Crockpot Spiral Ham

This Crockpot Spiral Ham is a favorite around the holidays. With only 4 ingredients and virtually no mess, this recipe couldn’t be easier!

Table of Contents

1. Crockpot Spiral Ham Recipe
2. How to Make Spiral Ham in a Slow Cooker
3. Best Ham Glaze Options
4. Best Maple Syrup for Slow Cooker Ham
5. Crockpot Tips
6. No Crockpot? No problem!
7. Best Side Dishes to Serve with Ham
8. Storing and Reheating Leftovers
9. Questions About Spiral Ham
10. Crockpot Spiral Ham Recipe

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Generously rub brown sugar all over the ham. Pour maple syrup and pineapple juice over the ham, getting it down between all the layers.
4. Place the lid on the Crockpot and slow cook on low for 2-3 hours.
5. 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.

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:

1. Honey Mustard Ham Glaze – ½ cup honey, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Spicy Sriracha and Honey – ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce (adjust to your spice preference), 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
6. 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