Slow-Cooked Honey Glazed Ham (Printable)

Succulent ham slow-cooked with a sweet honey glaze and warm spices for tender, flavorful servings.

# What You Need:

→ Ham

01 - 1 fully cooked bone-in ham, trimmed (approximately 5–6 lbs)

→ Glaze

02 - 1 cup honey
03 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
05 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
06 - 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

→ Aromatics

09 - 1 orange, sliced
10 - 6 whole cloves

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Place the ham flat side down in a large slow cooker. Score the surface in a diamond pattern and insert whole cloves into the intersections.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, whole-grain mustard, cinnamon, and ground cloves until smooth.
03 - Pour the glaze evenly over the ham. Arrange orange slices around the ham within the slow cooker.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours, occasionally basting the ham with the glaze to maintain moisture and flavor.
05 - Once tender and heated through, transfer the ham to a cutting board to rest.
06 - Pour the remaining glaze into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat until thickened, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
07 - Slice the ham and brush each portion with the thickened glaze prior to serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day, no babysitting required.
  • The glaze caramelizes beautifully without any risk of burning or drying out the meat.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day tucked into sandwiches or stirred into scrambled eggs.
02 -
  • Don't skip the basting—it's what turns the glaze into a shiny, caramelized coating instead of just a sticky pool at the bottom.
  • Let the ham rest before slicing or the juices will run all over your cutting board and the meat will look dry.
03 -
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, check the ham after 5 hours to avoid overcooking—it should be warm and tender, not falling apart.
  • Use a silicone basting brush instead of a traditional bristle one—it's easier to clean and won't shed fibers into your glaze.
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