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My reverse-seared Instant Pot Ham with brown sugar glaze uses only 6 ingredients and takes 15 minutes to cook! It is a juicy, easy ham dinner your family and guests will love. Cooking ham in the Instant Pot is the easiest and simplest way to prepare a ham everyone will rave about.
Jump to:
- Instapot Ham
- Insta Pot Ham Ingredients
- Glazes for Instapot Ham
- Ham in Instant Pot Instructions
- How Long to Cook Ham in Instant Pot
- Why reverse sear ham?
- Expert Tips for Pressure Cooking Ham
- FAQ
- How Much Ham per Person
- Storing Leftover Instant Pot Ham
- How to Reheat Ham in the Instant Pot
- Ham Recipes
- Instant Pot Ham
- Reviews
Instapot Ham
I've made ham every way imaginable, from grilled and smoked to oven-baked and air fried, and let me tell you, there is a lot to love about cooking ham in the Instant Pot. Instapot takes less time to cook than other methods, and frees up oven space so you can prep your side dishes at the same time!
Let me show you how to cook ham in the Instant Pot, and I promise it will change the way you make your holiday ham every year. Instant Pot ham is never dry, and the brown sugar glaze is irresistible. Included with my step-by-step guide to cooking ham in the Instant Pot below are my expert tips, step-by-step photos, answers to FAQ, and serving suggestions to make your holiday or Sunday dinner perfect.
OMG OMG…BEST ham we have ever had. I was hesitant to use this recipe as for years (40 plus) I have used the traditional pineapple mustard glaze and inserting whole cloves. This recipe allows you to sweeten up the ham…but the glaze does not over power the ham flavor. Will be making this my regular ham recipe.
Carmen
Insta Pot Ham Ingredients
- Ham: So long as the ham fits in your Instant Pot, you can use a bone-in or boneless ham. Just be sure it fits before you buy it! If it doesn't, you can always cut the ham in half and cooking the halves separately. Keep in mind this may change the cook time, depending on the size.
- Brown Sugar Glaze: To make the brown sugar glaze, we will be mixing maple syrup, brown sugar, and sliced green onions. I recommend using real maple syrup, but you can use either light or dark brown sugar. The green onions are optional, but a great addition that brings a pop of color.
- Orange Juice: The ham cooks over orange juice, which infuses it with even more flavor. You might be skeptical, but trust me on this one. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it keeps the ham super moist.
- Butter: I use butter to sear the ham after cooking it in the Instant Pot for the final touch that makes this recipe oh-so delicious! You can use salted or unsalted butter, but keep in mind that ham is already fairly salty, so you might want to stick with unsalted.
Glazes for Instapot Ham
I use my go-to maple brown sugar glaze. It gives the meat flavor and an irresistibly sticky, crispy skin! The ingredients are super simple but so incredibly delicious!
Brown sugar glaze adds to the sweetness, with a little bit of orange juice to give it a tangy bite. Green onions tie it all off with a perfect little kick! It is SO flavorful! My Instant Pot ham recipe with brown sugar glaze is the best.
You can try other ham glaze recipes, too. Try: Honey Sriracha Glaze, Honey Glaze, Pineapple Glaze, Bourbon Glaze
Ham in Instant Pot Instructions
- Combine maple syrup, brown sugar, and green onions in a mixing bowl. Mix well.
- Add a trivet to the bottom of your 6 qt.+ Instant Pot. Pour in orange juice.
- Place the ham on top of the trivet, and cover it with ½ of the glaze mixture.
- Lock the lid in place and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When 10 minutes is up, carefully release the pressure (use an oven mitt or dishcloth).
- Carefully lift it out of the pot and set it aside on a plate. Drain the liquid from the pot.
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and melt the butter.
- Once it melts, add the ham. Sear on each side until browned all over.
- Remove to a plate and slice.
We did this ham for Easter. We were literally fighting over who got the last piece. It was to die for!
Joline
How Long to Cook Ham in Instant Pot
| Size of the Ham | Instant Pot Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| 2 pounds | 4 minutes on high |
| 3 pounds | 6 minutes on high |
| 4 pounds | 8 minutes on high |
| 5 pounds | 10 minutes on high |
Why reverse sear ham?
The reverse searing step sets my recipe apart from other Instant Pot ham recipes and takes it to the next level. By searing in butter after cooking in the pressure cooker, you're giving the ham a crispy, browned skin that adds so much flavor to every bite.
Expert Tips for Pressure Cooking Ham
- Be careful when lifting it out of the pot. I use two large serving forks to lift it out from both ends.
- You can also use a foil sling by folding a long, heavy-duty aluminum foil and placing it under the trivet.
- Pour the orange juice into the bottom of the instant pot. It provides amazing flavor, and your house will smell so good!
- You can substitute pineapple juice or apple cider for orange juice.
- After cooking, add more glaze between each slice to maximize the flavor in every bite. Your leftovers will taste incredible!
- I like more simple ham flavors. You can use your favorite ham spices in this recipe. Cinnamon and Nutmeg work well.
- A spiral-cut ham also works well in this recipe.
