Learn how to cook crockpot spiral ham with only 5 minutes prep! With the best juicy and tender results, cooking a spiral ham has never been easier for the holidays.
Other Christmas and Easter dinner mains we make include this honey baked ham recipe or this oven-baked ham!
Table of Contents
Crockpot Ham Recipe
We love to serve this slow cooker spiral ham for our Christmas dinner or as part of the Easter menu. It’s so simple, and delicious and is always a favorite alongside sides of scalloped potatoes or cheesy potatoes!
After this slow cooker ham, I will never mess with cooking one in the oven again. It’s made with just 5 ingredients and you just set it and forget it. Let your crock pot do the cooking for you!
It’s a tradition to have ham during the holidays, especially Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Truth be told, though, since this is easiest and tastiest ham recipe ever I make it year-round!
Recipe Ingredients
Other than the ham itself, this crockpot ham recipe only calls for 5 ingredients to make a glaze. It’s a bit and tangy with a small kick the flavors are so incredible together!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Brown sugar: This adds a rich, caramelized taste. Make sure you pack it tightly when measuring it out.
- Maple syrup: Pure, maple flavor that contributes to the sweetness.
- Pineapple juice: A sweet, tropical flavor that blends so nicely with the other ingredients.
- Spicy brown mustard: Adds a tangy kick that helps balance out the sweetness.
- Balsamic vinegar: A tart and sweet boost of flavor.
TIP: There is no need to make the glaze ahead of time for this recipe. I just rub all of the ingredients into the meat and then let the slow cooker do all the work.
How to Cook a Spiral Ham in a Crockpot
If you’re wondering how to cook a spiral ham, it’s super easy using this crockpot method! Follow the steps below to get started.
- Add meat to crockpot. Place ham inside the slow cooker (make sure to spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray).
- Coat with glaze. Rub glaze ingredients (except pineapple juice) over the meat using your hands. Then pour pineapple juice into the bottom of the crockpot.
- Cover with a lid or foil. Cover with lid (or aluminum foil if lid won’t fit).
- Cook in the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, basting twice during the last hour.
TIP: If the ham you buy is too large for your slow cooker, don’t worry. I used a 10-pound ham and it was too big for the lid of my slow cooker to fit. Just place 3 pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil over the top of the ham, covering tightly. You basically are steaming it with a tight seal.
Favorite Sides for Serving
There are so many delicious side dishes to serve with this recipe. Below are some of our favorites!
- Potatoes: Twice-baked potatoes or use leftover ham for scalloped potatoes and ham.
- Veggies: All types of roasted vegetables, including Brussels sprouts with bacon or this blend of oven roasted vegetables, carrots, broccoli, and brussels sprouts.
- Classic holiday sides: Three-ingredient cranberry sauce, corn casserole, and mac and cheese.
- Rolls or bread: Homemade recipes like lion house rolls, potato rolls, french bread, and sweet cornbread.
- Salads: My favorite winter salad is apple cranberry spinach salad.
Recipe FAQs
Because we’re using an already cooked ham, the purpose of this recipe is to warm it up while adding delicious flavor with the glaze and tenderizing it with pineapple juice. I typically cook mine in the crockpot on low for 4 to 5 hours, until it’s warm, tender, and juicy. Make sure to baste twice during the last hour of cooking. I recommend using a bone-in spiral-cut ham that’s about 7-10 pounds.
Most fully-cooked ham will come with this packet of spices that you can add water to, but I prefer to toss it and use this glaze recipe instead. I find it adds such a better flavor than the packet.
It is best to warm your ham in a crockpot low and slow. You are essentially warming up your ham not cooking it. If you choose to slow cook your ham on high heat, there is a risk that you may dry out your ham and make the outside very tough and rubbery. For a tender and juicy ham, slow cook on the low setting.
How to Store Crockpot Ham
Once the ham is cooled and ready to be put away, simply slice the ham and place it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
Are you looking for more holiday dinner ideas?! Try this easy turkey recipe with mashed potatoes for your next family get-together.
5 star review
“I’ve made this multiple times, it’s my family’s favorite ham, they actually thought I bought it from the Honey Baked store which was their previous favorite. Thank you so much!!“
– Bobbi
Leftover Ham Recipes
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Slow Cooker Spiral Ham
Video
Ingredients
- 7-10 pound bone-in spiral ham
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups pineapple juice
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the ham from the wrapper and discard glaze packet, if there is one. Place inside prepared slow cooker.
