This easy slow cooker gammon in pineapple juice is perfect for busy weeknights, relaxed weekends, or feeding a crowd at Christmas.
Cooked with pineapple juice and finished with a honey-mustard glaze, it delivers a delicious sweet, salty, and savoury flavour
If you want an easy, hands-off way to cook gammon, the slow cooker is ideal (and if you don't have one, try my honey roast gammon recipe instead).
Cooking low and slow keeps the meat moist, tender, and full of flavour. Simply add the gammon and pineapple juice, switch it on, and let it cook away until it's ready for its final glaze and quick roast in the oven
Love slow cooker recipes? You might also like my melt-in-the-mouth slow cooker roast beef, slow cooker lamb breast, and this tasty slow cooker whole chicken.
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🛒 Ingredient notes
Gammon - 1.5kg - 2kg unsmoked gammon joint is best for this recipe, but you can also use a smoked joint and soak it for 12 hours first.
Pineapple Juice - or use apple juice or full-fat cola for the cooking liquid.
Onion, Carrot, and Celery - adds flavour to the gammon joint as it slowly cooks. There is no need to peel the vegetables, just roughly chop them. You can even keep the skin on the onion if you want to.
Cinnamon Stick - for a warming spicy flavour.
Bay Leaf - Adds an earthy, herby flavour to the cooking liquid.
Glaze - the sticky honey mustard glaze is made with clear runny honey, English mustard, and demerara sugar.
🔪 How to cook gammon in slow cooker
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Place the gammon joint in your slow cooker basin, pour over the pineapple juice (top up with water so the whole joint is covered), then add the roughly chopped onion, carrot, celery, as well as the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Cook for 5 hours on LOW.
Two: Lift the gammon out of the slow cooker into a foil-lined roasting tin and preheat the oven to 180 °C (160 °Fan/ 350 °F/ Gas 4).
Three: Once the gammon has cooled slightly (5-10 minutes), use a sharp knife and cut away the skin, leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the skin in a crisscross pattern if you wish.
Four: Mix together the glaze ingredients and pour half over the gammon. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
Five: Remove the roasting tin from the oven and pour over the remaining glaze. Return to the oven for another 20-25 minutes until the top of the gammon is golden brown and glistening.
Six: Allow it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
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Top Tips
- Line your roasting tin with a double layer of foil or parchment paper before placing the glazed gammon in the oven. This prevents the sticky glaze from sticking to the tin and makes for an easier clean-up.
- After roasting, allow the gammon to rest for about 15 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat succulent.
- Taste your honey mustard glaze before applying it to the gammon. If you prefer it sweeter, add more honey; if you prefer it tangier, add more mustard. Tailor it to your taste buds.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Slow-cooked gammon in pineapple juice is a versatile dish that pairs well with various sides, making it perfect for any occasion. Here are some ideas:
Serve thick slices of the glazed gammon with creamy mashed potatoes (or duck fat roast potatoes for Christmas), garlic green beans, slow cooker red cabbage, and air fryer roast parsnips.
For a delicious sandwich, layer thinly sliced gammon in crusty rolls or baguettes with cranberry sauce, lettuce, and tomato.
Alternatively, turn your gammon into a hearty salad by slicing it thinly and serving it over mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, avocado, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.
Leftovers
Get creative by using leftover gammon as a pizza topping on a homemade pizza base. Add mozzarella cheese, pineapple chunks, and a sprinkle of fresh basil for a Hawaiian pizza.
This leftover gammon and pea pasta is another crowd-pleaser using your gammon leftovers, and it's really easy to make too.
Or, why not use leftover gammon in place of bacon or ham in recipes such as quiches, frittatas, and omelettes?
📖 Variations
- Add a kick to your gammon by incorporating some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or a dash of chilli sauce into your honey mustard glaze for a spicy-sweet twist.
- Substitute honey with maple syrup in your glaze.
- Swap the pineapple juice for cider for a more grown-up version of the dish. You could also just use water.
