Ultimate Ninja Foodi Ham with Pineapple Glaze: Your Go-To Holiday Main

Imagine a perfectly cooked, incredibly tender ham, glistening with a sweet and tangy pineapple glaze, ready to grace your holiday table without monopolizing your oven. This dream becomes a delicious reality with the Ninja Foodi pressure cooker. Preparing a succulent ham in your Ninja Foodi with a luscious pineapple glaze is not just a cooking method; it’s a holiday game-changer. It ensures your ham is cooked to absolute perfection, becoming irresistibly tender in record time, while leaving your oven free for all those essential side dishes and desserts. Forget the long hours of traditional oven baking; embrace the speed and convenience of pressure cooking for a truly unforgettable holiday ham experience.

I recently prepared a Ninja Foodi ham with a delightful pineapple glaze, and the results were simply extraordinary. The depth of flavor, combined with the unparalleled tenderness, is truly transformative. This recipe might just revolutionize the way you approach your Easter or Christmas dinner preparations forever. If you’re looking for more innovative and effortless culinary creations, explore a wide array of Ninja Foodi recipes to elevate your home cooking.

Mastering the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Ham Recipe

My journey with pressure-cooked ham began years ago with the Instant Pot, yielding fantastic results. It was only a matter of time before I adapted that beloved method for the versatility of my Ninja Foodi. I can confidently say that this approach will become your new holiday tradition. The sheer speed and simplicity, coupled with the incredible flavor of the homemade glaze, make it an absolute winner.

Throughout my culinary experiments, I’ve refined two distinct methods for cooking ham in the Ninja Foodi: one involves pre-slicing the ham for quicker flavor absorption, and the other focuses on cooking an unsliced ham to maintain maximum moisture, enhanced with added sweetness. Both techniques produce outstanding results, and I will detail each one below to help you choose the best fit for your family’s preferences. When selecting your ham, especially if you opt for a bone-in variety (which I often do for richer flavor), plan for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 pound of ham per person. Therefore, for a gathering of 10 guests, a ham weighing around 5 pounds would be ideal. This 5-pound size is precisely what we’ll be utilizing in this comprehensive guide.

Essential Tips for a Perfect Ninja Foodi Ham

When preparing a boneless ham, you can typically reduce the quantity to about 1/4 to 1/3 pound per person. The ham showcased in our images is a flavorful bone-in, smoked, and pre-cooked ham, sourced directly from a local farm. We often purchase half a pig, and the butcher expertly smokes and vacuum-packs each portion, ensuring freshness until we’re ready to cook. This method guarantees a ham of exceptional quality and taste.

Naturally, most home cooks will purchase a quarter or half ham from their local grocery store, which is perfectly acceptable and yields fantastic results. The most crucial factor to consider when cooking ham in your Ninja Foodi is the size of your appliance’s pot. My Ninja Foodi features a 6-quart pot, which comfortably accommodates a 5-pound ham, maximizing its cooking capacity without overcrowding.

On occasions when I’ve prepared an unsliced ham that was slightly too large for the pot, I simply cut off a smaller chunk to ensure a proper fit. Rest assured, that removed portion can still be cooked alongside the main ham within the pot, so nothing goes to waste!

If you possess one of the larger Ninja Foodi models, you certainly have the flexibility to cook a larger ham. Another vital tip for achieving optimal tenderness and moisture is to avoid pre-slicing your ham. The ham I used for this recipe was unsliced, which helps retain its natural juices during the pressure cooking process. While spiral-sliced hams are convenient, be aware that they tend to become drier due to the increased surface area exposed to heat. Remember, most hams purchased today are already pre-cooked and smoked, meaning your primary goal is to simply warm it through to a desired temperature without drying it out. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the initial temperature of your ham and your preferred level of warmth.

For a 5-pound pre-sliced ham, a pressure cook time of 5 minutes is generally sufficient for thorough heating. If you’re working with an unsliced 5-pound ham, extending the pressure cook time to 10 minutes typically yields a perfectly warmed and juicy result. In both scenarios, allowing a 5-minute natural pressure release after cooking is highly recommended. This gentle release helps the ham reabsorb its juices, resulting in a more succulent and flavorful final product.

Ingredient Notes for Your Succulent Ham

For this recipe, we utilized a 5-pound ham that was unsliced, quartered, and, like most store-bought hams, came pre-cooked and smoked. This means our primary focus is on reheating it perfectly while infusing it with flavor. While my ham for this specific preparation was not spiral-sliced, I have used spiral-sliced hams in the past. If you do opt for a pre-sliced ham, the thinner cuts allow the glaze to penetrate more deeply, resulting in a sweeter, more intensely flavored ham, though with a slightly higher risk of dryness if overcooked.

A minimum of 1/2 cup of brown sugar is essential, but I often go all-out with a full cup to create an exceptionally deep, rich sweetness in both the glaze and the meat. While I haven’t experimented with sugar-free brown sugar alternatives, it’s plausible they could be used if you’re managing sugar intake.

For the pineapple component, crushed pineapple is my preferred choice over tidbits. Its finer consistency allows it to meld seamlessly into a smooth, thick glaze that generously coats the ham, rather than leaving larger, isolated pieces. You can easily find canned crushed pineapple in the fruit aisle of any grocery store.

Honey adds a distinct, rich sweetness that elevates the glaze. However, if honey isn’t available or preferred, maple syrup or agave nectar make excellent alternatives, offering similar depths of flavor and sweetness.