- Rub brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and balsamic vinegar all over the meat using your hands. Pour pineapple juice into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cover tightly, either with the lid or aluminum foil, and cook on low 4 to 5 hours, basting twice during the last hour. You can also flip the ham during the last hour, if desired.
- Remove from slow cooker and let rest 10 minutes. Slice the meat off the bone and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Easter, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot, Pork, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I have always been so intimidated by ham, but this recipe was so simple and the Ham turned out delicious! I will be using this recipe from now on. Thank you so much for getting me out of my comfort zone!
So glad you enjoyed the ham recipe :)
Thank you so much, we made this for Christmas Eve and it came out perfect. We barely had any leftovers so my kids want me to make it again for New Years Day.
Will a hickory smoked spiral ham work with this recipe?
Yes that should work well :)
Everyone loves it. It’s requested at all holiday feasts.
I’m so glad to hear your family loves it! Thanks for your review Holly :)
Very yummy! Have always baked my ham. So glad I found this idea today as it’s 98 degrees and too hot to turn on the oven. Thank you for posting.
Hope you enjoyed the recipe :)
This recipe was delicious.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Judy!
Is there a substitute I could use for the maple syrup? Would honey work?
I haven’t tried, but I’m guessing honey would be an okay substitute! Let me know how it goes if you give it a shot!
My spiral ham just fits in my slow cooker, if placed small end down, with little to no room on the sides. (The ham touches the sides at the top.) Will that be ok, or should the ham not touch the sides of the crock pot? Thank you for your advice!
That shouldn’t be an issue! I used a 10 pound ham and it was too big for the lid of my slow cooker to fit. I just placed 3 pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil over the meat, covering tightly. You basically are steaming it with a tight seal.
How much cornstarch and water to make the glaze
Hi Ellen, there is no cornstarch or water needed to make the glaze :)
I made this for dinner and it came out great. Thanks for the easy recipe!
Can’t wait to use this recipe for Easter! Thank you!
Has anyone made ham gravy out of the broth?
I’ve made this multiple times, it’s my family’s favorite ham, they actually thought I bought it from the Honey Baked store which was their previous favorite 😁. Thank you so much!!
I’m so happy to hear it has become a favorite! Thank you for your comment and review Bobbi. :)
Do you mean cover just the ham with the foil or cover the entire top of the crockpot, sealing it all around?
If you cover just the ham I would think that the pineapple juices would evaporate.
Hi Peggy! I cover the entire top of the crockpot to seal it all around! :)
Love that this frees up more space in my oven for all the side dishes!
The glaze is perfect for ham!! Will make again for Thanksgiving as my husband does not like turkey!
This was so easy to put together. It freed up my oven for sides, and was truly delicious! My family said it was the best they’ve ever had. The ham wasn’t over soaked by the juices on the bottom, nor was it dry. It was perfect. The leftovers, which were in little supply, have held up equally well. Very impressed with this recipe and will be using for every ham in the future. It’s now my staple spiral ham recipe! Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your comment and review Marci! :)
This recipe sounds great. But my husband is diabetic, so I’m worried about the brown sugar. I think the rest of the ingredients are fine because of the amounts. Has anyone tried it without the sugar? Normally I don’t use a glaze, but in the slow cooker it’s going to need something.
Will be using Truvia Brown Sugar Complete, which is measured for same amount as in any given recipe (I use it in baking since hubby is Type 2 Diabetic). Do note that in MOST recipe I do use LESS than what recipe indicates. So in this one I’d reduce brown sugar of 1 cup down to 2/3 or 3/4 cup. Also: reduce maple syrup to 1/4 cup (just want the flavor). Allow Truvia to sit in liquids for about 10 to 15 minutes to fully dissolve (might still be a little “grainy” but that’s fine). Pineapple juice: go for one with very low sugar content, not “heavy” syrupy kind. I add a little bit of ground cloves, black pepper, and substitute 1/4 cup of the juice with equal am’t of bourbon!
I have recipes for other, more spicier glazes that include garlic (fresh, browned in pat of butter), apricot preserves. Experiment, create a recipe that suits your specific dietary needs and flavor palate. Enjoy!