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.
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
- 1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits in juice
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Mix brown sugar, pineapple tidbits with juice and ground cloves in a medium bowl.
- 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.
- 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.
- Slice ham and serve with glaze.
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
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.
Allie says
So I’m a little new to cooking and it’s my first Easter being in charge 😳. How much brown sugar, pineapple tidbits, cornstarch, and water (for the cornstarch slurry) is needed? TIA! My husband is super excited to try it!
Allie says
I’m a dope and found the info! Thanks for the recipe!
Anna says
No problem, Allie! I hope you guys love the ham!
Kimberly W says
Any thoughts on pre-slicing and layering the glaze/ham inside the stackable pots. (Pot in pot cooking method)? Wasn’t sure if it would be easier when it came to serving and getting the glaze flavor throughout.
Eileen says
I tried this with a semi-boneless and it was wonderful. We bought a spiral ham to try next.
A couple of questions:
Should we change the cooking time where it’s been cut to avoid it drying out? Also, the spiral ham came with its own glaze packet. Thoughts on using that in addition to the pineapple glaze?
Thanks!
Kenisha says
Can you do the recipe without the tidbits and just the juice?
Garrett B. says
Sure can. Just make an anchor using aluminum foil(make a long skinny piece by folding repeatedly) so you have something to pull out the ham after it's cooked.
Ranny says
For the glaze, do you pour out any remaining liquids from the ham before sauté the ingredients for the glaze? Or do you keep the liquid from the ham and just add in the ingredients for the glaze?
JB says
I would love to know the answer to this question too please!
Anna says
Hi! I remove the ham and make the glaze with the liquid in the Instant Pot. Just add the cornstarch slurry and cook until it thickens. It will thicken even more as it cools. I hope this helps!
Rick says
Semi-newbie with my IP. This looks great, and easy! I shop online for groceries where I go for curbside pickup (HEB in Texas.) I can't seem to find an uncooked ham when online shopping at the grocery store. What exactly should I be looking for?
Thanks!
Anna says
Hi Rick! This recipe calls for cooked ham. It is the most common one at any grocery store. I hope this helps!
Rick says
Thanks!!!
Anna says
Anytime! Let me know how you like it!
Karen says
What size instant pot did you use? I have a 6 quart. I’m worried it won’t fit.
Anna says
Hi Karen! I have the 6 quart Instant Pot too. It fit just fine. You can always trim off the top to make sure the lid will close. I hope this helps!
Tiffany says
I want to make sure that I understand this recipe correctly. When you set the 15 minute timer, does that include 13 minutes heat time with a total of 2 minute cook time?
Anna says
Hi Tiffany! The timer won't start until your Instant Pot has come to pressure. So the first 10 to 13 minutes it will just show ON and once the pressure pin is up, it will start the timer and it will cook for 15 minutes. I hope that makes sense. Let me know how it goes!
Mic says
How long would you do for a 3lb boneless ham?
Jen says
Hi! I made this tonight and it was so delicious and tender! My husband and even both my kids (extremely picky) loved it!! It seriously made my night that our whole family enjoyed a meal that I made. Its really a hassle to come up with meals that both my kids will eat. This is Added to my list. Thank you so much
Anna says
Hi Jen! I hear you! My goal is to help busy parents to make dinner time easy for them and delicious for everyone. I am so glad the ham was a hit! Thank you so much for trying my recipe!
Teresa says
Absolutely yummy!! My first ham in the Instapot. The glaze was amazing!! My husband who likes ham with no sauce went back for seconds. We cooked the 8 lb ham for 15 minutes, would not cook it any longer. In fact next time we will go for 12 minutes to make sure it does not dry out.
Becca says
How long for a 10lbs ham?
Paula Giles says
I couldn't find a 6 lb ham, so got a ham almost 4 lbs, but it's spiral. Should I cook it for less time?
Candy says
How long should I cook a nearly 12 lb bone in ham in the IP? TIA
Anna says
Hi Candy! My IP would not fit a 12lb ham. I can't say for sure who it would work.
Hannah says
Could you use the same recipe and cook time for a smaller ham?
Miranda says
The recipe says "add water to ip insert"
How much water?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Miranda! You need 1 cup of water. I hope this helps! Let me know if you make the ham!
Chastity says
Can this be done with an uncooked ham and how ?
Anna says
Hi Chastity! I did not test it with uncooked ham. Sorry!
Diana says
This was the best ham I've ever made. So moist and the glaze is delicious spooned on the ham.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Yay! That's fantastic, Diana! Thank you so much!
Michelle T says
I'm wondering how I would go about cooking this ham in my IP from frozen?? Do all the times stay the same or do I IP the cook time?
Adam says
OMG! This ham recipe is amazing! It was a huge hit here for Christmas! Thank you so much for sharing it. The video is super helpful!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Adam! I am so glad it was helpful! Thank you for making my recipe!
Dayna says
Can you use a frozen ham?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Dayna! I did not test this recipe with a frozen ham. So sorry!
Sandra says
This is a great addition to our holiday menu!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
That's awesome! Thanks, Sandra!
Cristine says
Is the time the same if you do not have a bone in the ham?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Yep! Mine was really small.
Amy says
This ham looks so good! I love that glaze on top!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Amy!
Erin says
This ham couldn't look any more perfect!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Erin!
Catalina says
This ham looks totally irresistible! I love the pineapple flavor!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Catalina!
Dee says
This ham looks so delicious! Pineapple and brown sugar is a wonderful and classic combination
Dorothy says
I have a slow cooker recipe for ham that I love. It is very similar to this, so I am really excited to try it in the IP!
Jennifer Lehner says
I love this Instant Pot ham recipe! So easy to make and delicious!
Kristyn says
Yum, yum!! So much faster in the instant pot!! This is juicy, tender, & so good!
Ashlyn says
I put my ham in for the same time and it was about a lb smaller, it came out a little cold. So next time i would put it in longer. The glaze however is really good. And the saute button really makes it a nice thick glaze ive never been able to do before.
Demeter says
This is such a time saver! So perfect for any holiday meal.
kim says
I would have never thought to make a ham in the instant pot!
Sabrina says
Love how easy this show stopper is to make using an Instant Pot! Keeping my oven free for all of the sides will make holiday cooking a breeze!
Lauren says
You have inspired me to make my Christmas ham in the Insant-Pot! I am looking forward to saving time!
Amy says
Wonderful, I've been looking for an Instant Pot recipe for this Christmas! I just got mine, Yay!