Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham - ultra juicy, sweet and delicious ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze, cooked in the Instant Pot under 30 minutes.
I serve this ham with Sweet Corn Casserole and use leftovers to make my Ham Casserole.
This Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham is the easiest way to cook the ham for your holiday dinner. It's juicy, delicious and the pineapple brown sugar glaze is irresistible! No more dry ham that cooks in the oven for hours. The Instant Pot pressure cooker can not only cook a turkey but also a ham, saving the oven space and lots of time for you! Cooking the ham in an oven takes about 1.5 hours, while the IP takes about 38 minutes, including the appliance coming to pressure and the natural pressure release.
Since the ham is cooked already, all we need to do is to heat it up, just like you would do in the oven. The Instant Pot makes it easier and faster! Free up the oven for other dishes or desserts.
Ingredients (your shopping list):
- whole ham
- brown sugar
- pineapple bits with juice
- cornstarch
Instructions:
- Start by mixing brown sugar, pineapple tidbits with juice and ground cloves in a medium bowl.
- Add water to Instant Pot insert, place trivet inside. Set the ham, cut side down, on the trivet. Pour pineapple brown sugar mixture over ham. Close lid, press "manual" or "pressure cook" setting and set the timer to 15 minutes. The IP will take about 13 minutes to come to pressure.
- Once done, let the Instant Pot release the pressure naturally. It will take about 10 minutes (it was 9.5 minutes for me). Carefully open the lid and remove ham onto a cutting board.
- Make the pineapple brown sugar mixture into a glaze by thickening with a cornstarch slurry. Cornstarch will make the glaze clear. If you will use flour, it will be cloudy.
- Slice ham and serve with glaze.
I used a 6 lbs semi-boneless ham. That means it only has the thigh bone in. I used my 6 quart IP DUO to cook it. You may have to trim the ham to make it fit.
Cooking time:
I used a 6lb semi-boneless ham and cooked it for 15 minutes. The IP took exactly 13 minutes to come to pressure and once the timer was done, it took 9.5 minutes to release the pressure naturally. If your ham is spiral cut, bone-in, and 6 to 8 lbs, the time remains the same. It may just take longer to come to pressure. You may have to trim your ham to fit in the Instant Pot.
If you are using ham that has not been cut yet, it will separate in few spots around the bone. It will not fall apart at all. It will make it easier for you to slice it away from the bone, before slicing for serving. Keep the bone, if you like, to make a soup later.
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The glaze:
The mixture of brown sugar and pineapple tidbits with juice makes for a perfect flavor combo with ham. After the ham is done, remove it from the Instant Pot and place on a cutting board to rest. Make a cornstarch and water slurry, set the IP to saute setting and bring the pineapple mixture to a boil. Add cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened. Turn of the Instant Pot, let the glaze cool before serving over ham slices.
If you are broiling the ham, you can pour a few tablespoons of the glaze over ham before placing in the oven. Watch it closely so it won't burn.
Sides to serve with ham:
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole with Bacon
- Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Easy Broccoli Salad
- Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes
Freezing leftover ham:
First, decide what you will use the leftover ham for. If it's soups and casseroles, dice the leftover ham. Place in freezer bags and squeeze as much air as possible, or use a vacuum seal. It will prevent ice crystals from forming on the meat. Leftover ham can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, and for up to 2 months in the freezer.
If you want to turn the leftover ham into an easy Instant Pot breakfast, check out my new recipe for the Instant Pot Breakfast Egg Casserole! It's so easy and loaded with deliciousness!
More Instant Pot holiday recipes:
- 15 Best Instant Pot Holiday Recipes
- Mashed Potatoes
- Brussels Sprouts with bacon
- Turkey Breast with gravy
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
Check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance!
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
Ingredients
- 6 lb ham see note
- 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits in juice
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Mix brown sugar, pineapple tidbits with juice and ground cloves in a medium bowl.20 oz. can pineapple tidbits in juice, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Add 1 cup of water to Instant Pot insert, place trivet inside. Set the ham, cut side down, on the trivet. Pour pineapple brown sugar mixture over ham.6 lb ham
- Close lid, press “manual” or “pressure cook” setting and set the timer to 15 minutes. The IP will take about 13 minutes to come to pressure.
- Once done, let the Instant Pot release the pressure naturally. It will take about 10 minutes (it was 9.5 minutes for me). Carefully open the lid and remove ham onto a cutting board. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Make the pineapple brown sugar mixture: whisk cornstarch and water in small bowl. Press "saute" setting on your Instant Pot, bring it to a boil. Add cornstarch mixture and cook for about 2 minutes, or until it thickens. Cornstarch makes the glaze clear. If you will use flour, it will be cloudy.2 tablespoons cornstarch, ¼ cup water
- Slice ham and serve with glaze.
Christy M. says
I made this tonight and will never go back to making it any other way. The entire family loved it and it was so easy. I had an 8 lb bone in ham and followed the recipe with a couple of exceptions. I followed the general rule of 2 minutes per pound plus 10 minutes so I cooked mine for 26 minutes and I didn’t use cloves. It came out perfect! I have a 8qt Foodi that requires a minimum 2 cups of liquid and this recipe worked great. Thank you so much for sharing!
Jeanie says
Just made this recipe with 7lb ham. Cooked 15 mins and turn out juicy and delish! Highly recommend. Thank you
Anna says
That's fantastic! Thank you so much, Jeanie!
Brenda says
I made this ham and it was absolutely delicious! I had a spiral ham. I think I could have cooked it in about 9 minutes. I will be using my instant pot for my ham forever!!! Thanks much for this recipe ❤️
Anna says
Yay! I am so glad it was a success! Thank you, Brenda!
Stephanie says
I love to use my instant pot every chance I get. Ham is great in the IP. I really love the glaze on this.
Lisalia says
So we're making this for Easter this year because it turned out perfectly for my family Sunday dinner. Can't wait to have it again. SO SO good!
Laura Reese says
This ham was delicious and the best way to make a ham. Love the flavors together.
Linda says
How much time should you add for a larger ham
Terri says
I wasn't pleased with this recipe I tried a little less than a 6lb ham and it wasn't completely cooked at the 15 mins. according to this recipe.
CJ says
Hi Anna,
Is this in low or high pressure? TIA!
Linsey says
How do I modify if I dont have a trivet to put in my insta pot? The only insert I have wont fit a ham on it.
Cheryl says
Crumple up some aluminum foil to put underneath the ham to keep it up off the bottom of the pot.
joseph reckelhoff says
Use some cut up taters (sweet potatoes/yams work best) onions n carrots (big chunks) under the ham as a trivet. After cookin use a slotted spoon, pull out the veg...toss em in a bowl with a little garlic salt/powder, pinch of cayenne, and just a dadh or 2 of balsamic vinegar, (to level out the plating so your veggies dont taste just like the ham, just similair) throw em in a buttered pan. Cover with foil and roast in oven on 350 for a few minutes, then uncover and cook to your likeness. Thicken up that leftover ham juice on saute, thicken with a cornstarch slurry...and bam.