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. .
Cooking a delicious cure 81 ham in a crockpot is an easy way to prepare a mouthwatering centerpiece for your next holiday meal or gathering. The low and slow cooking method allows the ham to become incredibly tender and absorb all the flavors of the glaze or broth. With just a few simple steps you’ll have a juicy, flavorful ham the whole family will love without hogging up valuable oven space.
What is a Cure 81 Ham?
Cure 81 ham refers to a wet-cured, fully cooked ham that has been treated with salts, sugars, and nitrates for preservation and flavor. The number 81 indicates the amount of salt used in the curing process per 100 pounds of meat. Unlike some hams that require additional cooking, a cure 81 ham is safe to eat as-is straight from the packaging. All you need to do is heat it through to an internal temperature of 140°F. The crockpot offers the perfect way to gently reheat a cure 81 ham and infuse it with extra flavor.
Benefits of Cooking a Ham in the Crockpot
There are several advantages to using a crockpot instead of the oven when cooking a fully cooked ham
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Frees up oven space for side dishes. With most of the meal cooking in the crockpot, you can use your oven for casseroles, rolls, desserts, etc.
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Keeps the ham incredibly moist and tender. The slow, even heating of the crockpot prevents the ham from drying out.
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Adds flavor. Ham cooked in liquid along with glazes or seasonings absorbs all those tasty flavors.
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Requires minimal work. Simply prepare the ham, turn on the crockpot, and let it do the work!
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Provides flexibility. A crockpot ham can cook anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on size, so you can start it when convenient.
Tips for Choosing a Ham for the Crockpot
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Look for a fully cooked, wet cured ham labeled “cook before eating. ” Cure 81 hams fall into this category.
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Choose a size that fits your crockpot. Allow 1⁄2 lb boneless or 3⁄4 lb bone-in per person. For a large 6-8 quart crock, a 7-8 lb ham is ideal.
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Go with a butt or shank portion; they fit better than whole hams. The shank end has a higher bone proportion.
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Bone-in hams tend to be juicier. Boneless will work too.
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Get an uncut ham; spiral sliced can dry out faster. If using spiral cut, baste it several times.
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Uncured and smoked hams work well too. It’s just a matter of preference!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for cooking a delicious cure 81 ham in the crockpot:
Prep the Ham
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Remove all packaging and discard any flavor packets. Also remove plastic cap on the bone if present.
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Place ham in the crockpot cut side down if using a half ham. For whole, place fat side up.
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Trim excess fat to avoid greasiness but leave some for flavor.
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Score the fat by making shallow crisscross cuts. This helps the glaze seep in.
Add Flavor
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Pour 1-2 cups of pineapple, apple, or other fruit juice into the crockpot to keep the ham moist.
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In a bowl, mix a paste of brown sugar, honey, mustard, spices, etc. Rub all over the ham.
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You can also score the ham and stuff cloves or peppercorns into the cuts for extra flavor.
Cook the Ham
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Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
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Baste every hour with the juices for added moisture and flavor.
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Once done, remove the ham to a platter and tent with foil to rest for 15 minutes.
Make the Glaze
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Strain the crockpot juices into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat.
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Create a slurry by mixing cornstarch with cold water. Whisk into the juices to thicken into a glaze.
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Brush thickened glaze over the rested ham and serve!
Helpful Tips and Tricks
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For a savory ham, omit the brown sugar and sweet glazes. Use broth and seasonings like garlic, pepper, mustard, etc.
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If the ham is too big for the crockpot, either trim it to fit or use heavy duty foil to tightly seal the top.
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Let the cooked ham rest at least 15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute. Slice against the grain for tenderness.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat fully to 165°F. Slice and serve with glaze for easy ham sandwiches.
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For a baked ham effect, brush with glaze then broil for 5 minutes before serving. Watch it closely to avoid burning.
Delicious Crockpot Ham Glaze and Seasoning Ideas
The glaze or seasoning you choose can take your crockpot ham from basic to spectacular. Try one of these delicious flavor combinations:
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Brown sugar and pineapple: The classic! Combine with honey, mustard, and pineapple juice.
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Sweet and spicy: Mix brown sugar, chipotle peppers, orange juice, and adobo sauce.
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Apple maple: Whisk together maple syrup, apple jelly, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and cloves.
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Fruity: Combine peach preserves, orange marmalade, lemon juice, Sriracha, and ginger.
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Savory garlic herb: Mince garlic with rosemary, thyme, sage, and black pepper.
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Sweet and tangy: Mix molasses, honey, mustard, and your favorite barbecue sauce.
Make Your Next Ham in the Crockpot
With its ease and flavor, crockpot ham is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Vary the glaze and seasonings to keep it new and exciting each time. Just be prepared for lots of requests for seconds and for your recipe!
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!.
