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This Crockpot Spiral Ham is a favorite around the holidays. With only 4 ingredients and virtually no mess, this recipe couldn’t be easier!
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Crockpot Spiral Ham Recipe
This spiral ham is delicious anytime, but especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Personally, I love making a big ol’ ham full well knowing I am going to have lots of leftovers for even more tasty recipes throughout the week. It’s the ham that keeps on giving. There are a million different reasons why I love this recipe, but probably the biggest reason is that it’s just so easy. It is the most foolproof ham recipe ever and it’s always a hit!
Why Make Spiral Ham in a Crockpot
When preparing meals for a holiday dinner or even a big Sunday dinner, oven space becomes an issue. Heating the ham in the crockpot saves oven space for side dishes and rolls and allows the meat to simmer in the sweet sauce. Another benefit of using a Crockpot is that it doesn’t dry out the ham. This ham is slow-cooked in the Crockpot and it always turns out perfectly! The ham stays tender and flavorful. You can always cover the ham with foil before serving to keep it from drying out. Don’t forget to use a CrockPot liner to make cleanup even easier!
Ingredients for Crockpot Ham
This Crockpot ham recipe couldn’t be easier! All you need is ham and three other ingredients to make the tastiest sauce you will ever try. These ingredients are simple and add the most flavor when combined. The least amount of ingredients for the most amazing flavor of ham!
- Spiral-cut ham: This recipe calls for an 8-10 pound boneless or bone-in ham. You can easily cook a larger ham, and double the ingredients for the glaze.
- Brown sugar: About a cup of sweet light brown sugar! This will melt together with the maple syrup and poured overtop the spiral-sliced ham. You can even use dark brown sugar for a more deep and savory crockpot ham recipe.
- Maple syrup: For this slow cooker ham recipe, use real maple syrup. The thick, sweet syrup will make the best glaze for the ham.
- Canned pineapple juice: I usually use canned pineapple juice for this recipe, but fresh pineapple juice works fine too.
How to Make Spiral Ham in a Slow Cooker
- First, remove ham from packaging and place in a large (7+ quart) Crockpot of Slow cooker. I always make my own glaze so I discard the glaze packet if there is one included.
- Place ham flat-side down in the slow cooker. If it doesn’t fit, ham can be placed on its side so the lid can close.
- Generously rub brown sugar all over the ham. Pour maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham, getting it down between all the layers.
- Place the lid on the Crockpot and slow cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Stir juices and spoon over the ham. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes. Remove ham from slow cooker and allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Tips for Perfect Spiral Ham Every Time
Take your ham to the next level with this spiral ham crockpot recipe! It only takes minutes to prep and cooks all day in the slow cooker giving it that intense flavor and aroma throughout your home. These helpful tips will give you the best crockpot spiral ham recipe yet!
- Layer with Ingredients – For added flavor, consider layering the ham with ingredients like pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, or even brown sugar on the bottom before adding the ham.
- Baste periodically – Baste the ham with the glaze and juices from the bottom of the slow cooker every hour or so for maximum flavor.
- Check the internal temperature – Ham is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to perfection.
- Use the broiler for a glaze finish – To create a caramelized glaze on the ham’s surface, transfer it to a baking sheet and broil it in the oven for a few minutes after slow cooking.
- Let it rest – Allow the ham to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This lets the juices redistribute, resulting in a juicier spiral ham.
- Serve with extra glaze – Offer extra glaze on the side for those who want an extra drizzle of flavor. Thicken the glaze by placing it in a small saucepan on the stove and thickening it with a little cornstarch-water mixture and a little extra brown sugar until thickened to your desired consistency.
Best Ham Glaze Options
To use these glazes in this crockpot spiral ham recipe, simply place the spiral ham in the crockpot and brush the glaze over it. If you are using a spiral ham, make sure to get the glaze on every slice. Cook on low for the same amount of time as in the recipe below, occasionally basting the ham with the glaze. The low and slow cooking process will allow the flavors to meld beautifully, no matter which hame glaze you choose!
