This amazing Crockpot Ham is the BEST slow cooker ham recipe! It’s cooked in pineapple juice and has a brown sugar glaze with Dijon, balsamic vinegar, and honey. It’s SO EASY to make that it almost makes itself for the holidays!
This delectable Crockpot Ham has been the top holiday recipe on my site since 2014. Over the years, millions of happy readers have made it and come back to this post many times.
Today I’ve decided to add some new step-by-step photos, tips, and tricks to my slow cooker ham recipe. I’m leaving the main photos the same, though, so that people who come back to make the “Brown Sugar Slow Cooker Ham” that they know and love from previous holidays can still find this post. .
I think cooking ham in the crockpot is one of the best holiday cooking ideas I’ve ever had! As everyone knows, there isn’t a lot of room in the oven for holiday meals. There are a ton of side dishes to bake, not to mention homemade rolls, desserts, and more. Thats why its always nice to ensure that some of your dishes dont rely on said oven.
That’s also why this Crockpot Ham recipe has been so popular for so long: it’s easy to put together and tastes so good that many reviewers have said they’ll never cook a ham in the oven again!
Another beautiful quality of this slow cooker ham is that it requires just a handful of basic ingredients.
The only things you need for slow cooking and glazing this Crockpot Ham are the ham itself and a few others:
The above ingredients melt down into the most tantalizing glaze. And once thickened, its served alongside (or drizzled all over) the ham.
Without a doubt, my favorite part of this recipe is the glaze. I could eat it with a spoon. .
As a busy mom, I’m always looking for delicious, low-effort ways to feed my family. That’s why cooking a Smithfield ham in the crockpot has become one of my favorite easy dinner tricks. This method yields incredibly moist, flavorful holiday-worthy ham with barely any hands-on time. Set it and forget it!
In this article, I’ll walk through my simple technique for cooking a Smithfield bone-in ham in the slow cooker. With just a few basic ingredients and hardly any prep, you’ll have juicy, crowd-pleasing ham ready for your next gathering or for tasty leftovers all week long. Keep reading for my step-by-step instructions!
Why Choose Smithfield Ham?
If you’re going to invest 6+ hours cooking a hunk of pork in your crockpot, you want to start with a high-quality, reliably delicious ham. Here’s why Smithfield is my go-to brand:
-
Real Wood Smoked – Genuine hardwood smoking gives Smithfield ham incredibly rich smoky flavor you can’t replicate. No liquid smoke shortcuts here!
-
Minimally Processed – Smithfield cures their pork with basic natural ingredients. No artificial preservatives or colors. Just authentic country ham taste.
-
Bone-In for More Moisture – Bone-in hams like Smithfield’s retain more moisture during cooking. Boneless hams can dry out.
-
Fully Cooked – No need to worry about raw pork in the slow cooker! Smithfield hams come pre-cooked so they just need reheating.
The smoky, porky flavor Smithfield hams are known for really shines through when cooked low and slow. Now let’s get to prepping this easy crockpot meal!
Step-By-Step Instructions for Crockpot Smithfield Ham
With just 5 main steps, you’ll have succulent slow-cooked Smithfield ham ready for dinner or leftovers.
Ingredients Needed:
- 1 (5-7 lb) Fully Cooked Smithfield Bone-In Ham
- 1⁄2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 1⁄4 cup Spicy Brown Mustard
- 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 12oz Can Soda (I love Dr. Pepper!)
- 20 Whole Cloves
Step 1 – Start With a Good Ham
Take your Smithfield ham out of the packaging. Make sure you have an oval crockpot large enough to fit the ham laying flat A 6-7 quart size usually does the trick
Step 2 – Stud with Cloves
Studding the ham with whole cloves adds nice pops of aroma and flavor. Just stick them all over the ham, evenly spaced. Use all 20 cloves.
Step 3 – Make a Simple Glaze
In a small saucepan, stir together the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar and 1/2 cup of the soda. Heat until bubbling and thickened, about 8 minutes.
Step 4 – Pour the Soda & Add the Ham
Pour the remaining soda into the crockpot. Lay the ham inside and brush on about 1/4 cup of the glaze mixture, reserving the rest.
Step 5 – Cook on Low 6 Hours
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, until the ham is hot throughout. In the last few minutes, brush again with the reserved glaze.
