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A plate of shredded ham with two forks.
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Shredded Sweet Ham (Boiled and Baked)

Shredded Sweet Ham is so tender and juicy that it will fall off the bone before you can even take it out of the pot! It's made using a simple boil and bake method. The ham is boiled in a vinegar and brown sugar solution, then it's baked in a brown sugar and mustard rub! It's to die for and just might be my favorite ham!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 Servings
Calories 655kcal
Author Amy

Ingredients

  • 5-7 pound bone-in ham
  • 2 cups brown sugar divided
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons dry mustard

Instructions

  • Add 1 cup of brown sugar, 2 cups of vinegar, and 3 cups of water to a large pot. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. NOTE: You'll want a pretty big pot because or liquid will splatter as the ham simmers.
  • Set the ham flat side down in the pot. Put the lid on the pot.
  • Bring the ham to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat as much as you can while keeping the ham at a gentle simmer. Cook for 2 1/2-3 hours. You'll know it's done when the meat is starting to fall off the bone and can easily be pulled into chunks. Leave the lid on as much as possible during the simmering time.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13" baking dish.
  • Carefully remove the ham from the pot (it's going to want to fall apart). Place the ham in a baking dish and start to pull it apart a little bit.
  • Mix remaining brown sugar and dry mustard together. Sprinkle over the ham. Cover with foil and bake for one hour.
  • Shred ham removing and discarding fat pieces and bones.
  • Gently toss to coat ham in the amazing brown sugar sauce. Serve warm.

Notes

To make the ham ahead of time:
  • Boil ham
  • Shred ham
  • Put ham in a baking dish
  • Sprinkle brown sugar/mustard over the ham.
  • Cover the ham with foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake.
If this sweet ham is too sweet (too much sugar) for you, leave the brown sugar out of the boiling water. It will still be good. You can also reduce the amount of brown sugar to 1/2 a cup in the brown sugar/mustard mix.
Don't over boil the ham or it will be tough, rubbery, and almost like jerky. You'll know it's done boiling when it starts to peel away from the bone. 
It's totally okay to use a different-sized ham. If you use a huge ham you'll need a big pot, like a stockpot.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 2701mg | Potassium: 728mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg