The easiest slow cooker Christmas ham or gammon, lightly spiced and served with a refreshing red cabbage salad!
When it comes to Christmas cooking I’m all about making life as easy as possible for myself. If you have guests staying you want to make delicious food for them, but not at the cost of spending all your time in the kitchen and missing out on the festivities. And this is why I LOVE this Christmas Ham or Christmas Gammon, whichever you like to call it. It’s an absolute doddle to make. The ham will pretty much look after itself, allowing you to get on with the last of your Christmas shopping or entertaining friends and family.
If you don’t have a slow cooker, fear not as this recipe will work on the hob too. The general rule for cooking ham on the hob is to bring it to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes per 500g, but you can check that exact cooking times with your butcher (or supermarket ham should come with cooking instructions too).
For a 2kg ham I recommend 6-8 hours in the slow cooker. If you want to carve your ham then stick closer to the 6 hours but if you prefer it more crumbly, almost like pulled pork, then cook it for up to 8 hours.
Not only is this ham recipe a doddle to cook, but it’s so versatile too. I cooked it last year for Christmas Eve dinner and served it with my red cabbage salad and some crusty rolls. If you have family arriving at different times then this is a brilliant dinner to have waiting. People can help themselves as and when they arrive. Your guests get a delicious filling meal but you don’t have to spend all day slaving in the kitchen. Perfect!
If you plan to serve this on Christmas Day then you can cook the ham the day before, allow it to cool and keep it in the fridge overnight. Then the following day simply whack on the glaze and warm it up in the oven. So simple!
I’ve kept the spice flavours in this recipe very mild to make sure it’s still appealing to little taste buds. If you are cooking for adults only feel free to add more flavours to the cooking liquid and also to the glaze.
If you have leftover ham then check out my Leftover Turkey, Cranberry & Brie Pie. You could also add some of this ham to it for a delicious and easy meal after Christmas!
The Easiest Slow Cooker Christmas Ham
Prep Time: 15 mins- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Yield: 8
Category: Main Meal
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The easiest slow cooker Christmas ham, lightly spiced and served with a refreshing red cabbage salad
Ingredients
- For the ham:
- 2 – 2.5kg gammon
- 1 or 2 white onions
- 1 litre / 4 cups apple juice
- 10 black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2 bay leaves
- For the salad:
- 1 red cabbage
- 2 red apples
- 2 small carrots
- 3 spring onions
- seeds from 1/2 pomegranate
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley to garnish
- For the ham glaze:
- handful of whole cloves
- 4 tbsp honey
- 1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp sugar (I used coconut sugar but brown sugar would work well too)
- 1/2 tsp all spice
Instructions
- Cut the onion in half and place both pieces on the bottom of the slow cooker. Sit the gammon on top of the onions, fat side up. This will prevent it sticking as it cooks. Pour in the apple juice and add the peppercorns, cloves, star anise and bay leaves. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, depending on how crumbly you want your ham to be.
- Prepare the salad by chopping the red cabbage, apples and spring onions into small pieces. Add the grated carrot and pomegranate seeds and mix well. Make the dressing by mixing the cider vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper together in a lidded jar or bottle and shake well. Add the dressing to the salad just before serving.
- When the ham has cooked remove it from the slow cooker and rest it on a plate for a few minutes to allow the liquid to drain away. Preheat the oven to 220c and double line a baking tin with foil (don’t skip this as the honey glaze will burn into your baking tray and it’s a nightmare to get off!)
- Transfer the ham to the lined tray. Remove the skin with a sharp knife leaving a layer of fat on top. Score the fat and stud it with whole cloves.
- Make the glaze by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour half the glaze onto the fatty part of the ham, spreading it around until the top is fully covered.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, adding the remaining glaze half way through.
- Allow the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
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Anna Taylor says
Really excited to try this as Christmas as I always find there’s just so much to do and so little time so anything that saves time is a win for me! Looks so tasty as well.
★★★★★
Joanna Crow says
I cooked this overnight and it was so easy on Christmas morning to simply glaze – It’s delicious (I had a sneaky taste) – the children are going to love it! So easy in the slow cooker over night on low (I usually wake up through the night was able to turn it off after 6 hours)
★★★★★
Ken says
Great recipe, thank you! Cooked a 3kg Gammon following the same instructions, worked a treat and was delicious. Merry Christmas!
★★★★★
Ashling says
I have a. 4kg ham How long do i cook for do i have to boil first to remove the salt.and also do i double the rest of the ingrediants really want to try tbis for dinner tomorrow
Annie says
Dear Ciara – I cannot thank you enough for this amazing recipe – super easy, fragrant and tasty! This was my first attempt at cooking an uncooked, unsmoked brined ham. I’m a French Canadian and so smoked hams and pork roasts are very common here, but I was never a fan; Thanks to you, I can now say that I looove ham (and the boyfriend is happy about that!)! I doubled the spices, cooked it in my large crock pot for 6.5 hours (note: my ham was 6kg), then transferred it into the oven at 430F with your succulent glaze and voila! I will never cook ham any other way… it is simply sublime. Merci!!!!
★★★★★
Michael Schafle says
Question: you mentioned that the spices were kept low-key so as to appeal to kids. Which spices would you add to give a more robust, Christmas-y flavor to the ham?
Ciara Attwell says
You can double the spices and also add some more like ginger. Also on the glaze you can add a punchier mustard like english mustard.
Nancy Shoopman says
My husband received a spiral ham from work (glaze in a packet) Can I still use this ham & use your glaze recipe & pour it in between the slices & outside as well?
Ciara Attwell says
Yes I think that would be fine!
Zoe Johnson says
Easy and delicious! It’s been a real hit with all the family!
★★★★★
Zoe says
Easy and delicious! It’s been a real hit with all the family!