That’s it – you just “set it and forget it”! In just a few hours, you’ll have a gorgeous glazed ham with very little effort on your part.
Handy Tips for Crockpot Smithfield Ham
Over the years, I’ve picked up some useful tips and tricks for getting the most out of my crockpot Smithfield ham. Here are my best pointers:
-
Choose a ham on the smaller side, 5-6 lbs, to ensure it cooks evenly.
-
Resist opening the lid! Slow cooker lids lock in steam to keep food moist.
-
Add a few splashes of water if the crockpot seems too dry.
-
Use soda instead of broth or juices for incredible flavor.
-
Brush with glaze at the beginning and end only for best results.
-
Let the ham rest for 15-20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
-
Save the bone, leftovers and glaze juices to make beans, soup, fried rice, etc!
Fun Ways to Use Leftover Crockpot Ham
A Smithfield ham cooked in the slow cooker yields the most succulent, smoky shredded pork you can imagine. Here are some of my favorite ways to reinvent the leftovers:
-
Ham Salad Sandwiches – Dice ham and mix with mayo, celery, pickle relish, hard boiled eggs. So tasty!
-
Ham & Cheese Strata – Layer ham, cheese, bread cubes, pour over an egg mixture, let sit overnight and bake. Perfect brunch dish.
-
Ham Fried Rice – Dice ham. Make fried rice with vegetables, soy sauce, sesame oil. Top with a fried egg.
-
Ham Potato Soup – Saute onions, add broth, milk, diced ham and potatoes. Finish with cheese and scallions. Comfort food!
-
Ham Quesadillas – Spread refried beans and cheese on tortillas, add chopped ham. Grill for an easy lunch or app.
Leftover Smithfield crockpot ham brings endless meal possibilities. It reheats beautifully for days ofeasy dinners and additions to scrambles, pasta bakes, omelets and more.
Can I Make My Slow Cooker Ham Savory (Not Sweet)?
If you enjoy more of a savory ham versus sweet, its easy to adapt this recipe.
Simply eliminate both the pineapple juice and the brown sugar from your ingredient list. Instead, pour a chicken or vegetable broth in the bottom of your slow cooker. This will ensure that the ham stays moist while it cooks.
You could also add minced garlic, crushed black peppercorns, and/or a little white wine to your broth if you wanted to.
If you can handle a little sweetness, add two tablespoons of honey, balsamic vinegar, and mustard to the coating mixture. Without the brown sugar, it won’t really stick together. Combine and smear all over the ham. Then follow the same directions as far as cooking time.
What Size Ham Do I Need?
The size of ham you buy depends on how many people you are going to feed. You can go with a large ham for a big group. Or, I cut this recipe in half and shortened the cooking time so that I can use as little as a 2-pound petite ham half as a weeknight meal for my family every day.
To figure out how many servings to make, figure that each person will need about ½ pound of boneless ham or ¾ pound of bone-in ham.
I think an oval crock pot that holds 7 to 8 quarts of food would work best for a ham that weighs up to 8 pounds. But of course, that also depends on the shape of the ham!.
Crockpot Ham
FAQ
How long does it take to heat a fully cooked ham in a Crock-Pot?
What is the best way to cook a Smithfield ham?
Does ham need to be submerged in a slow cooker?
Is Smithfield ham fully cooked?
How do you Crock Pot A Ham?
Add the ham to the crockpot: Make sure that the spiral cut side faces downward. Mix the glaze ingredients together: Then, press the glaze into the top of the ham. Cook the ham: Cover the ham (with the lid, or foil if needed) and cook for 3-4 hours. Baste the ham with juice: Finally, let the ham rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Can you cook a spiral ham in a crock pot?
Once the glaze is done, drizzle over the top of the unheated ham that’s waiting in the crock pot. How long to cook spiral ham in crock pot? Put the lid back on the slow cooker and cook the crockpot ham for 4-5 hours on low until heated through and it reaches an internal temperature of 145F.
Is a crockpot Ham a good recipe?
Ultimately, Crockpot ham is a forgiving recipe as long as you’re cooking on low and keeping ham moist with enough ginger ale in the crock. While you may be tempted to blast your ham on high (we’re just reheating it, after all), warm your ham in a slow cooker low and slow.
Do you need a crockpot to cook a bone-in 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. Take your ham to the next level with this spiral ham crockpot recipe!