Maple Brown Sugar Glaze (My Favorite)
For this recipe, we use a delicious maple and brown sugar glaze. It is my favorite and I use it often! In the recipe I use 2/3 cup of maple syrup but usually I am a little more heavy-handed with it. For the pineapple, I just use the pineapple juice from a can of pineapple chunks. Sometimes I will just dump the chunks of pineapple right in the Crockpot with the ham and serve it on the side, just for fun.
Best Maple Syrup for Slow Cooker Ham
For this recipe, I love using REAL maple syrup. It adds such a rich, maple flavor that is hard to beat. Of course, real maple syrup is quite expensive, so if you want to use your typical Mrs. Butterworth’s (or any regular breakfast maple syrup), that’s okay too. Don’t skimp on the syrup. If you feel like you need to add a little extra, do it! Follow your heart. If syrup just isn’t your thing, you can also use honey.
Creative Glaze Variations
Although the maple brown sugar glaze is my go-to, there are lots of fun glaze options out there. Here are some more great glaze ideas:
- Honey Mustard Ham Glaze – ½ cup honey, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Cherry Coke Glaze – 1 cup cherry Coke (or any cola), ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, ¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
- Orange and Ginger Glaze – ½ cup orange marmalade, 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ cup orange juice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Cranberry and Dijon Glaze – ½ cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied), 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Spicy Sriracha and Honey – ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce (adjust to your spice preference), 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- Cider and Mustard Crockpot Ham Glaze – ½ cup apple cider, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Crockpot Tips
Let the crockpot do all the work! These helpful tips will ensure that your ham turns out perfectly every time!
- Choose the right size crockpot – Ensure that your Crockpot is the right size for your ham. A bone-in ham may require a larger slow cooker.
- Use a liner for easy cleanup – Consider using a Crockpot liner to make cleanup a breeze.
- Cook on low heat – Slow cookers are meant for low and slow cooking. Cooking on low heat ensures the ham remains tender and doesn’t dry out.
No Crockpot? No problem!
Don’t have a crockpot but still want to make a delicious spiral ham? Try our oven-baked Honey Baked Ham Recipe. This is the perfect solution if your ham is too big for your Crockpot or you simply don’t have a Crockpot to use. You can still use the brown sugar glaze found in this recipe or go all in and make it Honeybaked ham style.
READ MORE: 25+ Traditional and Easy Sunday Dinner Ideas
Best Side Dishes to Serve with Ham
Want to make this slow cooker spiral ham but need some side dish ideas? You can never go wrong with a side of simple green beans, corn, carrots, and/or potatoes. We almost always serve this ham with our Cheesy Potato Casserole (aka Funeral Potatoes) and a Green Bean Casserole, but it is also VERY good with Parmesan Potato Halves or Dauphinoise Potatoes (scalloped potatoes). You can also serve with a salad (I love making our Christmas Salad, especially), Sautéed Peas, or even Creamy Potatoes and Peas. You can’t go wrong with any of these ideas for sides!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
To store your leftover spiral ham, let it cool to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place it in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for three or four days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When reheating individual slices in the microwave, wrap them in a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out. For larger portions, heat in an oven-safe dish with a lid or tight foil cover and reheat in a preheated oven at 325°F until heated through (about 10-15 minutes per pound). Always check with a meat thermometer (140°F).
You can also use your leftovers in soups or other recipes (see more ham recipes below). Remember, ham can only be reheated once so if you are heating a large amount, be prepared to polish it off!
Best Leftover Ham Recipes
No matter how many guests I have, I always seem to have so much ham left over! Chop up leftover crockpot ham and use it in omelets, breakfast casseroles, or breakfast sandwiches. So many possibilities! Here are a few of my favorites:
Ham and Bean Soup
Crockpot Split Pea Soup
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Layered Cold Pasta Salad
Ham Salad
Chef Salad
Questions About Spiral Ham
If you are planning a Christmas or Easter dinner, this question is always at the top of the list. How big of a ham should you buy? For a spiral ham, plan on ½ pound per person. So, if you will be serving 12 people, make sure your ham is at least 6 pounds. If you do have leftovers, you can easily freeze leftover ham and use it later for soup, casseroles, or sandwiches.
