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You can’t go wrong with Crockpot Ham for special occasions. Tender ham that has a brown sugar glaze along with pineapple and a touch of Dijon mustard.
I make ham in the crockpot for almost every holiday—Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—and this is our tried-and-true family recipe. It’s easy to throw together and always comes out moist, with a sweet pineapple sauce that’s perfect for spooning over your sides. Whether you’re serving a crowd or want leftovers for sandwiches, this slow cooker ham delivers every time.
What you’ll need:
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy and flavorful slow cooker ham:
- A ready-to-eat ham – Most hams in the United States are precooked, and that’s what you want.
- Your favorite mustard (yellow, Dijon, or stone ground)
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Canned pineapple (use the juice, don’t drain!)
- A large slow cooker (6-quart or bigger)
How to Make Crockpot Ham
Place the ham in your slow cooker, then top it with mustard, brown sugar, and the pineapple along with all its juices. The low and slow cooking time will keep your ham moist. Though, don’t over cook or you will make pulled ham. Find the full Recipe in the recipe card below the images.
Cook’s Notes
You can replace the honey with brown sugar. Use 1/4 cup of honey in place of the 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Trim the ham if it’s too large for your slow cooker; removing a piece from the narrow end usually does the trick. If your ham is still too large, you can add foil over the entire slow cooker then add the lid on top — though the cooking time will take longer.
Use whole pineapple rings for the classic look of a holiday ham, you can even add maraschino cherries as well.
Serving Ideas for Ham
Ham is one of those fantastic main courses that pair well with a variety of side dishes; here are my favorites.
Crockpot ham pairs perfectly with rich Crockpot Baked Beans, creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, and holiday favorites like Crockpot Green Bean Casserole, stuffing, or pineapple casserole. Add a spoonful of Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce to round out the plate.
Leftovers? Enjoy them cold, in sandwiches, or stirred into soups like Slow Cooker Ham and Beans or 15 Bean Soup with Ham.
Featured Comment
“Oh yea!!!! This ham is awesome. I made it for Christmas dinner and it was very moist and delicious. I will never made a ham in the oven again. Thank you so much Sarah. Keep the great recipes coming.”
– kATHIE
Crockpot Ham
How to Video
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 its 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.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
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