Description
Slow Cooker Ham offers a delightful culinary journey through Southern comfort. Juicy, tender ham emerges from the crockpot with minimal effort, promising a feast that brings families together around a deliciously simple centerpiece you’ll love savoring.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ham Ingredients:
- 1 ham (5 to 7 pounds), fully cooked and bone-in
Glaze Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) spicy brown mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 can (12 ounces/355 milliliters) Dr Pepper or Coca-Cola
Garnish Ingredients:
- 20 whole cloves
Instructions
- Craft a tantalizing glaze by combining brown sugar, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and half the cola in a compact saucepan. Simmer the mixture over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the liquid transforms into a glossy, thickened consistency, approximately 7 to 8 minutes.
- Pour the remaining cola into a 6-quart (5.7 liters) slow cooker. Meticulously insert whole cloves into multiple locations across the ham’s surface, creating a fragrant studded pattern. Generously coat the ham with 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of the prepared glaze, reserving the remaining sauce for later application.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the ham to gently warm on low temperature setting for 5 to 6 hours, ensuring the meat reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).
- Approximately 10 minutes before serving, reheat the reserved glaze in the original saucepan until warmed through. Carefully transfer the ham from the slow cooker to a serving platter, then lavishly brush the reheated glaze over the entire surface. Slice the ham into elegant portions and serve immediately.
Notes
- Creating this ham transforms your holiday meal into a stress-free culinary experience with minimal preparation and maximum flavor.
- Slow cooking guarantees incredibly tender meat that falls apart with each delicious bite, making it perfect for gatherings.
- Unexpected ingredients like cola work magic by breaking down proteins and infusing the ham with a rich, complex taste profile.
- Whole cloves provide an aromatic depth that elevates the traditional ham from ordinary to extraordinary, adding sophisticated nuance.
- Storing leftovers becomes a delightful opportunity for creative next-day meals, from hearty sandwiches to savory breakfast hashes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg