You can’t go wrong with Crockpot Brown Sugar Ham for the holiday dinner. Tender ham that has a brown sugar glaze along with pineapple and a touch of dijon mustard.
You can make the entire holiday dinner in slow cookers! I make mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce in my extra slow cookers.
Why Make Brown Sugar Ham?
One bite of this recipe, and you will be in love. The combination of ham, brown sugar and pineapple is a classic, and it tastes fantastic. Make it for dinner at home or serve it at a holiday dinner and watch it disappear.
You might be wondering why to use the slow cooker when it is faster to heat it in the oven. It is quicker to heat the ham in the oven; however, using the slow cooker makes the entire process hands-off. You do not have to worry about dealing with the cooking process, and you can leave it to cook while you are busy with your day. Also, using the slow cooker helps the ham from drying out. The slow cooker keeps the moisture in the ham and gives you an incredibly tender, flavored brown sugar ham.
How to make crockpot ham:
Ingredients
- What kind of ham? Use either a pork shoulder picnic ham, bone-in spiral cut ham or black forest ham. Though, any ham will work great. Look for 6-7 pound ham, if you get one any larger you will need to cut a piece off the smaller end of the ham for it to fit in the crockpot. Make sure your ham is “cooked“, not raw (very rare to find a raw ham, just want to be clear though that this recipe is for a cooked ham). If you are in question about if your ham is cooked or raw, ask your butcher or see this article on how to tell if your ham is fully cooked.
- Mustard – Yellow, Dijon or stone ground. Not sure about adding mustard? Mustard adds tang to the ham and cuts down on the sweetness. Though, you can skip it if you don’t like mustard. Maille Dijon Mustard is my go to for recipes, you can find it a most grocery stores.
- Brown Sugar – Some recipes call for many cups of brown sugar, you do not need to overdo it! Just a half-cup of brown sugar sweetens ham perfectly.
- Pineapple – Use crushed, tidbits or rings! Any will do. I use a different kind every time I make this ham. Be sure to add the juices from the can.
Step By Step Directions
Step One: Add the ham to the slow cooker; if your ham is too large, cut the smaller end off. Use that ham for breakfast later in the week.
Step Two: Spread the mustard over the ham.
Step Three: Sprinkle the brown sugar over the mustard. The mustard, brown sugar, and pineapple juice will create a brown sugar glaze for the ham and simmer around it.
Step Four: Next, add the pineapple and juices. Place the lid on the slow cooker and then cook the ham for 5 hours on low. Be sure not to remove the lid and let the heat out. The short cooking time is because the ham is already cooked and needs to be warmed. You can overcook a ham, so time this correctly. When the cooking time is up slice and serve!
Sides for ham:
Ham is one of those fantastic mains that plenty of side dishes go well with; here are my favorites.
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans – Try this! Even for the holidays, it is really a treat!
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes – This recipe makes a large batch and is very decadent.
- Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole – A holiday tradition, and easily made in the crockpot.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, you can replace the honey with brown sugar. Use 1/4 cup of honey in place of the 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
With a ham this size, you are bound to have leftovers. You can enjoy the leftovers cold, right from the refrigerator, or use it on sandwiches. You can use the ham in soup such as Ham and Beans or 15 Bean Soup with Ham.
The first thought a lot of people have is will this ham fit in my slow cooker. If you have a 6-quart slow cooker, the answer is most likely yes. As long as the ham is around 6-7 pounds, it should fit inside your slow cooker. You can always cut one end of the ham off to make it work. (I use that piece for breakfasts).
If the ham has a bone in it, you will need to figure a 1/2 pound per person if it is boneless, 1/3 pound per person. If you are serving turkey as well, you can cut back even more. It is always nice to have leftovers or send leftovers with your guests, so don’t stress too much if you buy a larger ham.
You can reheat the ham either in the microwave if you are heating up small amounts like slices. Another option is to reheat the slices in a frying pan. This creates a different flavor by caramelizing the glaze.
If you have a large amount of ham to reheat you can heat it in the oven, place the ham in a baking dish and add about a 1/2 inch of water. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound.
Ham is one food item that can go a little longer in the fridge (longer than turkey). You can store your extra ham in ziplock bags in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze it for up to three months.