If you desire a thicker, gravy-like consistency for your glaze to spoon over the ham, you’ll want to have some cornstarch on hand. For those seeking a gluten-free option, arrowroot powder is a fantastic substitute that functions similarly to cornstarch in thickening sauces.

Should you have a cherished ham glaze recipe of your own, feel free to use it! Simply set your Ninja Foodi to the “Saute” function and prepare your glaze directly in the pot, treating it like a stovetop pan. This versatility is one of the many benefits of the Ninja Foodi, allowing you to use just one appliance for both cooking the ham and preparing its accompanying sauce.

Using the same pot for the glaze means minimal cleanup, which is always a bonus, especially during busy holidays! I’ve included my favorite pineapple glaze recipe here because my family adores the tropical sweetness it imparts. Whether you choose to reduce the sweetness or even omit the glaze entirely, the Ninja Foodi provides an incredibly efficient way to cook pork to a remarkable tenderness. If I had to pick a favorite, it would undoubtedly be the sweeter version with a generous amount of honey. I confess, I have a sweet tooth for almost everything! But the beauty of this recipe is its adaptability. The entire cooking process, from start to finish, takes approximately 20 minutes, not including the natural release time. For an added touch, you can utilize the Ninja Foodi’s air fryer function at the end to crisp up the exterior of the ham, if desired.

Ninja Foodi Ham Without Honey: A Classic Approach

For a slightly less sweet but equally delicious ham, or if you simply prefer to omit honey, follow these steps. Begin by placing a trivet at the bottom of your Ninja Foodi pot, then add 1/3 cup of water underneath it. Carefully place your pre-sliced ham on top of the trivet. Generously sprinkle brown sugar over the top of the ham and gently push some in between the slices to ensure flavor penetration. Next, pour a can of crushed pineapple evenly over the ham. Secure the pressure cooker lid and set the valve to seal. Pressure cook for 5 minutes, followed by a 5-minute natural release. After the natural release, manually release any remaining pressure. Proceed to make the pineapple glaze as directed below on the sauté function, using 4 tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken it. Be mindful that this method, with pre-sliced ham, may result in a slightly less moist outcome compared to an unsliced ham, as the exposed slices can dry out more easily.

To help maintain as much moisture as possible, immediately pour some of the prepared glaze over the ham once it’s done cooking. This creates a protective, flavorful coating.

Crafting the Perfect Pineapple Glaze

Once your ham is cooked and removed from the pot, it’s time to transform the flavorful liquid into a luxurious glaze. Set your Ninja Foodi to the “Saute” function on a low setting. In a separate small bowl, combine cornstarch with a few tablespoons of the hot liquid from the pot, whisking thoroughly until you achieve a smooth, lump-free mixture. This slurry is crucial for thickening your glaze without creating clumps.

Pour the cornstarch mixture into the pot with the remaining ham juices and pineapple. Stir continuously and immediately. The liquid will begin to thicken quickly. As soon as it reaches your desired consistency, turn the pot off to prevent it from becoming too thick. If you find the glaze is too thick, simply add a little more pineapple juice or even a touch of water to thin it out. Conversely, if you desire a thicker glaze, you can add more cornstarch slurry (mixed with liquid first) and continue to whisk on sauté. Feel free to stir in additional crushed pineapple or tidbits at this stage for extra texture and flavor. To halt the cooking process and prevent the glaze from becoming overly thick, transfer it to a serving dish right away. This rich, sweet, and tangy pineapple glaze can then be generously spooned over your sliced ham or served on the side as a dipping sauce.

Remember, thickening the glaze is a relatively quick process, so moving swiftly and continuously stirring is key to achieving a smooth, perfect consistency. Once prepared, serve this delectable glaze alongside or directly over your succulent ham. While the Ninja Foodi offers unparalleled speed and convenience, it’s worth noting that other methods exist. Perhaps you’re curious about a Dutch oven ham, or looking to explore three other traditional ways to cook ham? I’ve experimented with various techniques to prepare this holiday staple.

Of course, cooking a ham in a slow cooker will take considerably longer, but some cooks prefer this low-and-slow method for its distinct flavor and texture. My aim here is to provide a fast, easy, and oven-free solution for those who appreciate efficiency, especially during bustling holiday seasons. While I agree that longer, lower cooking temperatures can sometimes yield a superior dish, for those seeking a 25 or 30-minute ham recipe, the Ninja Foodi is an absolute game-changer. The printable directions for this recipe are provided below, serving as the foundation for both the unsliced and pre-sliced ham methods described. And for even more versatility, remember you can also make an air fryer ham right in your Foodi! This multi-functional appliance truly makes holiday cooking a breeze.

Conclusion: Your Best Holiday Ham Yet!

Cooking a ham in your Ninja Foodi is more than just a convenience; it’s a revelation. This method guarantees a beautifully moist, incredibly tender ham, bathed in a rich pineapple glaze, all without hogging your oven. Whether you’re preparing for a grand holiday feast or a simple family dinner, the speed and ease of this pressure cooker ham recipe will undoubtedly impress. Say goodbye to dry, overcooked hams and hello to a new tradition that delivers consistently delicious results every time. Embrace the simplicity, savor the flavor, and enjoy your holidays with less stress and more deliciousness. This Ninja Foodi ham with pineapple glaze truly is your ticket to a memorable and fuss-free festive meal!