Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham is an easy-to-make holiday entree that’s sweet, savory, and so easy to make! This recipe requires only three key ingredients: ham, brown sugar, and pineapples. Toss in some cornstarch if you’d like to make a sweet glaze and you’ve got yourself a stunning holiday centerpiece!
Ham in the Instant Pot
Your Instant Pot just made the holidays a whole lot less hectic! No need to stress and sweat over a hot oven this year–just let the pressure cooker do all of the work for you! This holiday ham is made in just a few quick and easy steps that always yield trustworthy results.
This Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham is perfect for serving on both Christmas and Easter. I love that because I don’t have to go so long without enjoying it! Plus, it makes for the best leftovers – ham and cheese sandwiches with this sliced meat are the best.
Why You’ll Love this Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham Recipe:
- So Easy: Using an Instant Pot really simplifies this classic recipe.
- Sweet and Savory: Ham has a natural savory and salty flavor that’s perfectly balanced by the sweet pineapples and brown sugar.
- Glazed: The glaze is an optional final touch, but it’s highly recommended! It’s really easy to whip up and does wonders for this already delicious ham.
Whether you serve this ham for Easter or Christmas (or both), it’s sure to be a huge hit on either occasion!
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How to Make Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
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- Pour water into the Instant Pot and place the trivet on the bottom.
- Place the ham on the trivet. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
- Place the pineapple slices on the ham. Pour in the pineapple juice.
- Attach the lid. The valve needs to be in the “sealing” position.
- Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes.
- Release the rest of the pressure manually.
- Make the glaze by whisking the cornstarch in with the liquids.
Recipe Notes
- Ham: I’m using a 3.5-pound Boneless Sliced “Anytime” Ham for this recipe – make sure to use a small fully cooked boneless ham.
- Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar adds a rich, sweet flavor to the ham.
- Pineapple: Pineapple juice goes so well with ham – it’s sweet and fruity and pairs perfectly with salty ham.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the juices into a rich glaze.
Any fully-cooked boneless ham will work in this recipe. I like to use sliced ham because I can tuck the pineapple slices between the ham slices. For an 8-quart instant pot, I don’t recommend going any larger than 7-8 pounds, as it may not fit!
That depends on the size of your ham! For a 3.5-pound ham, I recommend following the recipe and cooking for 10 minutes. For other sizes, a good estimate is about 2-3 minutes per pound.
I don’t recommend it! Pineapple contains a powerful enzyme called bromelain that is much higher in concentration in fresh pineapple than in canned. Bromelain will actually break down the meat, leading to mushy ham. Plus, with fresh pineapple, you won’t have all of that delicious juice!
You sure can! Add the ham, brown sugar, and pineapple to a crockpot and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 2½ hours.
Serving Suggestions
Be sure to pair your holiday ham with some of the best side dishes!
In my home, Christmas and Easter are both celebrated with a serving of sliced ham on every plate. And now, it’s easier than ever to make everyone’s favorite entree!
Make Ahead Instructions
Instant pot pineapple brown sugar ham can be made up to 1 day in advance of when you plan to serve it. Store the ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover instant pot pineapple brown sugar ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze instant pot pineapple brown sugar ham in a Ziplock bag with parchment between the slices for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
- The amount of sodium in this recipe is mostly due to the ham itself. If you’re on a low-sodium diet, check the label on your ham!
- For crispy ham, place the ham on a rimmed baking sheet, brush with a few tablespoons of the glaze, and broil in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
More Instant Pot Ham Recipes We Love
Since your oven will be undoubtedly busy this Christmas, reduce that traffic by plugging in your Instant Pot to cook this pineapple brown sugar ham! This easy pressure cooker recipe always yields the best ham with a sweet glaze.
More Christmas Dinner Recipes to Try:
- Air Fryer Ham with Garlic Butter
- Sheet Pan Beef Tenderloin Meal
- Honey Mustard Maple Glazed Ham
- Crockpot Whole Chicken
- Honey Baked Turkey
- Apple Ginger Glazed Ham
- Orange Honey Glazed Ham
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Ham
- 3-4 pounds boneless sliced ham (see note)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 20 ounces pineapple slices in 100% juice (1 can)
For the Glaze (optional)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Pour ½ cup water into your Instant Pot and place the trivet insert on the bottom.
- Place the ham on the trivet and then sprinkle over the brown sugar.3-4 pounds boneless sliced ham, ¼ cup brown sugar
- Place the pineapple slices in the Instant Pot and pour the pineapple juice over the ham.20 ounces pineapple slices in 100% juice
- Attach the lid and ensure the valve is in the “sealing” position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When the Instant Pot has finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Then release the rest of the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position.
- Optional: To make a glaze, remove the ham and pineapple from the Instant Pot. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté and whisk 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the liquid. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, or until the glaze is your desired consistency.2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Serve this ham immediately with the pineapple slices and glaze, if using.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Ham: I’m using a 3.5-pound Boneless Sliced “Anytime” Ham for this recipe– make sure to use a small fully-cooked boneless ham.
- The amount of sodium in this recipe is mostly due to the ham itself. If you’re on a low-sodium diet, check the label on your ham!
- For crispy ham, place the ham on a rimmed baking sheet, brush with a few tablespoons of the glaze, and broil in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition Information
