Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is an easy centerpiece made with a bone-in ham, brown sugar, warm spices, and apple cider vinegar or apple juice. The slow cooker gently heats the ham while the sugar and cooking juices create a sweet, glossy glaze around the outside.
This recipe works especially well when you want to keep oven space available for potatoes, vegetables, casseroles, or other side dishes. Preparation takes about 15 minutes, and the slow cooker handles most of the remaining work. Brown sugar provides caramel-like sweetness, while cinnamon and cloves add warmth. Meanwhile, black pepper gives the glaze a subtle savory contrast.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham makes a practical choice for holidays, Sunday dinner, family gatherings, or meal prep. For an even stickier finish, you can briefly broil the cooked ham with some of its sweet cooking juices just before serving.
I like slow cooker ham most when I’m preparing several side dishes at the same time. Keeping the ham out of the oven immediately makes the rest of the meal easier to manage. I also like how the cooking juices collect around the ham instead of disappearing into a roasting pan. Before serving, I spoon some of those juices over the slices for extra flavor. When I want a more dramatic finish, I move the ham to a baking dish and broil it briefly. The brown sugar coating becomes darker and stickier, giving the finished ham that glossy appearance that looks especially inviting on a serving platter.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham: Easy Sweet and Savory Dinner
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
- Sprinkle approximately half of the brown sugar evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the ham on top of the brown sugar and rub the remaining brown sugar over the surface.
- Sprinkle the ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and black pepper evenly over the ham.
- Pour the apple cider vinegar or apple juice around the ham rather than directly over the brown sugar coating.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the ham is hot and tender.
- Carefully remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Spoon some of the sweet cooking juices over the ham. For an optional caramelized finish, transfer the ham to a broiler-safe baking dish, brush with more cooking juices, and broil briefly while watching closely.
- Slice the rested ham and arrange the slices on a serving platter.
- Spoon additional warm cooking juices over the sliced ham and serve.
Notes
Preparing the Ham and Brown Sugar Glaze
Create the Brown Sugar Base
Start by lightly greasing the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
Measure 1 cup brown sugar.
Sprinkle approximately half of the brown sugar evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
Next, place a 4- to 5-pound bone-in ham directly over the sugar.
Before buying the ham, make sure its shape and size will fit comfortably inside your slow cooker with the lid completely closed.
The brown sugar underneath the Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham combines with the cooking juices as everything heats. As a result, you get a sweet liquid that you can spoon over the sliced meat before serving.
Season the Outside of the Ham
Rub the remaining brown sugar over the surface of the ham.
Next, sprinkle 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 teaspoon black pepper evenly over the top.
The cinnamon and cloves provide warm spice notes without requiring a long list of ingredients.
Meanwhile, black pepper gives the sweet coating a savory contrast.
If desired, you can also add turkey bacon for another smoky element. Since it’s optional, the Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham remains flavorful without it.
Press the brown sugar gently against the ham so the coating stays in place before you add the liquid.
Slow Cooking the Brown Sugar Ham
Add Apple Juice or Apple Cider Vinegar
Measure ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or apple juice.
Pour it around the ham rather than directly over the brown sugar coating.
This small detail helps preserve more of the sugar and spice mixture on the surface instead of immediately washing it into the bottom of the slow cooker.
Apple juice creates a sweeter overall result. In contrast, apple cider vinegar adds acidity that balances some of the brown sugar’s sweetness.
Either option works with the cinnamon, cloves, and savory ham.
Once you’ve added the liquid, cover the slow cooker securely.
Cook Until Hot and Tender
Cook the Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham on LOW for approximately 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, following the provided cooking range.
As the ham heats, brown sugar dissolves into the surrounding juices and creates a flavorful sauce.
Avoid unnecessarily lifting the slow cooker lid because doing so releases heat.
Once the ham is hot and tender, carefully transfer it to a serving platter or baking dish.
Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
The resting period also gives you time to prepare the side dishes and spoon some of the cooking juices into a serving container.
Creating a Sticky Caramelized Finish
Spoon the Cooking Juices Over the Ham
After removing the ham, stir the sweet cooking juices remaining in the slow cooker.
Spoon some of that liquid over the surface of the ham.
