Making a Crock Pot Ham doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. I’m going to show you how easy it is to make this brown sugar pineapple ham in the crock pot! Read on for step-by-step instructions and advice on how to choose the best ham for your family!
Kentucky Legend ham is a delicious fully-cooked ham that only requires gentle heating to be ready to serve Using a crockpot is one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to cook this ham to tender, juicy perfection With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you’ll have perfect ham every time from the convenience of your crockpot.
An Overview of Kentucky Legend Ham
For those not familiar with it, Kentucky Legend ham is a premium, country-style ham made in Kentucky. Here’s a quick look at what makes it special
- Fully cooked and smoked – just needs reheating
- Made from fresh pork hind leg
- Aged over 120 days for exceptional flavor
- Coated with a brown sugar and honey glaze
- Boneless or bone-in options available
- Moist, tender, and deliciously salty-sweet
The longer aging time gives Kentucky Legend ham a more complex, nuanced flavor than typical hams. The natural juices keep it moist, while the sweet glaze provides a lovely balance.
Benefits of Cooking Ham in a Crockpot
Cooking Kentucky Legend ham in a crockpot offers several advantages:
- Very simple – just add ham and go
- Provides gentle, even heating
- Keeps ham incredibly moist
- Infuses ham with delicious flavors
- Minimal preparation or monitoring needed
- Frees up your oven
- Allows ham to cook safely unattended
- Easy cleanup
With just a few minutes of prep, you can pop the ham in the crockpot and hours later it’s ready to serve
Step-by-Step Crockpot Instructions
Cooking Kentucky Legend ham in the crockpot is super easy. Here’s how:
Prep the Ham
- Remove ham from packaging and discard any flavor packet.
- For bone-in ham, remove plastic tip from bone if present.
- Use a knife to trim off any rind or hardened outer layer.
Make the Glaze
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, honey, mustard, and spices.
- Brush glaze evenly over ham.
Cook in Crockpot
- Place ham in crockpot and add liquid (water, ginger ale, etc).
- Cook on low setting for 4-6 hours.
- Near end, brush again with glaze.
Rest and Serve
- Remove ham and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
- Slice ham and serve topped with pan juices.
That’s all there is to it! The crockpot does all the work.
Helpful Tips and Suggestions
- Cook time varies based on crockpot and ham size. Smaller hams may only need 4 hours.
- Add root beer, ginger ale, apple juice, or water to crockpot for moisture.
- Use bone-in or boneless ham. Bone-in adds more flavor.
- Invert boneless ham so glaze runs down into meat.
- Add crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, or apple slices to crockpot for extra flavor.
- Use flavored mustards like honey mustard in the glaze.
- Cook ham on low only to prevent overcooking. High can dry it out.
- Check temp with a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
Common Crockpot Ham Problems and Solutions
Dry, crumbly texture: Cook on low heat and add more liquid to the crockpot. Avoid overcooking.
Bland flavor: Use a quality, fully cooked ham and make a flavorful glaze. Add fruits, juices or spices to crockpot.
Tough, rubbery: Make sure to cook ham low and slow. High heat can cause rubbery meat.
Burned, crispy edges: Use lower crockpot heat. Add foil strips over exposed areas if needed.
Not fully heated: Cook longer, check internal temp, and cut ham into smaller pieces to allow thorough heating.
Delicious Crockpot Ham Recipes to Try
The simple preparation of Kentucky Legend ham makes it the perfect base for all kinds of easy crockpot meals:
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Apple Brown Sugar Ham: Cook ham with apple slices, brown sugar, butter, mustard, and cider.
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Pineapple Ham: Stud ham with cloves and top with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries.
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Honey Bourbon Ham: Use bourbon, brown sugar, and honey in the glaze.
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Ham with Vegetables: Cook ham in a crockpot with potatoes, carrots, beans, and broth.
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BBQ Ham: Smother cooked ham in your favorite barbecue sauce.
With just a few added ingredients, you can give basic ham exciting new flavors.
