This Crockpot Ham recipe is the easiest, most delicious way to cook ham for a crowd. Even if you’ve never made a holiday ham before, this recipe won’t let you down!
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A set-it-and-forget-it holiday dinner.
So much of the anxiety involved in holiday entertaining is the mental Tetris you have to play when figuring out what needs to go in the oven and when and at what temperature. Enter: crockpot ham.
- Ham is delicious—savory, sweet, succulent, and salty. With this crockpot ham recipe, you’ll get all that flavor without any of the stress. We’re talking 5 minutes of prep time here!
- Like Crockpot Pork Roast, crockpot ham frees up valuable real estate in the oven and since it’s a mostly hands-off recipe, your time is free to make your sides.
- This ham recipe with my Brown Sugar Ham Glaze will elicit those excited oohs and ahhs and all the compliments. It’s absolutely delectable.
5 Star Review
“I usually get so stressed when it comes to cooking for holiday meals, but this recipe took all the pressure off. I put the ham in the crockpot, and it turned out so juicy and tender, I couldn’t believe it. I’m never making ham any other way!”
— Wilma —
Tips for Buying a Holiday Ham
If this is the first year you’re making ham for the holidays, you might not know where to start. Here’s a primer to help you make your purchase.
- Avoid Hams That are Injected With Saline Solution. Hams are brined one of two ways: soaking the ham in saltwater for several days or injecting brine directly into the meat to expedite the brining process. Higher quality hams are submerged in brine, rather than injected.
- Avoid Canned Ham, Too. Canned ham is made by pressing and forming scraps into a can-shaped loaf. Needless to say, this is not the ham you want to serve for the holidays.
- Choose Bone-In Ham. Boneless ham is easiest to cut, but leaving the bone in helps keep the ham moist and flavorful, so it’s worth the extra effort. Plus you can use the ham bone for Instant Pot Split Pea Soup!
- Spiral vs. Whole Ham. Spiral hams are very popular for the holidays because they’re already pre-cut. Convenient! Unfortunately, being pre-cut makes them prone to drying out.
For this recipe, we’ll use a bone-in ham.
How to Make Crockpot Ham
Cut. Score the ham diagonally left to right, then right to left, creating a diamond crisscross pattern.
Add the Liquid. Pour the wine or juice into a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker.
Add the Ham. Cover and cook until the ham is heated completely through and reaches 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
Glaze. At the end of the cooking time, prepare the glaze. Transfer the ham to a cutting board and brush with the glaze mixture.
Finish. Make Ham Gravy, if desired. Slice, serve, and ENJOY!
Leftover Ideas
Use your leftover crockpot ham to add some protein to salads like Apple Walnut Salad, Ham Salad or Pea Salad. I also love adding ham to Crustless Quiche and this Ham Sweet Potato Frittata!
What to Serve with Crockpot Ham
- Vegetables. Pair your protein with a vegetable side like Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic or Sautéed Green Beans.
- Potatoes. Ham and potatoes are a comfort food combo perfect for family holiday get-togethers! Try my Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
- Other Holiday Favorites. Cornbread Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Drop Biscuits are all excellent with crockpot ham!
Crockpot Ham
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Ingredients
- 1 5- to 7-pound cooked bone-in ham*, do not use spiral cut as it will dry out in the slow cooker
- 1 cup dry white wine or apple juice or water
- 1 recipe Easy Brown Sugar Ham Glaze or glaze of choice
Instructions
- With a sharp knife, score the ham diagonally left to right, then right to left, to create a diamond crisscross pattern.
- Pour the wine or juice into a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker. Add the ham. Cover and cook on low until the ham is heated completely through, 5 to 6 hours (it should reach 140 degrees F on an instant read thermometer).
- Towards the end of the ham’s cooking time, prepare the Brown Sugar Glaze. Transfer the heated ham to a cutting board and brush super liberally with the glaze. Slice and enjoy! If desired, use the cooking juices in the slow cooker to make Ham Gravy.
Notes
- *You can also make this recipe with boneless ham; note that it will heat through more quickly and is more prone to drying out.
- TO STORE: Store leftover crockpot ham in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- TO REHEAT: Reheat ham in the microwave, or place it in a baking dish with a few tablespoons of water, broth, or stock; cover and reheat in a 325 degree F oven until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- TO FREEZE: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.
Nutrition
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So scrumptious. Made for my in-laws with the glaze and ham gravy. Everyone loved it!
Best news, thanks for sharing!
I hadn’t tried ham in the slow cooked before this, but definitely will again. So easy.
Yay! Thank you so much Marta!
Any recommendations for which setting to use for this recipe (low medium or high?)
Hi Lucille! Cook it on low.
Thanks Erin! Very excited to make this tomorrow for holiday meal Happy Holidays everyone
Made this for our Christmas Eve dinner with the ham glaze and ham gravy and it was a hit! Even self proclaimed ham haters gobbled it up! My 98 year old grandma insisted on seeing my crockpot because she didn’t believe me! My father in law stole all my leftover ham gravy for himself the next day!Thank you for another super easy family favorite!
Jess, this is amazing feedback, thank you!
This recipe made my busy weeknight so much easier! I threw everything into the Crockpot before heading out for the day, and by the time I got home, dinner was practically done. My kids loved it, and I loved that I didn’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. Thank you so much!
Makes me so happy to hear, thank you Susan!
I absolutely love your recipes! As someone with a busy schedule who isn’t a big fan of cooking, I really appreciate this kind of dish and recipe. Your recipes are always my go-to. I highly recommend ‘Eating on a Dime’ every dish I’ve tried has been nothing short of delicious and a big hit with my family!
Makes me so happy to hear, thank you Leslie!
This recipe has completely changed the way I make ham! I usually get so stressed when it comes to cooking for holiday meals, but this recipe took all the pressure off. I put the ham in the crockpot, and it turned out so juicy and tender, I couldn’t believe it. I’m never making ham any other way!
That makes me so happy to hear, Wilma! Thank you!
Fantastic! It was a 7lb ham and I’m alone so I shared it with a couple of good neighbors.
They raved about it! Wanted the recipe, how I made it, all the details.
It was a huge hit. I will definitely make it again and again.
Thank you for sharing.
Makes me so happy to hear, thank you Tammy!
What a great way to do ham, moist and tender. I had a 4 pound shank end bone in ham and gave it a bit more then 3 hours–great. Used the white wine, just .5 cup since smaller ham. It made a nice broth that I am going to skim fat and use in something. I didn’t bother with a glaze but am sure that would be good too. Going to like all the leftovers to make other things.
So glad to hear you enjoyed the ham, Frances! Thank you!
I liked how hands-off this recipe was. The ham cooked perfectly in the crockpot and stayed juicy. The cooking time was pretty accurate too. Mine took just under six hours on low to reach the right temperature. It’s good to have a meat thermometer to double-check, but the 5-6 hour range seems about right for a ham of that size. Thank you!
So glad to hear, Rebecca! Thank you!