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Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 6 – 7 lb. picnic pork shoulder ham, spiral ham or black forest this ham will say ready to eat, not raw and uncooked
- 1/8 cup mustard yellow, dijon or stone ground (Maille dijon mustard is my favorite)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 20 oz. can pineapple – tidbits, crushed or rings DO NOT DRAIN
Instructions:
- Add the ham to the slow cooker. Spread over the mustard. Pat over the brown sugar. Now pour over the pineapple with it's juices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours. Don't open the lid while it cooks, so heat doesn't escape.
- Slice and serve with pineapple and juices.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- You can reheat the ham either in the microwave if you are heating up small amounts like slices.
- Another option is to reheat the slices in a frying pan. This creates a different flavor by caramelizing the glaze.
- If you have a large amount of ham to reheat you can heat it in the oven, place the ham in a baking dish and add about a 1/2 inch of water. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Instead of cutting the end off can you just put tin foil over it and crock pot?
I’ve never tried but have heard people doing this successfully.
I had to buy two 3 lb hams because they were out of the 6 lb hams. If I put them both in the crockpot at the same time. should I cook them still for the six hours or reduce the time? Thank you so much. This recipe looks delicious.
It does take a long time for the ham to heat up, I would plan on 6 hours, maybe turn to warm at 5 if it’s done.
Is there something I can substitute for the pineapple? My granddaughter is allergic to pineapple.
Hi Sheri! I use apple pie filling in another recipe, I bet you could use fresh apples. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-apple-and-clove-ham/
This is a great recipe my family ate since I can remember. And that’s a long time ago. Haha.
Can you do this recipe if you have just a ham steak?
Yes! Will work fine.
How long in the crock pot for ham steaks
I would do 4-5 hours on low. Here is a good recipe. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-ham-steaks-pineapple-rings/
This was a timely post. just before I got up this morning I was laying in bed wondering if I could use the slow cooker for my Christmas ham, and if so, how long. Frees up a lot of ‘real estate’ in the oven to cook it elsewhere. I have a black forest ham, two ‘cut’ sides, do I place the larger cut side down, wih the outside cured portion facing upwards? This is how I place it when cooking in the oven, just not positive I would do the same in a slow cooker. Thanks for the tips and Merry Christmas to one & all!
I wish I’d seen your recipe sooner. I’m a novice when it comes to cooking hams. I recently bought a 6.5# boneless, spiral ham to cook in my Crockpot. I panicked when it didn’t fit in my large Crockpot and decided to cook it in the oven. I used cola, brown sugar and pineapple rings. It was delicious but I was disappointed that I couldn’t use my Crockpot.
So my question is, when you say cut off the smaller end and place in Crockpot, which end is facing up? It seems like even after cutting off the smaller end, the other larger end will still be too tall for me to cover the crockpot.
Your advice please? I have a larger 8# ham I’d like to cook for family that will be visiting next week.
I usually put the smaller end up when I have to cut it. It really doesn’t matter though!
Thanks!
I have a 5# canned ham that’s fully cooked. . Would it work as well? Would the cooking time need to be adjusted?
Hi Jennifer! Since it’s not cold and it’s smaller I’d say 4-5 hours on low.
I was only able to find an 8 pound ham. It is precooked. Would the cooking time still work or do I need to do it longer for that extra pound?
You may need to do an hour longer and may have to cut a piece of the ham off to make it fit, but don’t fret you can use that ham for other recipes like breakfast, ham and cheese sandwiches or soups.
So, the only ham I was able to get (since Easter is this Sunday and I did this last minute!) is bone-in. Does this change any time at all?
I have a bone in ham also. I’m wanting to cook it tonight. Hopefully, we get a response soon.
Any ham will work fine. I can never find the exact ham I’m looking for usually, so this recipe is flexible
If you don’t want to use a glaze, will the ham be drier?
Do I need to add any juice other than the pineapple juice to the crock pot?
No, the pineapple juice will be plenty
I have a ten pound fully cooked ham. How long do you think would take to get heated through?
Hi! I’m just cooking for two and have a 3lb sliced ham. Would you say I should just cut back on the time I cook the ham? Maybe 4 hours instead, or would it matter?
5 hours on low would be fine I think!
Think this would work without the brown sugar? Brown sugar ham is a bit sweet for me, but the pineapple/mustard combo sounds intriguing.
I think it would work fine without the sugar!