Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Ham Bites
Servings: 8 servings as an appetizer, about 4–6 as a main
Ingredients
2 to 2 1/2 pounds fully cooked boneless ham, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup pineapple juice (or apple juice)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (or yellow mustard, if preferred)
Directions
Prepare the ham: Trim any excess fat from the ham if desired, then cut the ham into roughly 1-inch cubes. Aim for fairly even pieces so they heat and glaze at the same rate.
Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pineapple juice, and Dijon mustard until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture looks smooth and syrupy.
Layer in the slow cooker: Place the ham cubes into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the brown sugar mixture evenly over the top, stirring gently to coat the ham bites as well as you can.
Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or on HIGH for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The ham is already fully cooked, so you’re primarily warming it through and allowing the glaze to thicken and cling to the pieces.
Stir and reduce glaze (if needed): About halfway through the cooking time, give the ham a gentle stir to redistribute the glaze. If, at the end of cooking, you’d like a thicker, stickier sauce, remove the slow cooker lid and cook on HIGH for an additional 15–20 minutes, stirring once or twice, to let some of the liquid evaporate.
Serve: Transfer the ham bites and their sauce to a serving bowl or small chafing dish. Serve warm with toothpicks as an appetizer, or spoon over your chosen sides if serving as a main dish.
continued on next page
