Your New Favorite Slow Cooker Ham

Free up your oven this holiday season or any busy weeknight by preparing your succulent ham in the slow cooker! This comprehensive slow cooker ham recipe features a mouth-watering pineapple brown sugar glaze that transforms a simple ham into a centerpiece dish. It’s truly perfect for special occasions like Christmas and Easter, or simply for an effortless, comforting Sunday dinner.

Year after year, many of us face the same culinary challenge: orchestrating a grand holiday meal with just one oven. The desire to serve everything perfectly cooked – from fluffy homemade rolls and delectable side dishes to a large, juicy ham – often clashes with limited kitchen real estate. Oven space becomes a precious commodity, creating a stressful juggling act right before guests arrive. This year, we’re sharing a brilliant solution that will revolutionize your holiday cooking: learning how to prepare a tender, flavorful ham in your slow cooker.

It’s genuinely perplexing why this method isn’t more widely adopted. The simplicity and incredible results of this recipe will make you a slow cooker ham convert. Forget about constant basting or worrying about dry meat. This recipe is incredibly straightforward! You simply prepare your ham with our exquisite glaze, place it in your slow cooker, and let it cook to perfection for a few hours. That’s it! The result is consistently juicy, wonderfully tender ham, freeing up your oven entirely for all those essential side dishes and desserts. This means less stress and more enjoyment of your special meal.

Why Choose the Slow Cooker for Your Ham?

Cooking ham in a slow cooker, often referred to as a crockpot, offers a multitude of benefits that traditional oven baking simply can’t match. First and foremost, it solves the perennial problem of limited oven space, which is especially critical during holiday feasts like Christmas and Easter. With your ham happily simmering away in the slow cooker, your oven remains open for roasting potatoes, baking casseroles, or warming those essential dinner rolls.

Beyond convenience, the slow cooker excels at delivering unparalleled moisture and tenderness. The low and slow cooking environment creates a steamy atmosphere, preventing the ham from drying out and ensuring every slice is unbelievably juicy. The flavors also have ample time to meld and deepen, resulting in a richer, more complex taste profile, especially when combined with our delicious pineapple brown sugar glaze. Plus, it’s virtually hands-off cooking, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal preparation or, even better, spend quality time with your loved ones.

Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Slow Cooker Ham

This effortless crockpot ham recipe relies on just a few key ingredients to create its signature sweet and savory glaze. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to add to your shopping list to make this spectacular dish:

• Crushed Pineapple: The star of our glaze, crushed pineapple adds a vibrant, tangy sweetness and a delightful texture. Its natural juices are essential for creating a moist cooking environment in the slow cooker and forming the base of our luscious sauce.
• Spiral Ham: For best results, we recommend a 7-10 pound bone-in spiral ham. A spiral-cut ham is pre-sliced, making carving incredibly easy after cooking. If you’re catering to a smaller gathering, a 4-pound boneless spiral ham works beautifully too; just remember to halve the glaze ingredients to ensure the perfect ratio of flavor. Always opt for a fully cooked and cured ham, which is standard for most grocery store hams.
• Brown Sugar: Dark or light brown sugar provides a deep, molasses-rich sweetness that caramelizes beautifully with the pineapple, creating a sticky, irresistible glaze. It’s crucial for that classic holiday ham flavor.
• Honey: Adding a touch of honey complements the brown sugar with its distinct floral sweetness, contributing to the glaze’s luxurious depth and sheen.
• Dijon Mustard: Don’t skip the Dijon! It offers a subtle, piquant tang that perfectly balances the sweetness of the pineapple, brown sugar, and honey. It’s a secret ingredient that elevates the entire flavor profile, preventing the glaze from being overly sweet.
• Sure Gel (or Cornstarch): Our preferred thickener is Cornaby’s Sure Gel (or E-Z Gel). It’s incredibly easy to use and completely flavorless, ensuring a smooth, glossy glaze without any starchy taste. If you don’t have it on hand, regular cornstarch mixed with water can serve as an effective substitute (see notes below for exact instructions).
• Ham Dipping Sauces: These are entirely optional but highly recommended! A good dipping sauce can add another layer of flavor and elevate the entire dining experience.

You can find precise measurements and detailed instructions for all these ingredients in the recipe card at the conclusion of this post.

