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This Crockpot Spiral Ham recipe is the easiest way to cook a spiral ham for any holiday or occasion. It has totally transformed how I approach cooking for a holiday crowd. Now I can just throw a spiral ham in the slow cooker with Dijon mustard, brown sugar, maple syrup, and apple cider to create a tasty glaze, and let it cook. It comes out nice and juicy, with delicious flavor!
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Pin ItA Simple Way to Slow Cook a Juicy Spiral Ham
I have become an expert in easy ham recipes! I’ve mastered the creation of a few easy go-to options, including a pineapple ham, an easy 3-ingredient orange glazed ham, and a holiday brown sugar ham. The only one I hadn’t created yet was a ham in the crockpot, so voila, here it is! Perfect for those busy weeknights when I want to come home to a juicy, delicious, ready-to-go meal, or when I want to free up my hands to focus on the rest of my holiday meal.
Tips for Beginners
- Go boneless. You can easily swap the bone-in ham for a boneless one. When I do that, I cook the ham for 2-3 hours in the Crockpot, or until it reaches 140°F internally.
- Feed the crowd. Plan for ½ pound of meat per person. For example, an 8 lb. boneless ham will feed 16 people.
- Check for doneness. To get a read on the internal temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham. Give it a few seconds until it reaches the appropriate temperature.
- Keep it juicy. Don’t worry if your ham isn’t completely covered in liquid; you just want to have some liquid around it to help keep the ham moist and flavorful.
Crockpot Spiral Ham Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or grainy mustard
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup apple cider or apple juice, not apple cider vinegar! Orange or pineapple juices also work
Video
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the ham in the center.7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- Brush the ham with the mustard.2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Rub the brown sugar all over the surface.1 cup brown sugar
- Pour the maple syrup and apple cider over the ham.⅔ cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup apple cider
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Once the ham is warmed through, set it on your serving platter and tent with foil.
- Pour the juices from the crockpot into a medium pot and boil until the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of the spoon.
- Brush or pour it all over the cooked ham. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Crockpot Ham Step by Step
Prepare the Crockpot: Spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and place a 7-8 lb. cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham in the center.
Coat the ham: Brush the ham with 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard, then rub 1 cup of brown sugar all over the surface. Pour ⅔ cup of pure maple syrup and 1 cup of apple cider or apple juice over the ham.
Cook the ham: Place the lid on the crockpot and cook the ham on low for 3 hours. Once the ham is warmed through, set it on a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
Make the glaze: Pour the juices from the crockpot into a medium pot and boil until the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of a spoon. Brush or pour the glaze all over the cooked ham.
Serve: Once the glaze has been poured over the ham, slice and serve. Enjoy!
How to Store
The easiest way to store leftover crockpot ham is to fully carve the spiral ham into slices. Place the slices in a resealable bag, or stack them and wrap them tightly in aluminum foil to store for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
To freeze, carve ham into slices. Wrap stacks of slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in a Ziplock bag to store for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I think this slow cooker ham recipe is the perfect ham for Easter or a special dinner, served along with creamy instant pot mashed sweet potatoes or crunchy crockpot glazed carrots. Sometimes, I’ll make white potatoes and prepare au gratin potatoes instead, and I’ll pair them with a batch of cheesy creamed green beans.
I cooked a spiral ham, in my crockpot, over the weekend. I had never fixed a ham using my crockpot but I found this recipe and decided to give it a try. I made it, as printed, using apple juice. While cooking, the ham smelled wonderful. It was delicious. I will definitely keep this recipe.