Crockpot spiral ham is the easiest holiday ham there is: a fully cooked spiral-sliced ham rubbed with brown sugar, bathed in a sweet mix of syrup and fruit juice, and warmed slowly until every slice is juicy and glazed with sticky, sweet juices. It’s perfect for Easter, Christmas or a big Sunday dinner, and it frees up your oven for the sides.
How to make crockpot spiral ham: set a 7 to 8 pound spiral ham flat side down in a large slow cooker, rub it with brown sugar, pour the syrup and juice over it, and cook on Low for about 4 hours until it reaches 140°F, basting now and then.
Why You’ll Love It
- Four ingredients: ham, brown sugar, maple syrup and pineapple juice.
- 5 minutes of prep. The slow cooker does the rest.
- Your oven stays free for rolls, casseroles and pies.
- Feeds a crowd: about 16 servings, with leftovers for soups and casseroles.
Ingredient Notes
Spiral ham. A 7 to 8 pound spiral-sliced ham, fully cooked. Bone-in is fine. Spiral hams are generally sold precooked, so the slow cooker only reheats and glazes it; check the label to be sure. Throw away the glaze packet and any plastic covering the bone.
Brown sugar. One cup, light or dark. It goes straight onto the outside of the ham and melts into the juices. Work a little of it between the spiral slices as well, so the sweetness reaches past the outer layer.
Maple syrup. Half a cup. Honey works the same way.
Pineapple juice. One cup. Orange juice works too, and so does apple juice or apple cider if that’s what’s in your fridge.
Ingredients
- 7-8 lb spiral sliced ham, fully cooked, bone-in is fine; glaze packet discarded
- 1 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, or honey
- 1 cup pineapple juice, orange juice also works
How to Make Crockpot Spiral Ham
1. Unwrap the ham. Remove the ham from the packaging and discard the glaze packet and any plastic pieces covering the bone.
2. Set it in the slow cooker. Place the ham flat-side down in a large slow cooker.
3. Add the brown sugar. Rub the brown sugar evenly over the outside of the ham.
4. Pour on the liquids. Pour the maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham.
5. Cook on Low. Cover and cook on Low for about 4 hours, until the ham is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
6. Baste. Baste the ham with the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker now and then while it cooks, and again right before serving.
7. Rest and serve. Let the ham rest for a few minutes before slicing, then serve warm.
Which Ham Fits and How Long It Takes
Three questions come up every time someone puts a ham in a slow cooker: will it fit, how long does it need, and how do I know it’s ready? Here are the answers.
Match the ham to the cooker. A 7 to 9 pound ham fits a 6 to 7 quart slow cooker, and an oval 6 to 8 quart cooker is ideal for a 7 to 8 pound ham. Anything much over 8 pounds is usually too big for a 6 to 7 quart cooker unless you cut it first.
Time it by weight. The bigger the ham, the longer it takes to heat through on Low:
| Ham weight | Time on Low |
|---|---|
| 6 to 7 pounds | 3 1/2 to 4 hours |
| 7 to 8 pounds (this recipe) | About 4 hours |
| 7 to 9 pounds | 4 to 5 hours |
| 8 to 10 pounds | 4 to 5 hours |
| 9 to 10 pounds | 5 to 6 hours |
The ranges overlap because hams and slow cookers vary. Start checking at the short end of the range for your weight, and keep the lid on between checks.
Use the thermometer, not the clock. Because the ham is already cooked, you’re only warming it. USDA FSIS says cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants are reheated to 140°F, and all others to 165°F. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer.
If the lid won’t close. Turn the ham on its side. Or trim a little off the top or bottom and tuck that piece in next to the ham. If it’s only just too tall, cover the cooker tightly with a double layer of foil instead of the lid.
How Much Ham to Buy
Plan on 1/2 to 3/4 pound per person for a bone-in spiral ham. If you want leftovers for sandwiches, soups and casseroles, round up to a full pound per person. A 7 to 8 pound ham covers about 16 servings at the lower end of that range.
