This amazing Crockpot Ham is the BEST slow cooker ham recipe! It’s cooked in pineapple juice and has a brown sugar glaze with Dijon, balsamic vinegar, and honey. It’s SO EASY to make that it almost makes itself for the holidays!
This delectable Crockpot Ham has been the top holiday recipe on my site since 2014. Over the years, millions of happy readers have made it and come back to this post many times.
Today I’ve decided to add some new step-by-step photos, tips, and tricks to my slow cooker ham recipe. I’m leaving the main photos the same, though, so that people who come back to make the “Brown Sugar Slow Cooker Ham” that they know and love from previous holidays can still find this post. .
I think cooking ham in the crockpot is one of the best holiday cooking ideas I’ve ever had! As everyone knows, there isn’t a lot of room in the oven for holiday meals. There are a ton of side dishes to bake, not to mention homemade rolls, desserts, and more. Thats why its always nice to ensure that some of your dishes dont rely on said oven.
That’s also why this Crockpot Ham recipe has been so popular for so long: it’s easy to put together and tastes so good that many reviewers have said they’ll never cook a ham in the oven again!
Another beautiful quality of this slow cooker ham is that it requires just a handful of basic ingredients.
The only things you need for slow cooking and glazing this Crockpot Ham are the ham itself and a few others:
The above ingredients melt down into the most tantalizing glaze. And once thickened, its served alongside (or drizzled all over) the ham.
Without a doubt, my favorite part of this recipe is the glaze. I could eat it with a spoon. .
Cooking ham in a crock pot is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to prepare this delicious centerpiece for a holiday meal or any special occasion The slow, low heat of the crockpot allows the ham to become incredibly tender and infuse with flavor.
When using a crockpot to cook ham, there are just a few key factors to keep in mind to ensure perfect results:
Choose the Right Cut of Ham
- A bone-in ham is recommended, as the bone helps the meat retain moisture. But a boneless ham will work too.
- Opt for a fully cooked ham. The crockpot is just reheating and adding flavor, not fully cooking raw meat.
- Whole, spiral sliced, shank, butt and shoulder cuts all adapt well. Go with your personal preference!
- For a smaller gathering, choose a 3-4 pound mini ham or cut a larger one in half. For a crowd, select a full 7-8 pound ham.
Prepare Your Ham
- Unwrap completely and discard any plastic, netting or paper.
- Remove any plastic cap on the bone end.
- Discard any included flavor/glaze packet.
- Score the fatty outer layer. This helps the glaze permeate.
Determine Cook Time
The exact hours needed depends on a few factors
-
Ham size: A small 3-4 lb ham takes 4-6 hours. A full 7-8 lb version needs 6-8 hours.
-
Bone in or out: Boneless cooks faster. Check it sooner.
-
Crockpot wattage: Lower watts means longer cook time. Get to know your model.
-
Temperature: Cook until the internal temp reaches 140°F.
Add Flavor
- For sweet flavor, coat with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, pineapple juice, etc.
- For savory, omit sweeteners and use broth, herbs, garlic, pepper, wine.
- Baste periodically to evenly distribute glaze.
Cook on Low
- High heat can dry out the ham. Low gently brings it to temp.
- If pressed for time, finish on high ONLY after cooking mostly on low.
Let It Rest
- Once done, remove ham from crockpot and let rest 15 minutes before carving.
- This allows juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when sliced.
Thicken the Glaze
- Pour liquid from crockpot into a saucepan.
- Simmer on stovetop then thicken with cornstarch slurry.
Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate carved ham up to 4 days.
- Freeze sliced ham in an airtight container for 2-3 months.
- Reheat ham in the oven until internal temp reaches 165°F.
With minimal effort, your crockpot ham will become the star of your holiday table, and you’ll have delicious leftovers for sandwiches, omelets, casseroles and more!
Frequency of Entities:
ham: 28
crockpot: 9
cook: 7
hour: 5
bone: 4
slice: 3
glaze: 3
leftover: 3
low: 3
rest: 2
temperature: 2
pound: 2
internal: 2
heat: 2
carve: 1
prepare: 1
cut: 1
flavor: 1
baste: 1
high: 1
dry: 1
tender: 1
juicy: 1
effort: 1
star: 1
sandwich: 1
omelet: 1
casserole: 1
How Long Does It Take to “Cook” a Fully Cooked Ham?
The FDA recommends reheating a fully-cooked ham to 140°F.
Based on how hot your crockpot is, that may be reached in two to three hours with the heat on low.
A large ham should be to that temperature by 4 to 6 hours on low.
Just remember that every time you take the lid off the slow cooker, you might need to add a little more cooking time to make up for the lost heat.
You can try slow cooking a ham on high heat if you want to, but do it at your own risk. If you do, good luck! Its just too likely to dry out the ham.
How to Reheat Leftover Crockpot Ham
Place leftover ham in a baking dish (cut side down). Put in a few tablespoons of water or broth and cover it tightly with heavy-duty foil (or two layers of regular foil).
Reheat in a 325°F oven, anticipating 10 to 15 minutes of reheating time per pound of ham. The FDA says that any kind of leftovers should be heated through to 165°F, so that’s what you should check for.
Alternatively, you may reheat individual servings of ham in the microwave.
Pineapple Ham Recipe | EASY Slow Cooker Ham Recipe | Simply Mama Cooks
FAQ
How long to heat up a cooked ham in a crock pot?
How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham?
Does ham need to be submerged in a slow cooker?
How long to cook a precooked spiral ham?
How long do you cook a ham crock pot?
Slow Cook to Perfection. Cover the crock pot with its lid and set it to low heat. Let the ham cook for 4 to 6 hours, basting it occasionally with the glaze from the bottom of the crock pot. Garnish and Serve. Once the cooking time is complete, remove the ham from the crock pot and place it on a serving platter.
Is a crock pot Ham easy to make?
Yes, cooking a ham in a crock pot is an easy and convenient way to prepare a delicious meal.Here is a simple recipe to follow: 1.Place the ham in the slow cooker cut side down.2.Pour 1 1/2 cups of ginger
How do you cook a Ham in a slow cooker?
1 In a small saucepan, heat the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and 1/2 cup soda until the sugar is melted and the mixture is bubbly. Reduce the heat and simmer until thick, 7 to 8 minutes. 2 Pour the remaining soda into a 6-quart slow cooker. Stud the ham in several places with the cloves, then place the ham in the slow cooker.
Can You reheat a Ham in a slow cooker?
Your slow cooker can help you reheat the ham. Place cooked ham slices in a slow cooker on low along with some additional liquid—more ginger ale will do, but you can add broth, barbecue sauce, hoisin sauce, orange juice or apple cider. Cook until heated through.