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Easy Instant Pot Ham Recipe with Sweet Brown Sugar Glaze for Perfect Holiday Meals

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This easy Instant Pot ham recipe features a sweet brown sugar glaze that creates tender, juicy, and flavorful ham perfect for holiday meals and family gatherings. Ready in under an hour, it combines convenience with delicious comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds fully cooked bone-in ham (spiral-cut or whole)
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup water or apple juice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Remove the ham from packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off thick rind if present, leaving a thin layer of fat for flavor.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, ground cloves, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. Pour water or apple juice into the Instant Pot insert.
  4. Place the ham on the trivet or directly in the liquid inside the Instant Pot.
  5. Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes per pound (e.g., 45 minutes for a 3-pound ham).
  6. Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then perform a quick release to vent remaining steam.
  7. Carefully remove the ham and place on a heatproof surface or baking sheet. Brush the sweet brown sugar glaze generously over the ham.
  8. Caramelize the glaze using the Instant Pot sauté function or transfer the ham to a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
  9. Let the ham rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.

Notes

Use fully cooked ham for best results. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes to keep ham juicy. Thinly slice against the grain for best texture. If glaze isn’t thickening, add a cornstarch slurry while sautéing. Apple juice can be used instead of water for added sweetness. Caramelize glaze carefully to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot ham, sweet brown sugar glaze, holiday ham, pressure cooker ham, easy ham recipe, holiday meals, family dinner

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/easy-instant-pot-ham-recipe-with-sweet-brown-sugar-glaze-for-perfect-holiday-meals/