You can also reserve additional juices for serving.
The liquid contains brown sugar, spices, apple juice or vinegar, and flavorful juices released during cooking. Therefore, a small spoonful adds moisture and flavor to each serving.
If you’re happy with the soft glazed exterior, you can slice the Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham after it rests and serve it immediately.
However, there’s another simple option when you want a darker, stickier surface.
Broil for Extra Caramelization
Transfer the cooked ham to a broiler-safe baking dish.
Brush or spoon some of the slow cooker juices over the surface.
Then place the ham briefly under the broiler.
Watch it continuously.
Brown sugar can caramelize quickly, and it can also burn quickly under intense direct heat.
Remove the ham as soon as the exterior reaches the color and stickiness you prefer.
Allow it to rest before slicing if you haven’t already done so.
This optional finishing step gives Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham a more caramelized appearance while preserving the convenience of cooking it primarily in the slow cooker.
Serving and Storing Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Choose Easy Side Dishes
Slice the rested ham and arrange it on a large serving platter.
Spoon some of the warm cooking juices over the slices immediately before serving.
Creamy mashed potatoes make a natural pairing because they balance the sweet and savory glaze.
Roasted vegetables also work well. Additionally, green beans provide a simple side that doesn’t compete with the strongly flavored ham.
For a lighter meal, serve Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham with a fresh garden salad.
You can also pair it with dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or a favorite vegetable casserole when serving it for a holiday meal.
Make the Most of Leftovers
Transfer leftover ham to an airtight container after the meal and refrigerate it.
If possible, save some of the cooking juices separately. A small spoonful can help keep reheated slices flavorful.
Leftover Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham also works in many other meals.
Dice it for scrambled eggs or omelets. Add pieces to breakfast casseroles, pasta dishes, soups, or sandwiches. You can also serve thin slices on biscuits or rolls.
Because the glaze already contains brown sugar and warm spices, leftovers have plenty of flavor without requiring much additional seasoning.
Ingredients
- 1 whole bone-in ham, about 4–5 pounds
- 1 cup brown sugar, divided
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or apple juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Turkey bacon, optional for extra smoky flavor
- Cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil, for greasing
Instructions
- Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
- Sprinkle approximately half of the brown sugar evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the ham over the brown sugar, then rub the remaining brown sugar over its surface.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper evenly over the ham.
- Pour the apple cider vinegar or apple juice around the ham without pouring it directly over the sugar coating.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the ham is hot and tender.
- Carefully remove the ham and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Spoon some of the sweet cooking juices over the ham. For an optional caramelized finish, transfer it to a broiler-safe dish, brush with additional cooking juices, and broil briefly while watching closely.
- Slice the rested ham and arrange it on a serving platter.
- Spoon additional warm cooking juices over the slices and serve with your favorite side dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider vinegar?
Yes. The recipe allows either ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or apple juice. Apple juice gives the glaze a sweeter flavor, while vinegar provides more acidity.
Can I cook Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham on HIGH?
Yes. The provided cooking range is 3 to 4 hours on HIGH or 6 to 8 hours on LOW.
Should I pour the liquid directly over the brown sugar?
No. Pour the apple juice or apple cider vinegar around the ham. This approach helps keep more of the brown sugar and spice coating on the surface.
How can I make the glaze extra sticky?
Transfer the cooked ham to a broiler-safe baking dish and brush it with some slow cooker juices. Broil it briefly while watching continuously until the surface becomes more caramelized.
What should I serve with brown sugar glazed ham?
Mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, green beans, and garden salad all work well. Dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, and other traditional comfort-food sides also complement the ham.
Conclusion
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham offers an easy way to prepare a flavorful centerpiece while keeping your oven available for other dishes.
Brown sugar creates the sweet foundation, while cinnamon and cloves bring warm spice. Black pepper provides savory contrast, and apple juice or apple cider vinegar adds another layer of flavor.
After slow cooking, let the ham rest before slicing and spoon some of the sweet cooking juices over each serving.
For an extra-special finish, briefly broil Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Ham with additional glaze until the exterior becomes glossy and caramelized. Pair it with mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, or your favorite holiday sides for a comforting family meal.