- Cola is another popular alternative for cooking gammon. The sweetness and carbonation of the cola can add a unique flavour to the gammon. Some people also like to add a tablespoon of brown sugar to balance out the flavours.
- Incorporate a tablespoon of cranberry sauce into your glaze for a festive variation.
🥡 Storage
Store - Leftover gammon can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Freeze - If you're not planning on using it within this time frame, you can freeze it for up to three months. When freezing, make sure to wrap it tightly in cling film or foil before placing it in a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag.
Reheat - You can do this in the microwave. To prevent the gammon from drying out, you can add a little bit of water or stock to the dish when reheating.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cook gammon without soaking it first. However, soaking the gammon in water for a few hours before cooking can help remove excess salt and make it less salty, particularly if you're using smoked gammon.
Pineapple is often served with gammon because the sweetness of the pineapple complements the saltiness of the gammon. It also adds a fruity flavour to the dish.
While it's challenging to overcook gammon in a slow cooker due to its low and slow cooking method, it's still a good idea to stick to the recommended cooking time for the best results.
You can substitute gammon with pork shoulder for a similar slow-cooked experience.
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Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Gammon in Pineapple Juice
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Equipment
- Chopping Board
Ingredients
- 2 kg Unsmoked Gammon Joint
- 1 litre Pineapple Juice
- 1 Carrot roughly chopped
- 1 Celery Stick roughly chopped
- 1 Onion roughly chopped
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 Bay Leaf
For the glaze
- 5 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon English Mustard or use Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoon Demerara Sugar
Instructions
- Place the gammon joint in your slow cooker basin, pour over the pineapple juice (top up with water so the whole joint is covered), then add the roughly chopped onion, carrot, celery, as well as the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Cook for 5 hours on LOW.2 kg Unsmoked Gammon Joint, 1 litre Pineapple Juice, 1 Carrot, 1 Celery Stick, 1 Onion, 1 Cinnamon Stick, 1 Bay Leaf
- Lift the gammon out of the slow cooker into a foil-lined roasting tin and preheat the oven to 180C (160 Fan/ 350F/ Gas 4).
- Once the gammon has cooled slightly (5-10 minutes), use a sharp knife and cut away the skin, leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the skin in a crisscross pattern if you wish.
- Mix together the glaze ingredients and pour half over the gammon. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes.5 tablespoon Honey, 1 tablespoon English Mustard, 2 tablespoon Demerara Sugar
- Remove the roasting tin from the oven and pour over the remaining glaze. Return to the oven for another 20-25 minutes until the top of the gammon is golden brown and glistening
- Allow the gammon to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Line your roasting tin with foil or parchment paper before placing the glazed gammon in the oven. This prevents the sticky glaze from sticking to the tin and makes for an easier clean-up.
- After roasting, allow the gammon to rest for about 15 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat succulent.
- Taste your honey mustard glaze before applying it to the gammon. If you prefer it sweeter, add more honey; if you prefer it tangier, add more mustard. Tailor it to your taste buds.
- Add a kick to your gammon by incorporating some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or a dash of chilli sauce into your honey mustard glaze for a spicy-sweet twist.
- Substitute honey with maple syrup in your glaze.
- Swap the pineapple juice for cider for a more grown-up version of the dish.
- Cola is another popular alternative for cooking gammon.
- Incorporate a tablespoon of cranberry sauce into your glaze for a festive variation.
⭐ Slow Cooker Recipe eBook ⭐
With easy to follow recipes and instructions you'll be able to master the art of slow cooking in no time. Buy now for £3.99!
Suja md says
Truly amazing in taste and flavors in this recipe. Will definitely make again, very good recipe!
Toni says
I love easy meals like this! Quickly became a favorite at my house!
Tara says
Oooh, definitely perfect for the upcoming holiday celebrations. I especially love the minimal prep. Looks so good!
Kechi says
What a festive looking recipe! I have bookmarked to make during the holiday! Am really thinking about cooking it in apple cider instead of pineapple juice...? What do you think? Also, thanks for sharing!
dana says
Love the pineapple juice with ham! This will be a great dish to bring to the table over the holidays.