Crockpot Ham
Ham in the crockpot is so easy so you dont have to take up your oven space with a big ham on the holidays! If it does not fit in your crockpot, you can use heavy duty aluminum foil to cover the top of the crockpot OR cook ham to package directions using the ingredients below.
If you are hosting for the holidays or just want a glazed ham without giving up your oven all day, this Crockpot Ham is the answer. A 7 to 8 pound spiral ham goes in with brown sugar, maple syrup, and pineapple juice, and four hours later you have the most tender, sweet, savory ham with a glaze that tastes like you worked a lot harder than you actually did.
This is my go-to for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas because it frees up the oven for the sides. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, rolls, all the things that need oven time can spread out across the racks while the ham slow-cooks in the crockpot doing its own thing. By the time everything else is plated, the ham is ready to slice and serve.
The secret is using a spiral-cut smoked ham so the brown sugar works its way into all the little cuts, and the pineapple juice keeps everything moist as it cooks down into a sticky-sweet glaze. When you pull it out and slice it off the bone, the meat practically falls apart. Save that ham bone too. It makes the best ham bone soup or a pot of beans the next day.
If you have never cooked a ham in a crockpot before, this is the recipe to start with. It is forgiving, hands-off, and feeds a crowd with leftovers for sandwiches all week. Let's make it.
📝 Ingredients
- 1, 7-8 lb Spiral Smoked Ham
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
👩🍳 Directions
- 1
Remove Ham from package and throw away the seasoning pack in the inside (or save for another time). Make sure any plastic on the ham is removed
- 2
Add ham to the crockpot sideways and add 1/2 of the brown sugar on top and push into the cuts of the ham. Flip - do the same with the other side.
- 3
Flip the ham so it is flat side down and sprinkle on any remaining brown sugar on top.
- 4
Add maple syrup and pineapple juice to the top of the ham and cook on low for 4 hours.
- 5
When done, remove Ham from crockpot and remove the meat from the bone. Save the Ham Bone for soup, beans etc if you wish!
- 6
Stir juices in the crockpot and pour some over the top of the sliced ham or serve it on the side. NOTE: you can put all of the juices in a sauce pan and simmer it down to thicken to then serve on top for a little extra step! Enjoy!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Spiral smoked ham: A 7 to 8 pound bone-in spiral ham is the move. Spiral-cut means the slices are pre-cut around the bone, which lets the brown sugar and glaze get into every layer. Smoked is what gives it that classic ham flavor.
Brown sugar: One cup, packed. Light brown or dark brown both work. Dark brown has a deeper, more molasses-forward flavor. Light brown is more subtle. Use what you have.
Maple syrup: Real maple syrup is worth it here. The depth of flavor is so much better than pancake syrup. A half cup is what you need.
Pineapple juice: A cup and a half. This is what keeps the ham moist as it cooks and adds a bright, tropical sweetness that pairs perfectly with smoked ham. Buy a small can of pineapple juice, or use the juice from a can of pineapple rings.
How to Store, Reheat & Freeze
Slice the ham off the bone and store in an airtight container with a little of the cooking juices to keep it moist. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, cover with foil and warm in a 300 oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or microwave individual portions with a splash of juice.
To freeze, slice or cube the ham first and freeze in airtight bags or containers with some of the glaze. It keeps in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What to Serve With Crockpot Ham
This ham is the centerpiece of a classic holiday spread. Pair it with creamy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn casserole, dinner rolls, deviled eggs, and a simple salad. For Easter, add scalloped potatoes and roasted asparagus. Leftover ham makes the best sliders, breakfast scrambles, ham and cheese omelets, and ham bone soup the next day. Do not forget to save that bone.
💡 Tips for Success
- Get a 7 to 8 pound spiral-cut smoked ham. Bone-in spiral is the gold standard because the cuts let the glaze soak into the meat instead of just sitting on the surface.
- Take all the plastic off, including the little plastic disc covering the bone if your ham has one. That goes in the trash, not the crockpot.
- Throw away or save the seasoning packet that comes with the ham. The brown sugar, maple syrup, and pineapple juice in this recipe are your glaze, you do not need their packet.
- Add the ham sideways if it does not sit flat. Press half the brown sugar into the cuts on each side before laying it flat side down. This is how you get the glaze deep into every slice.
- Cook on low, not high. Spiral ham is already fully cooked, you are just warming it through and infusing the flavor. High heat will dry it out.
- Baste it once or twice during the cook if you remember. Spoon the juices from the bottom of the crockpot over the top of the ham. Not required, but it deepens the flavor.
- Save your ham bone. It makes incredible ham bone soup, a pot of pinto beans, or split pea soup. Wrap it tight and freeze if you are not using it the next day.
- If you want a thicker glaze, pour the crockpot juices into a saucepan after the ham comes out and simmer until reduced by about a third. Pour over sliced ham to serve.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What size crockpot do I need?
A 7-quart or larger oval crockpot is ideal for a 7 to 8 pound ham. If yours is smaller, you can lay the ham on its side or cover the top of the crockpot with heavy-duty foil to seal in the heat while it cooks.
Can I use a smaller ham?
Yes. A 3 to 5 pound ham will cook through in 2 to 3 hours on low. Use the same glaze ingredients, just scale them down by about a third.
Do I need to use pineapple juice?
Pineapple juice adds sweetness and a little acidity that balances the brown sugar. Apple juice or even ginger ale works in a pinch. Avoid plain water, you need that flavor.
My ham is too big for the crockpot, what do I do?
Cut a piece off so it fits, or cook in two batches. You can also cover the top of the crockpot with heavy-duty aluminum foil and crimp it down to seal, then put the lid on top of that to extend the height.
Can I make this the day before?
Yes. Cook as directed, let cool, slice off the bone, and store sliced ham in the fridge with some of the glaze. Reheat covered in the oven at 300 for 20 to 30 minutes until warmed through.
How long do leftovers last?
Sliced ham keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It is also incredible for sandwiches, ham and cheese sliders, breakfast scrambles, and chopped into pasta or fried rice.
Can I freeze leftover ham?
Absolutely. Slice or cube it first, freeze in airtight bags with some of the glaze, and use within 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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