Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham Recipe
You'll never make traditional ham again! Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham has a sweet, crunchy glaze and lots of sweet and warming flavors baked right in that takes just minutes to cook.
How to Make the Best Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham
This Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham is a game-changer for holiday dinners. With a sweet, crunchy glaze infused with bourbon and warming spices, it delivers restaurant-quality results in a fraction of the time. The combination of brown sugar, bourbon, and apple cider creates a perfectly caramelized coating that will make this your go-to ham recipe.
The beauty of this recipe is its efficiency—the Instant Pot does the heavy lifting in just 15 minutes, while the glaze finishing step adds that extra layer of sophistication. The dijon mustard and clove provide subtle depth that balances the sweetness perfectly. Whether you’re cooking for Christmas, Easter, or any special occasion, this ham will impress your guests and leave them asking for the recipe.
The final step of torching or broiling the glaze creates an irresistible caramelized crust that cracks slightly when you cut into it—the hallmark of a truly exceptional ham. Serve it warm or at room temperature with the pan drippings as a glaze, and prepare for compliments on every plate.
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham
You'll never make traditional ham again! Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham has a sweet, crunchy glaze and lots of sweet and warming flavors baked right in that takes just minutes to cook.
Ingredients
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham
Instructions
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham
- Place the ham in a baking dish or on a tray with a lipped edge. In a bowl, mix together 1/4 cup bourbon, 1/4 cup apple cider, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon clove. Once combined, rub it over the ham and in between the layers.
- Pour 3/4 cup cider and 1/4 cup bourbon into the pan of the 8-quart instant pot. Place the ham in the Instant Pot and pour any juices that may have collected on the dish or tray into the pressure cooker. Close the lid, seal, and set on manual cook for 15 minutes on high pressure. Natural or quick release can be used to vent the pressure after cooking.
- Transfer the ham to a baking dish or tray with a lip. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider, and 1/4 teaspoon clove. The mixture should be a slurry-type thickness. Rub the brown sugar slurry all over the ham. Using a kitchen blow torch, caramelize the glaze on the outside of the ham.
- For a traditional broiler method: Preheat the broiler on high while the ham is cooking. Line a baking sheet or dish with a lipped edge with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. After the Instant Pot releases pressure and is safe to open, transfer the ham to the foil. Rub with the glaze and broil on high for 5 to 10 minutes until the sugars in the glaze start to caramelize.
Notes
- Bourbon can be reduced or omitted if preferred, but it adds wonderful depth of flavor.
- If you don't have a kitchen blow torch, the broiler method works just as well for caramelizing the glaze.