You can try trimming the ham or cutting it into smaller pieces. You can also cover the top of the ham with foil and place the lid over the top covering it as best you can. If your ham still doesn’t fit and you’re unable to modify it, you may need to resort to oven cooking. Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature for your ham, place it in a roasting pan, and follow the cooking instructions provided with your ham.
Yes, if you don’t like pineapple, orange juice is also very good with ham. You can also use apple cider.
Crockpot Spiral Ham
Video
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 8-10 pound spiral-cut ham (boneless ham or bone-in ham)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup pineapple juice
Instructions
- Remove ham from packaging and place in a large (7+ quart) slow cooker. Discard glaze packets (if any). Place ham flat-side down in the slow cooker, but if it doesn't fit, ham can be placed on its side so the lid can close.
- Generously rub with brown sugar all over the ham. Pour maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham.
- Add lid and cook for 2-3 hours on low heat.
- Stir juices and spoon over the ham. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove ham from slow cooker, place it on a serving platter, and serve!
Notes
- Heating the ham in the crockpot saves oven space for side dishes and rolls and allows the meat to simmer in the glorious sauce.
- Another benefit of using the Crockpot is that it doesn’t dry out the ham. The ham stays tender and flavorful.
- Not a fan of pineapple juice? Try apple cider or orange juice instead.
I tried this today and the ham was so moist and tasty. This is the way I will cook ham from now on. Thanks
Yay!! Thanks for the 5-star rating!!
This made an amazing ham! I have never made one and who knew it was so easy and flavorful! I did susubstitute orange juice for the pineapple juice since that is what I had on hand.
I am so glad you loved it! Thanks for the 5-star rating!
Can you use cola or ginger ale instead of juice?
I haven’t used soda before, so I’m not sure how that would change the recipe!
Making this for Thanksgiving today, it smells amazing, can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the recipe & Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
What if I don’t have a can of pineapple? Is there something else I can use?
Apple juice or apple cider would also work fine if you have it on hand. Thanks for asking!
What about orange juice?
Sure! Merry Christmas!
How do you remove it from the slow cooker.
We typically use grilling tongs or two large serving forks. Hope this helps!
do you mean a 32 oz can or what size pineapple juice please?
For this recipe you use 1 cup (8oz) of canned pineapple juice. You can use pineapple juice from a can of pineapple or just the straight-up pineapple juice in a can. Hope this helps!
Hi, I want to cook my
Ham in the crockpot. I’ve always made it in the oven but am not going to have the space this time. Does it come out similar to the way it cooks in the oven? I always have such great reviews for my ham, I’m apprehensive cooking it in the crockpot.
We absolutely love the way this ham comes out! I can’t tell a difference between it and the oven. I hope it goes well for you!
My mother in law gave me a 10ib double glazed bone in, spiral cut, ham but I don’t believe it’s pre-cooked…. can I still use this recipe?
This recipe is only for pre-cooked ham. You would probably have to adjust the cooking time quite a bit.
Hi, I have a 10 lb spiral SMOKED ham. Would that work for this recipe?
Thanks!
Yes, if it is smoked that means it was cooked. I would still always use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat to see when it is done.
Looks delicious -do you recommend bone in or boneless and what about cured vs uncured? TYIA
We like to use bone-in because we use the bone to make other recipes like our Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice (here: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/red-beans-and-rice/). And we used a cured ham in this recipe, so basically you are just warming it and not cooking it.
I have a 5 lb ham instead of 8-10. How much should I decrease the cooking time if any?
With this recipe you are really just warming the meat since it is already cooked. Maybe start with 2 hours and check it with a meat thermometer until it reaches the desired temperature. Hope this helps!
I am trying this for the first time today….I did not realize my ham was so tall. my lid does not fit….so I have covered the top with aluminum foil to act as the cover will this work do you think?
thanks
Yes, that should work fine and I do this all the time. Cover it tightly with foil and it will work like a dream. Hope this helps!
I wish I would have read this! I just took a hammer and Screwdriver to the bone so I could split it in half!
I have a frozen ham that will be done with this recipe. What is the suggested time in the crockpot?
Will you have time to thaw it first? The only problem from going very cold to hot is that the meat can become tough. You can try cooking it on low for a longer amount of time but we haven’t ever done it this way so I can’t tell you for sure. If you try it let us know how it turns out!
