Slow cooker honey mustard ham
Slow cooker season is here to stay
Slow cookers really are the unsung heroes of the festive season, aren’t they? They sit there quietly, doing all the heavy lifting while you get on with wrapping presents, catching up on Home Alone 1, 2, 3 and 4, or sneaking chocolates out of the advent calendar that’s not yours. And when it comes to holiday feasting, my slow cooker honey mustard mam is proof that you don’t need to spend hours slaving over the stove to create a centrepiece dish that’s as stunning as it is delicious.
Did I mention I have a Sunday Times bestseller about slow cookers?! Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook. There’s my shameless book plug…I’ll stop now.
No faff, just lots of flavour
This recipe is all about simplicity. No boiling, no scoring, no faffing about. Just pop the ham in the slow cooker, mix up a ridiculously tasty honey mustard glaze, and let the magic happen. The glaze is made with runny honey, wholegrain mustard, and a splash of soy sauce. What’s great is that the glaze does all the hard work here, seeping into the meat and turning it into a tender, flavorful masterpiece. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you look like a culinary wizard when, really, the slow cooker is doing 95% of the work.
From slow cooker to air fryer
But let’s talk about the best part: that sticky, caramelised crust. Once your ham has had its slow-cooker spa treatment, it’s time to give it the star treatment it deserves. A quick blast in the air fryer or oven transforms the glaze into a golden, tacky coating that’s pure holiday perfection. It’s the balance of sweet, tangy, and savoury that keeps you coming back for slice after slice. And trust me, you WILL be going back for seconds. Or thirds.
Where to serve?
What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. Serve it as the centrepiece of your Christmas table with all the trimmings, or slice it up for the ultimate Boxing Day sandwiches. Pair it with creamy mashed potatoes, some greens, or even my Festive Dauphinoise Potatoes for a meal that’s both comforting and impressive. And the leftovers? Oh, the leftovers. Thinly sliced and fried up with eggs, or diced into a pasta dish, it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Prep in the morning
This ham is also ridiculously forgiving. You can throw it together in the morning, head out for some last-minute shopping or a cosy Christmas market stroll, and come back to a kitchen that smells like absolute heaven. It’s one of those recipes that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together, even if the rest of the house is chaos and you’ve lost the tape for the wrapping paper. Again.
Oh, and did I mention how easy it is to clean up? Pop the ham straight into the slow cooker bowl, smother it in the glaze, and let it do its thing. No fuss, no mountains of washing up, just beautiful, juicy ham that’ll have everyone fighting for the last slice. Honestly, if you’re not making this ham this Christmas, you’re doing it wrong.
So, whether you’re hosting a full-on festive feast or just fancy a foolproof way to wow your family, this slow cooker honey mustard ham is here to save the day. Minimal effort, maximum flavour, and leftovers that’ll make your fridge feel like a treasure chest. What more could you want?
Check out more of my festive recipes here.
Watch the full step-by-step tutorial
If you would prefer to cook this ham along with me, pop over to my YouTube channel with the ingredients listed below and get cooking!
Slow cooker honey mustard ham
By Poppy Cooks
https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/slow-cooker-honey-mustard-ham/
Ingredients
- 1.8kg smoked horseshoe gammon, netting removed
- 4 tbsp runny honey
- 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
Metric
Imperial
Instructions
- Place the ham into the bowl of your slow cooker, rind side up. For this recipe you don't need to boil the ham, or even score it! Just make sure to take the netting off, as it's easier to do this now rather than later. In a separate bowl mix together the runny honey, wholegrain mustard and light soy sauce. Tip this all over the ham and make sure it is completely smothered before popping on the lid. Cook on low for 5 hours, then get your air fryer ready.
- In my book, I place the ham into the oven, either directly in the slow cooker bowl (if it's ceramic) or on a baking tray lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup. You can also do this in the airfryer. Transfer the ham to your air fryer basket and roast for 10 minutes at 200ºc/400ºf until golden brown and the glaze turns sticky and tacky. If you're doing this in the oven, it might take a little bit longer but just keep an eye on it.
- Leave the ham to rest for 10 minutes or so before slicing up and serving.