Slow Cooker Crockpot Glazed Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar

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There’s no stressing over this ham, the slow cooker does all the work. The spiral cut means the glaze seeps into every slice, so you end up with juicy, flavorful ham from top to bottom. Using the Crockpot is one of the easiest ways to get it right every single time. I've done all of the hard work and testing so you don't have to guess. It's perfect every time.

ham in a slow cooker Crockpot glazed with honey and brown sugar

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Table of Contents

Crockpot Spiral Ham Ingredients

Spiral Ham: Start with whether you plan to buy a fresh ham or a cured, smoked, and pre-cooked ham. Fresh hams aren’t that common. Most people prefer cured hams, so that’s what you will typically find in grocery stores, especially around the holidays. Once purchased all you need to do is reheat and add an amazing glaze! I like to use bone-in hams because they have more flavor.
Pineapple Juice
Brown Sugar or Sweetener
Honey
Cinnamon and Cloves
Cornstarch

pineapple juice and brown sugar in separate glass bowls

honey, cornstarch, cinnamon, and cloves in separate bowls

pre cooked spiral cut ham on a flat surface

How to Score the Ham

I don’t score spiral sliced hams because they are already cut and you can baste the glaze into the cut sections of the meat.
Here are some tips if you plan to do it:

First, place your ham flat side down on a cutting board so it doesn’t wobble around.
Grab a sharp knife and make shallow cuts across the surface of the ham, about ½ inch deep.
Cut straight lines all the way across one direction, then turn the ham and cut lines the opposite way. This will give you that classic diamond pattern.
If you’re using whole cloves, you can press one right into the center of each diamond. It looks pretty and adds a little flavor.
That’s it. Your ham is scored and ready to soak up all that glaze while it cooks.

How to Make Slow Cooker Crockpot Spiral Ham and Ham Glaze

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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Add ham, pineapple juice, and brown sugar or sweetener to the slow cooker.
Slow cook.
Once the ham has cooked, pour the liquid from the bottom of the slow cooker into a saucepan or skillet on medium heat to make the ham glaze.
Add honey, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir.
Add cornstarch and water to a small bowl and stir to combine.
Add the cornstarch slurry mixture to the glaze. Stir as you pour and add it in slowly. Stir until the glaze thickens.
Pour the glaze over the ham.

collage of 4 photos with ham and brown sugar in a Crockpot slow cooker

slow cooker crockpot ham on a plate with pineapples and glaze

Slow Cooker Crockpot Spiral Sliced Glazed Ham

Brandi Crawford

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 20

Course dinner, lunch, main dish

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 405 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

Equipment

Ingredients

7-8 pounds fully cooked ham I prefer bone-in and spiral cut.
¾ cup pineapple juice
½ cup brown sweetener or sugar Dark or light.
¼ cup honey
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2-4 tablespoons cornstarch
2-4 tablespoons water

Instructions

Add the ham, pineapple juice, and brown sugar or sweetener to the slow cooker. (My slow cooker is 7 quart).
Cook for 3-4 hours on low heat. Ensure the ham is finished by using a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the ham and ensure the ham reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Once the ham has cooked, pour the liquid from the bottom of the slow cooker into a saucepan or skillet on medium heat to make the ham glaze.
Add the honey, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir.
Add the cornstarch and water to a small bowl and stir to combine. I start with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water.
(If the glaze still needs thickening you will repeat this step with an additional tablespoon of each and so on.)
Add the cornstarch slurry mixture to the glaze. Stir as you pour and add it in slowly. Stir until the glaze thickens.
Pour the glaze over the ham. Allow the ham to rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

I discard the glaze packet that comes with the ham.
I don’t find it necessary to score a spiral-sliced ham.
Typically, flour can be substituted for cornstarch as a thickener. In this instance, I noticed it would form large clumps in the glaze. I don’t recommend using it.
The cornstarch and water slurry is crucial in thickening the ham glaze. The amount you will need will vary because the amount of liquid you have in the slow cooker after cooking the ham will vary. This liquid includes the juices and flavor from the ham as it cooked. It's going to vary for each ham. Continue to mix cornstarch and water and add it to the glaze until it reaches your desired texture.
You can use full cloves if you wish. They can be inserted into the ham using toothpicks.
My 7 quart Crockpot can fit an 8 ½ pound spiral sliced ham with the lid on. If your ham is too large for your slow cooker, you can cover the top with foil as it cooks.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5poundCalories: 405kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 27gFat: 19g

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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead?

For holiday celebrations, I prefer to make the ham in the morning. It always tastes best when it’s freshly cooked. You can make the ham up to 3-4 days in advance if preferred.

How do I select the best ham?

If you aren't a fan of carving, spiral-sliced hams work great! They are also a time saver. The smoked ham is placed on a spit and rotated against a blade while moving lengthwise so it’s sliced in a spiral, right to the bone. You will still have to cut along the bone to remove your slices, but the hard part is already done and the presentation is beautiful. The slices fall right off the bone.

When buying ham, be sure to read the labels. Some hams are artificially plumped up with water or solutions, but this dilutes the flavor. Look for one with no added water or juices. The label should just read “ham” — not Ham, water added or Ham with natural juices. Check out this complete guide to buying hams.

What size Crockpot slow cooker to use?

My 7 quart Crockpot can fit an 8 ½ pound spiral sliced ham with the lid on. If your ham is too large for your slow cooker, you can cover the top with foil as it cooks.

How long does a spiral ham cook in a Crockpot?

Cook the ham for 3-4 hours on Low heat.

How much ham do I estimate per person?

Estimate about ½ pound per person.

How to store leftovers.

It’ll keep in the fridge for about 3–4 days, and the flavor actually gets better the next day as it soaks in all that glaze.

Freezer tips.

You can freeze leftovers (tightly sealed) for 1-2 months for optimal freshness. This is for quality only, as frozen hams remain safe to eat indefinitely.