Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham: A Show-Stopping Main Dish
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of a tender, juicy ham slow-cooking in a flavorful honey Dijon glaze. This Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham recipe is perfect for holidays, family gatherings, or any special occasion where you want a centerpiece dish that’s as easy as it is impressive. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time, you’ll have a mouthwatering main course that will wow your guests.
Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham
This spiral-cut ham is bathed in a luscious glaze made with brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and fresh rosemary. Slow-cooked to perfection, it stays incredibly moist while absorbing all those rich, savory-sweet flavors. Plus, the hands-off cooking method leaves you free to focus on side dishes, desserts, or simply enjoying the company of loved ones.
Whether you’re hosting a big holiday feast or a cozy Sunday dinner, this Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham is a recipe you’ll come back to again and again. It’s simple, stress-free, and absolutely delicious.
What You Will Love About This Recipe
Effortless elegance: The slow cooker does all the hard work, making this ham look and taste like a labor of love without the actual effort.
Perfectly glazed: The honey Dijon glaze adds just the right balance of sweetness and tang, with earthy notes from the fresh rosemary.
Juicy and tender: Slow cooking ensures that the ham stays moist and flavorful, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Crowd-pleaser: This recipe feeds a large group, making it ideal for family dinners, holidays, or potlucks.
What do I need to get started?
- 8-10lb spiral cut ham.
- Dark brown sugar.
- Honey.
- Water.
- Dijon Mustard.
- Sprigs of fresh rosemary. Dried rosemary can be used in its place, but only about ½ tsp. We don’t want an overpowering taste of rosemary, only a slight scent within the honey dijon glaze.
How to make a Honey Ham in the Slow Cooker
This recipe starts with making a delicious herbal honey mustard ham glaze. Place the brown sugar, honey, mustard, and water into a saucepan or skillet and whisk until it forms a smooth sauce. Put on the stove over medium-high heat, then add the fresh sprigs of rosemary.
Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until all the sugar has dissolved and the glaze has thickened slightly.
Remove from the heat, and take out the fresh rosemary using tongs.
Place ham in the slow cooker (at least 8 quarts) and pour three-quarters of the glaze over the ham. Reserve the other quarter.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, basting the ham every hour with the reserved glaze. When the ham is fully cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 145F, carefully remove it from the slow cooker with tongs.
Reserve the leftover juices from the slow cooker for serving. To thicken, cook over medium heat with cornstarch and water.
How to cut a spiral ham
With a spiral-cut bone-in ham, most of it will already be cut for you. With a carving knife and fork, cut around the sides of the ham, following the cuts already made around the bone. The ham slices will start to fall off. So easy to cut and serve!
Tips & Tricks
- Choose the right size: Make sure your spiral-cut ham fits snugly in your slow cooker. An 8-10lb ham works well for most 8-quart slow cookers.
- Baste frequently: Basting the ham every hour with the reserved glaze ensures it’s evenly coated and extra flavorful.
- Don’t rush it: Cooking on low heat for 5-6 hours allows the flavors to fully infuse and keeps the ham tender.
- Save the juices: The cooking juices make an incredible sauce for drizzling over the ham or serving alongside.
- Fresh rosemary is key: While dried rosemary works in a pinch, fresh rosemary gives the glaze a more vibrant, aromatic flavor.
FAQs
Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham
This Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham is made easy in the crock pot with a bold and fragrant honey dijon and rosemary glaze. A ham recipe perfect for a special occasion or a busy week day!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Packed Dark Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup Honey
- ½ Cup Water
- ¼ Cup Dijon Mustard
- 2-3 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- 8-10lb Spiral Cut Ham
Instructions
- To make the glaze, add the brown sugar, honey, water, and dijon mustard to a saucepan. Whisk until fully incorporated. Place your saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat and add the sprigs of fresh rosemary.
- Simmer and stir your glaze until all sugar has dissolved and the glaze has slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat. Using tongs remove the rosemary from the glaze and discard.
- Place the spiral cut ham into an 8-quart slow cooker.
- Pour ¾ of the glaze all over the ham. Reserving the other ¼ for basting.
- Cover and cook on LOW heat, basting the ham every hour with the reserved glaze. Cook ham for 5-6 hours or until an internal temperature of 145℉
- When done, remove ham from the slow cooker with tongs. Save juices for serving.
Notes
The Glaze can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Dried Rosemary can be used in place of fresh. When adding to the glaze do not remove it later.
The cooked ham can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
