vital for maintaining the internal moisture.

A standard 6-quart oval slow cooker is usually the ideal size for most bone-in spiral hams found in supermarkets.

Bourbon provides a subtle oaky undertone that cuts through the sweetness of the peach and brown sugar. If you prefer to avoid alcohol, high-quality apple cider or even a mixture of apple juice and a splash of vinegar can provide the necessary acidity.

Always check that your peach preserves do not contain excessive artificial thickeners, as natural pectin works best for the glaze consistency.

• Bourbon: Apple juice or cider for an alcohol-free version with similar depth of flavor.
• Peach preserves: Apricot preserves provide a similar texture and sweetness profile to the peach version.

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Spoon
• Measuring cup