The easiest ever Slow Cooker Ham recipe – A Slow Cooker Gammon joint cooked in apple juice and/or cider with spices for added flavour, smothered in honey, mustard and brown sugar for a delicious outer crunch.
Originally published on 5th December 2014
I first published this recipe as my Cider Christmas Ham recipe here in 2014. Oh my goodness, that feels like a lifetime ago now.
The Slow Cooker Gammon recipe is still just as good though. It’s sweet and tangy from being cooked in apple juice and cider. Deliciously tender with that moreish honey and brown sugar outer crust. What’s not to love?!
This year, I just decided to play around with it a little and see it I could simplify it for busy lives. I tried it in the slow cooker (or crock pot if you’re American) and it was a definite winner.
I also feel like it’s too good to save JUST for winter or Christmas. This boneless joint would be perfect for any Sunday lunch.
How long should I cook a ham in the slow cooker?
The beauty of this recipe is it can take as long as you have.
If you have ravenous children or were in a huge rush, you can cook the spiced ham on the hob for around 2 hours (see the tips section for more accurate timings).
If you are popping out Christmas shopping – there I said it (who else has started theirs?) – you can leave it in your slow cooker on HIGH for 4-6 hours, or if you are out at work all day, on LOW for 6-8. It’s so versatile.
What is the best type of ham for slow cooking?
Ham on the bone does retain moisture and keeps its shape well but today I used a boneless joint. It’s easy to handle and easy to carve. It’s personal preference really, just adjust your timings accordingly.
I prefer to use smoked ham rather than unsmoked as it gives a greater depth of flavour. However, just choose the best quality, ideally British ham you can find in your local supermarket. Again, in terms of taste it’s personal preference. Use which bacon you’d buy as a guide!
How much liquid do you need for a slow cooker ham?
I like to almost cover my ham with the liquid as this makes the cooked ham really juicy and moist.
This slow cooker ham recipe uses 500ml of cider and 1ltr of apple juice.
You can vary the amount of apple juice depending on the size of your slow cooker. Or all apple juice instead of cider if you prefer to use no alcohol.
Tips on making slow cooker ham:
- I bought this slow cooker (crock pot if you’re in the USA) last year and our love affair continues!I’ve never been a big slow cooker fan but this has made such a difference, I’ve used it SO much. It’s light and easy to lift, really affordable too and the pan can be used on the hob as well as in the slow cooker, hurrah! Available from Amazon: Morphy Richards Sear and Stew Slow Cooker.It’s currently about £23 instead of £32.
- You could also make this recipe on the hob, for this you need to know the weight of your joint. It requires 30 mins cooking per 450g/1lb plus an additional thirty minutes. Then finish in the oven as per the recipe to glaze the joint.If I cook my Christmas ham this way, I tend to work out the total cooking time, then make sure that the boiling time + the oven time = the total so it’s not overcooked.
- If you are eating the ham cold you can refrigerate it for up-to 3 days before eating, but I dare you to not to keep picking at it!
- Rather than discarding the liquid you can use it for stock. Ham stock is great for making soups, just test to make sure it isn’t too salty before using.
- If you are unsure of how to tell if your ham is cooked I’ve invested in a really simple and easy to use digital thermometer. (Only about £6 on Amazon!) It is great for testing joints of meat and achieving that perfect rare roast beef.
- You could also use different glazes or liquids to cook your slow cooker ham in. I’ve seen lots of recipes using coke, or why not try a black treacle glaze?
Fancy some other slow cooked recipes?
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this Slow Cooked Ham recipe. Please rate the recipe and leave me a comment below if you do.
Also, if you fancy showing me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.
How to make Slow Cooker Ham:
Slow Cooker Ham with Spiced Cider
The easiest ever Slow Cooker Ham recipe - A gammon joint cooked in apple juice and/or cider with spices for added flavour, smothered in honey, mustard and brown sugar for a delicious outer crunch.
Ingredients
- Smoked bone out gammon (about 2kg)
- 1 Carrot thickly sliced
- 1 Onion cut in to quarters
- 3 tbsp Mixed Spice
- 500 ml Cider
- 1 ltr Apple juice depending on the size of your slow cooker
For the glaze:
- 6 tbsp Runny honey
- 3 tbsp Dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp English mustard powder This is optional, if you like the flavour of mustard
Instructions
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Turn on your slow cooker, this recipe can be done either on high or low depending how hungry you are!
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Quarter the onion and thickly chop the carrot.
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Rub the mixed spice on to the ham.
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Put the onion, carrot and ham joint into your slow cooker.
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Add in your cider, and upto 1ltr of apple juice (the exact quantity depends on the size of your slow cooker, ideally the joint would be covered)
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Place the lid on and cook on high for 4-6 hours OR low for 6-8 hours. If you can baste, and turn the joint whilst cooking.
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When the cooking time is complete, take out of the slow cooker and discard the vegetables, liquid and spices.
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Remove the string and layer of fat/skin (if your gammon has them). Score the fat.
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Put into a roasting pan and drench in the honey. Pat the sugar onto the honey. (Make sure you line the baking tin with tin foil as the honey and sugar combo can really stick to the pan!)
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Roast for the remaining 30 minutes at about 200C until the ham is just blackening and crispy at the edges.
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When cold, store in the fridge and enjoy whenever!
I adore a christmas ham, doing ours next weekend. Could happily have one every week!! This looks gorgeous and completely mouth watering xx
Looks amazing! I love Christmas ham too but usually leave mine until the last minute and do mine on Boxing Day!
Oh gosh I have got to make this!! I always make a ham too but haven’t yet found the right recipe to do each year…so this year I will give this one a go!! Thanks x
Sounds like your hubby and mine would get along!
