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My Instant Pot ham with brown sugar glaze is so simple and always juicy! Just a handful of ingredients and your Instant Pot make this sweet, savory ham recipe easy for any holiday or Sunday dinner.
Jump to:
- Ingredients for Ham in the Instant Pot
- Ham in Instant Pot Instructions
- Variations on Instant Pot Ham Glaze
- How Long to Cook Ham in Instant Pot by Size
- Why reverse sear ham?
- Isabel's Top Tips for Pressure Cooking Ham
- FAQ
- How Much Ham to Serve Per Person (Boneless and Bone-in)
- Storing Leftover Ham
- How to Reheat Ham in the Instant Pot
- Ham Recipes
- Instant Pot Ham
- Reviews
I've made ham every way you can think of, from smoked and grilled to baked in the oven or air fried - and let me tell you, nothing beats the flavor of my brown sugar glazed ham.
This easy holiday ham recipe is sweet, savory, and beautifully caramelized with a simple brown sugar maple glaze. It's the star of the table for Easter, Christmas, or any special Sunday supper - and the best part is, it's foolproof and stress-free!
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
See more reviews here→ or keep scrolling to the comments section below!
Ingredients for Ham in the Instant Pot
- 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.
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.
Variations on Instant Pot Ham Glaze
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
How Long to Cook Ham in Instant Pot by Size
| 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.
Isabel's Top 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.
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.
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 to Serve Per Person (Boneless and Bone-in)
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 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
- If your ham is frozen, thaw it in the fridge before cooking.
- Place the ham in the Instant Pot and add ¼ cup of liquid (like broth or water).
- Seal and select "Steam" or "Manual." Set the time to 3-7 minutes depending on the size of your ham.
- Carefully release pressure and check the temp with a meat thermometer (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
Video
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.
Jackie frank says
Could you use a spiral cut ham..thanks
Em Beitel says
Thank you for your question, Jackie! A spiral cut ham should work just fine, just make sure it's the right size to fit in your Instant Pot. We used a 5 lb. ham here for a 6 qt. pot.
Shirley Kidd says
Do you use a pre-cooked or a raw ham. Not clear.
Em Beitel says
Hi Shirley! Thank you for your feedback. We used a pre-cooked ham!
Debbie B says
We love ham and this looks so good. I have a ham in the fepreezer. Should I thaw it first or just add to the cook time? Any thoughts on this?
Em Beitel says
Hi Debbie! We're so excited you're going to give this recipe a try! We recommend thawing the ham first. Overnight in the refrigerator should be just fine. We'd love to hear what you think of the recipe when you try it!
YC says
Do you pour the orange juicer over the ham or do you just pour it pour it in the bottom of the instant pot?
Thank you!
Em Beitel says
Hi there! You pour the orange juice at the bottom of the Instant Pot, then add the ham. Thank you for your question and enjoy! ♥
Louise Martin says
Looks delicious! I have a 2 lb pre cooked ham. What would the time be to pressure cook it?
Em Beitel says
Hi Louise! For a 2 lb. ham, try about 4 minutes on high pressure instead of 10. Thank you and let us know how you like it!
Megan says
If I use a 2 lb ham, should I only use half a cup of orange juice? Would that possibly not provide enough liquid for the instant pot to pressurize?
Em Beitel says
Hi Megan! You can use the full cup of orange juice. It helps keep the ham moist in the Instant Pot so we don't recommend cutting the liquid down, even if you use a smaller ham. Thank you so much for your comment!
Christine says
Good morning!
When you want to start searing, could you just put it in oven and broil it for a few minutes? Thanks!
Em Beitel says
Hi Christine! Absolutely. We just like to sear so it's all done in the Instant Pot, but you could melt and brush the butter over the top and broil in the oven for a few minutes if you prefer. That should work out perfectly. Thank you for your question and please enjoy!
Carmen Cortes Ramos says
I am noticing on the puctures and video that it appears you do "slits" or not too deep cuts to the ham. What "prep" you do to the ham before the glaze. Planning to do this XMas day
Em Beitel says
Hi Carmen! That's really the only prep we do - we cut slits into the ham so the glaze seeps into it while it's cooking. It's just a simple crosshatch pattern. 🙂 Hope you enjoy - please let us know how it turns out!
Carmen Cortes Ramos says
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.I think you should add the cuts or slits to the instructions it helped getting the flavor in.Will be making this my regular ham recipe. Can .we post pictures..i have some
Amber says
Is it possible to not use maple syrup? Everyone is out here unless it's "maple flavored". Thanks!!
Em Beitel says
Hi Amber! You don't have to use maple syrup! We have a Honey Sriracha Glaze as well that you can find on our air fryer ham recipe: https://sundaysuppermovement.com/sriracha-honey-ham/. We also have another glaze that uses just honey and some seasonings: https://sundaysuppermovement.com/honey-glazed-ham-recipe/. Either of these glazes will work perfectly for this recipe!
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Amber, Yes, you can use maple syrup. Let me know how it turns out.
Delicious Ham says
Made this for Christmas dEve dinner tonight and it was delicious!! The ham was moist and tender. I was worried it might be to sweet with the brown sugar and maple syrup but it was very tasty! Thanks for the great recipe.
Isabel Laessig says
I am so happy you enjoyed the ham as much as my family did. We absolutely love this recipe.