If you're looking for an easy and delicious way to make ham that stays juicy and flavorful, this crockpot recipe is exactly what you need!
Easy Crockpot Ham
Cooking ham in the crockpot is such a breeze, and this recipe makes it even easier to enjoy! I love how it keeps the ham super moist without drying out, and that caramelized coating? So delicious! It's perfect for a low-fuss holiday dinner or even a cozy weeknight meal. Plus, the leftovers are great for sandwiches, omelets, or even soups - it's a win-win all around!
Recipe Ingredients
- 6-8 lbs bone-in spiral sliced ham - Should be small enough to fit in the crockpot! Note: Spiral hams are presliced already from the store.
- 1 cup orange juice - pineapple juice, or apple juice
Slow Cooker Sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup salted butter - melted
Brown Sugar Glaze:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Kitchen Equipment I Used
- Slow Cooker - I honestly bought mine from the thrift store (it was in perfect brand new shape!) but you can also grab one inexpensively on Amazon.
- You'll also need: a Baking Sheet, a silicone brush, and some mixing bowls.
- Measuring spoons - this is a magnetic set that sticks together in the drawer to keep organized. I love 'em!
Recipe Instructions
Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
STEP 1: Add the 6-8 lbs bone-in spiral sliced ham to your slow cooker and pour in 1 cup orange juice (or pineapple juice).
STEP 2: Melt ¼ cup butter and ½ cup honey in a saucepan on the stove (or bowl in the microwave). Drizzle the mixture over the ham.
STEP 3: Cover with lid and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the ham is heated through and reaches 145°F internally with a meat thermometer. Baste the ham with the liquid every 30 minutes to keep moist.
STEP 4: In the last 30 minutes, mix together the glaze: In a saucepan, heat up mix 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, and ¼ tsp ground cloves with ½ cup ham liquid from the slow cooker or water. Heat for 30 seconds until the sugar dissolves.
STEP 5: Preheat the oven to "broil" setting and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Next, place the ham on the baking sheet and brush half of this brown sugar glaze over the ham. Broil for 1-2 mins until sugar carmelizes, then remove from the oven.
STEP 6: Brush the ham with the last half of the brown sugar glaze. If they glaze is too thick, just stir in 1-2 Tbsp of water to help loosen it. Now the ham is ready to serve!
Recipe Tips
- Make sure the ham fits comfortably in your crockpot. If it's too large, you might need to trim it a bit so the lid can close.
- Cooking on high can dry out the meat, so it's best to use the low setting. Since the ham is already pre-cooked, you're really just warming it up and adding flavor, so it doesn't need much time in the slow cooker.
- Don't toss out the juices from the slow cooker! After cooking, you can mix it into the glaze for more flavor.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftover ham in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in foil. It'll last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: To freeze, wrap ham tightly in foil and then pop it into a freezer bag (to prevent freezer burn). They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- 6 lbs bone-in spiral sliced ham - between 6-8 lbs - should be small enough to fit in crockpot
- 1 cup orange juice - pineapple juice, or apple juice
Slow Cooker Sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup salted butter - melted
Brown Sugar Glaze:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the 6-8 lbs bone-in spiral sliced ham to your slow cooker. Melt ¼ cup butter and ½ cup honey in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave. Pour the melted butter and honey mixture over the ham.
- Cover with lid and cook on low for 3-4 hours. In the last 15 minutes, line a baking sheet with foil.
- In the last 30 minutes, mix together the glaze: In a saucepan, heat up mix 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, and ¼ tsp ground cloves with ½ cup water. Heat for 30 seconds until the sugar dissolves.
- Preheat the oven to "broil" setting. Next, place the ham on the baking sheet and brush half of this brown sugar glaze over the ham. Broil for 1-2 mins until sugar carmelizes, then remove from the oven.
- Brush the ham with the last half of the brown sugar glaze. If they glaze is too thick, just stir in 1-2 Tbsp of water to help loosen it. Now it's ready to serve!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
Stacy says
We've tried several different ham recipes over the years. All of them were just okay. Picked this recipe on a whim and I'm never looking back. This ham was full of flavor and juicy.
Emily says
Made this for Thanksgiving to go along with our turkey. So easy and turned out perfect.