★★★★★
Ash says
Hello,
This recipe looks fab!!
If I slow cook the gammon the day before, how long should I put it in the oven for the next day after it has cooled? Will it still only be 20-25mins for a 2.5kg joint?
Thank you in advance for your advice.
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Cook it longer to warm it through. Maybe 20/30 minutes first with tin foil on top then add the glaze and put it back in for 15/20 mins.
Nicky says
Hi, just wondering if it’s ok to swap the apple juice to cider?
Ciara Attwell says
Yes you can!
N Lewis says
Iām going to admit I didnāt make this in a slow cooker, I cooked it in my electric pressure cooker. 750g ham for 20 ish minutes. Then did the glaze in the oven and served with the salad.
It was amazing. Genuinely one of the best online recipes Iāve come across and my husband already wants me to make it again. I donāt make a lot of recipes more than once but this will 100% be in the rotation.
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
So glad you liked it and I’m really glad to hear it works in the pressure cooker too!
Cynthia says
Quick question- should the ham be boneless when order from our local butcher here in Kentucky?
Thanks a million.
Ciara Attwell says
Yes its boneless!
Mara Bouwman says
Hey i got a question. My butcher gave me a smoked ham which is already cooked, is that the right one? Or am I now going to overcook it in the slowcooker… Help!
Ciara Attwell says
No if its already cooked then skip the slow cooker part. Just cover it in the glaze and pop it in the oven until hot through
kate says
This is the first time I’ve cooked ham and the recipe was perfect!I added a little treacle to the glaze mix as well.
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Sounds delicious!
Lesley says
Hello All
Please could you tell me if the ham is easy to carve, I do not want the “pulled pork” texture you get from slow cooking pork, I just want to be able to carve slices as and when over Christmas – can anyone help please?
Ciara Attwell says
Yes, just cook it for the minimum time and it will still be a solid piece of meat that you can carve.
Alison says
Hi Ciara,
I came across this recipe and wondered if u have the method for in the oven as I prefer to cook in the over for a 2kg gammon.
Thank you
Jacky Stimpson says
I made this ham last Christmas and forgot to comment, it was absolutely delicious . Thankfully I saved your recipe for this year ! Will be on my table again Christmas Eve.
Ciara Attwell says
Yay!!! So glad you like it!
Zara Murray says
The best Ham I’ve made and it really is a simple as the title implies! My family devoured it. It will be on the menu this Christmas. Thank you!
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Awww thank you so much Zara!
Anthony McTaggart says
Hello,
This is a long shot but I’m really stuck trying to find cook times for slow cookers. I have 6.8kg gammon to cook for new years. I have two slow cookers and would like to half the gammon and follow this recipe.
My only issue is how long would a 3.4kg gammon take to cook on low?
Any help or advice would be amazing.
Anthony “The Drowning Chef”
Ciara Attwell says
I’m so sorry for the late reply Anthony, its probably not much use to you now but I would cook a 3.4kg gammon for a minimum of 5 hours. Hope it was a success!
John says
Hi Ciara, just came across this recipe, looks awesome. Could you switch the apple juice out for cider or do you think it might spoil it?
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Hi John, I think that would be lovely! Let me know how it turns out!
Helen says
Mine’s in the slow cooker as we speak – thank you so much for the recipe and Merry Christmas š
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Fantastic! Have a lovely Christmas!
Vee says
This looks like a wonderful way to
Cook a ham. Our ham is 2.6 kg and just about fits into the slow cooker. 1/2 a litre of apple
Juice seems enough or does the apple juice need to cover the ham? Also given the size can I cook it on high so as to get it cooked in 6-8 hours or will it need to cook longer on low? Many thanks and merry Christmas š xx
Ciara Attwell says
The apple juice doesn’t have to cover it but you might want to turn the ham half way through cooking just to make sure it cooks evenly. And yes, you can cook it on high!
Cat Beluga says
Hi
This recipe looks divine! Would the timing in the slow cooker be the same for a smaller joint say 1.4kg?
Thank you for sharing x
★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
For 1.4kg it should cook in 4 hours for sure!
Cat Beluga says
Thank you for replying and so promptly x
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas x
Ciara Attwell says
My pleasure. Merry Christmas!
Nicole says
Hi!
Cannot wait to try this recipe! Cooking my first Christmas meal this Boxing Day.. so am jumping with joy to try this!
If I were to cook just 1kg of gammon, would you recommend to just use half of the apple juice?
Thanks very much.
Have a lovely Christmas.
Nicole x
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Hi Nicole, I would probably use 3/4 of the apple juice, just to make sure you have enough to keep it lovely and moist! Good luck and have a lovely Christmas!
Nicole says
Hi just came across this recipe trying to prepare for christmas… Do i have to put the gammon in the oven after its been slow cooked to the stage where its sliceable (like you said around 6 hours).
Its me and my boyfriends first christmas dinner we are making for just us and i’m pretty sure i’m going to be lacking oven space to roast it along with all the other things we need to roast!
Thanks
Ciara Attwell says
Hi Nicole, you don’t have to put it in the oven aswell, that’s just if you want to glaze it. It’s fine to eat it straight from the slow cooker!
Etta says
What’s A Gammon
Ciara Attwell says
Ham!
Steve in Manhattan says
The drippings in the ham pan – suitable for making gravy? I thought I could add some beef stock, reduce, and pour over mashed potatoes.
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Yes, absolutely!
Sarah (@tamingtwins) says
I can’t believe that I’ve never cooked a ham in the slow cooker! I bet it’s meltingly delicious. (Is meltingly even a word? It should be..) This is such a great idea, thanks so much for sharing. The salad looks so festive and fresh too. Delicious.
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
You must try it Sarah. It’s so so easy. You should definitely give it a go if you have people over for christmas.