Cooking Ham In Slow Cooker On High

Published on: November 11, 2021

Crock Pot Ham sweetened with maple and brown sugar is a favorite for holidays, Sundays and more! Never dry, always flavorful, always a hit.

Crock Pot Ham

Christmas and Easter dinners wouldn't be complete without a succulent ham. Dripping with maple and brown sugar glaze, this ham is slow cooked in the Crock Pot and always turns out perfect! Sometimes if I can get a ham on a good sale, I will make a ham for Sunday dinner and then we can make lots of different meals throughout the week with the leftovers (more on that below, we have lots of great leftover ideas). This holiday ham seriously can't be beat. The flavor is so sweet and savory, you will never want to use the included flavor packet again!

Benefits of a Slow Cooker

Spiral hams are delicious anytime, but especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. When preparing meals for a holiday dinner or even a big Sunday dinner, oven space becomes an issue. Heating the ham with this crock pot ham recipe saves oven space for side dishes and rolls. Another benefit of using the slow cooker is that it doesn't dry out the ham. The ham stays tender and flavorful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best ham to use for Crock Pot Ham?

A spiral ham works best for this recipe.

Do I use the seasoning packet that comes with the ham?

No, this recipe does not use the seasoning packet. We recommend you throw it away.

What if my ham doesn't fit in my slow cooker or Crock Pot?

When this happens, it is usually because the lid won't fit on the top of the ham bone. You can cut this part of the ham off with a big, sharp knife or you can take some of the slices off the bottom of the ham and place them around the sides of the Crock Pot. It won't look as nice, but it will cook just the same.

What is the best pineapple juice to use in this recipe?

Use canned pineapple juice. You can buy canned pineapple juice or use the juice from a can of sliced pineapple or pineapple chunks. DO NOT USE fresh pineapple juice. The acids in the juice will break down the ham.

Can I add pineapple slices or pineapple chunks?

Absolutely!

Can I use another juice besides pineapple?

Yes, if you don't like pineapple, orange juice is also very good with ham. You can also use apple cider.

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Crock Pot Ham

Wanting to make this slow cooker spiral ham but need some side dish ideas? I've got ya covered. We almost always serve this ham with our Cheesy Potato Casserole (aka Funeral Potatoes) but it is also VERY good with Parmesan Potato Halves or Dauphinoise Potatoes (scalloped potatoes). You can also serve with a salad (I love making our Christmas Salad, especially), Sautéed Peas, or even Creamy Potatoes and Peas. You can't go wrong with any of these ideas for sides!

Christmas Salad in a white bowl with a bowl of pomegranate seeds — Christmas Salad

Parmesan Baked Potato Halves with a side of Sour Cream — Christmas Salad

Best Maple Syrup for Slow Cooker Ham

For this recipe I love using REAL maple syrup. It adds such a rich, maple flavor that is hard to beat. Of course the real stuff is quite expensive, so if you want to use your typical Mrs. Butterworth's (or any regular breakfast maple syrup), that's ok too. Don't skimp on the syrup. If you feel like you need to add a little extra, I won't blame you. Follow your heart. If syrup just isn't your thing, you can also use honey.

Best Leftover Recipes for Ham

No matter how many guests we have, we always seem to have so much ham ham leftover! Chop up leftover crock pot ham and use it in omelets, breakfast casseroles, or breakfast sandwiches. So many possibilities! You can make so many meals from just one ham! Here are a few of our favorites:

Mom's Bacon n' Corn Chowder (just add ham)
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup.
Slow Cooker Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham
Restaurant-Style Ham Fried Rice.
Apple Ham and Cheddar Melts
If you use a bone-in ham, you can use the leftover ham bone for our Red Beans and Rice recipe.

5-Star Reviews

We've had many rave reviews on this Slow Cooker Ham recipe. Here are a few of our favorites:

I made this for Christmas and it was delicious!! – Kimberly

This made an amazing ham! I have never made one and who knew it was so easy and flavorful! I did substitute orange juice for the pineapple juice since that is what I had on hand. – Beth

Thank you for helping me cook my first Thanksgiving ham ever 🙂 Your instructions are very easy to follow. Have a Happy Thanksgiving 🙂 – Dahlia

I tried this today and the ham was so moist and tasty. This is the way I will cook ham from now on. Thanks – Sherry

I made this for our family for the last 3 years and we all love it. It is simply and delicious. I choose to add fresh pineapple. Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving to all! – Sas

How to Make a Crock Pot Ham

A spiral cut ham in the slow cooker

Crock Pot Spiral Ham with Maple and Brown Sugar

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Crock Pot Ham sweetened with maple and brown sugar is a favorite for holidays, Sundays and more! Never dry, always flavorful, always a hit.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total: 2 hours 15 minutes

Serves: 20

1 8-10 lb spiral-cut ham (boneless ham or bone-in ham)
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup canned pineapple juice (do not use fresh pineapple juice)

Remove ham from packaging and place in a large (7+ quart) slow cooker. Discard flavor packet (if any). Be sure to place ham flat-side down in slow cooker.
Generously rub with brown sugar all over ham. Pour maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham.
Add lid and cook for 2-3 hours on low heat.
Spoon juices over the ham and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.
Remove ham from slow cooker and serve!