Slow-Cooker Maple-Brown Sugar Ham

Recipe Ingredients

Such an easy holiday meal! A few pantry staples come together to create a rich, flavorful glaze that transforms ham into something special. Here’s what you’ll need.

Fully Cooked Boneless Ham: The foundation of this dish! It reheats gently in the slow cooker and stays juicy while soaking up the glaze. Without a bone, the ham heats through more uniformly, so you don’t get overdone edges and a cool center. Plus, it’s simple to carve into neat, even slices—ideal for serving a crowd.

Real Maple Syrup: Brings natural sweetness and warm flavor that pairs beautifully with ham.

Brown Sugar: This helps thicken the glaze and adds caramel-like richness as it melts into the sauce.

Honey Dijon Mustard: Adds tang and depth to balance the sweetness. If you’re not a fan of mustard, you could substitute your favorite jam or just add 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.

How to Make Slow-Cooker Maple-Brown Sugar Ham

This slow-cooker method keeps things simple while delivering classic holiday flavor.

1. Prep the Ham

Lightly score the top of the ham in a diamond pattern (this helps the glaze soak in as it cooks) and place it in the slow cooker.

2. Mix the Glaze

Whisk together the mustard, maple syrup, and brown sugar until smooth and well blended.

3. Cook Low & Slow

Pour the glaze over the ham, cover, and let the slow cooker gently heat everything together on the low heat setting for 3 to 4 hours, until the ham is warmed through and flavorful, and a thermometer inserted in the middle of the ham reads 140°F. As the ham cooks, we recommend brushing the ham a couple of times with the liquid from the bottom to keep it moist.

4. Rest and Serve

Cover the ham with foil and let it rest briefly before slicing, then spoon the strained cooking juices over the top for extra shine and flavor.

How to Store (and Reheat) Slow-Cooker Maple-Brown Sugar Ham

Leftover maple-brown sugar ham is perfect for sandwiches, breakfast plates, or easy weeknight meals after the main event. Here’s how to keep it fresh.

Refrigerator Storage

You can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Be sure to store leftovers within 2 hours of finishing preparation.

Freezer Storage

Cut leftover ham into slices and store in an airtight container or resealable freezer plastic bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating

• From the Fridge: Microwave slices of ham on High for 1 to 2 minutes or reheat in a skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side. If you have a big chunk of the ham left, you can put it in a baking dish with the remaining sauce, cover with foil, and cook at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
• From the Freezer: Microwave slices of ham on High for 1 to 2 minutes, then in 1-minute intervals after that until heated through. If you have a big chunk of the ham left, you can put it in a baking dish with the remaining sauce, cover with foil, and cook at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, then check every 5 minutes after that, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.