This crock pot ham is a spiral cut ham topped with a 3 ingredient glaze, then slow cooked to perfection. This is the BEST way to make your holiday ham, the slow cooker does all of the work!
I’m always looking for ways to make holiday entertaining easier, and this crock pot ham is about as simple as it gets. All it takes is 5 minutes of prep time, and you end up with the most tender and succulent ham of all time! Not a ham fan? Try my herb roasted turkey or slow cooker turkey breast instead.
Whenever there’s a holiday, there’s a ham on my table. I love to cook ham because most of the work is done for you before you even open the package. All you need is a delicious glaze and a slow cooker to make this simple crock pot ham. Best of all, it frees up oven space so that you have plenty of room to cook up your sides and desserts.
How do you make crock pot ham?
The first step is to choose your ham. I always go with a smoked spiral cut ham. You’ll want a ham around 7-8 pounds in size. If you go any larger, you may have trouble fitting it into your crock pot. You can always trim off the end to make it fit if needed.
The ham is coated in brown sugar, then doused in maple syrup and pineapple juice to form a sweet glaze that simmers away along with the ham.
Tips for crock pot ham
- You’ll need a large oval slow cooker for this recipe – the one shown here is an 8 quart slow cooker, I’ve also used my 7 quart size with success.
- The glaze is fairly thin when it comes out of the crock pot, so I like to transfer it to a pan on the stove top and simmer the glaze until it thickens.
- Not a fan of pineapple juice? Try apple cider instead.
- I like to garnish my ham platter with an assortment of herbs and fruit for a beautiful presentation.
How much ham per person?
You’ll need about 3/4 pound of ham per person for a bone-in ham. If you want plenty of leftovers, you can increase that amount to 1 pound of ham per person.
How long to cook a ham?
It takes approximately 3-4 hours to cook a ham in the crock pot on low heat. You can check to make sure your ham is heated through by inserting a thermometer into the thickest part of the ham. The thermometer should read at least 140 degrees F.
What to serve with ham
Ham pairs perfectly with potatoes, vegetables, cornbread, or even stuffing! Here are some of my favorite holiday side dishes that I serve alongside my crock pot ham.
- Cranberry Jello Salad
- Bacon Green Bean Bundles
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Glazed Carrots
How to reheat leftover ham
One of the best parts about a holiday meal is enjoying the leftovers the next day! You can reheat your ham by covering it with foil and warming it in a 275 degree oven.
How to use leftover ham
Got leftover ham? I’ve got plenty of ways for you to repurpose it! Check out my list of 40 Satisfying Leftover Ham Recipes.
I love this crock pot ham because it’s tender, flavorful and so incredibly easy to make. It’s a huge hit every time I serve it!
Crock Pot Ham with Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 8 lb spiral cut ham
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup pure maple syrup do not use artificially flavored pancake syrup
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- cooking spray
- fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Coat a large 7-8 quart crock pot with cooking spray.
- Place the ham cut side down in the crock pot.
- Rub the brown sugar all over the ham, then pour the maple syrup and pineapple juice over the top.
- Cook for 3-4 hours on low heat, or until a thermometer registers 140 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the ham.
- Transfer the ham to a serving platter.
- Pour the liquid from the bottom of the crock pot into a medium sized pan.
- Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the liquid to a simmer.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes or until just thickened,
- Pour the sauce over the ham. Decorate the serving platter with fresh herbs if desired, then serve.
Stacey says
What if you need to cook it in the oven instead…what would you put the temp at and for how long? I have a large family and had to buy a 16# bone in ham.
Sara says
I’d bake it covered at 325 degrees F, it should take about 20 minutes per pound. So for a 16 pound ham it’ll take about 5 hours and 20 minutes. You may want to double the amount of brown sugar/syrup/pineapple juice. Baste every hour, then pour the glaze from the pan into a saucepan to thicken just like the recipe directs and brush over the cooked ham. You can bake it uncovered at 400 degrees for the last 30 minutes if you prefer more of a crispy exterior. Hope that helps!
Stacey says
Thank you so much!! Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🍽
Elise says
Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
Elise says
How long for 11lbs ham?
Sara says
I’d try 5-6 hours on low. Basically you just want to make sure it’s warmed all the way through since it’s pre-cooked to begin with. I’d allot time for 6 hours but start checking it at the 5 hour mark. Hope that helps!
Elise says
Thank you so much for your prompt response. The crock pot is on low and it’s been 2.5 hours and the juices in crock pot so are not simmering my mother in is concerned I should turn up the temp.
Sara says
It won’t hurt anything to turn up the temperature, just make sure it doesn’t get overcooked!
Ana says
Will it be ok to use dark brown sugar?
Sara says
Yes that will work just fine!
Ramona Hughes says
What’s the best way to cover the ham if the lid doesn’t close on the top of the crock pot? Like if the ham is a little too big?
Sara says
The best thing to do is to trim the ham to fit. If that’s not an option, you can use layers of heavy duty foil to create a seal over the top of the crockpot, just be sure there are no openings and crimp the foil tightly around the ring of the crock pot. Hope that helps!
Melinda says
Can you cook on high in the crockpot to cut the time in half?
Sara says
You can, but I find the ham is most tender when cooked on low.
Kim says
Did you use a boneless or bone-in ham
Sara says
I use bone-in hams, I think they have the most flavor.
stacey says
I am definitely not getting good use out of my crockpot. I didn’t know you could cook a whole ham in one.
Courtney says
Omg can we say yum!!! I just made a similar ham last weekend! One of my favorite crockpot meals!
Emily Leary says
The glaze on this looks out of this world! Positively golden! Amazing.
Nati says
Every recipe I read convinces me more that I need a slowcooker! Your pictures look mouthwatering!
Jasmine Hewitt says
its finally getting the perfect weather for a crock ham! i will try this recipe, it looks to be amazing
Lisa says
That looks incredible! I love ham anyway, and this looks perfect for me to try and make at home.
Preet says
My kids would absolutely love these. This would disappear in no time at our house! This is my kind of weekend treat.
Pati Robins says
i have just saved this recipe i be trying it closer to Christmas – ham looks so delicious
Lyosha says
Looks very welcoming and festive. I wonder if it works nicely with different meat as well(I can’t eat pork so). Pretty photos too
Francesca Jacklin says
This looks wonderful. We usually cook ham for Boxing Day so I’ll try this recipe out.
eli says
This looks so amazing. I could go for a ham right now. Brown sugar ham is one of my favorites.
Monidipa Dutta says
So yummy. It looks so damn tasty. And so easy recipe. I would love to try it out.
Alexandra says
Delicious! I always like to prepare a ham on Christmas Eve – I will definitely save your recipe and give it a try then. Thank you for sharing!
Angela Fry says
This ham looks amazing. We usually only eat it at Easter. But, now I think I’ll make one soon!
Chad says
Just died a little! This recipe is delicious! Thank you so much for posting it, yummmmm!
Kelly Walton says
This looks soooo delicious. This year ( I’m from UK but I have family stateside ) I refuse to feel left out, so I’m hosting Thanksgiving and I’m going to make this as well as Turkey. Pinned it too