Thanks for featuring my recipe, gorgeous!
Cold ham + mayo: happy me! Must pin your recipe now. I love the look of the glaze on your ham. xxx
I love a big homecooked ham at Christmas, I think it’s better than the turkey!
I’ve never cooked ham before but this looks delicious! Have linked up with a festive trifle – boozy of course! x
Now that ham looks absolutely amazing, I am going to have to get some of those spice mixes now and get cooking!
This looks absolutely delicious! The Husband is thinking of doing a ham for boxing day so I shall be unsubtly hinting to him about this recipe 😉
I’ve linked up! Hurrah! xxx
That ham looks so inviting – I can almost taste it! Never had ham for Christmas day itself bit my aunt makes a great one for New Year.
This looks like a serious piece of ham lovely, might have to give it a go 🙂
Sarah your baked ham looks totally delicious, it’s making me seriously hungry looking at it. When I was growing up we always had ham, beef and turkey at Christmas, I baked ham last year and the kids loved it. Your recipe sounds brilliant, definitely on my list of recipes to try out. Beautiful photos as always. xx
This looks gorgeous, I have never cooked a ham before, I need to right this! x
My husband would love this, I may have to try and make it for him! 🙂
Oh bab! YUM! You know I will never cook such a thing but it looks beautiful xxx
Oooppss, sorry Sarah I thought I had commented! This looks amazing and I am soooooo doing this at Christmas as our second meat. Ohhh yum yum! Actually dribbling! X
Goodness this ham looks AMAZING! I would like a great big slice or two just now, fried, with some poached eggs please 🙂 Do you deliver?!
Okay, I’m storing this recipe and making it on Christmas Eve. We always have a ham at Christmas and this will be the one this year!! #TastyTuesday xx
By the way I Love Your Blog!!! xx
This looks so delicious. We always have a ham for Christmas Day, that we cook on Christmas Eve and have on baps that night. I think I may have to give your recipe a go for a change from our usual one. x
Totally agree that a ham for leftovers at Christmas is non-negotiable. What a lovely recipe….
I’ve stopped eating meat recently and not missed it until NOW! Wow that looks gorgeous! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
I could just reach through my computer for that ham.
Just finishing this ham off in the oven as I type – it tastes divine! So easy to do … might become a winter staple.
Merry Christmas
I gave this a try today with a just over a kilo of unsmoked gammon cooked in the slow cooker with apple juice and cider with spices, 2hrs in slow cooker and half hour in the oven your recipe for the glaze. Results were really good and very moist gammon thankyou. M 😊
SO pleased you enjoyed it!
What spice’s do you use please this ham looks fantastic
Mary, have a look in the herbs and spices aisle for Mixed Spice. I’m definitely going to try this recipe for Christmas!
This looks delicious and perfect for our Christmas Eve. Gammon tradition. Has anyone tried this in the Instant Pot?
I made this a couple of weeks ago as part of a roast dinner and it was beautiful. We had it left over the next day and it wasn’t dried out at all. The flavours were amazing. One of the best slow cooked gammon dishes I’ve cooked. Perfect all year round.
The best slow cooker ham I have ever done and so easy. All the family love it x
Oh YAY! So pleased you liked it Emily, thanks so much for the comment x
Such a great recipe. Probably the best Gammon I’ve ever had. My husband would have me make this every day! Definitely not just for Christmas, great in Summer with salad.
So happy to hear it went down well Hannah!
Absolutely loved everything about this! The smell in my house all day long was amazing and my youngest said it smelled like Christmas. It was absolutely delicious and definitely a recipe I’ll be using often. I used a cup of the juices from the slow cooker to make the gravy and served it with garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, mash and roast parsnip, carrot and sweet potato. Yummmm!! I have now sent this recipe to 2 of my friends to try, definitely a winner. Thank you! x
Hi, love this recipe and very keen to do it as part of my first Christmas cook (eeek) but had a few queries re the instructions:
– Remove the string and layer of fat/skin (if your gammon has them). Score the fat.
– Put into a roasting pan and drench in the honey. Pat the sugar onto the honey. (Make sure you line the baking tin with tin foil as the honey and sugar combo can really stick to the pan!)
– Roast for the remaining 30 minutes at about 200C until the ham is just blackening and crispy at the edges.
Question – when you remove and score the fat and cover in the honey/sugar do you only roast it for another 30 mins or the fat along with the ham?
Hi Jo, sorry I’m not quite sure what you mean. If you watch the video in the post you can see the method, perhaps that would help?
Cheers Sarah!
I wasnt getting that when you remove the fat there is some residual fat left on the ham that you score and then add the honey and sugar to in order to get the crispy finish.
Video helped – thank you!!!
This looks delicious! Does anyone have any suggestions about which cider to use? Or does it not really matter?
I’ve made this today and the other half said it’s the best ham he’s ever eaten! It’s delicious.
One of the best meals we’ve had! Alongside roasted veg and your braised red cabbage 🥰
So easy. So delicious. Going to become a Christmas staple!
Thank you fellow Sarah! I love throwing a ham into my slow cooker and tried this over Christmas. My husband said it was the best one I’ve made. Truly easy and delicious. I didn’t have any cider so just went with apple juice and the ham was juicy and so flavoursome. Leftovers made a fantastic quiche and still some for sandwiches. Making it again now!!! Take care x
Made my first Christmas dinner this year and used this recipe. It was wonderful.
I’ve made this recipe a couple of times now. It’s beautifully easy and tastes gorgeous !! Thank you so much x
Best gammon I’ve ever cooked ! Thank you.
I love all your recipes but I have an Aga so would love it if you could put Aga ovens and times on your recipes too! Xx