Free up your oven by cooking your ham in the slow cooker! This slow cooker ham recipe includes a fabulous glaze and is perfect for Christmas, Easter or an easy Sunday dinner!
Every year I have the exact same issue, trying to prepare a holiday meal with one oven. I adore homemade rolls, perfectly cooked sides and a big, fat, juicy ham, so I don’t want to skip any of those recipes. The only problem is there just isn’t room to make everything and have it all hot and ready at the same time. Oven space is at a premium, people! So this year I am going to teach you how to make ham in a slow cooker.
I really don’t know why I didn’t do this earlier. And I have to beg you for just a moment to give this recipe a try. This recipe is super easy! All you do is prepare the ham like normal but then stick it in a slow cooker for 4 hours. That’s it! Juicy, tender ham ready to go and you’ve had your oven free the whole time!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Ham
This is a crockpot ham recipe and only uses a few ingredients for the glaze. Here is your shopping list:
- Crushed Pineapple: adds flavor and texture to the glaze
- Spiral Ham: Look for a 7-10 pound bone-in ham. If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, this recipe easily can be made with a 4lb boneless spiral ham as well, just half the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: adds richness and sweetness
- Honey: adds natural sweetness
- Dijon Mustard: adds flavor
- Sure Gel: My favorite thickener! It’s so easy to use and you can’t taste it at all!
- Ham Dipping Sauces: These are totally optional but we don’t eat ham without them!
The measurements and details for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make Glazed Ham in the Slow Cooker
Crockpot recipes should be simple, otherwise, what is the point?! This spiral cut ham recipe is as easy as it gets! It’s as easy as combining all the ingredients for the pineapple glaze and letting the slow cooker do its thing! Here are the steps:
- Prep: Add half of the pineapple and pineapple juice to the slow cooker and then add the ham.
- Combine: Add the brown sugar, honey and mustard to a small bowl and mix to combine. Rub the mixture all over the ham.
- Cook: Add the rest of the pineapple and juice around the sides of the ham and cook on low for 4-5 hours (or on high for 2-3 hours). Make sure the lid is on securely!
- Make Glaze: When the ham is done, remove it from the crockpot. Pour all the pineapple and juice into a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, whisk in the Cornaby’s Sure Gel.
- Serve: Serve the ham slices with the pineapple brown sugar glaze and dipping sauces. If you need help carving a spiral ham, head to our how to carve a spiral ham post!
Cooking ham has never been easier! The complete recipe with all the instructions can be found in the recipe card down below. You can also print or save the recipe there.
What to Serve with Crockpot Ham
Whether you’re making this Crock Pot ham for Christmas or Easter or just a family dinner, here are some side dishes that go great with glazed spiral ham:
How Much Ham Per Person?
Depending on who’s eating, you’ll need about 3/4 pounds of ham per person. A little less for kiddos, obviously. If you want to have leftovers, bump that number up to 1 pound per person! I LOVE leftover ham. It can be used in so many ways! I’m including a section below for my favorite ways to use ham leftovers.
What Type of Ham to Buy
I prefer to buy a large bone-in spiral ham, but with our oldest off to college, we just can’t get through a large ham. I used a smaller boneless ham instead. You want a fully cooked and cured ham, which is what you’ll typically find at the grocery store. If the ham you buy comes with a glaze packet, just toss that baby in the trash!
What is Sure Gel?
I have become obsessed with Cornaby’s E-Z Gel! It is my absolute go-to for all my thickening needs. Whether it’s gravy, fruit sauces, jams, etc., I always go with Sure Gel. It is a gluten-free instant cornstarch that you can add to any liquid (cold or hot) and it will thicken instantly. It has no flavor, and is pretty much a miracle worker!
If you don’t have Cornaby’s Sure Gel, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and slowly whisk into the boiling sauce.
Missing Those Crispy Edges?
If you are missing those crispy edges that you get on a baked ham, like our brown sugar ham or our copycat Honey Baked ham, then move the cooked slow cooker ham to a baking dish, brush the glaze all over it and place it in the broiler for a few minutes.
Storing and Reheating
Leftover ham should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days. It also freezes extremely well. Put it in a ziploc bag and squeeze out as much air as you can. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat cold ham, place it in a baking dish, add a couple tablespoons of water and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Place it in the oven preheated to 275 degrees F until heated through.
Learn how to make juicy and flavorful ham in your slow cooker. This easy slow cooker ham recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions. Say goodbye to dry and bland ham!
How to Make Slow Cooker Ham Video
Recipes to Use Leftover Ham:
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Place half of the pineapple and juices into the bottom of a slow cooker, then add the ham.
2 Cans Crushed Pineapple, 7-10 Pounds Spiral Ham
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Add the brown sugar, honey and mustard to a bowl and mix to combine.
1 ½ Cup Brown Sugar, 1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard, 2 Tablespoons Honey
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Rub the brown sugar all over the spiral ham.
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Add the remaining pineapple with juice to the bottom and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
2 Cans Crushed Pineapple
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Remove the ham and pour the juices into a saucepan over medium heat. Once boiling, whisk in the Cornabys Sure Gel. This is a much better option than cornstarch as you absolutely cannot taste it, no slurry is needed and it works very quickly. Serve the ham with the pineapple sauce and dipping sauces if desired.
3 Tablespoons Sure Gel, Ham Dipping Sauces
If you don’t have Cornaby’s Sure Gel, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and slowly whisk into the boiling sauce.Â
Calories: 988kcal
