Instant Pot Ham Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Ham Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup honey; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 4 lb Pre-cooked Ham (pre-sliced)

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This Instant Pot ham has completely changed how I handle holiday meals. Instead of tying up the oven for hours, the pressure cooker produces a juicy, tender ham with a sweet and savory glaze in about 30 minutes.

What matters most to me with ham is keeping that salty, succulent flavor without letting the meat dry out or covering it with an overly sweet glaze. The Instant Pot handles the moisture perfectly, while the glaze adds just enough extra flavor to make the ham feel special without overpowering it.

I also love that this method leaves the oven available for everything else on the holiday menu. Serve the ham now, save every bit of the leftovers and keep the bone for my Instant Pot ham bone soup. Nothing goes to waste.

sliced ham on serving plate next to instant pot

Why This Recipe Works

It frees up valuable oven space. This is especially helpful during holiday meals when side dishes, rolls and desserts are competing for room.
The pressure cooker keeps the ham moist. It heats evenly in the enclosed pot, producing tender slices without dry edges.
It is ready in about 30 minutes. You can put an impressive holiday centerpiece on the table without spending hours monitoring the oven.
The glaze adds balance. It complements the ham’s natural saltiness with just enough sweetness and extra flavor.
The leftovers keep working for you. Use the extra ham in sandwiches, egg dishes, casseroles and soup, then save the bone to flavor another meal.

Recipe Ingredients

Pre-cooked Ham pre-sliced – Cook 5 minutes per pound for pre-cooked boneless ham.

Brown sugar – A little molasses in the sugar will help the Worcestershire sauce offset the sweetness.

Worcestershire sauce – A delicious ingredient to the sauce to help tenderize the meat and penetrates deep into the meat for more flavor.

How to Make Instant Pot Ham

If you are looking for a no-fail, super easy dinner to put on the table, this beautifully glazed ham with just a few ingredients will be perfect! It’s not just for Easter dinner!

Step 1

Start with 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce.

Step 2

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

Step 3

Place the ham inside a piece of heavy-duty foil and fold up around the sides. Pour the sauce over the ham, ensuring it seeps into the slices. Fold foil up over the ham to cover entirely.

Step 4

Next you’ll pour 1 1/2 cups water into the Instant Pot. Place ham on trivet and lower into Instant Pot.

Place the cover on the pot and set timer to 20 minutes on high pressure. It will take the IP around 11 minutes to come to pressure before it begins cooking.

Step 5

When cooking time is done, do a Quick Release. Let the float valve drop and remove the cover.

Carefully place the ham on a serving platter. Gently pour a little of the juices over the top of the ham and serve alongside How To Make Grits from Mama Gourmand!

What To Serve With Ham – 19 delicious ideas!

Ham is a delicious dinner option, but what do you serve alongside this savory star? Read on for ideas about what to serve with ham.

What to Serve With Potatoes and Ham

Here are a handful of recipe ideas about what to serve with scalloped potatoes and ham! Whether you are planning a holiday meal or a hearty family dinner, you’ll walk away with a delicious plan.

You can serve the ham with these crockpot vegetables for a hearty side dish that pairs especially well with the sweet and savory glaze.

Recipe Notes

If you use a bone in ham to make this recipe, add 10 minutes to the cooking time.
Add 1/2 cup pineapple juice to the liquid mixture for an extra punch of flavor.

Ham Recipes to Make Using Leftovers

Use leftover ham to make this savory ham bone soup in your pressure cooker!
Ham Bone Split Pea Soup – Ham, split peas and an assortment of delicious carrots, peas and celery are the perfect combo in this hearty, comforting and traditional soup. A truly savory soup will satisfy and fill you up.

Why Does It Take My Instant Pot So Long To Pressurize

The time leading up to actual cook time may seem long and even confusing (“What is going ON in there?!”), but it’s an important part of the process! The Instant Pot is working on building up the appropriate amount of pressure that it will be cooking the food at.

It handles liquids and solids differently and also fresh and frozen differently, so the time can vary. Most recipes take between 10 and 25 minutes to build up pressure.

Spoon drizzling glaze over instant pot ham slices

FAQ About Ham

Which cut of ham is healthy?

Ham can be a healthy addition to your diet if consumed in small portions because it’s high in protein and iron. If you want to choose a healthier cut, try to avoid high sodium lunch meat and find uncured ham which isn’t loaded up with nitrates that aren’t healthy for people.

What ham is not processed?

Uncured ham is one that goes through a natural curing process and doesn’t use synthetically sourced nitrates.

How can you tell ham has gone bad?

You can visually look at the ham to see if its gone bad and use your other senses to help confirm it. If the coloring is gray and the meat appears slimy, then it’s going bad. A smell will also help confirm it’s turning.

Are ham bones safe for dogs?

You should not give ham bones to dogs. They can splinter and cause damage to their esophagus and stomachs.

Recipes to Make in an Instant Pot

Holiday Dinner Recipes

This is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoes recipe. It is the BEST and goes great with any main dish, any time of year. You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again!
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are creamy, smooth, delicious and easy to prepare. No boiling or saucepan/stovetop cleaning required with this side dish. The Instant Pot gets this easy mashed potato recipe done in 30 minutes!
This Classic Sweet Potato Casserole is great on your Thanksgiving table and also a perfect side dish that can be enjoyed any time of the year. It is filled with a delicious sweet potato mixture and topped with crunchy pecans and marshmallows.
This is the Best Green Bean Casserole for your table! It is a traditional holiday staple, yes, but also great any time of the year as a delicious side dish.
Tater Tot Hotdish is the perfect comfort food. Whether it’s the main dish or a side, everyone at the table will be satisfied. This Midwestern staple is easy to make and fills everyone up.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes – These are the perfect brunch side dish. Two delicious types of cheese transform these potatoes into a creamy, flavorful comfort food.
Easy sauteed asparagus is the perfect addition to your Easter spread!
Let a batch of crockpot creamed corn cook quietly in the corner while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Knock everyone’s socks off with this perfect and delicious carrot cake!

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