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A cooked spiral ham rests in a white slow cooker. The ham is glazed and shiny, with the slices slightly separated, revealing juicy layers. The slow cooker is on a white surface, featuring control buttons on the front.

Spiral Ham in Crock Pot

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This spiral ham in crock pot recipe uses a homemade brown sugar maple glaze instead of a packaged packet, and it frees up your oven for everything else at the holidays.
Course main dish
Cuisine American
Keyword spiral ham in crock pot
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings 24 1 slice
Calories 445
Author Gina Dickson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 8 pounds ham spiral-cut, bone-in
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup do not use pancake syrup
  • 1 cup pineapple juice canned
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water cold
  • Fresh herbs optional, for garnish
  • Pineapple pieces optional, for garnish
  • Maraschino cherries optional, for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the Slow Cooker

  • You will need a 7 to 8-quart slow cooker for this recipe.
  • Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray.
    Cooking spray
  • Place the ham cut side down into the slow cooker.
    8 pounds ham

Make the Seasoning Paste

  • In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, maple syrup, pineapple juice, and yellow mustard until well combined into a glaze paste.
    1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
    A white mixing bowl filled with a brown liquid, likely a sauce or marinade, with a whisk resting inside. The bowl is placed on a white background.

Add to the Ham

  • Rub the glaze mixture all over the ham, making sure it's coated well and gets between the slices.
    A cooked ham placed inside a white slow cooker, with its surface browned and juices collecting at the bottom. The ham appears sliced from the top portion, revealing its pink interior.

Cook the Ham

  • Cover and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the ham. Use a meat thermometer to check.

Transfer to Serving Plate and Drain Fat

  • Carefully remove the ham and place it on a serving platter.
  • Cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the glaze.
  • Pour the cooking juices into a fat separator. Once separated, pour the juices into a saucepan and discard the fat.
    A transparent gravy separator filled with brown liquid features a black handle and a red spout stopper. It has measurement markings on the side and is placed on a white surface.

Make the Glaze (Stovetop)

  • Bring the saucepan of juices to a simmer over medium high heat.

Thicken the Glaze

  • In a small jar, shake the cornstarch and cold water together until smooth.
    1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons water
    A blue-handled pot containing brown liquid sits on a white surface. Next to it, there's a small open jar with a white lid, partially filled with a light liquid.
  • Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering liquid, stirring constantly.
  • Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the glaze thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
    A blue pot filled with caramel sauce sits on a cork mat. A spoon is held above the pot, with caramel sauce dripping from it back into the pot, against a plain white background.

To Serve

  • Drizzle the warm glaze over the sliced ham.
  • Garnish with pineapple pieces and maraschino cherries if desired.
    Pineapple pieces, Maraschino cherries

Notes

Storage: Store cooled ham in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a covered baking dish at 300°F with a splash of broth or pineapple juice to keep the ham from drying out.
Freezing: Wrap sliced ham in freezer paper and foil, then seal in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months.
Substitutions: In place of pineapple juice, apple cider or orange juice both work. Orange juice is the preferred swap.
Slow Cooker Times: LOW: 3 to 4 hours. This recipe is LOW-heat only by design, not a missing HIGH option — do not add a HIGH time to this card.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1806mg | Potassium: 489mg | Fiber: 0.05g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
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