Crafting the Perfect Glazed Ham in Your Slow Cooker: A Simple Guide

The beauty of crockpot recipes lies in their inherent simplicity, and this spiral cut ham recipe is no exception. It’s designed to be as easy as possible, allowing your slow cooker to do the heavy lifting while you enjoy your day. The process primarily involves combining the pineapple glaze ingredients and letting time and gentle heat work their magic. Here are the simple steps to achieve a tender, flavorful glazed ham:

1. Prepare the Slow Cooker: Begin by adding half of your crushed pineapple and its accompanying juice to the bottom of your slow cooker. This creates a flavorful, moist base for the ham. Carefully place the spiral ham on top of the pineapple layer.
2. Whip Up the Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the rich brown sugar, sweet honey, and tangy Dijon mustard. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until you have a thick, consistent paste.
3. Glaze the Ham: Generously rub this exquisite brown sugar, honey, and Dijon mixture all over the surface of the spiral ham. Ensure it coats every crevice, allowing the flavors to penetrate the meat as it cooks.
4. Slow Cook to Perfection: Distribute the remaining crushed pineapple and its juice around the sides and base of the ham in the slow cooker. Secure the lid tightly and cook on the LOW setting for 4-5 hours. If you’re short on time, you can cook it on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The ham is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) – remember, most hams are already fully cooked, so we’re primarily warming it through and infusing it with flavor.
5. Create the Final Glaze: Once the ham is perfectly cooked, carefully remove it from the crockpot and transfer it to a carving board or serving platter. Pour all the delicious pineapple and ham juices from the slow cooker into a small saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, whisk in the Sure Gel (or your cornstarch slurry, as per the note below) until the glaze thickens to your desired consistency – a beautiful, glossy, and rich sauce.
6. Serve with Style: Slice the tender ham and serve it generously coated with the warm pineapple brown sugar glaze. For an extra flourish, offer a variety of ham dipping sauces on the side. If you need a refresher on carving a spiral ham, be sure to check out our dedicated how to carve a spiral ham guide!

Congratulations, cooking a show-stopping ham has truly never been simpler or more delicious! You’ll find the full, printable recipe with all detailed instructions and quantities in the recipe card provided further down this page.

Complement Your Crockpot Ham: Delicious Side Dish Pairings

Whether this exquisite Crock Pot ham graces your Christmas dinner, Easter brunch, or a simple family supper, the right side dishes elevate the entire meal. Here are some fantastic accompaniments that perfectly complement the sweet and savory notes of a glazed spiral ham:

• Funeral Potatoes: A creamy, cheesy, and comforting classic that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
• Easy Herb Focaccia Bread: A fragrant and fluffy bread, perfect for soaking up extra glaze or pairing with ham slices.
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Their natural sweetness and tender texture create a delightful contrast to the ham.
• Southern Macaroni and Cheese: Rich, gooey, and utterly satisfying, a staple for any holiday table.
• Potato Rolls: Soft, slightly sweet, and ideal for making mini ham sandwiches or simply enjoying with butter.
• Green Beans and Potatoes: A wholesome and flavorful vegetable option that provides a fresh counterpoint.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes: A timeless classic that pairs beautifully with ham and gravy.
• Asparagus with Lemon Butter: A bright, fresh vegetable that cuts through the richness of the ham.
• Glazed Carrots: Their inherent sweetness harmonizes with the ham’s glaze.
• Garden Salad with Vinaigrette: A light, crisp salad to balance the heartier elements of the meal.

How Much Ham Should You Plan Per Person?

When planning your meal, a good rule of thumb is to calculate approximately 3/4 pound of ham per person. For younger children, you can estimate a bit less, around 1/2 pound. However, if you, like us, cherish leftover ham for future culinary creations, consider bumping that estimate up to 1 pound per person. Leftover ham is incredibly versatile and can be transformed into numerous delicious meals, extending the joy of your initial feast. We’ve included a dedicated section below featuring some of our favorite ways to utilize ham leftovers.

Selecting the Best Ham for Your Slow Cooker

For this recipe, I personally favor a large bone-in spiral ham due to its ease of carving and enhanced flavor from the bone. However, for smaller gatherings or if you prefer less fuss, a boneless ham works just as well. The most crucial aspect when buying ham for this recipe is to choose a fully cooked and cured ham. This is the most common type you’ll find at your local grocery store, making preparation incredibly simple as it only needs to be reheated to a safe serving temperature while absorbing our delicious glaze. Many hams come with a small glaze packet – feel free to discard it, as our homemade pineapple brown sugar glaze far surpasses any pre-packaged offering!

