CROCK POT HAM

Crock Pot Ham is my favorite holiday recipe, with just 4 simple ingredients and it can be made in ONE POT. This slow cooker ham recipe is made with brown sugar and pineapple, which provides a wonderful sweet and tangy flavor.

Making this slow cooker ham with pineapple recipe takes just minutes to prepare and yields scrumptious tender, flavorful and juicy ham. If you want a simple way to make your holiday meal with very little work, this slow cooker ham is the recipe for you!

Crock Pot Ham can be served with Alfredo Potatoes, Orange Cream Fruit Salad, Tropical Jello Pretzel Salad, and Creamy Parmesan Peas and Potatoes. For dessert, I love Banana Cream Cheesecakes, Orange Cake with Whipped Pineapple Frosting or Glazed Strawberry Fruit Pizza.

Cooking a ham for Easter? Check out our collection of incredible Easter dinner recipes here! 

Why make this Crockpot Ham recipe?

Crock Pot Ham is my go-to recipe for when I am preparing a holiday ham. Cooking for the holidays does not have to be labor intensive and time consuming! This ham recipe takes just a few minutes to prepare, and then you can be on to fixing the next dish. Preparing ham in the crock pot is a fantastic way to free up the oven and it produces a deliciously juicy ham. I use the word “cooking” but really, any ham you buy in the grocery store is pre-cooked, so all you really need to do is warm it up. However warming up a 10-lb piece of meat without drying it out is easier said than done. Hence the crock pot method- it is the perfect environment for tender, juicy ham. I also recently made this recipe in the Instant Pot and WOW- if you have an Instant Pot, you have got to try it! It made the juiciest ham ever and took a grand total of 40 minutes. Yep, that’s it. I love my Instant Pot!

Tips for making the BEST Crock Pot Ham

• I like to pre-slice my ham so that I can put pineapple in between slices. It is easier to cut a boneless ham, but use what you like!
• Growing up we always cooked ham with whole cloves. However, since the ham is already cooked and we are just aiming to heat and infuse flavor, I find that using ground cloves does this better.
• Save the juice once you are done cooking the ham and drizzle it over the top, once you place the ham in a serving dish.
• Candied cherries are just fun! Plus they make this holiday ham look gorgeous, so I love using them.

Crock Pot Ham Recipe ingredients

-Ham: You will need 1 2-7 pound ham, boneless or bone-in, whichever you prefer will work great. I like the boneless option as it is much easier to slice and serve.

-Pineapple: Use 1 20-oz can sliced pineapple to add some amazing flavor and moisture to this meat.

-Brown sugar: Adding ⅓ cup brown sugar to this recipe provides just the right amount of sweetness to this dish.

-Cloves: You need ½ tsp ground cloves to give this meat a pungent warm flavor.

-Cherries: If desired, grab a jar of candied cherries to use as garnish and additional flavor.

How to cook a ham in a Crock Pot

Prep

First, while your ham is still in the packaging, place it in the crock pot to see how it fits. You may need to cut it into portions to fit it in the crockpot. Then, unwrap it and either place it whole back in the crockpot or cut it into pieces to fit in the crockpot. You can also choose to pre-slice it if you would like. Since ham from grocery stores is pre-cooked, if your ham doesn’t fit and if you don’t need all of it, you can simply cut a portion off and refrigerate it or freeze it for later use too.

Next, open the can of sliced pineapple and drain the juice out into a separate bowl. You will use all of the juice so set it aside, do not discard!

Then, measure out the 1/3 cup of brown sugar and add it to the bowl with the pineapple juice, whisking to dissolve.

After that, add in the 1/2 tsp of ground cloves and whisk to combine. Set juice mixture aside.

Now, arrange the slices of pineapple all over the surface of your ham and in between slices if you pre-sliced the ham.

If you chose to included cherries, place them inside the center of the pineapples.

Lastly, pour the pineapple juice mixture over the entire top of the ham and pineapple slices.

Cook

Now, place the lid on the crock pot and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.

A 7-10lb ham in the crock pot cooked takes about 4 hours. A bone-In ham will take 5-6 hours to fully heat up. If you have a smaller, 2-4 lb ham, aim for around 2 hours of cooking time.

How to cook ham in an Instant Pot

Prep

First, while your ham is still in the packaging, place it in the Instant-Pot to see how it fits. You may need to cut it into portions for it to fit. Then, unwrap it and either place it whole back in the Instant Pot or cut it into pieces to fit. You can also choose to pre-slice it if you would like.

Next, open the can of sliced pineapple and drain the juice out into a separate bowl. You will use all of the juice so set it aside, do not discard!

Then, measure out the 1/3 cup of brown sugar and add it to the bowl with the pineapple juice, whisking to dissolve.

After that, add in the 1/2 tsp of ground cloves and whisk to combine. Set juice mixture aside.

Now, arrange the slices of pineapple all over the surface of your ham and in between slices if you pre sliced the ham.

If you chose to included cherries, place them inside the center of the pineapples.

Lastly, pour the pineapple juice mixture over the entire top of the ham and pineapple slices.

Cook

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure pressure valve is closed. Select Manual high pressure and use the ham portion sizes below to set the appropriate time.

2lbs-4lbs boneless ham slices: 5-8 minutes in 3 qt or 6 qt Instant Pot

5-7lb boneless ham slices: 10-14 minutes in a 6 qt or 8 qt Instant Pot

Smaller bone-in hams can be used in an 8-qt Instant Pot. Cook for 14-17 minutes

How do I know if my ham is fully heated and ready?

Using a meat thermometer you can check the internal meat temperature, you will want the ham to be between 140-160 degree F. This will signal that the ham is fully heated and ready to enjoy!

What do I do if my ham is too dry?

If you have found that your ham over cooked and is now a bit dry, continue to slice your meat like you would to serve it. Then, using a baster tool, distribute some of the liquid at the bottom of the crockpot or instant pot and cover the ham slices. Allow the ham to sit for a few minutes and repeat the process of covering the slices with the extra liquid, this will give it time to soak in some of the moisture and bring the meat back to life a bit.

Do I have to reheat left over ham before enjoying?

No, you do not. Since this ham was already pre-cooked, then reheated you do not have to reheat it again before enjoying. This type of ham would make delicious ham sandwiches to enjoy for lunch. Or just pop a slice in your mouth and have a quick snack.

Like this crock pot ham recipe? Try these other crock pot recipes! 

• Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken recipe
• Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe
• Crock Pot Pork Roast
• Crock Pot Turkey Breast
• Crock Pot Sweet Pork
• Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
• Crockpot Pork Carnitas
• Crockpot Madras Lentils
• Crock pot Roast with Dr.Pepper
• Crockpot Chili
• Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

Looking for more Pork recipes? Check these out:

• Sausage Potato Boat Recipe
• Easy Lil Smokies & Meatballs Recipe
• Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe
• BLT Bratwurst Recipe
• Bacon Wrapped Meatballs Recipe
• Grilled Italian Sausage Recipe
• Slow Cooker Pork Roast Recipe
• Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin Filet Recipe
• Sausage and Peppers Recipe

Crock Pot Ham is my favorite holiday ham recipe! Just 4 ingredients and can be made in the crockpot or Instant Pot. Brown sugar and pineapple provide a sweet, tangy flavor to the ham. Quick and easy slow cooker ham recipe that takes just minutes to prepare and yields tender, flavorful and juicy ham.