Crockpot Ham

This Crockpot 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!

A crockpot spiral ham on a plate next to a bowl of mashed potatoes.

Why We Love this Crockpot Ham Recipe

We have become experts in easy ham recipes, especially with our Pineapple Ham, Orange Glazed Ham and Brown Sugar Ham. I wanted to add a simple crockpot recipe that could be easy for busy families. This recipe is perfect. Psst: cooking spiral ham in a crockpot results in the juiciest holiday ham ever.

Easy. Spiral-cut ham comes pre-cooked, so all you have to do is heat, glaze, and enjoy!
Hands-Off: Cooking ham in the crockpot gives you more time to make delicious sides!
Flavorful. The combination of Dijon mustard, brown sugar, maple syrup, and apple cider creates a mouthwatering glaze.

Boneless Slow Cooker Ham

You can easily swap out the bone-in ham for a boneless one. When I do that, I simply cook the ham for 2-3 hours in the Crockpot, or until it reaches 140°F internally. Plan for ½ pound of meat per person. For example, an 8-pound boneless ham will feed 16 people!

sliced of crockpot ham on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.

How to Store and Reheat

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.

How to Freeze

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 Christmas dinner, served along with some potatoes and veggies. I love instant pot mashed sweet potatoes or au gratin potatoes and crockpot glazed carrots, creamed green beans, maple butternut squash, or creamed corn. Yum!

Wondering what to do with leftovers? If there are any (doubtful!), be sure to try our Ham and Potato Casserole or Ham and Potato Soup!

A plate with sliced of glazed ham, green beans and mashed potatoes.

Crockpot Ham Recipe

Cook a spiral ham with a tasty glaze in the slow cooker for a totally hands-off holiday dinner!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 5

Servings

Calories 627kcal

Author Becky Hardin

Equipment

Crockpot (click for my favorite)

Ingredients

7-8 pound cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
2 tablespoons 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!

Instructions

Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the ham in the center.

7-8 pound cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
Brush the ham with the mustard.

2 tablespoons 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!

Video

Notes

With a bone-in ham, plan for about ¾ pound per person. This will yield appox. ½ pound of meat per person.
You can use pineapple or orange juice in place of the apple cider
Grainy mustard will create a “prettier” ham, but dijon adds a bit more flavor.

Storage: Store crockpot ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

How to Make Crockpot Ham Step by Step

Prepare the Crockpot: Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place a 7-8 pound cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham in the center.

Coat the Ham: Brush the ham with 2 tablespoons 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 and serve.

A plate with ham, green beans and mashed potatoes.

Can you heat a fully cooked ham in the slow cooker?

Yes, you absolutely can! I love this hands-off method because it gives me time to focus on the sides!

Do you cook ham on low or high in a slow cooker?

I prefer to cook this spiral ham on low so that it doesn’t dry out.

How long does it take to heat already-cooked ham in a crockpot?

It takes just about 3 hours for a bone-in spiral ham to heat through in a slow cooker, or less time if it is boneless. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 140°F.

Does ham need to be submerged in the slow cooker?

Nope! You just want to have some liquid around it to help keep it moist and flavorful.

What if my ham is too big for the slow cooker?

If your ham is too big, don’t panic! Simply place a few pieces of aluminum foil over the top, crimping around the edges to seal in the moisture. Place a dish towel on top to weigh down the foil and prevent heat from escaping.