Instant Pot Honey-Baked Ham

This Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham copycat delivers the same moist, flavorful results as the store-bought version — without the price tag. Using a precooked spiral-cut ham, a simple honey-and-spice glaze, and an Instant Pot, you can have a juicy centerpiece ready for holidays or any special dinner.

This recipe works beautifully for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or any occasion when a spiral ham is the star of the table. The Instant Pot speeds up the process while keeping the meat tender and juicy, and the glaze soaks into the slices for even flavor throughout.

Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham Copycat

The famous honey baked hams at specialty stores can be expensive. Instead, buy a precooked spiral-cut ham and recreate the signature sweet, spiced glaze at home. The glaze is a simple combination of honey, sugar, butter, and warm spices that mingle as they warm, then soak into the ham’s slices during cooking.

Key points to keep in mind: the ham must fit comfortably in your Instant Pot so the lid can close with clearance, and a sling or foil handle is helpful for lowering and lifting the ham from the inner pot. If the ham is slightly large, trim excess and leave enough space at the top to close the lid safely.

Because most spiral-cut hams are precooked, the Instant Pot is used to heat the ham and infuse it with glaze. The pressure cook time is calculated at 2 minutes per pound, plus 10 additional minutes for every ham. After pressure cooking, allow a 10-minute natural release — this helps retain juices and avoids drying out the meat. A quick release can pull moisture from the ham and reduce flavor.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham

Use a precooked spiral-cut ham so the glaze can seep into the slices. Both bone-in and boneless hams work.

• Precooked spiral-cut ham — 4 to 5 pounds fits well in a 6-quart Instant Pot
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup water for the inner liner
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 2 teaspoons water (slurry) to thicken the glaze

How to Make Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham

To make this dish you only need a few tools: aluminum foil to wrap the ham and retain juices, a silicone sling or a foil sling to lower and lift the ham, and your Instant Pot. No oven required.

Cooking time: Pressure cook for 2 minutes per pound of precooked ham, then add an additional 10 minutes. Example: a 4 lb ham gets 8 minutes pressure cooking + 10 minutes additional time = 18 minutes under pressure. After pressure cooking, allow a 10-minute natural release before opening the pot.

1. Combine the sugar, honey, and butter in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl and warm until melted and smooth.
2. Stir in the salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and paprika. Mix thoroughly so the spices are evenly distributed.
3. Lay a sheet of aluminum foil in the Instant Pot liner large enough to go up around the sides of the ham to catch any liquid and keep things tidy.
4. Drizzle the honey mixture over the ham, making sure some glaze gets between the spiraled slices. Rub any remaining glaze over the top.
5. Wrap the ham securely in the foil and add an additional layer of foil on top to seal in the moisture.
6. Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot liner. Place the ham on a sling and carefully lower it into the pot.
7. Close the lid and set the vent to the sealing position. Pressure cook according to size: 2 minutes per pound plus 10 minutes. After cooking, allow a 10-minute natural pressure release before opening the lid.
8. Carefully lift the ham out with the sling and set it on a plate. Discard the cooking liquid from the liner, then return the liner to the pot.
9. Place the ham back into the pot without foil so the glaze can drip into the liner. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté.
10. Mix the cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of water to make a slurry, then stir the slurry into the pot’s juices. Allow the sauce to thicken briefly, then remove from heat.
11. Drizzle the thickened glaze over the ham before serving.

Recipe

Enjoy a homemade honey baked ham that tastes like the classic store-bought version, with less expense and the convenience of the Instant Pot. This method keeps the meat juicy and lets the honey-spice glaze shine through every slice.

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