Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bone-in smoked ham (approximately 8-10 pounds)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 cup apple juice or apple cider
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- Barbecue sauce, for serving
Instructions
Prepare the Ham:
- Rinse the ham under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in a crisscross pattern to allow the seasoning to penetrate.
Apply the Dry Rub:
- In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Generously rub this mixture all over the ham, ensuring it gets into the scored cuts.
Cooking Methods:
- Smoker Method:
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C).
- Place the ham on the smoker grate.
- Periodically baste the ham with a mixture of apple juice and honey (or maple syrup) to keep it moist.
- Smoke the ham for approximately 4-5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F (90°C).
- Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 250°F (121°C).
- Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan.
- Pour apple juice into the bottom of the pan and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 4-5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F (90°C).
- Slow Cooker Method:
- Place the ham into a large slow cooker.
- Pour apple juice over the ham and drizzle with honey or maple syrup.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the ham is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Smoker Method:
Shred the Ham:
- Once cooked, remove the ham from the heat source and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes.
- Using two forks, shred the ham into bite-sized pieces, discarding any excess fat or bone.
Serve:
- Toss the pulled ham with your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Serve on buns, in tacos, or alongside your preferred side dishes.
Notes
- For added flavor, consider incorporating wood chips like apple or hickory when smoking the ham.
- Leftover pulled ham can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Experiment with different glazes or sauces to customize the flavor to your liking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8-10
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 35g