It is the perfect holiday recipe to pair with my amazingly delicious and super easy recipe for Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes and Instant Pot Turkey.
Thank you, your recipe is so easy to follow, and it is delicious! My ham is so moist, so good. My family loves it, even my daughter who is not a lover of ham. Your recipe is a keeper. Thank you again. I need to check out all your Instant pot recipes.
Valerie
FAQ
Yes, you can heat up ham in a pressure cooker. Cook the ham for approximately 2 minutes per pound when heating it up in the pressure cooker.
Leftover ham will last 3 to 5 days in your refrigerator stored in an airtight container.
Yes, absolutely. Allow ham to cool completely, then wrap in aluminum foil or freezer paper. Store until ready to use, up to 2 months.
How Much Ham per Person
For a boneless ham, approximately ½ pound per person.
| Amount of People | Size of Boneless Ham |
|---|---|
| 4-6 people | 2-3 pounds |
| 8-12 people | 5-6 pounds |
| 15-20 people | 8-10 pounds |
For bone-in ham, approximately ¾ pounds per person.
| Amount of People | Size of Bone-in Ham |
|---|---|
| 4-6 people | 5-6 pounds |
| 8-12 people | 8-9 pounds |
| 15-20 people | 15-16 pounds |
Storing Leftover Instant Pot Ham
- Let the ham cool.
- Slice or shred it.
- Store in airtight containers or bags, removing excess air from bags. Label with the date.
- Keep in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for 1-2 months.
How to Reheat Ham in the Instant Pot
- Thaw it in the fridge.
- Place the ham in the Instant Pot.
- Add ¼ cup of liquid (like broth or water).
- Seal and select "Steam" or "Manual."
- Set time (3-7 mins).
- Release pressure.
- Check temp (it's ready at 165°F or 74°C).
Ham Recipes
Check out all my favorite leftover ham recipes and side dishes for ham.
Since trying Instant Pot ham for the first time, I have made it this way almost every year since. It's so juicy, flavorful, and easy to make! I love being able to prep a ham at the same time as one of my prime ribs or turkey recipes for the holidays so there's a bit of variety without taking up oven space.
Instant Pot Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 lb. ham - pre-cooked
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 green onions - sliced
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ stick butter
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup maple syrup, 1 cup brown sugar, and 3 sliced green onions to a mixing bowl. Mix well.
- Add trivet to the bottom of your 6 qt.+ Instant Pot. Pour in 1 cup of orange juice. Place a 5 pound ham on top of the trivet, and cover with ½ of the glaze mixture. Lock the lid in place and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When 10 minutes is up, carefully release the pressure (use an oven mitt or dish cloth). Carefully lift out of the pot and set aside on a plate. Drain the liquid from the pot.
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and melt ½ stick butter.
- Once it melts, add the ham. Sear on each side until browned all over.
- Remove to a plate and slice. On top and in between each slice, evenly cover with the remaining ½ of your glaze mixture. Enjoy!
Notes
- Serve with orange slices and arugula.
- Reserve some green onions to put on top for extra color and flavor.
Andrea Metlika says
This ham looks delicious. I am going to make this for my family on Easter.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
That glaze sounds absolutely incredible! I love making hams in the Instant Pot - always go down a treat in my house.
Veena Azmanov says
I am drooling with the looks of this delicious and mouth melting dish. So soft and juicy and presentation superb.
Anita says
That ham looks so good. And it is really unbelievable one can cook a great ham like that in 10 minutes! Thanks for this recipe. 🙂
Jacqueline Debono says
This ham looks fabulous! I'd love to make this for Easter lunch! If we celebrate Easter this year here in Italy as at the moment it's looking doubtful!
Emily says
Definitely want to try this for Easter!! If I get a smaller ham, how would that affect the cooking time? Thank you in advance!
Em Beitel says
We're so excited to hear you're going to try it out! It's really delicious, especially reverse seared. Cooking a smaller ham shouldn't affect the cooking time - it will stay the same. Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Rosa says
Is this a bone-in or boneless ham? I brought a boneless ham would I give it 10 minutes like in the recipe?
Em Beitel says
Hi there, Rosa! Thank you for your comment. Boneless is perfect - we used boneless for this recipe!
G. Olsen says
Should the second half of the glaze (which is put on top & between the slices after cooking & before serving) be cooked in order to melt the sugar? The glaze in the photo looks so thick, it seems like it would be very "granular". Thank you!
Em Beitel says
Hi there! Thank you for your question! We actually found that adding the glaze to the hot ham melts it perfectly, and didn't have an issue with it being granular. However, you could definitely heat it up before adding it to the ham if you prefer. It should work out deliciously either way!
Lynn says
I am assuming this is an already cooked, boneless ham, is that correct. Looks delicious.
Em Beitel says
Hi Lynn! Yes, that's correct! Thank you so much. It really is so tasty!
Kristin says
I am curious about doing the quick release after the ham is finished cooking. I’ve read that doing a quick release will dry meat out?
Em Beitel says
Hi Kristin! We have no problem doing quick release for this ham recipe - it didn't come out dry at all. In fact it was quite the opposite! I hope this helps.