Slow Cooker Gammon Joint {Easiest Recipe Ever}

This slow cooker gammon recipe is not only the easiest way to cook a gammon joint but results in the most tender, juicy meat. Topped off with a delicious honey mustard glaze that you can leave gooey and delicious or crisp up quickly in the oven. If you’re short on time, my air fryer gammon joint offers a quicker alternative!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Great for a tight budget – This slow cooker ham recipe costs around £12 total, not including spices and ingredients (like honey) you already have in your pantry.

Barely any prep & eat it hot or cold – All you need to do to prep this slow cooker gammon is chop a few veggies and toss the ingredients in a crock pot. Then you’re good to go!

Deliciously tender meat – Once you learn how to cook a gammon joint in a slow cooker, you can enjoy incredibly tender meat.

Easy holiday crowd pleaser – This delicious gammon slow cooker recipe is great for any festive occasion. Pair it with my sausage meat stuffing, brussel sprouts with bacon and air fryer roast potatoes for a heavenly feast. Sweet, savoury, and tangy, everyone loves this slow-cook gammon.

Try these other protein-forward recipes during the week: The BEST Crispy Bone-in Chicken Thighs, The BEST Crispy Chicken Wrap and Chicken Goujons.

Ingredients

Gammon joint
You can use smoked or unsmoked gammon for this slow cooker gammon recipe. If you’re worried about saltiness in the recipe, check the notes below.

Braising liquid
There are quite a few options for braising liquid, from Cola to water and vinegar. Below, you’ll find details on each option.

Aromatics
My recipe calls for onion, garlic, and cinnamon to provide flavour to the gammon. However, you can also use options like peppercorns, cloves, and ginger root for a bolder taste.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities. 

Do I have to use a liquid to cook gammon in the slow cooker?

No, you don’t need to add a liquid to cook gammon. It will turn out moist enough with the glaze and other ingredients. However, adding other liquid to the crockpot along with the roast means even more juiciness. Here are five different ways you can cook gammon:

Slow cooker liquid methods:

Cola – Adding regular Cola (not diet) is a great way to add flavour to this gammon in slow cooker recipe. It doesn’t create an overly sweet roast. It also helps tenderize the ham even more. You will need about 400ml of Cola.

Water – If you’re wondering how to cook a gammon joint in a slow cooker with water, you’ve come to the right place! Simply add about 200ml of water to the slow cooker (more if you want to roast the gammon for longer).

Apple cider vinegar – If you want a tangier taste for this gammon joint in slow cooker dish, add apple cider vinegar. Use a combination of 300ml of water and 60ml of vinegar with this method. For a sweeter slow cooker gammon joint, use about 400ml of apple juice.

Love slow cooker recipes? Try out my slow cooker beef curry, slow cooker chilli con carne and chorizo and butter bean stew.

Should I glaze slow cooked gammon?

It’s not necessary to glaze slow cooker gammon. However, I recommend adding the glaze to this recipe.

Why glaze
It helps create even more flavour in the ham. It also creates a shiny exterior, which makes the ham even more appealing (since we also enjoy food with our eyes!).

When to glaze
Adding the glaze to the ham during the last hour when it goes in the oven is best.

Variations/ Adaptations

Glaze options
If you’re not a fan of honey mustard, gammon works well with options like maple and brown sugar, orange and clove, and spiced apricot glaze.

Slow cooker and oven: I recommend using the slow cooker or oven for gammon, as it helps keep things moist inside. These cooking methods also create a nice crisp glaze on the outside. If you don’t want to turn your oven on, you can air fry to crisp up the outer layer. I would reduce the timings slightly, air frying for 30 minutes at 180°C in total rather than 40 minutes.

Substitute the coke with water or cider if you don’t fancy cooking the slow cooker gammon within coke.

How to make slow cooker gammon

1. Start by adding your gammon joint to your slow cooker. Add the onion, carrots, cola/coke, garlic granules and ground cinnamon. Gently stir to combine and cover with the lid (Image 1).
2. Slow cook for 6 to 7 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high (Image 2).

3. Add the wholegrain mustard, honey, brown sugar and rice wine vinegar to a small bowl (Image 3).

4. Mix together the ingredients for the glaze with a fork or spoon (Image 4).

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 180°C FAN/ 200°C conventional. 

5. When the ham has cooked, use two spatulas to remove the ham from your slow cooker and drain the juices (Image 5).

6. Place on a foil lined baking tray. Discard the string wrapped around the ham and remove the outside layer (rind) from the ham, leaving a layer of fat over the ham (Image 6).

7. Score the fat with a knife, then coat the ham evenly with half of the glaze, using an oil brush or your hands. To prevent the sides from drying out, lift the foil to cover the sides of the ham, leaving the fat exposed (Image 7).

8. Pop in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove and coat with another final layer of the glaze. Add back in the oven for another 20 minutes, before removing and leaving to rest for 20 minutes. Carve the ham before serving rving or refrigerate to serve cold (Image 8).

If you want to add a starter, to make this recipe more filling, try some delicious soup recipes : Roasted Vegetable Soup, Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup or check out these Best Warming Autumn Soup Recipes.

How long should I cook a ham in the slow cooker?

The easiest way to tell if your slow cooker gammon is ready is by using a meat thermometer. The gammon is ready when its internal temp is 70°C/145°F. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, test by inserting a sharp knife into the roast. If removing the knife is challenging, the roast isn’t done yet.

The key to knowing how to cook gammon in a slow cooker is understanding how long to cook the meat. If you have more time, let the slow cooker gammon cook for 6-8 hours on low. Or, cook it on high for about four hours.

Here are a few other hearty, comforting pasta meals for you to try: Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta, Easy Tomato Tuna Pasta Bake and Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe.

Serving Suggestions

This delicious glazed slow cooker gammon pairs well with various sides including salads, potatoes, roast veg, pasta, etc. When considering what to cook as sides with this ham, you can always fall back on holiday dishes like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, etc.

Potato pairings: the crispiest roast potatoes, parmentier potatoes, Boulangere potatoes, air fryer roast potatoes, air fryer diced potatoes, or even air fryer french fries.

For some roast dinner pairings: Creamed Cabbage, Fluffy Yorkshire Puddings and braised red cabbage.

Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerate : Store leftover gammon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Freeze: I like to pre-slice before freezing in an airtight container or ziplock bag to save storage space. Freeze the slow cooker gammon for up to 4 days.

To reheat: you can add the sliced cold ham into your dish during the final stage of cook time to heat up naturally, or you can heat in the microwave for 30-second increments with a little splash of water to prevent it from drying out. My fave way to eat leftovers? Cold!

FAQs