Crockpot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
This crockpot ham is fall-apart tender and coated in a sweet brown sugar glaze, making it the easiest holiday centerpiece you'll ever cook. Just set it and forget it.
Why This Crockpot Ham Is a Holiday Game Changer
There is a reason crockpot ham shows up on so many holiday tables and Sunday dinner spreads. It frees up your oven for side dishes, it requires almost no hands on effort, and it turns out juicy, tender, and glazed in sticky brown sugar goodness every single time. If you have ever wondered how to cook ham without babysitting an oven for hours, slow cooker ham is your answer.
This recipe takes a fully cooked spiral ham, layers it with a simple honey brown sugar glaze, and lets the crockpot do all the work. By the time it is done, the edges are caramelized, the inside is warm and tender, and your kitchen smells like a holiday.
Before we get cooking, the right tools and ingredients make a real difference here. A good sized slow cooker, a reliable meat thermometer, and quality pantry staples like real maple syrup or good dijon mustard genuinely change the outcome of this dish. These are the products that make crock pot cooking easy and foolproof.
Choosing the Right Ham for the Slow Cooker
For the best results with this recipe, look for a fully cooked, bone-in spiral cut ham. Spiral cutting means the glaze can work its way between every slice, so you get that sweet caramelized flavor in every bite instead of just on the surface.
A few tips for choosing your ham:
- Pick a ham that fits comfortably in your slow cooker with the lid closing all the way
- Bone-in ham tends to stay juicier than boneless during the long cook time
- Check the label to confirm it is precooked, since this affects your cook time and target temperature
Chef's Tip: If your ham is a tight fit, place it cut side down and trim a little off the bottom so it sits flat and cooks evenly.
Building the Brown Sugar Glaze
The glaze is really what turns this from plain slow cooker ham into something people ask you to make again and again. Brown sugar and honey create that sticky caramelized coating, while a spoonful of dijon mustard adds just enough tang to balance the sweetness. A pinch of cinnamon and clove brings warmth that feels distinctly holiday.
Pouring pineapple juice or apple juice into the bottom of the crockpot does double duty. It keeps the ham moist over the long cook time and adds a subtle fruity note that pairs beautifully with the glaze as it bastes the meat from below.
Ready to make it? Here is the full step-by-step recipe:
Crockpot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
This crockpot ham is fall-apart tender and coated in a sweet brown sugar glaze, making it the easiest holiday centerpiece you'll ever cook. Just set it and forget it.
Ingredients
- 8 lb spiral cut ham, bone-in, fully cooked
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed, light or dark
- 3/8 cup honey
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves, optional
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice, or apple juice
Instruction
If your ham is too large to fit your slow cooker, trim the bottom slightly or remove the bone end so it sits flat and the lid closes fully.
Place the spiral cut ham cut side down in the crockpot, arranging it so the slices stay compact and don't dry out.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, melted butter, dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves until you have a thick glaze.
Pour the pineapple juice into the bottom of the crockpot around the ham to keep it moist during cooking.
Spoon or brush about two thirds of the brown sugar glaze evenly over the top and into the layers of the ham, letting it drip down between the slices.
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2.5 to 3 hours, basting with the pan juices every hour if you can.
About 20 minutes before serving, brush the remaining glaze over the top of the ham for a final glossy, caramelized finish.
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, it should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) since the ham is fully precooked.
Carefully transfer the ham to a serving platter, spoon some of the slow cooker juices over the top, and serve warm.
Equipment
- 6 to 8 quart slow cooker
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Basting brush
- Meat thermometer
- Serving platter
Notes
Serving Suggestions for Your Ham Dinner
This slow cooker ham recipe is the star of any ham dinner, but the sides are what round out the meal. Consider pairing it with:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes
- Roasted green beans or honey glazed carrots
- Soft dinner rolls to soak up the extra glaze
- A simple green salad to balance the richness
Spoon the leftover juices from the crockpot over each slice right before serving. It keeps the meat moist and adds even more of that glaze flavor to the plate.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Ham
One of the best parts about ham recipes crockpot style is how well the leftovers hold up. Once the ham has cooled, slice what you need and store the rest in an airtight container with a bit of the cooking liquid spooned over the top.
Chef's Tip: Freeze leftover slices in a single layer before transferring them to a freezer bag. This way you can pull out just a portion or two at a time instead of thawing the whole batch.
When you are ready to reheat, low and slow is the key. A covered dish in a 300 degree oven with a splash of liquid will keep the ham tender instead of drying it out, and it is a far better method than a quick blast in the microwave if you have the extra ten minutes to spare.
However you serve it, this crockpot ham recipe proves that a stunning holiday centerpiece does not require a complicated process. Just a good ham, a simple glaze, and a slow cooker willing to do the heavy lifting.
