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Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Onions
Peel the sweet yellow onions and slice them thinly from root to tip. Aim for even slices (about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick) so they cook down at the same rate.
Why root to tip? Cutting along the length of the onion helps the slices hold their shape better as they cook down.
2. Layer the Onions in the Slow Cooker
Scatter all of the sliced onions evenly over the bottom of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. This onion bed will keep the ham moist and turn into deeply caramelized, sweet-savory onions as they cook.
3. Add the Brown Sugar
Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the onions, breaking up any clumps with your fingers so it distributes well. The sugar will melt into the onion juices and help them caramelize into something truly special.
4. Arrange the Ham
Cut the fully cooked ham into thick slices if it isn’t pre-sliced. Nestle the slices on top of the onions, overlapping them slightly but keeping them mostly in a single layer so heat circulates well. Spoon some of the loose onions up around the sides of the ham slices if you like.
5. Cover and Cook
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. The ham should be heated through and very tender, and the onions should be soft, translucent, and richly caramelized in their own juices and the melted brown sugar.
6. Rest
Turn the slow cooker to WARM or off and let the ham rest in the juices for about 10 minutes. If the ham was in larger pieces, slice it into serving-size slices at this point, returning them briefly to the juices so they stay moist.
7. Serve
To serve, lift the thick slices of ham from the slow cooker and arrange them on a platter or plate. Spoon plenty of the sweet caramelized onions and pan juices over the top, letting the ham sit in the juices just as it does in the slow cooker.
Variations & Tips from My Kitchen
Onion Variations
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Red onions – Sweeter and milder than yellow when cooked down; adds a beautiful purple hue.
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White onions – Sharper flavor that mellows significantly during long cooking.
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Shallots – Use 12–15 shallots, sliced, for an extra mild, sophisticated flavor.
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Leek and onion mix – Add 2 sliced leeks (white and light green parts only) to the onion mixture.
Sugar Variations
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Dark brown sugar – Use instead of light for deeper molasses and caramel notes.
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Honey – Drizzle ¼ cup of honey over the onions instead of brown sugar (adds floral sweetness).
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Maple syrup – Use ¼ cup of pure maple syrup for a distinctly different sweet profile.
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Coconut sugar – A 1:1 substitute with a lower glycemic index.
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No sugar – The sweet onions alone will still caramelize beautifully; the dish will be less sweet but still delicious.
Ham Variations
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Ham steak – Use 2–3 large ham steaks (about 1 pound each) instead of a whole ham.
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Spiral ham – Leftover spiral ham slices work perfectly; just arrange them in layers.
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Country ham – Very salty and intense; use only 2 pounds and reduce or omit brown sugar.
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Smoked ham – Adds an extra layer of smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet onions.
Flavor Add-Ins (Optional – Makes It More Than 3 Ingredients)
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Dijon mustard – Add 2 tablespoons to the slow cooker for tangy complexity.
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Apple cider vinegar – Add 2 tablespoons to balance the sweetness.
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Garlic – Add 4–6 cloves of smashed garlic with the onions.
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Thyme or rosemary – Tuck a few fresh sprigs into the onions.
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Black pepper – Add 1 teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper.
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Cloves – A traditional pairing with ham; add 4–5 whole cloves to the onions.
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Pineapple – Add a 20-ounce can of drained pineapple chunks for a sweet tropical twist.
How to Serve Amish Ham and Sweet Onions
see continuation on next page
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