This super easy Crock Pot Ham Recipe is glazed with honey, brown sugar and apple cider then slow cooked to juicy perfection.
It’s the perfect way to serve a ham for the holidays, whether it’s Easter, Christmas or Thanksgiving. Just don’t forget to save the ham bone to make my Easy Ham Bone Soup!
Crock Pot Ham Recipe
Whenever there is a big holiday dinner, we almost always serve a ham as well as some cheesy potatoes, fluffy rolls and of course some green beans. When I’m looking to save room in the oven, I always turn to my slow cooker for relief. It’s perfect for freeing up space in the oven, while still giving you a juicy ham that everyone will love.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s a basic list of the ingredients you’ll need in order to make this super easy slow cooker whole ham. As always, the full list of ingredients is located in the printable recipe card below.
- Bone-In Spiral Cut Ham
- Brown Sugar
- Honey
- Apple Cider – or apple juice
- Rosemary
How To Heat Ham In Slow Cooker
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This recipe is basically meant for heating up an already cooked ham. Most ham you pick up in the grocery store will already be pre-cooked. All you need to do is heat it up in order to serve.
By cooking your ham in the slow cooker, it not only allows you to slowly and effectively heat it up without drying it out, but we’re also going to add a delicious brown sugar and apple glaze to the outside.
Start by coating your slow cooker with non stick spray.
Place Ham in Crock Pot
Place your spiral cut ham into the slow cooker and coat the ham with the brown sugar. Drizzle the honey all over the top of the ham, then pour in the apple cider.
PRO TIP: I like to add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary to give it a subtle taste of herbs.
Cook on LOW
In order to allow the full ham to heat up without drying out, you’ll want to set the temperature to LOW. Cook on low heat for about 3 to 4 hours. or until the center of the ham reaches 135°F – 140°F.
Create Ham Glaze
Remove the ham from the slow cooker and set on the serving dish or platter and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.
Scoop about 1 1/2 cups of the liquid from the slow cooker into a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Keep cooking until the glaze reduces by about 1/2 and the mixture is thickened.
Use a pastry brush to spread the delicious brown sugar ham glaze over the moist ham before serving.
What Type of Ham To Cook in Slow Cooker?
There are a lot of different cuts of ham to choose, but my favorite is to use a spiral cut, picnic, bone-in ham. The ham should be pre-cooked, making it very easy to prepare for your big holiday feast.
Most of the ham you can buy at the store will come with a glaze packet or seasoning packet that you can use. Feel free to use my cooking method with the seasoning packet they provide, or toss their seasoning and use mine instead… it’s delicious and fresh without any preservatives.
Apple Cider or Apple Cider Vinegar?
There is a BIG difference between apple cider and apple cider vinegar. PLEASE make sure you are NOT using the vinegar for this recipe. You won’t like the end results.
If you are having a hard time finding apple cider, you can also use regular apple juice, just make sure it’s 100% apple juice.
Once the ham is to temperature transfer it to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
Scoop about 1 1/2 cups of the liquid from the slow cooker out and transfer to a small pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sauce has reduced to about half. Brush the sauce over the ham for added flavor.
How To Serve Ham with a Bone:
- I prefer to buy the bone-in ham because it adds extra flavor to the ham when cooked, plus the bone is great for cooking in soups!
- Use a sharp knife to cut along-side the bone, carving around through the pre-cut slices.
- Place the sliced ham on a serving platter and brush with more glaze if desired.
- Wrap the bone up and place in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
What To Serve With Ham?
Ham is great with just about anything, but here are a few of my absolute favorite side dishes.
I’m sure this super easy Crockpot Ham Recipe will be a favorite of yours this Easter (or Thanksgiving or Christmas)!
HELPFUL PRODUCTS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
Crock Pot Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 lb. bone-in, spiral cut picnic ham (precooked)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 cup apple cider, or 100% apple juice
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Coat crock pot with nonstick spray and place ham, cut side down inside.
- Press the brown sugar all over the spiral cut portion of the ham then drizzle the honey over the top. Pour in the apple cider and add the rosemary around the ham.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.*
- Transfer ham to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Meanwhile scoop out about 1 1/2 cups of the liquid from the crockpot and place in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until sauce is reduced to about half. Brush the ham with the reduced sauce. Slice and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE
If allergic to fruit juices, can you just use water in place of it?
I want to try this but like one of your other followers, I bought a precooked bone in ham than was not cut. Any suggestions on how to do this? Just cook it, slice it and then pour the mixture over it?
If I use a bone in ham shank which is NOT spiral cut, can I just pop it in the crock pot, or do I need to prepare it in any way so that it cooks through thoroughly?
Thanks
Hi Shawn, This sounds and looks amazing. But that is nothing new, I have loved every recipe of yours that I have made over the years. I am wishing you and yours a Safe and Blessed Holiday Season.
That’s very sweet of you Greg! Thank you and happy holidays to you as well!
Great Recipe ! Delicious! Thank you Shawn!
Could I use an apricot and orange marmalade glaze
That would make it a different recipe.
Hi there! I am unable to use brown sugar for one of our guests. Would this still work okay leaving the brown sugar out? I do not believe I can use other types of sugar except for coconut sugar or maple syrup. Thanks for your time!
Could I use Molasses instead of honey?
I would not swap molasses for honey. Molasses is very rich and thick, and would over power the flavor here.
Can I cook this in the crock pot with a crock pot bag?
Are you meaning a crock pot liner? If so, yes, that should be fine!
I cheaped out and bought a regular ham bone in because there are only 3 of us and the spiral cut were all to big would this work on that kind of ham. It’s only about 3 pounds
I’m going to use a crockpot bag. Did that work out ok for you? Here’s to hoping.
Best Ham By Far!
Fixed mine in the InstantPot,slow cooker mode 4hrs just as instructed(8 1/2lb.
Before when cooked in oven seemed to be dry,Not this time.
THIS IS A KEEPER !
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed it Charles!
I don’t have a crock pot anymore will it work in a dutch oven or a big pot please let me know I want to try it.
Hey Beth, I think that should work, you’ll just want to probably use the dutch oven in your oven and keep it at a lower temp so it doesn’t burn.
I cooked this for Easter and my husband said this was the best ham he’s ever eaten. I didn’t get a spiral ham, because I had already bought one on sale. So we just cut slices all over the ham before putting it in the crock pot. My husband told me I better not lose this recipe as this is the way he wants me to cook it every time!!
Hi Sandra, I’m so happy to hear you and your husband have enjoyed this recipe!
I use apple cider vinegar in mine and I don’t see what the problem is. I only use 2 Tbsp.
There is a big difference between 2 tbsp and 1 cup. You would probably not enjoy the taste of 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in this recipe. 😉
It’s not supposed to be Apple cider vinegar. :). Apple cider, or juice. Both sweet. I agree Apple cider vinegar would not be too tasty. I had to read it a few times.
I didn’t see a size for the Crockpot. Do you think this delicious looking Ham will fit into a 4 quart Crockpot?
THE HAM LOOKS TOO FATTY FOR ME!
I used an 8-quart crock pot, but you can use a smaller ham for a 4-quart pot.
Do you pour the apple cider over the ham? Doesn’t that wash the brown sugar and honey off?
Is the sodium coming from the ham or another ingredient(s)?
Salt is used in the curing process of ham. This is what give it the sodium level. Hope this helps!
looks very delicous
280 alories. Is it not too elss for a main dish? I mean I require 1300 – 1500 everyyday. I’ll have to take this thrice the qty?
The nutrition information is for only the ham. I’m sure when you add the calories for the rest of the meal you will meet your caloric requirements.