Caramelized Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham (Dutch Oven, Crockpot & Instant Pot)

This Caramelized Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is one of those recipes that instantly makes your mouth water. A pre-cooked ham is slow cooked with brown sugar, crushed pineapple and cinnamon. The drippings are then boiled down to create a sweet and sticky glaze that's unbeatable!

Why You'll love this recipe

I'm a sucker for any kind of sweet and sticky glazed pork.

There's just something so magical about the contrast of sweet and salty flavors.

And this easy holiday ham recipe encompasses all of that tasty goodness!

In this recipe, salty ham is coated in brown sugar, pineapple and cinnamon and is slow cooked until it's tender and moist.

After the ham is done cooking, the residual juices are boiled down to create a sweet and sticky pineapple glaze that is out of this world delicious! 

Trust me when I say you'll be obsessed with this easy recipe!

Not only is it perfect because it takes minimal effort but it also means you have more room in the oven for more tasty side dishes! 

What to serve with Glazed Ham

If you're making this recipe for Easter or during the warmer months, I recommend pairing it with some of these recipes.

• Cheesy French Onion Crockpot Potatoes
• Candied Jalapeño Deviled Eggs
• Funeral Sandwiches (Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Roll Sliders)
• Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pastry with Caramelized Onion Jam
• Vegetarian Pesto Skillet Lasagna

For Christmas, Thanksgiving or the colder months, try pairing it with this spread

• Steakhouse Creamed Spinach with Parmigiano
• Creamy Gouda Mac and Cheese
• Cream Cheese Sausage Balls & Sweet Chili Mayo
• My Mother In Law's Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
• Hot Honey Roasted Carrots with Goat Cheese, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds + Fresh Cilantro

How to make it in a Crock Pot

Making this brown sugar pineapple ham in a crock pot is beyond easy as long as you have an extra large crock pot! 

You'll want to start with a defrosted 6-10 lb spiral-cut cooked ham. However, if it's not pre-cut, that's fine too, you'll just want to carefully cut it yourself before it cooks.

If the ham fits in your crock pot, go ahead and place half of the brown sugar, half of the crushed pineapple, and half of the cinnamon in the bottom of the crock pot. If it doesn't, keep scrolling to the next header to read what to do. 

Stir it around and place the ham on top.

Next, use your fingers to create some space between the slices of ham.

Smear the whole thing with dijon mustard then go ahead and pack the brown sugar on top of the ham - making sure to get some in between the slices.

Then, pour the remaining half of the crushed pineapple on top - also making sure to get some of the pineapple juice and bits between each slice. 

Lastly, sprinkle the remaining cinnamon on top and the seasoning is complete!

Put the lid on the crock pot and seal it. Turn the heat on high and set your timer for 4 hours. 

If you have a smaller ham, around 6 lbs, you can cook it for 3 hours. If you have a 10 lbs ham, you'll want to cook the ham for 4 hours. Anything in between can go for 3.5 hours.

Since the ham is already cooked, you just want to reheat the center of the ham to at least 110 degrees.

Once the timer is done, place the ham in a serving dish and pour the residual juices into a sauce pan.

Simmer the sauce over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until the glaze is thick and glossy and slightly darker.

Drizzle the glaze over the ham right before serving. 

What if it won't Fit in my Crock Pot?

To be quite honest, fitting a large bone-in-ham in a regular crock pot is not easy. 

So don't panic! there are ways around it!

If you're facing this issue, I recommend either using an extra large 8 quart instant pot or a large roasting pan. 

How to do it in an instant pot - slow cook setting

If you don’t have a crock pot or your ham won’t fit in the one you have, you can use an 8 quart instant pot on the slow cook setting.

1. Simply follow the directions as-is but when you go to lock your instant pot lid, leave it ON venting.
2. Press the slow cook button on high heat and set the timer for 3 hours.
3. Let the instant pot natural release then remove the lid and place the ham on a serving dish.
4. Press the simmer button and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes, stirring often, or until the glaze is thick and glossy and slightly darker. Pour sauce on ham before serving.

How to do it in a Dutch Oven

Making this brown Sugar Glazed Ham in a dutch oven is actually my go-to method. However if the ham is too big for your dutch oven, no worries - just add some tinfoil on top to lock in the moisture.

1. Prepare the recipe as stated but do so in a large dutch oven such as the Dutchess Oven from Great Jones.
2. Bake it in your oven at 300F degrees for about 2 hours or until the center of the ham reaches 110F degrees.
3. Place the ham on a serving platter and let it rest.
4. Meanwhile, transfer the Dutch oven to your stovetop.
5. Simmer on medium-high for 15 minutes, stirring often, or until the glaze is thick and glossy and slightly darker. Pour over the ham before serving.

Can I use Fresh Pineapple?!

The answer is NO! Don't do it!!! The properties of the fresh pineapple will turn the ham to mush! 

It's super gross so trust me on this one. For some reason, the canned variety is the only way that works!

And if you'd like to save this recipe for later, pin it below!

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