Crockpot Spiral Ham – Just 5 minutes of prep for tender, juicy ham every time! You will never fix ham any other way again. This is the perfect ham recipe for holiday meals!
We love to serve this slow cooker spiral ham during the holidays. It’s so easy, delicious and is always a favorite. We also love to serve roasted turkey and chicken, too!
Slow Cooker Ham
Today I am sharing the easiest and tastiest ham recipe ever. Seriously, after cooking this slow cooker ham, I will never mess with cooking one in the oven ever again. This spiral ham recipe is made with just 5 ingredients and you just set it and forget it. Let your crock pot do the cooking for you!
We always have ham during the holidays. It’s been a tradition ever since I can remember and this year I am making a slow cooker spiral ham. This recipe is so simple and the ham turns out amazing every time. You literally can not mess up this recipe, I promise! Plus, cooking the ham in a slow cooker frees up space in the oven for side dishes.
Other than the spiral ham itself, this recipe only calls for 5 ingredients, which you probably already have at home in your pantry. This slow cooker ham is made with brown sugar, pure maple syrup, pineapple juice, spicy brown mustard, and balsamic vinegar. You get sweetness from the brown sugar, maple syrup, and pineapple juice and a tangy kick from the mustard and balsamic vinegar. These flavors are so incredible together!
Glaze for spiral ham
There is no need to make the glaze ahead of time for this crockpot spiral ham. I just rub all of the ingredients into the spiral ham and then let the slow cooker do all the work.
Ingredients for spiral ham glaze
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Pineapple juice
- Spicy brown mustard
- Balsamic vinegar
How to cook a spiral ham in the 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. Scroll down for the printable slow cooker ham recipe.
- Place spiral ham inside slow cooker (make sure to spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray).
- Rub glaze ingredients (except pineapple juice) over ham using hands. Then pour pineapple juice into bottom of crockpot.
- Cover with lid (or aluminum foil if lid won’t fit).
- Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, basting twice during the last hour.
- Remove ham from crockpot and let set 10 minutes. Slice and serve!
TIP: If the spiral ham you buy is too large for your slow cooker, don’t worry. For this recipe 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 ham, covering tightly. You basically are steaming the ham with a tight seal.
How long to cook a spiral ham
Because the ham is already cooked, the purpose of this recipe is to warm it up while adding delicious flavor with the glaze and tenderizing it with the pineapple juice. I typically cook my spiral ham in the crockpot on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the ham is warm, tender and juicy. Make sure to baste twice during the last hour of cooking. I recommend using a bone-in spiral ham that’s about 7-10 pounds.
Favorite sides to serve with slow cooker spiral ham
There are so many delicious side dishes to serve with this crockpot spiral ham. Below are some of our favorites!
- Potatoes: Scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes and twice baked potatoes.
- Veggies: All types of roasted vegetables, like mixed veggies, carrots, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
- Classic holiday sides: 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.
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham
Ingredients
- 7-10 pound bone-in spiral ham
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups pineapple juice
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Remove the ham from the wrapper and discard glaze packet. Place ham inside prepared slow cooker.
- Rub brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and balsamic vinegar all over the ham 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.
- Remove from slow cooker and let set 10 minutes. Slice the ham off the bone and serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
Originally written by Katie from The Casual Craftlete.
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.
I’d like to make this for Easter but a guest has pineapple allergies. Can you recommend a substitute?
Hi Sue! I haven’t substituted the pineapple juice before so I’m not positive how it would turn out with another juice. You could try orange juice, but it will definitely change the flavor.
Jamie, thanks for the ham recipe. We have decided to do hams for our big dinner this year. I have ordered two 7-10 pound whole hams and will have 2 slow cookers working. ?. Just wondering if your method would work as well with them as with the spiral cut hams. Thanks
Dianne
Spiral ham is my fave! Love the tenderness than pineapple juice gives meat!
This is so tender and juicy. Perfect for the holidays!
Really easy and feeds a crowd
Arent spiral hams already fully cooked? Does cooking it for 4-5 more hours in a crock pot not dry it out?
If you make sure to baste and put it on low, it will be good! It just heats it up. :)
Oh wow, I love how this is made in the crockpot!
Great for the holidays when you need the oven for other things!
I’ve never tried ham in a crock pot but what a great idea!