If you’re buying for a holiday and want sandwiches, ham and beans or a ham casserole later in the week, the full pound per person is the number to use. Then check the size against your slow cooker before you check out: a 7 to 9 pound ham is the sweet spot for a 6 to 7 quart cooker.
Tips for Success
How do I keep the ham from drying out?
Baste it. The juices that collect at the bottom mix with the brown sugar and fruit juice, and that mixture is what keeps the ham juicy and sweet; spoon them over the ham now and then while it cooks and once more before serving. Rubbing a little brown sugar between the slices helps the glaze reach the middle too.
The glaze is thin. Can I thicken it?
Yes. Simmer extra glaze ingredients (more brown sugar, syrup and juice) in a saucepan for about 20 minutes until thicker, then spoon it over the sliced ham.
Can I get a crisp, caramelized top?
Move the ham to a foil-lined sheet pan, brush it with the warm juices and broil on high for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely. Or sprinkle a few tablespoons of brown sugar on top first and broil for 3 to 4 minutes.
Variations
- Different juice: orange juice, apple juice or apple cider instead of pineapple. For a pineapple allergy, use white grape juice with a small splash of vinegar.
- Less sweet: stir 1 to 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard into the juices.
- Warm spices: add a pinch of cinnamon, allspice or cloves to the glaze.
- Pineapple on top: pour crushed pineapple over the ham, or set pineapple chunks or rings on top.
- Orange marmalade: rub the ham with orange marmalade and use orange juice as the liquid.
Storage & Reheating
Slice or cut the leftover ham into smaller pieces so it cools quickly, then refrigerate it within 2 hours in shallow, covered containers. It keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge or 3 to 4 months in the freezer; thaw it in the fridge. Reheat leftovers covered to 165°F, in a 275°F oven under foil or a small serving in the microwave. USDA FSIS does not recommend reheating leftovers in a slow cooker.
What to Serve With It
For the holiday table, serve the ham with ham and potato au gratin on the side. Then put the leftovers to work: crock pot ham and beans, ham and potato corn chowder, crockpot ham and potato casserole and slow cooker Amish cream of chicken ham pasta all start with cooked ham. Want a smaller ham dinner on a weeknight? Try 5-ingredient slow cooker ham steaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a spiral ham in a slow cooker?
Yes, as long as it fits with the lid on. A 7 to 9 pound ham fits a 6 to 7 quart cooker; turn it on its side or trim it if it’s too tall.
Do you need liquid in a slow cooker for ham?
A little. This recipe uses 1 cup of pineapple juice and 1/2 cup of maple syrup, which mix with the ham’s own juices at the bottom of the pot for basting.
How long do you cook a spiral ham in the crockpot?
About 4 hours on Low for a 7 to 8 pound ham, 3 1/2 to 4 hours for a 6 to 7 pound ham, and 5 to 6 hours for a 9 to 10 pound ham. It’s ready when it reaches 140°F, or 165°F if it wasn’t packaged in a USDA-inspected plant.
What is the best way to cook ham in a crockpot?
Low and slow, with the lid on. Set the ham flat side down, rub brown sugar over the outside, pour the syrup and juice over the top, cook it on Low and baste it with the juices from the bottom of the pot a few times along the way. Pull it as soon as it reaches 140°F so it stays juicy.
Can I put a frozen ham in the slow cooker?
No. USDA FSIS says to always thaw meat before it goes into a slow cooker. Thaw the ham in the fridge first.
Final Notes
Measure your slow cooker before you buy the ham; it’s much easier to pick the right size at the store than to trim one at home. Tell me in the comments what you served with yours.
Crockpot Spiral Ham
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Ingredients
- 7-8 lb spiral sliced ham fully cooked, bone-in is fine; glaze packet discarded
- 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 cup pineapple juice orange juice also works
Instructions
- Remove the ham from the packaging and discard the glaze packet and any plastic pieces covering the bone.
- Place the ham flat-side down in a large slow cooker.
- Rub the brown sugar evenly over the outside of the ham.
- Pour the maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham.
- Cover and cook on Low for about 4 hours, until the ham is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
- Baste the ham with the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker now and then while it cooks, and again right before serving.
- Let the ham rest for a few minutes before slicing, then serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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