Just wondering A lot of the other recipes I’m reading say to cook for six or seven hours on low but you are says 2 to 3 ?
Honestly I think that 6-7 hours is too long. It is already pre-cooked, you just need to warm it. I REALLY don’t like my ham dried out and I think when it cooks for so long it makes it too dry. Totally my opinion though.
Is this pre cooked ham? I’m not sure what to buy!
Yes it is pre-cooked
Hi, Was wondering if you have ever used Honey instead of the syrup? For like a honey baked ham?
Yes, absolutely you an use honey instead. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the suggestion to use honey instead! I have a jar of honey but was going to make a run to the grocery to buy maple syrup. You just saved me a trip! 🙂
Great recipe for Sunday dinner! My husband and son gave it five stars because it is flavorful, moist and tasty. I always use this to avoid overheating the kitchen. A few simple sides make a complete and delicious dinner without hours of kitchen prep.
So glad you liked this so much! And yes, you can’t beat how EASY it is, right?? My husband loves that it doesn’t get dry like most ham dinners.
I dont add anything. Just crockpot heat and eat.
This looks so good. I always have a problem with spiral hams getting warm all the way through. Does this come out warm? I tried another recipe but our ham came out like jerky. Thanks!
Yes, it should be warm– and NOT dry! Definitely don’t want ham jerky haha
This is the recipe I use EVERY time I do a ham in the crockpot. DELICIOUS! Thanks.
This looks delicious. Question, do you mix the juice and syrup together prior to pouring over the ham or are they drizzled on separately? Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
You can do it either way, just for simplicity’s sake we usually just pour it all on separately. Hope this helps!
Is there a substitute for pineapple? Last minute and I don’t have any
You can use apple juice or canned mandarin oranges as a substitute in this recipe. I hope that helps!
This might be a not so smart question but if my ham is 12lbs should the cooking remain the same?
*cooking time
Yes, it should give the ham plenty of time to be heated even at 12 lbs. Thanks for asking!
I might try this recipe for Christmas…..looks so good. Thanks for sharing!!
You are very welcome 😀 Let us know what you think if you try it!
I made this for our family for the last 3 years and we all love it. It is simply and delicious. I choose to add fresh pineapple. Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I am so glad you guys enjoyed it! Pineapple sounds like a delicious addition! Thanks for the 5-star rating!
I tried this and used fresh pineapple juice rather than canned. I combined everything in crockpot and drove an hour to my Dad’s where I plugged it in and started heating. After 1 hr on high and 4 hrs on low, the pot was full of juice and the meat was mostly mush. Flavor was good but texture, icky! Was this because of using fresh vs already canned pineapple juice? Are there enzymes in pineapple that digest protein?!
It actually does. The enzyme contained in fresh pineapple breaks down the amino acid bonds in proteins. That is why people recommend eating fresh pineapple after a large protein meal (like Thanksgiving dinner) to help digestion. Also, the recommended cooking time for this recipe is 2-3 hours on low. Thank you for sharing your experience. I will make a note on the recipe to not use fresh pineapple juice for future reference.
I have. 7 quart slow cooker. The shape of my ten pound spiral ham makes it a tight fit in the slow cooker, . Could I replace the lid with aluminum foil so it doesn’t touch the top of the slow cooker lid? Please let me know. This is for Easter dinner and will keep my oven free to cook other things, Thank you,
Yes, you can absolutely cover with foil! Sometimes I will cover with foil and then lightly just place the lid over the top just so it holds in that heat a little better. Hope this helps!
I want to slice ham, then pour glaze over it and cook, will this be ok?
I don’t see why not!
What can I use in place of the pineapple juice. I’m panicking one of my guests is allergic to pineapple.
Thank you,
judy
You could probably get away with orange juice, it would give it a different taste but it will still be good!
Apple Cider is a fantastic substitution…. and it pairs well with the brown sugar and Maple
I assume I do not use the packet of glaze that comes with the ham?
You assume correctly! Throw the packet away!:)
hello from Kentucky! 🙂 Looks so good! Thanks for posting such a great looking ham!! Gotta try it! 🙂
Hello Kathy! Thank you so much 😀 Let us know what you think if you make it!