Understanding Sure Gel: Your Glaze’s Best Friend

I’ve become utterly enamored with Cornaby’s E-Z Gel for all my thickening needs. Whether I’m making rich gravies, vibrant fruit sauces, homemade jams, or our irresistible ham glaze, Sure Gel is my absolute go-to. It’s an instant, gluten-free cornstarch that effortlessly thickens any liquid, hot or cold, in a matter of seconds. The most remarkable aspect is its complete lack of flavor, ensuring that it never interferes with the delicious taste of your dish. It truly is a miracle worker in the kitchen!

If Cornaby’s Sure Gel isn’t available, you can easily use regular cornstarch as a substitute. Simply mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a smooth slurry. Gradually whisk this slurry into your boiling pineapple sauce until it reaches your desired thickness.

Craving Those Crispy, Caramelized Edges?

While the slow cooker excels at producing an incredibly moist and tender ham, some home cooks miss those delightful crispy, caramelized edges typically achieved with a traditional oven-baked ham, like our brown sugar ham or our copycat Honey Baked ham. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice this textural pleasure!

To achieve those coveted crispy edges, simply transfer your cooked slow cooker ham to a baking dish once it’s finished in the crockpot. Brush a generous amount of the thickened pineapple glaze all over the ham’s surface. Then, place the ham under a preheated broiler for just a few minutes, carefully watching it to prevent burning. The intense, direct heat will quickly caramelize the glaze, creating those irresistible crispy bits that add another layer of flavor and texture to your perfectly cooked ham.

Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Ham

Proper storage is key to enjoying your leftover ham. Any uneaten ham should be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. It will maintain its quality and flavor for up to 5 days, making it ideal for quick meals throughout the week.

For longer storage, ham also freezes exceptionally well. Place ham slices or chunks into a freezer-safe ziplock bag, ensuring you squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Frozen ham can be kept for up to 3 months, ready to be thawed and enjoyed whenever a ham craving strikes.

To reheat cold ham, whether from the refrigerator or thawed from the freezer, place the slices or a whole piece in a baking dish. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the bottom of the dish to help create steam and keep the ham moist. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in an oven preheated to 275 degrees F (135°C). Heat until the ham is warmed through to an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C). The low temperature and covering help prevent the ham from drying out during reheating.

Master the art of creating perfectly juicy and incredibly flavorful ham using your slow cooker. This easy slow cooker ham recipe is a game-changer, ideal for both busy weeknights and grand special occasions. Bid farewell to dry, bland ham and welcome a new era of tender, succulent, and utterly delicious ham!

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Creative Recipes to Utilize Leftover Ham:

Don’t let any precious ham go to waste! Leftovers are often just as exciting as the main meal. Here are some fantastic and versatile recipes to transform your leftover slow cooker ham into brand new culinary delights:

• Ham and Cheese Sliders: A quick and crowd-pleasing appetizer or light meal, perfect for any occasion.
• Spring Ham and Asparagus Lemon Cream Sauce Pasta: A bright, elegant pasta dish that feels gourmet yet is incredibly easy to prepare.
• Ham Lemon Orzo with Parmesan and Peas: A light and flavorful one-pot meal, ideal for a quick weeknight dinner.
• Secret to the Best Ham Fried Rice: A delicious way to use up leftover ham and rice, packed with savory flavors.
• Ham and Cheese Scones: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack, these savory scones are a true treat.
• Ham Hock Soup: A hearty and comforting soup, ideal for cooler weather and utilizing the ham bone for extra flavor.
• Cheesy Ham and Potato Bacon Casserole: A rich and satisfying casserole, excellent for a hearty family dinner.
• Ham and Bean Soup: A classic, comforting soup that makes the most of ham’s savory flavor.
• Breakfast Burritos or Omelets: Dice up ham for a flavorful addition to your morning meal.
• Ham and Pineapple Pizza: A beloved combination that brings tropical sweetness to your homemade pizza.

Did you enjoy this recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below to share your experience.