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I don’t know about you, but there’s something about the smell of brown sugar and warm ham that just feels like home. Not the “perfectly clean kitchen, white marble countertops” kind of home — I mean the real one. The one with mismatched Tupperware, loud laughter, and a slow cooker working overtime during holidays or game days.
This recipe? It’s my go-to when I need something that feeds a crowd without stressing me out. It reminds me of those church potlucks growing up — where someone always brought glazed ham bites in a slow cooker with little toothpicks jammed in, and somehow those bites vanished faster than the cookies.
And here’s the best part: it takes just four ingredients. No fancy prep. No chopping onions while crying into your sleeves. Just good, honest, sticky-sweet ham you can scoop into a bowl and watch disappear.
Why You’ll Keep Coming Back to This Recipe
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Ridiculously easy — like, “dump and walk away” easy.
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Only four ingredients. No grocery store scavenger hunt.
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Perfect for parties, holidays, or, honestly, a lazy Tuesday.
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That glaze? Sweet, tangy, glossy, and addictive.
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Crowd-pleasing AF. Kids love it. Grown-ups fight over seconds.
What You’ll Need (and Little Swaps That Work)
Ham
Use 2 to 2½ pounds of fully cooked, boneless ham. I usually grab a store-bought ham chunk and cube it up myself. Leftover Easter or Christmas ham? Even better. If it’s spiral-sliced, just cut the slices into smaller pieces. It’ll work just fine.
Brown Sugar
Light brown sugar is perfect here — it melts into a rich, caramel-y glaze. If all you’ve got is dark brown sugar, use it! It’ll just have a little extra depth. Which is never a bad thing.
Pineapple Juice
Adds that classic sweet-tangy glaze flavor. Apple juice works too — a bit more mellow. Orange juice in a pinch? Totally fine, though a little bolder.
Dijon Mustard
This cuts through the sweetness and makes it all sing. If you grew up with yellow mustard on everything (hi, me too), feel free to use that instead. It’s just a touch more mellow and old-school.
How To Make These Ham Bites (In Real-Life, Non-Fussy Steps)
Step 1: Chop the ham into bites (don’t stress over perfection)
You want pieces about 1 inch in size. Try to keep them mostly the same so they cook evenly. But hey — if some are a little wonky? Who cares. It’s rustic. It’s charming.
Trim any big fatty bits if that’s your thing. Or leave them for extra flavor. You do you.
Step 2: Stir together your magic sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, juice, and mustard together until it’s smooth-ish. It’ll look syrupy and smell kind of amazing already.
Don’t overthink it. It doesn’t have to be fancy — it just has to melt.
Step 3: Toss it all into the slow cooker
Ham cubes go in first. Pour the glaze right on top and gently stir things around. Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly coated — it’ll sort itself out while it cooks.
Put the lid on. Take a deep breath. You’re already winning.
Step 4: Let it do its slow-cooking thing
Set it to LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours. You’re not “cooking” the ham — just warming it through and letting the glaze bubble and thicken.
Halfway through? Give it a little stir if you remember. If you forget? Totally fine. This recipe is very forgiving.
Step 5: Thicken that glaze if you want
If you peek in at the end and the glaze looks too thin for your liking, no worries. Just pop the lid off and let it keep going on HIGH for 15–20 minutes, stirring a few times to help it reduce. The liquid will cook off, and you’ll be left with a stickier, richer glaze.
Don’t overdo it — it thickens as it cools too.
Step 6: Serve it up hot and saucy
Grab a shallow bowl, a cast iron pan, even a baking dish — whatever makes you happy. Spoon in those ham bites, drizzle the sauce over top, and stick a handful of toothpicks in there.
Or pile them onto slider buns. Or ladle over mashed potatoes. Or eat a few straight from the slow cooker while no one’s looking. (I won’t tell.)
Mix It Up — Easy Variations
Feel like changing it up a little? Here’s how you can riff on the classic:
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BBQ Twist: Swap half the juice for BBQ sauce and toss in a pinch of smoked paprika.
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Sweet-Heat: Add a spoonful of hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the glaze.
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Tang City: Replace a few tablespoons of juice with apple cider vinegar for a sharper kick.
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Too Sweet? A splash of soy sauce or a squeeze of lemon at the end balances things out beautifully.
Leftovers? Lucky You.
Got extras? These reheat beautifully and might taste even better the next day.
Storage:
Keep ‘em in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating:
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Microwave works great for small servings.
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Or warm gently in a pan with a splash of juice to keep it saucy.
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If you’re feeding folks again, pop it back in the slow cooker on LOW till warmed through.
Freezer-friendly? Yep. Let them cool completely, freeze in a zip-top bag or container, and thaw overnight in the fridge when ready.
Before You Go…
If you make these — whether for a potluck, Sunday dinner, or just because you were craving something cozy — I’d genuinely love to hear about it. Did you serve it with mac and cheese? Did your kids eat it straight off the toothpicks like mine do?
Drop your questions or stories in the comments. Or shoot me a message if you need slow cooker side ideas to go with it. Either way, I’m always down to talk comfort food.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Ham Bites
Ingredients
- 2.25 pounds fully cooked boneless ham cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice or apple juice
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
Instructions
- Prepare the ham: Trim any excess fat from the ham if desired, then cut the ham into roughly 1-inch cubes. Aim for fairly even pieces so they heat and glaze at the same rate.
- Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pineapple juice, and Dijon mustard until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture looks smooth and syrupy.
- Layer in the slow cooker: Place the ham cubes into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the brown sugar mixture evenly over the top, stirring gently to coat the ham bites as well as you can.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or on HIGH for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The ham is already fully cooked, so you’re primarily warming it through and allowing the glaze to thicken and cling to the pieces.
- Stir and reduce glaze (if needed): About halfway through the cooking time, give the ham a gentle stir to redistribute the glaze. If, at the end of cooking, you’d like a thicker, stickier sauce, remove the slow cooker lid and cook on HIGH for an additional 15–20 minutes, stirring once or twice, to let some of the liquid evaporate.
- Serve: Transfer the ham bites and their sauce to a serving bowl or small chafing dish. Serve warm with toothpicks as an appetizer, or spoon over your chosen sides if serving as a main dish.
Notes
Nutrition