Enjoy Moist, Tender Crockpot Ham
Cooking Kentucky Legend ham in the crockpot delivers incredibly moist, fall-apart tender ham with very little hands-on effort. Follow the simple tips in this guide for perfect ham every time from your crockpot. The gentle crockpot heat, added moisture, and glaze all work together to give the ham an amazing texture and flavor your whole family will love.
How to cook a fully cooked ham in a crockpot?
Cooking up the BEST spiral ham in crock pot is easy. This recipe is so simple that it’s hard to mess up! Trust me, this is the best recipe for someone who has never cooked before!
- Take the ham out of the package and throw away any seasoning or glaze packets as well as any juice. You do not need to clean your ham. Simply place your ham in crock pot.
- Clean your hands and cover your ham in brown sugar. Do not skimp. Make sure that pig is nice and coated! .
- Put the pineapple juice and maple syrup on top of the ham.
- Put the lid on the crock pot and leave it alone. Every hour, baste the ham with the tasty glaze that’s on the bottom of the pot.
- Cook for 3 – 4 hours on low. If the temperature inside the ham reaches 145°F, it’s ready to eat.
- Fill a pot with ham juices and set it on the stove. This will make a thicker glaze for your finished ham.
- Put 2 teaspoons of water and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in a small bowl and mix them together. (OPTIONAL). Add to hot juices and stir. Your mixture should thicken slightly. If not thick enough repeat the water and cornstarch slurry. Take it off the heat when you’re ready to serve and spoon it over your ham.
Pro Tips:
- Don’t have a baster? Use a spoon with a long handle instead. Feel free to get as much of the tasty juice as you can on your ham slices.
- If your lid doesn’t fit, then don’t panic. To make a lid, just grab some tin foil and wrap it around your ham.
- Just remember to use oven mitts and open the door away from your face when you take off the foil because hot steam may come out.
- Before you put the lid back on the crock pot, fold the foil back down over it. The crock pot WILL be hot, so wear gloves or oven mitts.
What size of ham should I buy for this crockpot ham recipe?
- If you want to buy bone-in ham, you should get a ⅓ to ½-pound serving. This is to cover the weight of the bone. 8 people: 2 ½ to 4 pound ham bone; 12 people: 4 to 6 pound ham bone; 16 people: 5 ½ to 8 pound ham bone
- Boneless Ham: For a boneless ham, you should buy ¼ to ⅓ pound of meat per serving. 8 people: 2 to 2 and a half pounds of boneless ham12 people: 3 to 4 pounds of boneless ham16 people: 4 to 5 and a half pounds of boneless ham
Brown Sugar Honey Ham in a Crock Pot
FAQ
How long does it take to heat a fully cooked ham in a crock pot?
Is Kentucky Legend ham fully cooked?
Does ham need to be submerged in a slow cooker?
Is Kentucky legend ham any good?
Can you cook Kentucky legend Ham in a crockpot?
If you’re looking for a tasty and easy way to prepare your Kentucky Legend Ham, then cooking it in a crockpot is an excellent option. Slow cooking the ham will help it cook evenly and retain all its flavors and juices, resulting in a dish that’s not only delicious but incredibly moist as well.
Is honey baked ham as good as regular ham?
The addition of honey will affect the calorie content of the food. One tablespoon of honey contributes to approximately 64 calories. In addition, the use of heat when making baked ham will reduce the quality of the honey.
How big should a crockpot be for a KY legend Ham?
The size of your crockpot is an important factor in ensuring that your ham cooks evenly and thoroughly. For a Ky Legend ham, we recommend using a crockpot that’s at least 6 quarts in volume. This will provide enough space for the ham to cook while leaving room for any additional ingredients, such as vegetables or sauces.
How long do you cook a Kentucky legend boneless ham?
The cooking time and temperature for your Kentucky Legend boneless ham will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your ham and the temperature of your crockpot. As a general rule, you can plan on cooking your ham on low heat for six to eight hours, or on high heat for three to four hours.