Description
This Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham recipe offers a quick and flavorful way to prepare a tender, juicy ham glazed with sweet pineapple and rich brown sugar. Perfect for a family dinner or holiday meal, this recipe uses the Instant Pot to pressure cook the ham in just 15 minutes, ensuring a moist, tender result with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Marinade
- 3-4 pounds boneless sliced ham
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 20 ounces pineapple slices in 100% juice (1 can)
- ½ cup water
Glaze (Optional)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Pour ½ cup water into your Instant Pot and place the metal trivet insert at the bottom to keep the ham elevated above the liquid.
- Arrange the Ham: Place the boneless sliced ham on the trivet, then sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top to begin creating the sweet glaze during cooking.
- Add Pineapple: Place the pineapple slices around and on top of the ham in the Instant Pot, then pour the pineapple juice from the can over the ham to infuse flavor and moisture while cooking.
- Pressure Cook: Securely attach the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the steam release valve is set to the “sealing” position. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes to quickly tenderize the ham and blend the flavors.
- Release Pressure: Once cooking is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes to continue gentle cooking. Then carefully switch the valve to “venting” to manually release any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
- Make Optional Glaze: Remove the ham and pineapple slices from the Instant Pot and set aside. Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Whisk 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the remaining liquid and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the glaze thickens to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Slice and serve the ham immediately, topped with pineapple slices and drizzled with the luscious brown sugar pineapple glaze if desired.
Notes
- Use boneless sliced ham for best results and even cooking in the Instant Pot.
- You can adjust cooking time slightly depending on the thickness and size of the ham slices.
- For a richer glaze, add a little honey or mustard with the brown sugar before cooking.
- Make sure to allow natural pressure release first to keep the ham tender and juicy.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently to retain moisture.
